First Camera / Beginner Photography — EOS R100 (2023): The R100 does the basics well at the lowest possible price point. Its main value is as a gateway into the Canon RF ecosystem — the lenses you buy now will work on any Canon body you upgrade to later. Modest ambitions, reliably met.
Full-Frame Entry — EOS R8 (2023): Canon's most affordable full-frame mirrorless — 4K/60p 10-bit and class-leading Dual Pixel AF at an accessible entry price.
All-Round Photography & Video — A7 III (2018): Still one of the best all-round cameras money can buy — particularly strong used. The A7 III proved that full-frame doesn't have to mean compromises, and nothing at this price point has meaningfully beaten it.
Who should buy what
EOS R100 (2023)
EOS R8 (2023)
A7 III (2018)
Quick take: The eos r8 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the eos r100 is the most affordable; only the a7 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R100 (2023) | EOS R8 (2023) | A7 III (2018) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £529 | £1,099 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (slight crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/60p oversampled 10-bit, FHD/180p | 4K/30p (6K oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, face detection, subject tracking | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 1053 zones, eye/face/subject tracking | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 6.5fps mechanical | 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~710 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 356g (body, battery, card) | 461g body only | 565g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 132.5 × 86.1 × 70.0mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Canon RF mount (full-frame) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual SD (UHS-II slot 1, UHS-I slot 2) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C (USB 3.2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
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