CAMERA FIELD NOTES / SONY
A7 III.
Which files should you keep?
Explore a compressed ARW sample and estimate the space your A7 III workflow needs.
Calculate my storage ↓14-bit compressed RAW · ARW · View the CC0 source ↗
01 / LOOK CLOSER
One capture. Two renderings.
Drag to compare the camera’s embedded JPEG preview
with a developed RAW export.
What you’re seeing: a camera preview versus a RAW developed with camera white balance. Preview resolution and processing differ. This is a rendering comparison, not a controlled test of highlight recovery or format superiority. See the exact method →
A measured sample, not a camera average.
The archive identifies this camera as ILCE-7M3 and this capture as 14-bit compressed RAW. Use this measured file as a compressed-mode reference, not a size estimate for an uncompressed workflow.
Plan a year of photographs.
RAW uses this sample’s exact byte count. JPEG assumes 8 MB per photograph for planning; replace that estimate in the calculator with your own file size. All values below are decimal GB, before backup copies.
| Photos / year | JPEG (8 MB estimate) | RAW (measured sample) | RAW + JPEG |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 | 8 GB | 25.6 GB | 33.6 GB |
| 5,000 | 40 GB | 128.2 GB | 168.2 GB |
| 10,000 | 80 GB | 256.4 GB | 336.4 GB |
| 50,000 | 400 GB | 1,282 GB | 1,682 GB |
Questions about this sample
Why does the source say ILCE-7M3?
ILCE-7M3 is the model identifier used in the archive for this A7 III sample. The source record and checksum remain available so you can verify the exact file.
Does the calculator use uncompressed ARW sizes?
No. The default comes from this compressed ARW file. If you save uncompressed RAW, enter the size of a representative file from that workflow.
Is the Sony preview suitable for comparing full-resolution detail?
No. This sample has an embedded preview that is smaller than the decoded RAW image. The slider is useful for comparing renderings, while a controlled sharpness test needs a separate full-resolution JPEG.
02 / PLAN YOUR SPACE
What does shooting RAW cost?
Your photos, your file sizes, your budget.
A transparent estimate, without a shopping pitch.
YOUR ESTIMATED ANNUAL STORAGE
3 × 128 GB of cumulative card capacity
COMPARE ALL THREE FORMATS
- JPEG
- 80 GB
- RAW
- 256.4 GB
- RAW + JPEG
- 336.4 GB
Cards show cumulative capacity for a year, not how many cards you must own. Each local copy uses separate new drives; cloud cost is prorated storage, not a provider quote. Prices above are editable examples.
1 drive per copy × 2 separate local copies