Canon EOS R3vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 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
OM System Olympus OM-D E-M5 III 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.

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.

↓ 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

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 canon eos r3 has the highest resolution at 24mp; 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)Olympus OM-D E-M5 III (2019)
Price £5,999 £699
Sensor 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS
Resolution 24.1MP 20.4MP
Video 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p 4K/30p, 1080p/120p
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection
Stabilisation 8-stop IBIS 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical
Battery Life 620 shots (CIPA) 390 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1015g body only 414g body only
Dimensions 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots
Screen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen
Mount Canon RF Micro Four Thirds
Memory Cards Dual CFexpress Type B Single SD UHS-I
Connectivity USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
⚡ Compare specs side by side Canon EOS R3 prices → Olympus OM-D E-M5 III prices →

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