Canon EOS R3vs Z7 IIvs Pentax K-3 Mark 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 Z7 II Nikon Z7 II (2020) From £2699 Best for Landscape & studio / high-resolution View Z7 II
VS
Pentax Pentax K-3 Mark III Pentax Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) From £1699 Best for DSLR enthusiasts & outdoor photographers View Pentax K-3 Mark 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.

Landscape & Studio / High-Resolution — Z7 II (2020): The Z7 II is a landscape and studio camera first, everything else second. 45.7MP with weather sealing and dual card slots is a compelling package. If you need resolution, it delivers. If you don't, the Z6 II is the smarter buy.

Dslr Enthusiasts & Outdoor Photographers — Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021): The finest APS-C DSLR ever made — class-leading weather sealing, optical viewfinder, 5-axis IBIS, and extraordinary build for photographers committed to DSLR.

↓ 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

Z7 II (2020)

  • Landscape photographers who print large or need to crop significantly
  • Studio and commercial photographers requiring maximum resolution
  • Architecture photographers where detail is non-negotiable
  • Fine-art photographers who shoot primarily from a tripod

Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)

  • You're a committed DSLR photographer with significant investment in Pentax glass
  • You shoot in extreme weather conditions and place build quality and reliability above everything
  • You prefer optical viewfinder performance and want the best modern APS-C DSLR available

Quick take: The z7 ii has the highest resolution at 46mp; the pentax k-3 mark iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification Canon EOS R3 (2021)Z7 II (2020)Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
Price £5,999 £2,699 £1,699
Sensor 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 45.7MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless)
Resolution 24.1MP 45.7MP 25.7MP
Video 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p 4K/60p, 4K/30p (oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion 4K/30p, 1080p/60p
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF Phase-detect, 493 points, Eye AF, subject tracking SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type)
Stabilisation 8-stop IBIS 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops (up to 6 stops with VR lenses) 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III)
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 10fps mechanical, 10fps electronic 12fps
Battery Life 620 shots (CIPA) ~420 shots (CIPA) 800 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1015g body only 705g (body, battery, card) 820g body only
Dimensions 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.5mm 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification
Screen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.2" tilting touchscreen, 2.1M dots 3.2" tilting touchscreen
Mount Canon RF Nikon Z-mount Pentax KF-mount
Memory Cards Dual CFexpress Type B Dual card: 1× CFexpress Type B / XQD + 1× SD UHS-II Dual 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, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
⚡ Compare specs side by side Canon EOS R3 prices → Z7 II prices → Pentax K-3 Mark III prices →

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