Canon EOS R3vs A7R
Canon
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
View Canon EOS R3
GearScore™ Verdict — 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.
Studio, Tripod Landscape & Camera History — A7R (2013): The world's first 36MP full-frame mirrorless — a landmark camera that launched the A7R series, despite contrast-detect AF and significant shutter shock limitations.
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
A7R (2013)
- Collectors and photographers interested in the camera that started the A7R lineage
- Studio photographers who work on a tripod and can manage contrast-detect AF
- Landscape photographers who prioritise resolution over autofocus performance
- Sony FE system users who want a historical body at a very low used price
Quick take: The a7r has the highest resolution at 36mp; the a7r is the most affordable; only the canon eos r3 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | A7R (2013) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £349 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 36.4MP Full-Frame CMOS (no OLPF) |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 36.4MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 1080p/60p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Contrast-detect AF only (no phase-detect on sensor) |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | None |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 4fps |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~340 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 465g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | EVF, OLED 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fixed LCD, 1.23M dots (no tilt, no touch) |
| Mount | Canon RF | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Canon EOS R3 | A7R |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Photojournalism | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Landscape | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Architecture | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history