Canon EOS R3vs Z6 IIvs Z6 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 Full-Frame Photography — Z6 II (2020): The Z6 II is the Nikon most photographers should buy. It's balanced across every discipline — stills, video, autofocus, weather sealing — without overpaying for megapixels you don't need. The Z-mount glass is superb.
Hybrid Video & Action — Z6 III (2024): Partial-stacked FF sensor for near-zero blackout, 6K RAW video, and 60fps burst — Nikon's most capable hybrid.
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
Z6 II (2020)
- Nikon DSLR users ready to move to mirrorless
- Photographers who need a reliable all-rounder without specialising
- Video creators wanting 4K/60p in a weather-sealed body
- Enthusiasts who shoot everything from portraits to travel
Z6 III (2024)
- You need the best all-round full-frame camera in Nikon's Z system
- You shoot in challenging or low light and need exceptional high-ISO performance
- You want a hybrid body that genuinely excels at both professional stills and video
Quick take: The z6 ii has the highest resolution at 24mp; the z6 ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | Z6 II (2020) | Z6 III (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £1,699 | £2,199 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 24.5MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 24.5MP Full-frame Partial-stacked CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 24.5MP | 24.5MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 4K/60p, 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion | 6K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, N-Log, 10-bit |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Phase-detect, 273 points, Eye AF, subject tracking | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle/aircraft) |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops (up to 6 stops with VR lenses) | 5-axis IBIS, 6.0 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 14fps mechanical, 14fps electronic (12-bit RAW) | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~410 shots (CIPA) | ~380 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 705g (body, battery, card) | 760g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.5mm | 138.5 × 101.5 × 74.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.90× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.1M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Nikon Z-mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Dual card: 1× CFexpress Type B / XQD + 1× SD UHS-II | Dual slots: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
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