EOS R7vs EOS R8vs Sony A9 III
Which should you buy?
Wildlife, Sports & Action — EOS R7 (2022): The EOS R7 is one of the most complete APS-C cameras ever made. It combines a class-leading resolution sensor with best-in-class IBIS, 4K/60p video, weather sealing and 15fps burst. For wildlife, sports and action photographers on an APS-C budget, nothing else comes close.
Full-Frame Entry — EOS R8 (2023): Canon's most affordable full-frame mirrorless — 4K/60p 10-bit and class-leading Dual Pixel AF at an accessible entry price.
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 R7 (2022)
- Wildlife photographers who need reach, weather sealing and fast burst
- Sports shooters upgrading from entry-level APS-C bodies
- Video creators who need uncropped 4K/60p without a full-frame budget
- Canon DSLR users looking to move to RF mount
EOS R8 (2023)
- You want full-frame image quality on a tight budget
- You shoot mainly in good light and can live without built-in stabilisation
- You primarily shoot stills with occasional video
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 eos r7 has the highest resolution at 32mp; the eos r8 is the most affordable; only the eos r7, sony a9 iii are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R7 (2022) | EOS R8 (2023) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,399 | £1,099 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 32.5MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.6MP full-frame Exmor RS CMOS (global shutter) |
| Resolution | 32.5MP | 24.2MP | 24.6MP |
| Video | 4K/60p (uncropped), 4K/30p (oversampled from 7K), 1080p/120p | 4K/60p oversampled 10-bit, FHD/180p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 651 AF zones, subject recognition (people, animals, vehicles) | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 1053 zones, eye/face/subject tracking | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 7-stop IBIS (8 stops with compatible IS lenses) | None (no IBIS) | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 15fps mechanical, 30fps electronic (with blackout) | 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~770 shots (CIPA) | ~220 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 612g (body, battery, card) | 461g body only | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 132.0 × 90.4 × 91.7mm | 132.5 × 86.1 × 70.0mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.72× magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Canon RF mount (full-frame) | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
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