Canon EOS R3vs A7S II
Canon
Canon EOS R3 (2021)
Starting from £5999 new
Best for Sports & photojournalism professionals
View Canon EOS R3
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S II
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.
Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking — A7S II (2015): A landmark in mirrorless history — the first Sony with IBIS and internal 4K, its low-light video capability still impresses today at a used-market price.
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
A7S II (2015)
- Filmmakers and videographers who want legendary low-light performance at a used-price discount
- Documentary shooters working in unpredictable available light conditions
- A7S III shooters who want a second Sony FE body for backup or B-camera use
- Budget-conscious video producers who want full-frame 4K with S-Log at an accessible price
Quick take: The canon eos r3 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7s ii is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £799 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Canon RF | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Canon EOS R3 | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Photojournalism | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with Canon EOS R3
Camera family history