Canon EOS R3vs Nikon D7500vs Pentax K-3 Mark 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
Nikon Nikon D7500 Nikon Nikon D7500 (2017) From £899 Best for Sports, travel & DSLR shooters View Nikon D7500
VS
Pentax Pentax K-3 Mark III Pentax Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) From £1699 Best for DSLR enthusiasts & outdoor photographers View Pentax K-3 Mark 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.

Sports, Travel & Dslr Shooters — Nikon D7500 (2017): The D500's BSI sensor in a compact, weather-sealed body — excellent high-ISO performance and DSLR reliability at a great price.

Dslr Enthusiasts & Outdoor Photographers — Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021): The finest APS-C DSLR ever made — class-leading weather sealing, optical viewfinder, 5-axis IBIS, and extraordinary build for photographers committed to DSLR.

↓ 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

Nikon D7500 (2017)

  • You're deeply invested in Nikon F-mount glass and aren't ready to switch systems
  • You shoot wildlife or sport and still prefer an optical viewfinder response
  • Note: consider the Z5 II or Z6 III if you're open to mirrorless for a future-proof investment

Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)

  • You're a committed DSLR photographer with significant investment in Pentax glass
  • You shoot in extreme weather conditions and place build quality and reliability above everything
  • You prefer optical viewfinder performance and want the best modern APS-C DSLR available

Quick take: The pentax k-3 mark iii has the highest resolution at 26mp; the nikon d7500 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification Canon EOS R3 (2021)Nikon D7500 (2017)Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
Price £5,999 £899 £1,699
Sensor 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 20.9MP APS-C BSI CMOS (D500 sensor) 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless)
Resolution 24.1MP 20.9MP 25.7MP
Video 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p 4K/30p (slight crop), FHD/60p 4K/30p, 1080p/60p
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF Multi-CAM 3500FX II, 51 points (15 cross-type) SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type)
Stabilisation 8-stop IBIS None (no IBIS) 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III)
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 8fps mechanical 12fps
Battery Life 620 shots (CIPA) ~950 shots (CIPA with OVF) 800 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1015g body only 640g body only 820g body only
Dimensions 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm 135.5 × 104.0 × 72.5mm 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.94× magnification Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification
Screen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.2" tilting touchscreen 3.2" tilting touchscreen
Mount Canon RF Nikon F-mount (DX) Pentax KF-mount
Memory Cards Dual CFexpress Type B Single SD UHS-II slot Dual SD UHS-II
Connectivity USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN USB Micro-B, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
⚡ Compare specs side by side Canon EOS R3 prices → Nikon D7500 prices → Pentax K-3 Mark III prices →

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