EOS R50vs Nikon Z8vs Sony A9 III
Which should you buy?
Beginners & Family — EOS R50 (2023): Canon's most beginner-friendly RF body — Dual Pixel AF and beautiful colour science in an approachable package.
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.
Who should buy what
EOS R50 (2023)
- You're completely new to mirrorless cameras and want something uncomplicated
- You create vertical content for TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts
- You want great autofocus without needing to understand complex menus
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 eos r50 is the most affordable; only the nikon z8, sony a9 iii are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R50 (2023) | Nikon Z8 (2023) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £599 | £3,999 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 45.7MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (uncropped 4K/24p), FHD/60p | 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, face/eye/subject tracking | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 6-stop IBIS | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical, 15fps electronic | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | 330 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 375g body only | 910g body only | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 144.0 × 118.5 × 83.0mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF-S / RF | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
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