Canon
EOS R3 2021
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
£4999
new today at Clifton Cameras
Decision tools · Compare
EOS R3 vs A1 II
Quick take: The A1 II has the highest resolution at 50MP; the EOS R3 is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Sony
A1 II 2024
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & high-resolution studio work
£5699
new today at Clifton Cameras
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
EOS R3 — Sports & Photojournalism Professionals: The pinnacle of Canon's mirrorless lineup for speed — Eye Control AF and 30fps burst in the most rugged body Canon has ever produced.
A1 II — Professional Sports, Wildlife & High-Resolution Studio Work: The most complete camera ever made — 50MP, 30fps, 8K, and the world's best EVF in a single flagship body.
Who should buy what
EOS R3 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- 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 II (2024)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional sports and wildlife photographers who need 30fps, 50MP, and the best AF available
- Commercial and advertising photographers who demand 50MP resolution alongside pro video specs
- Photojournalists who need a single body capable of handling every assignment
- Sony system shooters ready to invest in the absolute best
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS R3Canon · 2021 | A1 IISony · 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £4,999Best | £5,699 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 50.1MP full-frame stacked BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 50.1MPBest |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p 10-bit, S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | AI subject recognition — human, animal, bird, insect, vehicle, aircraft, train |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | 8.5-stop IBIS (with in-lens OSS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 30fps electronic (with full AF/AE), 10fps mechanical |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA)Best | ~530 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g (body only) | 743g (body only)Best |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 136.1 × 96.9 × 82.9mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | EVF 0.9× 9.44M-dot — the highest resolution EVF available |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 2.1M dots |
| Mount | Canon RF | Sony E-mount (full-frame) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB-C 3.2 Gen 2, Wi-Fi 6GHz, Bluetooth 5.3, HDMI full-size |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
EOS R3
A1 II
Portrait
8.1/10
9.0/10
Street
5.8/10
6.6/10
Travel
5.6/10
6.4/10
Wedding & Events
8.2/10
8.7/10
Vlogging & Video
5.3/10
6.4/10
Filmmaking
8.1/10
8.2/10
Documentary
7.8/10
8.3/10
Sports & Action
8.9/10
9.3/10
Landscape
6.3/10
8.0/10
Wildlife
8.7/10
9.2/10
Casual
4.6/10
5.3/10
Food
7.4/10
8.5/10
Macro
7.2/10
8.1/10
Architecture
6.5/10
8.4/10
Astrophotography
6.7/10
7.2/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
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