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.
Hybrid Video & Photography — Lumix S5 II (2023): Phase-detect AF changed everything for Lumix — the S5 II delivers exceptional hybrid performance with 6K video and genuine full-frame value.
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
Who should buy what
EOS R100 (2023)
Lumix S5 II (2023)
Sony A9 III (2023)
Quick take: The sony a9 iii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the eos r100 is the most affordable; only the lumix s5 ii, sony a9 iii are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R100 (2023) | Lumix S5 II (2023) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £529 | £1,999 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 24.2MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (slight crop), 1080p/60p | 6K/30p, 4K/60p, C4K/60p, V-Log | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, face detection, subject tracking | Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS (up to 6.5-stop with OIS lenses) | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 6.5fps mechanical | 30fps electronic / 7fps mechanical | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 356g (body, battery, card) | 740g body only | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 134.3 × 102.3 × 90.1mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification | 0.76" OLED EVF, 3.68M dots | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Leica L-mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.1, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
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