EOS RPvs Z5 IIvs A7 III
Which should you buy?
Entry Full-Frame Stills Photography — EOS RP (2019): An affordable gateway into the RF system. The RP makes sense as a stepping stone camera — if you're committed to Canon RF glass, this is the cheapest full-frame body to buy those lenses for. Just manage expectations on video and battery life.
Full-Frame Value — Z5 II (2024): The most accessible full-frame mirrorless — dual card slots, weather sealing, and Nikon colour at a sensible price.
All-Round Photography & Video — A7 III (2018): Still one of the best all-round cameras money can buy — particularly strong used. The A7 III proved that full-frame doesn't have to mean compromises, and nothing at this price point has meaningfully beaten it.
Who should buy what
EOS RP (2019)
- Canon users who want to start investing in RF glass affordably
- Stills photographers who shoot primarily in good light
- Anyone coming from a Canon DSLR wanting the RF system at low cost
- Travel photographers who prioritise compactness over video specs
Z5 II (2024)
- You want full-frame image quality at the lowest possible entry price
- You shoot stills primarily — portrait, landscape, or travel
- You're upgrading from a DSLR and want a familiar but thoroughly modern Nikon experience
A7 III (2018)
- Enthusiast photographers upgrading from APS-C for the first time
- Working photographers who need reliable AF and weather sealing
- Anyone who shoots in low light regularly
- Hybrid shooters needing both stills and video performance
Quick take: The eos rp has the highest resolution at 26mp; the eos rp is the most affordable; only the z5 ii, a7 iii are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS RP (2019) | Z5 II (2024) | A7 III (2018) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £1,299 | £1,699 |
| Sensor | 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.5MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 26.2MP | 24.5MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/24p (with 1.7× crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/30p oversampled, 1080p/120p, N-Log | 4K/30p (6K oversampled), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4779 manually selectable positions | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle) | Phase-detect, 693 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.0 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps mechanical | 14fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 10fps with AF/AE tracking |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) — very limited | ~470 shots (CIPA) | ~710 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 485g (body, battery, card) | 700g body only | 565g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 85.0 × 70.0mm | 134.0 × 100.5 × 69.9mm | 126.9 × 95.6 × 73.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.80× magnification | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 921k dots |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual SD (UHS-II slot 1, UHS-I slot 2) |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C (USB 3.2), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
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