Canon EOS R3vs EOS R8vs 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.
Full-Frame Entry — EOS R8 (2023): Canon's most affordable full-frame mirrorless — 4K/60p 10-bit and class-leading Dual Pixel AF at an accessible entry price.
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 R8 (2023)
- You want full-frame image quality on a tight budget
- You shoot mainly in good light and can live without built-in stabilisation
- You primarily shoot stills with occasional video
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 r8 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the olympus om-d e-m5 iii 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 R8 (2023) | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £1,099 | £699 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 24.2MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 24.2MP | 20.4MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 4K/60p oversampled 10-bit, FHD/180p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 1053 zones, eye/face/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 | 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~220 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 461g body only | 414g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 132.5 × 86.1 × 70.0mm | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Canon RF mount (full-frame) | 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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