Canon EOS R3vs Canon EOS R5 Mark IIvs Sony A9 III
Canon
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
From £5999
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
View Canon EOS R3
Canon
Canon EOS R5 Mark II (2024)
From £4299
Best for Hybrid shooters & professionals
View Canon EOS R5 Mark II
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 & 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
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
Sony A9 III (2023)
- You shoot professional sport, motorsport, or action and need zero rolling shutter distortion
- You need reliable high-speed flash sync for studio or on-location action work
- You want the absolute pinnacle of Sony's action and sports camera technology
Quick take: The canon eos r5 mark ii has the highest resolution at 45mp; 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) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £4,299 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 45MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 45.0MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, Cinema RAW Light | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, AI subject tracking | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | 8-stop IBIS (coordinated with IS lenses) | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | 570 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 746g body only | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 138.5 × 101.2 × 93.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | 0.64" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Canon RF | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| 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 A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
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