Sony A9 III likely launching on November 8 as camera maker teases 'Special event' sparking speculation of LiDAR AF

The existence of the Sony A9 III has been known for a while now, but Sony has all but confirmed recent rumours of a November launch by announcing a "Special Event" for November 8 and November 9 2023. A machine translation of the event announcement reveals:

We will be holding a special event where you can pick up and experience the latest mirrorless α and lenses. We look forward to hosting talk events with professionals and a special photo booth.

While Sony obviously hasn't confirmed anything about the camera, recent — albeit tentative — rumours indicate that it will offer some rather potent competition for the likes of the Nikon Z 9.

Rumours from Sony Alpha Rumors indicate that the A9 III full-frame mirrorless camera will feature a 33 MP stacked CMOS sensor — a bump up from the A9 II's 24 MP — inside the same form factor as the existing Sony A1 body. Indications also point to burst speeds of 40 fps in 12-bit RAW and 30 fps in 14-bit RAW.

As for video, the field that kind of propelled Sony into the mirrorless limelight, it's expected that the A9 III will have improved video chops over the A9 II's 4K 30 fps and 1080p 120 fps recording.

Perhaps more intriguing is the recent speculation that the teaser Sony shared for the upcoming November 8 and 9 event might be a hint at a LiDAR-based autofocus system. The tech could conceivably help the camera lock and follow focus far more quickly and accurately, which would likely make the A9 III a go-to for the upcoming 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

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