Canon EOS R3vs Z5 IIvs Sony A9 III
Canon
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
From £5999
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
View Canon EOS R3
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.
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
Who should buy what
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
Sony A9 III (2023)
- You shoot professional sport, motorsport, or action and need zero rolling shutter distortion
- You need reliable high-speed flash sync for studio or on-location action work
- You want the absolute pinnacle of Sony's action and sports camera technology
Quick take: The sony a9 iii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the z5 ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | Z5 II (2024) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £1,299 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 24.5MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~470 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 700g body only | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual CFexpress Type A / 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, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
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