Sony is one of the few companies that stood against the DSLR tide and switched to mirrorless early on in the race. That, in fact, bodes well for the manufacturer, with Sony easily being ahead of the game. The company has launched some truly exciting cameras over the years, and today, we take a look at a few offerings that are perfect for street photography. If you are planning to pivot to Sony or are looking to upgrade, then these options may make it to your list.
Sony a7c R
The Sony a7cR holds a very special place in our hearts. In many ways, it’s better than the Sony a7r V that it’s based on. But in many other ways, it is a bit more disappointing. We’re choosing this for the fact that it’s small, boasts great high-resolution image quality, and it can be an overall really tiny package when you’re shooting. But most of all, it nailed the job when shooting street photography.
The only APS-C camera on the list, the a6700 offers a 26MP sensor, a BIONZ XR processor, a dedicated AI processing unit, and a 759-point AF system. It can shoot continuously at 11fps, can record 4K videos at up to 60p, and the ISO tops out at 32,000. The camera is weather resistant, the LCD makes it easy to shoot, the image quality is great, and you also get one of the best autofocus systems on the market. “Where the Sony a6700 performs admirably is with street photography,” we said in our review. “Set to the AF-C mode with human detection activated, the Sony a6700 more or less made street photography look like a simple point-and-shoot affair. We did this with both Sony and Tamron lenses, and they worked out just fine.”
Sony A9 III
Street photography requires one to shoot at higher frame rates, and the Sony a9 III is perfect for that. The camera has a lightning speed of 120fps with tracking, and it is also the first ILC that features a global shutter. With a 24.6MP sensor, 759 autofocus points, and low-light autofocus down to -5 EV, it makes it an exceptional option for anyone who shoots in challenging environments. Pairing it with a flash and dedicated Sony lenses, you have a winner on your hands that offers great autofocus, image quality, and colors.
Sony A7R V
One of the highest megapixel cameras from Sony, the A7R V is perfect for street photography. It houses a 61MP back-illuminated CMOS sensor, BIONZ XR image processor, 15-stops dynamic range, AI processing unit, and 5-axis in-body image stabilization. It can create a composite of 240.8MP, 693-point high-density phase detection AF, and can shoot up to 10 fps with AF/AE tracking, up to 583 compressed RAW files. The camera can track vehicles, animals, and planes, and it also offers exceptional image quality, speed, and weather sealing. It is a workhorse that will not disappoint you.
Sony A7S III
Although the A7S III is designed for low-light photography, the camera is ideal for street photographers who shoot after dark. It houses a 12MP full-frame sensor, ISO up to 409,600, and a 9.44 million-dot EVF. The A7S III also features 15 stops of dynamic range, 5-axis optical image stabilization, as well as 759 phase-detection AF points and the ability to detect faces, eyes, and heads. For shooting speed, you get 10fps with continuous AF/AE. Some of its pros are the image quality, low-light capability, fast autofocus, weather sealing, and a decent battery life.