Canon EOS R3vs Z5 IIvs 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
Nikon Z5 II Nikon Z5 II (2024) From £1299 Best for Full-frame value View Z5 II
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.

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

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

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

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 z5 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; 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)Z5 II (2024)Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
Price £5,999 £1,299 £699
Sensor 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS
Resolution 24.1MP 24.5MP 20.4MP
Video 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log 4K/30p, 1080p/120p
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection
Stabilisation 8-stop IBIS 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical
Battery Life 620 shots (CIPA) ~470 shots (CIPA) 390 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1015g body only 700g body only 414g body only
Dimensions 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots
Screen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.2" tilting touchscreen 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen
Mount Canon RF Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) Micro Four Thirds
Memory Cards Dual CFexpress Type B Dual SD UHS-II slots Single SD UHS-I
Connectivity USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
⚡ Compare specs side by side Canon EOS R3 prices → Z5 II prices → Olympus OM-D E-M5 III prices →

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