Sony A9 III RAW at a glance
| RAW format | ARW — Sony Alpha RAW (.ARW) |
|---|---|
| Sensor | 24 MP full-frame |
| Resolution | 24 megapixels |
| Typical RAW size | about 22-28 MB |
| Released | 2024 |
| RAW options | 14-bit ARW RAW with a choice of lossless-compressed or compressed capture; a global shutter enables up to 120 fps bursts. |
Editing A9 III files with imagic
imagic opens .ARW files from the Sony A9 III natively on Windows and macOS. Point it at a card or shoot folder and it builds previews, scores every frame for sharpness, closed eyes, and composition, and groups near-duplicate bursts — so a full shoot collapses to its keepers before you edit anything.
Processing runs through the bundled RawTherapee engine, entirely on your machine: batch-apply one look across the keepers and export JPEGs in a single pass. Nothing uploads, which matters at about 22-28 MB per frame. The 7-day trial is full-featured and needs no card; licenses are one-time, from €19.
Frequently asked questions
What RAW format does the Sony A9 III use?
The Sony A9 III writes ARW files with the .ARW extension. 14-bit ARW RAW with a choice of lossless-compressed or compressed capture; a global shutter enables up to 120 fps bursts.
How big are Sony A9 III RAW files?
Expect about 22-28 MB per frame from the 24 MP full-frame sensor, depending on compression settings and scene detail. A full shoot adds up quickly, which is why culling before editing matters on this body.
How can I open Sony A9 III .ARW files for free?
imagic opens ARW files from the Sony A9 III natively on Windows and macOS — the 7-day trial needs no card. It culls the shoot with AI quality scoring, groups duplicates, and batch-processes keepers locally through its RawTherapee engine.
More about ARW
The A9 III's .ARW files share their structure with every Sony body using ARW — the full ARW guide covers compression variants, free openers, and conversion options in depth.
Other Sony bodies
Cull a A9 III shoot before your coffee cools
AI quality scoring, duplicate grouping, and local batch processing for .ARW — free for 7 days, no card required.