Canon EOS R3vs Lumix S5vs Nikon Z9

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
Lumix Lumix S5 Lumix Lumix S5 (2020) From £1699 Best for Professional video & hybrid shooting View Lumix S5
VS
Nikon Nikon Z9 Nikon Nikon Z9 (2021) From £5499 Best for Professional sports & wildlife View Nikon Z9

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 Video & Hybrid Shooting — Lumix S5 (2020): The S5 is an outstanding video camera that also takes excellent stills. 10-bit 4K/60p, dual native ISO and 6.5-stop IBIS in a weather-sealed body is a compelling package. The contrast-detect AF is its main weakness vs Sony and Canon — but for controlled shooting it doesn't hold it back.

Professional Sports & Wildlife — Nikon Z9 (2021): The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.

↓ 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

Lumix S5 (2020)

  • Videographers who need 10-bit colour science in a full-frame body
  • Photographers who shoot video as a second discipline
  • Studio photographers who want full-frame IBIS at a lower price
  • L-mount system users building a versatile kit

Nikon Z9 (2021)

  • You shoot professionally and need a camera body that handles everything without compromise
  • You're a sports, wildlife, or commercial photographer who demands the absolute best
  • You want a camera body that will remain state-of-the-art for the next decade

Quick take: The nikon z9 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the lumix s5 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification Canon EOS R3 (2021)Lumix S5 (2020)Nikon Z9 (2021)
Price £5,999 £1,699 £5,499
Sensor 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 24.2MP Full-Frame CMOS 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS
Resolution 24.1MP 24.2MP 45.7MP
Video 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p 4K/60p 10-bit V-Log/HLG, 5.9K anamorphic, 1080p/180p slow-motion 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF Contrast AF (DFD Technology), face/eye detection Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect
Stabilisation 8-stop IBIS 6.5-stop IBIS (dual IBIS with Lumix S lenses) 6-stop IBIS
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 7fps mechanical, 9fps electronic (AFS) 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG
Battery Life 620 shots (CIPA) ~470 shots (CIPA) 740 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1015g body only 714g (body, battery, card) 1340g body only
Dimensions 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm 132.6 × 97.1 × 81.9mm 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps
Screen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.84M dots 3.2" tilting touchscreen
Mount Canon RF Leica L-mount Nikon Z-mount
Memory Cards Dual CFexpress Type B Dual SD UHS-II Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD
Connectivity USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 1), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN
⚡ Compare specs side by side Canon EOS R3 prices → Lumix S5 prices → Nikon Z9 prices →

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