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.
All-Round Photography — Z50 II (2024): Nikon's updated APS-C body with 4K/60p, improved subject tracking, and a vari-angle screen — a solid all-rounder.
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)
Z50 II (2024)
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 sony a9 iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R100 (2023) | Z50 II (2024) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £529 | £899 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 20.9MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (slight crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/60p uncropped, 1080p/120p, N-Log | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, face detection, subject tracking | Phase-detect, 249 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | None (no IBIS) | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 6.5fps mechanical | 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ~330 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 356g (body, battery, card) | 385g body only | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 127.0 × 96.8 × 66.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification | EVF, 2.36M 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 | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
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