Canon EOS R3vs X-A7vs 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.
Beginner Fujifilm — X-A7 (2019): The most affordable X-mount entry — Fujifilm colour and film simulations with a large flip screen for beginners.
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
X-A7 (2019)
- You want an affordable first mirrorless with decent video capabilities
- You shoot a lot of selfie-style content or vlog on a budget
- Note: no viewfinder and limited lens support — the X-T30 II is a better long-term investment
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 x-a7 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the x-a7 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) | X-A7 (2019) | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £399 | £699 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS (Bayer, not X-Trans) | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 24.2MP | 20.4MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 4K/30p, 1080p/60p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Phase-detect + contrast, 425 points | 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 | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~440 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 320g body only | 414g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 118.0 × 80.6 × 55.2mm | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | None | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.5" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Fujifilm X-mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Single SD UHS-I slot | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, micro HDMI | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
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