Canon EOS R3vs Z50 IIvs A7S 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.
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 Video & Low-Light Filmmaking — A7S III (2020): If video is your primary discipline, the A7S III is the camera. 4K/120p at 10-bit in a weather-sealed body with a 9.44M dot EVF is an extraordinary package. The 12MP sensor isn't limiting for video — and it's usable at ISO 409,600 in a pinch.
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
A7S III (2020)
- Filmmakers and videographers who need 4K/120p at 10-bit
- Event videographers who shoot in dark venues regularly
- Documentary filmmakers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Hybrid shooters where video is primary and stills are secondary
Quick take: The canon eos r3 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the z50 ii is the most affordable; only the canon eos r3, a7s iii are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | Z50 II (2024) | A7S III (2020) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £899 | £2,999 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 20.9MP APS-C CMOS | 12.1MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS (12-bit, back-illuminated) |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 20.9MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 4K/60p uncropped, 1080p/120p, N-Log | 4K/120p 10-bit, 4K/60p 10-bit S-Cinetone/S-Log3, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Phase-detect, 249 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | Phase-detect, 759 points, real-time Eye AF (human & animal), subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | None (no IBIS) | 5.5-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~330 shots (CIPA) | ~600 shots (CIPA) / ~70min continuous 4K recording |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 385g body only | 699g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 127.0 × 96.8 × 66.5mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | EVF, 2.36M dots | OLED EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification — best EVF Sony has made |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.44M dots |
| Mount | Canon RF | Nikon Z-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Single SD UHS-I slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II (both slots) |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), full-size HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth |
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