SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3 (02) PDF MANUAL

The following items are supplied with your SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3 camera. The number in parentheses indicates the quantity.

• Camera (1)

• Battery Charger (1)

• Power cord (mains lead) (1)*

• NP-FZ100 Rechargeable Battery Pack (1)

• USB Type-C cable (1)

• Shoulder Strap (1)

• Body Cap (1) (Attached to the camera)

• Cable Protector (1)

• Shoe Cap (1) (Attached to the camera)

• Eyepiece Cup (1) (Attached to the camera)

• Instruction Manual (1)

• Reference Guide (1)

* Multiple power cords may be supplied with your camera. Use the appropriate one that matches your country/region.

The SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3 camera supports CFexpress Type A memory cards and SD memory cards (UHS-I, UHS-II compatible). When using microSD memory cards, ensure you use the appropriate adaptor.

For still-image shooting:

• CFexpress Type A memory cards

• SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards

For movie recording:

For S&Q Motion shooting:

*1: When [Frame Rate] is set to [240fps]/[200fps], you may need an SDXC V90 memory card.

*2: When [Frame Rate] is set to [120fps]/[100fps], you may need an SDXC V90 memory card.

*3: For slow-motion recording, a CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) is required.

*4: When [Frame Rate] is set to [240fps]/[200fps], a CFexpress Type A memory card (VPG200 or higher) is required.

Please observe the following precautions regarding operating temperatures for your SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3:

• Shooting in extremely cold or hot places that exceed the recommended range is not advised.

• Under high ambient temperatures, the camera’s temperature will rise quickly.

• If the camera’s temperature rises, image quality may deteriorate. It is recommended to wait for the camera to cool down before continuing to shoot.

• Depending on the camera and battery temperature, the camera may become unable to record movies or may power off automatically to protect itself. A message will appear on the screen before this happens. If this occurs, leave the power off and wait for both the camera and battery to cool down. Powering on without sufficient cooling may lead to the power turning off again or an inability to record movies.

Especially during 4K shooting with your SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3, the recording time may be shorter in low-temperature conditions. It is recommended to warm up the battery pack or replace it with a new one.

If dust or debris adheres to the image sensor of your SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3 and appears as dark spots on your images, clean the sensor by following these steps:

1. Confirm that the battery has been sufficiently charged (at least 3 remaining battery icons).

2. Press MENU → (Setup) → [Setup Option] → [Sensor Cleaning] → [Enter]. The image sensor will vibrate briefly to shake off dust.

3. Turn off the camera as instructed on the screen.

4. Detach the lens.

5. Use a commercially available blower to clean the image sensor surface and the surrounding area. Hold the camera slightly face downward so that the dust falls out.

6. Attach the lens.

Note:

• Do not use a spray-type blower as it may scatter water droplets inside the camera body.

• Do not put the tip of the blower into the cavity beyond the lens mount area to avoid touching the image sensor.

• When using the blower, do not blow too hard, as this may damage the inside of the product.

• If dust remains after cleaning, consult a service facility.

Follow these guidelines for cleaning the different parts of your SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3:

Cleaning the lens:

• Do not use cleaning solutions containing organic solvents like thinner or benzine.

• Remove dust with a commercially available blower. For stubborn dust, wipe with a soft cloth or tissue paper slightly moistened with lens cleaning solution. Wipe in a spiral pattern from the center outwards. Do not spray cleaning solution directly onto the lens.

Cleaning the camera body:

• Do not touch internal parts like the lens signal contact. To clean inside the lens mount, use a commercially available blower to blow off dust. Do not use a spray-type blower.

Cleaning the product surface:

• Clean the surface with a soft cloth slightly moistened with water, then wipe with a dry cloth.

• To prevent damage, do not expose the product to chemical products like thinner, benzine, alcohol, insect repellent, or sunscreen. Do not leave the product in contact with rubber or vinyl for a long time.

Cleaning the monitor:

• Wiping the monitor firmly with tissue paper may cause scratches.

• If the monitor has fingerprints or dust, gently remove the dust and then clean it with a soft cloth.

You can use the monitor on your SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3 for intuitive operations for both shooting and playback.

Touch operations on the shooting screen:

• Touch the monitor to specify where to focus (Touch Focus).

• Touch a subject on the monitor to use the touch tracking function (Touch Tracking).

Touch operations on the playback screen:

• During single-image playback, swipe the screen to the left or right to move to the previous or next image.

• During single-image playback, you can enlarge or reduce the image by moving two fingers apart (pinch-out) or bringing them together (pinch-in).

• You can also double-tap the monitor to enlarge a still image or exit the enlarged view.

• During movie playback, you can start or pause playback using touch operations.

On the SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3, you can use the control wheel to navigate menus and change settings:

• On the menu screen or the Fn button screen, move the selection frame by turning the control wheel or pressing its top/bottom/left/right sides.

• Confirm your selection by pressing the center of the control wheel.

• The top, left, and right sides of the control wheel have default functions assigned: DISP (Display Setting), Drive Mode, and ISO respectively. You can also assign functions to the left/right/bottom sides, the center, and the rotation of the wheel.

• During playback, press the right/left side of the control wheel or turn it to display the next/previous image.

To charge the battery pack for your SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3 using the charger:

1. Insert the battery pack into the battery charger.

• Place the battery pack on the charger, aligning the direction of the triangle mark.

• Slide the battery pack to the end.

2. Connect the power cord (supplied) to the battery charger, and then connect the charger to a wall outlet.

The CHARGE lamp (A) will light up in orange when charging begins. The charging status indicator lamp (B) shows the approximate charging status. When the battery is fully charged, the CHARGE lamp and status indicator will light up and then immediately turn off.

The approximate charging time for a fully depleted battery is 150 minutes at a temperature of 25°C (77°F).

Yes, you can charge the battery pack while it is inserted in the SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3 camera. You can use a USB cable to charge from an external power source like a commercially available USB AC adaptor or a mobile battery.

1. Turn off the camera.

2. Connect the external power source to the USB Type-C terminal on the camera.

The orange charge lamp on the camera will indicate the charging status:

• Lit: Charging is in progress.

• Off: Charging is finished.

• Flashing: There is a charging error, or charging is paused because the camera is not within the proper temperature range.

When a device compatible with USB-PD (USB Power Delivery) is connected, fast charging is possible. USB charging is not possible from the Multi/Micro USB terminal.

To insert the battery pack:

1. Slide the switch on the battery cover to open it.

2. Insert the battery pack while pressing the lock lever (A) with the tip of the battery until it locks into place.

3. Close the cover and slide the switch to the LOCK side.

To remove the battery pack:

1. Make sure the access lamp is not lit and turn off the camera.

2. Slide the lock lever (A) and remove the battery pack. Be careful not to drop it.

The SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3 camera can use CFexpress Type A and SD memory cards.

To insert a memory card:

1. Slide the switch on the memory card cover to open it.

2. Insert the memory card into slot 1. If using two cards, insert the second into slot 2.

• Both slots support both card types.

• Insert a CFexpress Type A memory card with the label facing the monitor.

• Insert an SD memory card with the terminal facing the monitor.

• Insert the card until it clicks into place.

3. Close the cover.

To remove a memory card:

Open the memory card cover, ensure the access lamp (A) is not lit, then push the memory card in lightly once to eject it.

Always turn off the camera before attaching or removing a lens.

To attach a lens:

1. Remove the body cap from the camera and the rear lens cap from the lens. It’s recommended to hold the camera with the lens mount facing down to prevent dust from entering.

2. Mount the lens by aligning the two white index marks (mounting indexes) on the lens and the camera.

3. While pushing the lens lightly toward the camera, turn the lens slowly in the direction of the arrow until it clicks into the locked position. Be sure to hold the lens straight when attaching it.

To remove a lens:

1. Keep pressing the lens release button (A).

2. Turn the lens in the direction of the arrow until it stops.

3. After removing the lens, attach the body cap to the camera and the lens caps to the front and rear of the lens to protect them from dust and debris.

The setting screen appears automatically when you first turn on the SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3, or if the internal backup battery has discharged.

1. Set the ON/OFF (Power) switch to “ON”.

2. Select your desired language and press the center of the control wheel.

3. Ensure [Enter] is selected on the confirmation screen, then press the center of the control wheel.

4. Select your geographic location, set [Daylight Savings], and press the center.

5. Set the date format (year/month/day) and press the center.

6. Set the date and time (hour/minute/second) and press the center.

To change these settings later, go to MENU → (Setup) → [Area/Date] → [Area/Date/Time Setting].

In Intelligent Auto mode, the SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3 automatically focuses and determines the exposure based on the shooting conditions.

1. Set the mode dial to AUTO (Auto Mode) while pressing the lock release button in the center of the dial. The shooting mode will be set to (Intelligent Auto).

2. Adjust the monitor angle and hold the camera, or look through the viewfinder.

3. If a zoom lens is mounted, you can enlarge the image by rotating the zoom ring.

4. Press the shutter button halfway down to focus. When the image is in focus, a beep will sound and a focus indicator will light up.

5. Press the shutter button fully down to take the picture.

You can record movies by following these steps on your SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3:

1. Set the mode dial to (Movie) while pressing the mode dial lock release button.

2. Press the MOVIE (Movie) button to start recording.

3. Press the MOVIE button again to stop recording.

You can also adjust various settings for your movie:

• To select the recording format: Go to the menu and select [File Format] to choose between XAVC HS 4K, XAVC S 4K, XAVC S HD, etc., based on your needs for resolution and compatibility.

• To select frame rate or image quality: Go to the menu and select [Movie Settings]. Adjust [Rec Frame Rate] for motion smoothness and [Record Setting] for image quality (bit rate). A higher bit rate results in higher quality but larger files.

• To adjust exposure: The method depends on the [Exposure Ctrl Type] setting. You can set it to P/A/S/M modes similar to still photography or use the Flexible Exp. Mode for separate control over shutter and aperture.

• To select focusing method: Choose between Continuous AF (AF-C) or Manual Focus (MF) in the [Focus Mode] menu.

The “Face/Eye Prior. in AF” function on the SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3 sets whether the camera detects faces or eyes inside the focus area while performing autofocus, and then focuses on the eyes automatically (Eye AF).

Menu Item Details:

• On: The camera focuses on faces or eyes with priority if they are detected inside or around the designated focus area.

• Off: The camera does not prioritize faces or eyes when performing auto-focusing.

If the camera does not detect any faces or eyes, it will focus on another detectable subject. When the shooting mode is set to [Intelligent Auto], this function is locked to [On].

The “Silent Mode Settings” on the SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3 allow you to configure the camera to shoot without shutter sounds or electronic sounds, which is useful in quiet environments.

Menu Item Details:

• Silent Mode: Sets whether to shoot silently ([On]/[Off]). When set to [On], the [Shutter Type] is locked to [Electronic Shutter], and [Audio signals] is locked to [Off].

• Target Function Settings: Sets whether to also change settings for other functions that emit sounds (like [Aperture Drive in AF] or [Auto Pixel Mapping]) when Silent Mode is activated. If you select [Not Target], the settings for these other functions will be retained even in silent mode.

Note: Even when Silent Mode is set to [On], it will not be completely silent, as the operating sound of the aperture and focus will still be audible. Image distortion caused by subject or camera movement may also occur when using the electronic shutter.

Here are some common warning messages on the SONY A7SIII ILCE-7SM3 and their meanings:

• Set Area/Date/Time: You need to set the area, date, and time. If this appears frequently, the internal rechargeable backup battery may need charging.

• Power insufficient: The battery level is too low for certain functions like image copying or sensor cleaning. Recharge the battery pack.

• Unable to use memory card. Format?: The memory card format is not recognized. Formatting it in the camera will erase all data but may make it usable again. If the message persists, change the memory card.

• Memory Card Error: An incompatible card is inserted, or formatting has failed.

• Unable to read memory card. Reinsert memory card: The card may be incompatible, damaged, or its terminal section may be dirty.

• Memory card locked: The write-protect switch on the SD card is in the LOCK position.

• Internal temp. high. Allow it to cool: The camera is overheating. Turn it off and let it cool down.

• (Overheating warning icon): The product temperature has risen due to extended recording.

• (Database file error): There is an issue with the image database file. This can be caused by the number of images exceeding the limit or an inability to register to the file.

• Camera Error. Turn power off then on: A system error has occurred. Remove and re-insert the battery. If the message persists, contact a service facility.