Canon EOS R5 Mark IIvs Nikon Z8vs Sony A9 III

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

Canon Canon EOS R5 Mark II Canon Canon EOS R5 Mark II (2024) From £4299 Best for Hybrid shooters & professionals View Canon EOS R5 Mark II
VS
Nikon Nikon Z8 Nikon Nikon Z8 (2023) From £3999 Best for Sports, wildlife & hybrid professionals View Nikon Z8
VS
Sony Sony A9 III Sony Sony A9 III (2023) From £5999 Best for Sports & action professionals View Sony A9 III

Which should you buy?

Hybrid Shooters & Professionals — Canon EOS R5 Mark II (2024): The most complete hybrid camera Canon has ever made — 45MP stacked BSI, 30fps burst, 8K/60p RAW, and Canon's legendary Dual Pixel AF in one body.

Sports, Wildlife & Hybrid Professionals — Nikon Z8 (2023): Z9 performance in a compact body — 45MP, 8K/60p RAW, and 20fps burst without the bulk or price of the flagship.

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.

↓ Full specifications below

Canon EOS R5 Mark II (2024)

  • You're a working photographer or filmmaker who needs high-resolution stills and professional video
  • You shoot commercial, editorial, or high-end portrait work
  • You want the absolute best Canon mirrorless has to offer

Nikon Z8 (2023)

  • You need Z9-level performance in a more travel-friendly and portable body
  • You shoot wildlife, weddings, or sport and need exceptional resolution with speed
  • You want the best Nikon mirrorless body available without carrying the full Z9

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

Quick take: The nikon z8 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the nikon z8 is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification Canon EOS R5 Mark II (2024)Nikon Z8 (2023)Sony A9 III (2023)
Price £4,299 £3,999 £5,999
Sensor 45MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter)
Resolution 45.0MP 45.7MP 24.6MP
Video 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, Cinema RAW Light 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, AI subject tracking Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect
Stabilisation 8-stop IBIS (coordinated with IS lenses) 6-stop IBIS 8-stop IBIS
Burst Rate 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG 120fps blackout-free electronic
Battery Life 570 shots (CIPA) 330 shots (CIPA) 530 shots (CIPA)
Weight 746g body only 910g body only 703g body only
Dimensions 138.5 × 101.2 × 93.5mm 144.0 × 118.5 × 83.0mm 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm
Weather Sealed Yes Yes Yes
Viewfinder 0.64" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots
Screen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen 3.2" tilting touchscreen 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen
Mount Canon RF Nikon Z-mount Sony FE (E-mount)
Memory Cards CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II
Connectivity USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3
⚡ Compare specs side by side Canon EOS R5 Mark II prices → Nikon Z8 prices → Sony A9 III prices →

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