EOS R100vs Z30vs A7 III
Which should you buy?
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.
Travel & Everyday Video — Z30 (2022): Nikon's lightest Z-mount body — no fuss, excellent subject tracking, and a flip screen for creators.
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)
- First-time camera buyers stepping up from a smartphone
- Students and hobbyists wanting an affordable starting point
- Anyone who wants to start investing in Canon RF glass on a budget
- Casual photographers who don't need advanced video or speed
Z30 (2022)
- You create video content and want reliable Nikon colour science in a compact body
- You don't need a viewfinder and prioritise the vari-angle flip screen
- You're starting out with interchangeable lenses for content creation on a budget
A7 III (2018)
- Enthusiast photographers upgrading from APS-C for the first time
- Working photographers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Anyone who shoots in low light regularly
- Hybrid shooters needing both stills and video performance
Quick take: The a7 iii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the z30 is the most affordable; only the a7 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R100 (2023) | Z30 (2022) | A7 III (2018) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £529 | £479 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 20.9MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (slight crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 4K/60p (with crop), 1080p/120p | 4K/30p (6K oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, face detection, subject tracking | Phase-detect, 209 points, subject tracking (human/animal/vehicle) | 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 | 11fps | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ~300 shots (CIPA) | ~710 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 356g (body, battery, card) | 405g body only | 565g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 127.5 × 73.5 × 59.5mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification | None | 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 | Nikon Z-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual SD (UHS-II slot 1, UHS-I slot 2) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input, micro HDMI | USB-C (USB 3.2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
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