Canon EOS R3vs Olympus OM-D E-M5 IIIvs OM-1 II
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.
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.
Wildlife & Action — OM-1 II (2024): 120fps burst, 8-stop IBIS, and IP53 sealing — the most capable wildlife and action camera in the Micro Four Thirds world.
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
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
OM-1 II (2024)
- You shoot wildlife, birds, or fast action and want the best MFT autofocus available
- You need strong weather sealing without the weight of a full-frame sports body
- You're in the MFT system and want a flagship-level body upgrade
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) | OM-1 II (2024) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £699 | £1,499 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Live MOS | 20.4MP Micro Four Thirds Stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 20.4MP | 20.4MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p | 4K/120p Cinema4K, Apple ProRes RAW (with recorder) |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Hybrid phase/contrast AF with face/eye detection | Quad-Pixel phase-detect, 1053 points, AI subject recognition (birds/animals) |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | 7.5-stop 5-axis IBIS | 5-axis IBIS, 8.0 stops (Dual IS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 30fps electronic / 10fps mechanical | 120fps electronic (blackout-free), 15fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | 390 shots (CIPA) | ~520 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 414g body only | 561g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 125.3 × 85.2 × 49.7mm | 134.8 × 91.6 × 72.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | 0.35" OLED EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.83× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Micro Four Thirds | Micro Four Thirds |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Single SD UHS-I | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | Micro USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
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