Canon EOS R3vs EOS RPvs Z5 II
Canon
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
From £5999
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
View Canon EOS R3
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.
Entry Full-Frame Stills Photography — EOS RP (2019): An affordable gateway into the RF system. The RP makes sense as a stepping stone camera — if you're committed to Canon RF glass, this is the cheapest full-frame body to buy those lenses for. Just manage expectations on video and battery life.
Full-Frame Value — Z5 II (2024): The most accessible full-frame mirrorless — dual card slots, weather sealing, and Nikon colour at a sensible price.
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 RP (2019)
- Canon users who want to start investing in RF glass affordably
- Stills photographers who shoot primarily in good light
- Anyone coming from a Canon DSLR wanting the RF system at low cost
- Travel photographers who prioritise compactness over video specs
Z5 II (2024)
- You want full-frame image quality at the lowest possible entry price
- You shoot stills primarily — portrait, landscape, or travel
- You're upgrading from a DSLR and want a familiar but thoroughly modern Nikon experience
Quick take: The eos rp has the highest resolution at 26mp; the eos rp is the most affordable; only the canon eos r3, z5 ii are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | EOS RP (2019) | Z5 II (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £799 | £1,299 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 26.2MP | 24.5MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 4K/24p (with 1.7× crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4779 manually selectable positions | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 5fps mechanical | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~250 shots (CIPA) — very limited | ~470 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 485g (body, battery, card) | 700g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 132.5 × 85.0 × 70.0mm | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Canon RF-mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Single SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
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