Canon EOS R3vs A1
Canon
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
From £5999
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
View Canon EOS R3
VS
Which should you buy?
Sports & Photojournalism Professionals — Canon EOS R3 (2021): The pinnacle of Canon's mirrorless lineup for speed — Eye Control AF and 30fps burst in the most rugged body Canon has ever produced.
Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting — A1 (2021): 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
- Professional sports and photojournalism photographers
- Canon users who need the fastest burst and most reliable AF in the system
- R5 users who want a pro-grade grip and faster shooting speed
- Event photographers who need eye-controlled AF and dual card slots
A1 (2021)
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Quick take: The a1 has the highest resolution at 50mp. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | A1 (2021) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £5,999 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 50.1MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 30fps electronic with full AF/AE |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 737g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Canon EOS R3 | A1 |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | ||
| Photojournalism | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Sports | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Wedding | — |
More comparisons with Canon EOS R3
Camera family history