Canon EOS R3vs Nikon Zfvs 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 Nikon Zf Nikon Nikon Zf (2023) From £1699 Best for Street & travel photography View Nikon Zf
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.

Street & Travel Photography — Nikon Zf (2023): Full-frame performance in a stunning retro body — the Zf's 8-stop IBIS and gorgeous design make it uniquely compelling.

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

Nikon Zf (2023)

  • You want full-frame quality in a compact, beautiful camera you'll genuinely love carrying
  • You appreciate analogue-inspired design alongside modern digital performance
  • You shoot street, travel, or lifestyle and want a camera that feels special to use

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 pentax k-3 mark iii has the highest resolution at 26mp; the nikon zf is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification Canon EOS R3 (2021)Nikon Zf (2023)Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
Price £5,999 £1,699 £1,699
Sensor 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless)
Resolution 24.1MP 24.5MP 25.7MP
Video 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p 4K/30p oversampled, FHD/120p, N-Log, 10-bit 4K/30p, 1080p/60p
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF Phase-detect 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type)
Stabilisation 8-stop IBIS 5-axis IBIS, 8.0 stops 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III)
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic 12fps
Battery Life 620 shots (CIPA) ~380 shots (CIPA) 800 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1015g body only 710g with battery 820g body only
Dimensions 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm 144.0 × 103.0 × 49.0mm 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" vari-angle touchscreen 3.2" tilting touchscreen
Mount Canon RF Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) Pentax KF-mount
Memory Cards Dual CFexpress Type B Single SD UHS-II slot Dual SD UHS-II
Connectivity USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
⚡ Compare specs side by side Canon EOS R3 prices → Nikon Zf prices → Pentax K-3 Mark III prices →

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