Canon EOS R3vs Z5 IIvs Z6 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 Z5 II Nikon Z5 II (2024) From £1299 Best for Full-frame value View Z5 II
VS
Nikon Z6 III Nikon Z6 III (2024) From £2199 Best for Hybrid video & action View Z6 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.

Full-Frame Value — Z5 II (2024): The most accessible full-frame mirrorless — dual card slots, weather sealing, and Nikon colour at a sensible price.

Hybrid Video & Action — Z6 III (2024): Partial-stacked FF sensor for near-zero blackout, 6K RAW video, and 60fps burst — Nikon's most capable hybrid.

↓ 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

Z5 II (2024)

  • You want full-frame image quality at the lowest possible entry price
  • You shoot stills primarily — portrait, landscape, or travel
  • You're upgrading from a DSLR and want a familiar but thoroughly modern Nikon experience

Z6 III (2024)

  • You need the best all-round full-frame camera in Nikon's Z system
  • You shoot in challenging or low light and need exceptional high-ISO performance
  • You want a hybrid body that genuinely excels at both professional stills and video

Quick take: The z5 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the z5 ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification Canon EOS R3 (2021)Z5 II (2024)Z6 III (2024)
Price £5,999 £1,299 £2,199
Sensor 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS 24.5MP Full-frame Partial-stacked CMOS
Resolution 24.1MP 24.5MP 24.5MP
Video 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log 6K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, N-Log, 10-bit
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle/aircraft)
Stabilisation 8-stop IBIS 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops 5-axis IBIS, 6.0 stops
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic
Battery Life 620 shots (CIPA) ~470 shots (CIPA) ~380 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1015g body only 700g body only 760g body only
Dimensions 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm 138.5 × 101.5 × 74.0mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.90× magnification
Screen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.2" tilting touchscreen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen
Mount Canon RF Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) Nikon Z-mount (full-frame)
Memory Cards Dual CFexpress Type B Dual SD UHS-II slots Dual slots: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II
Connectivity USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
⚡ Compare specs side by side Canon EOS R3 prices → Z5 II prices → Z6 III prices →

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