Canon EOS R3vs Z50 IIvs Nikon Z9
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.
All-Round Photography — Z50 II (2024): Nikon's updated APS-C body with 4K/60p, improved subject tracking, and a vari-angle screen — a solid all-rounder.
Professional Sports & Wildlife — Nikon Z9 (2021): The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.
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
Z50 II (2024)
- You want a capable APS-C camera for travel, street, or everyday shooting
- You want improved autofocus over older Nikon APS-C bodies like the Z50 or Zfc
- You want a compact Nikon mirrorless body that uses the full Z lens system
Nikon Z9 (2021)
- You shoot professionally and need a camera body that handles everything without compromise
- You're a sports, wildlife, or commercial photographer who demands the absolute best
- You want a camera body that will remain state-of-the-art for the next decade
Quick take: The nikon z9 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the z50 ii is the most affordable; only the canon eos r3, nikon z9 are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | Z50 II (2024) | Nikon Z9 (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £899 | £5,499 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 20.9MP | 45.7MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 4K/60p uncropped, 1080p/120p, N-Log | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Phase-detect, 249 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | None (no IBIS) | 6-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~330 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 385g body only | 1340g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 127.0 × 96.8 × 66.5mm | 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | EVF, 2.36M dots | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Nikon Z-mount | Nikon Z-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN |
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