Canon EOS R3vs Z5 IIvs Nikon Zf

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 Nikon Zf Nikon Nikon Zf (2023) From £1699 Best for Street & travel photography View Nikon Zf

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.

Street & Travel Photography — Nikon Zf (2023): Full-frame performance in a stunning retro body — the Zf's 8-stop IBIS and gorgeous design make it uniquely compelling.

↓ 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

Nikon Zf (2023)

  • You want full-frame quality in a compact, beautiful camera you'll genuinely love carrying
  • You appreciate analogue-inspired design alongside modern digital performance
  • You shoot street, travel, or lifestyle and want a camera that feels special to use

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)Nikon Zf (2023)
Price £5,999 £1,299 £1,699
Sensor 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS
Resolution 24.1MP 24.5MP 24.5MP
Video 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log 4K/30p oversampled, FHD/120p, 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)
Stabilisation 8-stop IBIS 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops 5-axis IBIS, 8.0 stops
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic
Battery Life 620 shots (CIPA) ~470 shots (CIPA) ~380 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1015g body only 700g body only 710g with battery
Dimensions 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm 144.0 × 103.0 × 49.0mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification
Screen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.2" tilting touchscreen 3.2" vari-angle 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 Single SD UHS-II slot
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 → Nikon Zf prices →

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