Canon EOS R3vs X-E4vs Sony A9 III
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.
Compact Street & Travel Photography — X-E4 (2021): The X-E4 is for photographers who want the minimum camera that still delivers maximum image quality. If you love shooting from the rear screen and want the smallest possible X-mount body, this is your camera. If you need a viewfinder or IBIS, look at the X-S20 or X-T30 II.
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
X-E4 (2021)
- Street photographers who prioritise portability and discretion
- Travel photographers packing minimally
- Fujifilm fans who shoot primarily from the rear screen
- Anyone who wants the X-Trans sensor in the smallest possible body
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 x-e4 has the highest resolution at 26mp; the x-e4 is the most affordable; only the canon eos r3, sony a9 iii are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | X-E4 (2021) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £699 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 26.1MP APS-C X-Trans CMOS IV | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 26.1MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 4K/30p, 1080p/240p slow-motion, F-Log | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Phase-detect, 425 points, face/Eye detection | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | None (no IBIS) | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 8fps mechanical, 20fps electronic | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~460 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 364g (body only) | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 121.3 × 72.9 × 32.7mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | None — rear screen only (EVF accessory available) | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fixed touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Fujifilm X-mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Single SD UHS-I | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
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