Canon EOS R3vs Leica SL3vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 III

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

Canon Canon EOS R3 Canon Canon EOS R3 (2021) From £5999 Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals View Canon EOS R3
VS
Leica Leica SL3 Leica Leica SL3 (2024) From £6499 Best for Professional & luxury hybrid shooters View Leica SL3
VS
OM System Olympus OM-D E-M5 III 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.

Professional & Luxury Hybrid Shooters — Leica SL3 (2024): Leica's most capable mirrorless — 60MP, 30fps burst, 8K ProRes, and 7.5-stop IBIS with L-mount's growing lens ecosystem.

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.

↓ Full specifications below

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

Leica SL3 (2024)

  • You want Leica image quality with the convenience of autofocus and interchangeable lenses
  • You shoot portraits, commercial, or editorial and want the best Leica system camera
  • You plan to use Leica M lenses via adapter alongside native SL glass

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 leica sl3 has the highest resolution at 60mp; the olympus om-d e-m5 iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification Canon EOS R3 (2021)Leica SL3 (2024)Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
Price £5,999 £6,499 £699
Sensor 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 60MP full-frame BSI CMOS 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS
Resolution 24.1MP 60.0MP 20.4MP
Video 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p 8K/30p, 4K/60p, Apple ProRes 4K/30p, 1080p/120p
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF Phase-detect AF with subject/face/eye detection Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection
Stabilisation 8-stop IBIS 7.5-stop IBIS 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 30fps electronic 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical
Battery Life 620 shots (CIPA) 410 shots (CIPA) 390 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1015g body only 875g body only 414g body only
Dimensions 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm 146.0 × 104.0 × 42.0mm 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps 0.78" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots
Screen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.2" fixed touchscreen 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen
Mount Canon RF Leica L-mount Micro Four Thirds
Memory Cards Dual CFexpress Type B Dual SD UHS-II Single SD UHS-I
Connectivity USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN USB-C 3.1, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
⚡ Compare specs side by side Canon EOS R3 prices → Leica SL3 prices → Olympus OM-D E-M5 III prices →

Compare pairs from this group