EOS R7vs Ricoh GR IIIxvs 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.
Street Portraits & Reportage — Ricoh GR IIIx (2021): APS-C in a shirt pocket with a 40mm perspective — the GR IIIx is the ideal street portrait compact for photographers who want a slightly tighter frame.
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
Ricoh GR IIIx (2021)
- You want the GR experience with a slightly tighter, more versatile field of view
- You shoot portraits, food, or street scenes where 40mm suits better than 28mm wide
- You want a premium compact that fits in a shirt pocket with better tonal rendering than a phone
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 ricoh gr iiix 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) | Ricoh GR IIIx (2021) | Sony A9 III (2023) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,399 | £999 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 32.5MP APS-C CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C 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 | 1080p/60p | 4K/120p, 4K/60p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 651 AF zones, subject recognition (people, animals, vehicles) | Hybrid contrast/phase-detect AF with subject detection | AI subject recognition AF, 759-point phase-detect |
| Stabilisation | 7-stop IBIS (8 stops with compatible IS lenses) | 4-stop IBIS (Shake Reduction) | 8-stop IBIS |
| Burst Rate | 15fps mechanical, 30fps electronic (with blackout) | 4fps | 120fps blackout-free electronic |
| Battery Life | ~770 shots (CIPA) | 200 shots (CIPA) | 530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 612g (body, battery, card) | 262g | 703g body only |
| Dimensions | 132.0 × 90.4 × 91.7mm | 111.2 × 61.4 × 33.2mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.72× magnification | None | 0.64" Quad-XGA OLED EVF, 9.44M dots |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.62M dots | 3.0" fixed touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Fixed 40mm-equiv f/2.8 lens | Sony FE (E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C (USB 3.2 Gen 2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, HDMI A, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 |
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