Canon EOS R3vs Nikon Z9vs Sony A9 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.
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.
Sports & Action Professionals — Sony A9 III (2023): A paradigm-shifting camera — the global shutter eliminates every rolling shutter limitation that has constrained action photography for years.
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
Sony A9 III (2023)
- You shoot professional sport, motorsport, or action and need zero rolling shutter distortion
- You need reliable high-speed flash sync for studio or on-location action work
- You want the absolute pinnacle of Sony's action and sports camera technology
Quick take: The nikon z9 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the nikon z9 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | Nikon Z9 (2021) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £5,499 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 45.7MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | 6-stop IBIS | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 1340g body only | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| 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 | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
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