Canon EOS R3vs Canon EOS R5 Mark IIvs Nikon Z9

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 Z9 Nikon Nikon Z9 (2021) From £5499 Best for Professional sports & wildlife View Nikon Z9

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.

Professional Sports & Wildlife — Nikon Z9 (2021): The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.

↓ 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 Z9 (2021)

  • You shoot professionally and need a camera body that handles everything without compromise
  • You're a sports, wildlife, or commercial photographer who demands the absolute best
  • You want a camera body that will remain state-of-the-art for the next decade

Quick take: The nikon z9 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the canon eos r5 mark ii 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 Z9 (2021)
Price £5,999 £4,299 £5,499
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/30p 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) 740 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1015g body only 746g body only 1340g body only
Dimensions 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm 138.5 × 101.2 × 93.5mm 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm
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, LAN
⚡ Compare specs side by side Canon EOS R3 prices → Canon EOS R5 Mark II prices → Nikon Z9 prices →

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