EOS R8vs Z50 IIvs Pentax K-3 Mark III

GearFrame · Updated March 2026

Canon EOS R8 Canon EOS R8 (2023) From £1099 Best for Full-frame entry View EOS R8
VS
Nikon Z50 II Nikon Z50 II (2024) From £899 Best for All-round photography View Z50 II
VS
Pentax Pentax K-3 Mark III Pentax Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021) From £1699 Best for DSLR enthusiasts & outdoor photographers View Pentax K-3 Mark III

Which should you buy?

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.

All-Round Photography — Z50 II (2024): Nikon's updated APS-C body with 4K/60p, improved subject tracking, and a vari-angle screen — a solid all-rounder.

Dslr Enthusiasts & Outdoor Photographers — Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021): The finest APS-C DSLR ever made — class-leading weather sealing, optical viewfinder, 5-axis IBIS, and extraordinary build for photographers committed to DSLR.

↓ Full specifications below

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

Z50 II (2024)

  • You want a capable APS-C camera for travel, street, or everyday shooting
  • You want improved autofocus over older Nikon APS-C bodies like the Z50 or Zfc
  • You want a compact Nikon mirrorless body that uses the full Z lens system

Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)

  • You're a committed DSLR photographer with significant investment in Pentax glass
  • You shoot in extreme weather conditions and place build quality and reliability above everything
  • You prefer optical viewfinder performance and want the best modern APS-C DSLR available

Quick take: The pentax k-3 mark iii has the highest resolution at 26mp; the z50 ii is the most affordable; only the pentax k-3 mark iii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.

Full specifications

Specification EOS R8 (2023)Z50 II (2024)Pentax K-3 Mark III (2021)
Price £1,099 £899 £1,699
Sensor 24.2MP Full-frame BSI CMOS 20.9MP APS-C CMOS 25.7MP APS-C BSI CMOS (AA-filterless)
Resolution 24.2MP 20.9MP 25.7MP
Video 4K/60p oversampled 10-bit, FHD/180p 4K/60p uncropped, 1080p/120p, N-Log 4K/30p, 1080p/60p
Autofocus Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 1053 zones, eye/face/subject tracking Phase-detect, 249 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) SAFOX 13 phase-detect, 101-point (25 cross-type)
Stabilisation None (no IBIS) None (no IBIS) 5.5-stop 5-axis IBIS (Shake Reduction III)
Burst Rate 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic 11fps mechanical, 30fps electronic 12fps
Battery Life ~220 shots (CIPA) ~330 shots (CIPA) 800 shots (CIPA)
Weight 461g body only 385g body only 820g body only
Dimensions 132.5 × 86.1 × 70.0mm 127.0 × 96.8 × 66.5mm 134.5 × 103.5 × 73.5mm
Weather Sealed No No Yes
Viewfinder EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× EVF, 2.36M dots Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 1.05× magnification
Screen 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen 3.2" tilting touchscreen
Mount Canon RF mount (full-frame) Nikon Z-mount Pentax KF-mount
Memory Cards Single SD UHS-II slot Single SD UHS-I slot Dual SD UHS-II
Connectivity USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
⚡ Compare specs side by side EOS R8 prices → Z50 II prices → Pentax K-3 Mark III prices →

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