Canon EOS R3vs Canon EOS R5 Mark IIvs Nikon Z8

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

Canon Canon EOS R3 Canon Canon EOS R3 (2021) From £5999 Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals View Canon EOS R3
VS
Canon Canon EOS R5 Mark II Canon Canon EOS R5 Mark II (2024) From £4299 Best for Hybrid shooters & professionals View Canon EOS R5 Mark II
VS
Nikon Nikon Z8 Nikon Nikon Z8 (2023) From £3999 Best for Sports, wildlife & hybrid professionals View Nikon Z8

Which should you buy?

Sports & Photojournalism Professionals — Canon EOS R3 (2021): The pinnacle of Canon's mirrorless lineup for speed — Eye Control AF and 30fps burst in the most rugged body Canon has ever produced.

Hybrid Shooters & Professionals — Canon EOS R5 Mark II (2024): The most complete hybrid camera Canon has ever made — 45MP stacked BSI, 30fps burst, 8K/60p RAW, and Canon's legendary Dual Pixel AF in one body.

Sports, Wildlife & Hybrid Professionals — Nikon Z8 (2023): Z9 performance in a compact body — 45MP, 8K/60p RAW, and 20fps burst without the bulk or price of the flagship.

↓ Full specifications below

Canon EOS R3 (2021)

  • You shoot sport, motorsport, wildlife, or news at a professional level
  • You need Canon's most reliable and fastest autofocus available
  • You need extreme weather sealing for demanding shooting conditions

Canon EOS R5 Mark II (2024)

  • You're a working photographer or filmmaker who needs high-resolution stills and professional video
  • You shoot commercial, editorial, or high-end portrait work
  • You want the absolute best Canon mirrorless has to offer

Nikon Z8 (2023)

  • You need Z9-level performance in a more travel-friendly and portable body
  • You shoot wildlife, weddings, or sport and need exceptional resolution with speed
  • You want the best Nikon mirrorless body available without carrying the full Z9

Quick take: The nikon z8 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the nikon z8 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification Canon EOS R3 (2021)Canon EOS R5 Mark II (2024)Nikon Z8 (2023)
Price £5,999 £4,299 £3,999
Sensor 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 45MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS
Resolution 24.1MP 45.0MP 45.7MP
Video 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, Cinema RAW Light 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, AI subject tracking Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect
Stabilisation 8-stop IBIS 8-stop IBIS (coordinated with IS lenses) 6-stop IBIS
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG
Battery Life 620 shots (CIPA) 570 shots (CIPA) 330 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1015g body only 746g body only 910g body only
Dimensions 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm 138.5 × 101.2 × 93.5mm 144.0 × 118.5 × 83.0mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps 0.64" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps
Screen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.2" tilting touchscreen
Mount Canon RF Canon RF Nikon Z-mount
Memory Cards Dual CFexpress Type B CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD
Connectivity USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth
⚡ Compare specs side by side Canon EOS R3 prices → Canon EOS R5 Mark II prices → Nikon Z8 prices →

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