How to Open a7r III Raw Files with Lightroom

As of now Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw does not officially support the new Sony a7r III raw files. Here is a workaround / hack to let us work with the new files before Adobe updates their software. We will need to change the exif information using exiftool, which can be downloaded here - https://www.sno.phy.queensu.ca/~phil/exiftool/

Here is the key information Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw looks for in the exif info.  View the exif on your a7r iii raw file and you will see this.

White Balance Fine Tune : 0
White Balance : Auto
Sony Model ID : ILCE-7RM3 
Multi Frame Noise Reduction : Off
Picture Effect : Off

We need to change that with exiftool to make Adobe think it's an a7r ii raw file.


Here's the exiftool command.

• For single files
• exiftool -sonymodelid="ILCE-7RM2" RAW FILE
• For all the files in the directory
• exiftool -sonymodelid="ILCE-7RM2" -ext ARW -r DIRECTORY

And the exif will be revised as follows

White Balance Fine Tune : 0
White Balance : Auto
Sony Model ID : ILCE-7RM2 
Multi Frame Noise Reduction : Off
Picture Effect : Off

Now Lightroom and Adobe Camera Raw can open our a7r iii raw files.  Happy editing.