Canon EOS R3vs EOS R50vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Canon
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
From £5999
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
View Canon EOS R3
OM System
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
From £699
Best for Travel & lightweight outdoor photography
View Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
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.
Beginners & Family — EOS R50 (2023): Canon's most beginner-friendly RF body — Dual Pixel AF and beautiful colour science in an approachable package.
Travel & Lightweight Outdoor Photography — Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019): The lightest weather-sealed MFT camera — compact, travel-friendly, and capable with 7.5-stop IBIS in a body that fits in a jacket pocket.
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
EOS R50 (2023)
- You're completely new to mirrorless cameras and want something uncomplicated
- You create vertical content for TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts
- You want great autofocus without needing to understand complex menus
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
- You want a lightweight, sealed camera for travel and outdoor photography
- You're new to Micro Four Thirds and want a capable mid-range body with excellent stabilisation
- Note: consider the newer OM-5 for updated specs in a similar compact form factor
Quick take: The eos r50 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the eos r50 is the most affordable; only the canon eos r3, olympus om-d e-m5 iii are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | EOS R50 (2023) | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £599 | £699 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 24.2MP | 20.4MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 4K/30p (uncropped 4K/24p), FHD/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, face/eye/subject tracking | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | None (no IBIS) | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 12fps mechanical, 15fps electronic | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~380 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 375g body only | 414g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | EVF, 2.36M dots | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Canon RF-S / RF | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Single SD UHS-II slot | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
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