Canon EOS R3vs Sony A9 IIIvs Sony RX100 VII
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.
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.
Travel & Versatility — Sony RX100 VII (2019): The most versatile compact camera ever made — 24-200mm zoom, 20fps burst, and 960fps slow-motion in a jacket pocket.
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
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 RX100 VII (2019)
- You want serious image quality in a camera small enough to carry absolutely everywhere
- You shoot travel, events, or street photography and want something discreet but genuinely capable
- You need fast burst shooting and reliable autofocus in the most pocketable possible package
Quick take: The sony a9 iii has the highest resolution at 25mp; the sony rx100 vii is the most affordable; only the canon eos r3, sony a9 iii are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | Sony A9 III (2023) | Sony RX100 VII (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £5,999 | £1,099 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS BSI CMOS (stacked) |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 24.6MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p | 4K/30p HLG, FHD/960fps super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect | 357-point phase-detect + 425 contrast, Eye AF, tracking |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | 8-stop IBIS | 3-stop Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 120fps blackout-free electronic | 20fps AF/AE tracking (90fps short burst) |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 703g body only | 302g with battery and card |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm | 101.6 × 58.1 × 42.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots | Pop-up EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Sony FE (E-mount) | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| 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, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC |
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