Why is A7S III Not Netflix Approved? (Explained)

A preproduction model of the A7S III was recently available to test by YouTube creators. Kai W, Gerald Undone and Justine Ezarik. No doubt, this is a powerful mirrorless camera.

Now, let’s talk about its status with Netflix, shall we?

Netflix remains an unbeatable streaming service. The brand publishes the key specs that a camera should have to win its approval.

While Sony A7S III meets the minimum requirements of a Netflix-approved camera (with its UHD 4K sensor), you might be wondering why it’s not approved yet? Here’s what I discovered:

Sony A7S III is a fantastic mirrorless camera but it’s not Netflix approved. Netflix considers the dynamic range, form factor, and workflow of each camera model before approving it. A7S III lacks the capture color science of S-Gamut3.cine, and the files produced don’t maintain all metadata (such as tape name, frame rate, ISO, and timecode).

If you’re planning on making a film and looking for the best camera for the job, the A7S III could be the perfect choice.

Its price is a bit high, but the features make up for it.

Sony a7S III

While the Sony a7S III isn’t Netflix approved, it’s still a great camera for many productions. The S1H is better for event and wedding shooters, but it can also do great work in many other genres.

Both cameras can be used as B-cams for cinema cameras, but the Sony a7S III excels in these fields. The S1H, on the other hand, is designed for use as a B-cam for cinema cameras, such as the Panasonic Varicam. Both cameras feature robustness and reliability, which are important for outdoor shooting.

While it is not officially Netflix approved, the a7S III is already on the list of cameras that work well for capturing video.

It’s capable of recording 4K video and also has a time code, making it a good choice for B-roll shooting. However, while the Sony a7S III isn’t yet Netflix approved, it does have the same advantages as the a9 and is likely to get 4K certification in the near future.

In terms of resolution, the Sony a7S III is far more advanced than the Canon 5d Mark IV.

The latter’s 100Mbit, 8-bit 4:2:0 video format is more closely suited to pro video and cinema. However, the Sony a7S II doesn’t support 16-bit RAW and its 4K internal recording format is only a few megapixels. And the Sony A7S III is the most expensive model in the list.

Arri Alexa XT

Unless you’re trying to get your hands on a new camera for a low-budget shoot, there’s no need to worry about whether or not you’re going to meet the required resolution standards for Netflix. Thankfully, there are some affordable options that will work fine. These include the Panasonic S1h, Blackmagic Ursa, and Sony Fs7. However, if you’re after a larger-screen experience, the Arri Alexa XT, Mini, and Amira will not get you approved.

Among the new Canon cameras, the PMW-F5 and FS7M2 are now approved by Netflix. The HDC-4300 and PXW-Z450 have also been approved. And of course, the RED cameras are on Netflix’s approved list. But there’s still one ARRI camera on the market: the Alexa 65. Netflix has made it clear that the LF camera is not the best choice.

Arri Alexa Mini

After the ALEXA 65 was approved for use in original Netflix productions, the ARRI Alexa Mini has now been added to the list of Netflix-approved cameras. Before this, the only ARRI camera approved for use on the streaming giant’s network was the ALEXA 65. The mini-format camera is an affordable handheld that can be easily used for smaller-scale productions. While this is a great development, some ARRI users have expressed frustration with the lack of approval.

The LF version of the Alexa Mini combines a large-format sensor with the popular Alexa Mini body. The camera is compatible with all PL-mount lenses and boasts Netflix-approved up to 60fps UHD. Among its many new features is a PL-to-LPL adapter. Because of this, it can be used with any existing PL-mount lenses.

The new RED RANGER GEMINI and HELIUM have been added to the list of Netflix-approved cameras. The Arri Alexa Mini has yet to be added. But the company is planning to release its Venice camera soon. This camera is an amazing production tool. So what should filmmakers do to get their hands on one? Here are some helpful hints:

Sony FS7

The Sony FS7 has been removed from the Netflix Approved Camera List. The FX6 is now part of the list. Like the other cameras, the FX6 must meet minimum resolution, and capture specifications as well as workflow compatibility with Netflix. The FX6 is currently shipping and was first teased by Sony in September. The FX6 can record 4K video, but it doesn’t support anamorphic capture.

The FS7 is not yet available new but there are many second-hand ones available for around $2000 and less. The Sony FX6 is among the best sub-$10K cameras on the market, while the Sony FS7 is not approved for Netflix.

While these two cameras are close to each other in price, the FX6 is slightly cheaper than the FS7 and can shoot 16-bit 4K raw.

Although the FS7 is not yet Netflix approved, the camera’s price tag shouldn’t prevent you from shooting on it. If you’re going to shoot on Netflix, you’ll need to shoot in 4K, which means using a camera with a resolution of at least 4096 photo sites.

And the Sony F5 is not approved either, so you’ll need to consider other options.

You’ll need to shoot a framing chart and use a dailies pipeline before principal photography. Then, the film’s footage will be shared with post-production and VFX to get the best-looking results.

Sony FS7 vs Sony a7S III

The main differences between the Sony a7S III and the Sony FS7 are primarily a matter of form and performance.

The a7S III is targeted toward photographers who want to shoot video as well as stills, while the FS7 is focused on capturing video.

Both cameras feature 5-axis image stabilization and internal 4k recording. Both cameras offer fast autofocusing and extra-strong image stabilization, and both are priced competitively.

The FS7 has a smaller, more compact body and a smaller lens. It weighs just 139 grams, but the Sony A7S III is considerably thicker with the addition of a lens. Both cameras offer 4K video, so you’ll probably be shooting more 4K. But the A7S III’s sensor is more advanced, and a better camera will give you better results.

The two cameras are also equipped with similar lenses.

Both cameras are able to use S-35 windowing, which is commonly known as APS-C mode. However, most shooting nowadays takes place in 4K mode, which is the standard.

However, Sony compatible lenses work in full-frame mode, which has a wider field of view. Full-frame modes also have a higher resolution, but that comes with a higher price tag.

Sony a7S III specs

The Sony A7S II was ahead of its time when it came out, but the upcoming A7S III is already on schedule and is expected to leapfrog over the competition.

The category of cameras with good video capability has grown, but Sony has not been keeping up with the changes.

Some cameras can already record up to 4K 60p videos. Sony will need to offer 4K 120p and up, along with better bit rate and compression.

For video recording, the camera features a 9.44 million-dot QXGA OLED electronic viewfinder. The AF system supports HLG for instant HDR, and you can even record at ISO 160.

It retains the NP-FZ100 battery pack, and it has a 60% improvement in battery life. However, you should be aware that the camera does not have a built-in GPS.

The Sony Alpha 1 can shoot images up to 50MP at 30fps with autofocus tracking. This is similar to the APS-C sensors used in MacBooks.

The APS-C sensor and Exmor-Bionz image processing system help to provide the high-resolution image quality. Sony a7S III specs not Netflix approved

Sony a7S III price

The Sony a7S III has been on the market since 2011 and is already one of the best-selling video-centric mirrorless cameras on the market.

It is still not a perfect video camera, but it’s already ahead of the competition in several areas.

One of these areas is the video quality. The a7S III has some of the best video specs of any mirrorless camera, with the lowest rolling shutter measured among competitors. In addition, it’s one of the only cameras with full-frame 4K 120p recording.

The Sony a7S III has many advantages. It supports slow-motion recording, HLG for instant HDR, S-Log2/S-Log3 gamma profiles, and full-frame recording at up to 4K resolution.

Another major advantage of this camera is its high battery life – the Sony a7S III offers up to five hours of continuous shooting on a single charge.

Conclusion

A 7S III could be even better than its predecessor. The video specs are expected to be just as impressive, but Sony might surprise us with something new.

The camera is likely to have video specifications of 6K or even 8K.

That would be a major selling point for videographers, who are likely to be especially happy with the resolution.

And with 42 megapixels, it’s also possible that the camera will be more affordable than it currently is.