EOS R50vs Nikon Z9vs A6400
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.
Professional Sports & Wildlife — Nikon Z9 (2021): The Z9 redefined what professional mirrorless could be — no mechanical shutter, 45MP stacked BSI, and 8K RAW in the most rugged Z body.
Content Creation & Vlogging — A6400 (2019): The best value APS-C Sony you can buy — especially used. Real-time Eye AF at this price point was transformative when it launched and still makes it one of the most reliable autofocus systems in the lineup.
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 Z9 (2021)
- You shoot professionally and need a camera body that handles everything without compromise
- You're a sports, wildlife, or commercial photographer who demands the absolute best
- You want a camera body that will remain state-of-the-art for the next decade
A6400 (2019)
- Vloggers and content creators who need a flip screen and reliable AF
- Photographers upgrading from a compact or smartphone
- Beginners who want room to grow into a full E-mount lens ecosystem
- Anyone prioritising autofocus performance at an accessible price
Quick take: The nikon z9 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the eos r50 is the most affordable; only the nikon z9 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R50 (2023) | Nikon Z9 (2021) | A6400 (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £599 | £5,499 | £899 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP APS-C CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS BSI |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 45.7MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/30p (uncropped 4K/24p), FHD/60p | 8K/30p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW | 4K/30p (6K oversampled, no crop), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, face/eye/subject tracking | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect | Phase-detect, 425 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 6-stop IBIS | None (no IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 12fps mechanical, 15fps electronic | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG | 11fps mechanical, 8fps with AF tracking |
| Battery Life | ~380 shots (CIPA) | 740 shots (CIPA) | ~410 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 375g body only | 1340g body only | 403g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 116.3 × 85.5 × 68.8mm | 149.0 × 149.5 × 90.5mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 180° flip for selfie/vlog, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon RF-S / RF | Nikon Z-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | Micro-USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
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