Canon EOS R3vs Sony A9 IIIvs Sony FX30

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
Sony Sony A9 III Sony Sony A9 III (2023) From £5999 Best for Sports & action professionals View Sony A9 III
VS
Sony Sony FX30 Sony Sony FX30 (2022) From £1799 Best for Video creators & filmmakers View Sony FX30

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.

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.

Video Creators & Filmmakers — Sony FX30 (2022): The Cinema Line entry point — S-Cinetone colour science, 4K/120p, and XLR audio in a compact, affordable body that punches far above its price.

↓ 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

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

Sony FX30 (2022)

  • You're a filmmaker or video producer who wants Sony cinema colour in a compact, affordable body
  • You want 4K/120fps slow motion without the cost of an FX3 or FX6
  • You shoot documentary, corporate video, or YouTube content at a professional standard

Quick take: The sony fx30 has the highest resolution at 26mp; the sony fx30 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification Canon EOS R3 (2021)Sony A9 III (2023)Sony FX30 (2022)
Price £5,999 £5,999 £1,799
Sensor 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) 26.1MP APS-C BSI Exmor R CMOS
Resolution 24.1MP 24.6MP 26.1MP
Video 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p 4K/120p, 4K/60p S-Log3, 1080p/240p
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect Real-time tracking AF, 759-point phase-detect
Stabilisation 8-stop IBIS 8-stop IBIS 5-axis Active IBIS
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 120fps blackout-free electronic 20fps electronic
Battery Life 620 shots (CIPA) 530 shots (CIPA) 740 shots (CIPA)
Weight 1015g body only 703g body only 579g body only
Dimensions 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm 129.7 × 77.8 × 84.5mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots None (EVF optional via XLR handle)
Screen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen
Mount Canon RF Sony FE (E-mount) Sony FE (E-mount)
Memory Cards Dual CFexpress Type B Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II 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 A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
⚡ Compare specs side by side Canon EOS R3 prices → Sony A9 III prices → Sony FX30 prices →

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