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.
Professional Video & Low-Light Filmmaking — A7S III (2020): If video is your primary discipline, the A7S III is the camera. 4K/120p at 10-bit in a weather-sealed body with a 9.44M dot EVF is an extraordinary package. The 12MP sensor isn't limiting for video — and it's usable at ISO 409,600 in a pinch.
Pocket Vlogging — ZV-1 II (2023): The best pocket vlogging camera — 1-inch sensor, ultrawide zoom, flip screen, and real-time Eye AF in a shirt pocket.
Who should buy what
EOS R100 (2023)
A7S III (2020)
ZV-1 II (2023)
Quick take: The eos r100 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the eos r100 is the most affordable; only the a7s iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R100 (2023) | A7S III (2020) | ZV-1 II (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £529 | £2,999 | £649 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP APS-C CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 12.1MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (slight crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, face detection, subject tracking | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition | Phase-detect + contrast, 315 points, Real-time Eye AF |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5.5-stop IBIS | Optical SteadyShot (OIS) |
| Burst Rate | 6.5fps mechanical | 10fps mechanical | 15fps |
| Battery Life | ~270 shots (CIPA) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 356g (body, battery, card) | 699g (body, battery, card) | 292g |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm | 105.5 × 60.0 × 43.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made | None |
| Screen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Sony E-mount | Fixed zoom — 18–50mm f/1.8–4.0 equiv |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic input |
Compare pairs from this group