Canon EOS R3vs Nikon Z9vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 III
Canon
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
From £5999
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
View Canon EOS R3
OM System
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
From £699
Best for Travel & lightweight outdoor photography
View Olympus OM-D E-M5 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.
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.
Travel & Lightweight Outdoor Photography — Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019): The lightest weather-sealed MFT camera — compact, travel-friendly, and capable with 7.5-stop IBIS in a body that fits in a jacket pocket.
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
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
Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
- You want a lightweight, sealed camera for travel and outdoor photography
- You're new to Micro Four Thirds and want a capable mid-range body with excellent stabilisation
- Note: consider the newer OM-5 for updated specs in a similar compact form factor
Quick take: The nikon z9 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the olympus om-d e-m5 iii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | Nikon Z9 (2021) | Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £5,499 | £699 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 45.7MP | 20.4MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | 6-stop IBIS | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 1340g body only | 414g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Nikon Z-mount | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
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