Canon EOS R3vs A7S
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.
Astrophotography & Low-Light — A7S (2014): The original A7S pioneered the concept of a camera optimised entirely for low light. Its 12.2MP sensor has enormous photosites — extraordinary high-ISO performance that still holds up. Lacking IBIS and limited to 1080p internally (4K requires external recorder), it is a specialist tool. For astrophotography, event videography, or any scenario where light is genuinely scarce, it remains outstanding.
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 (2014)
- Astrophotographers
- Low-light event videographers
- Filmmakers needing clean high-ISO footage
Quick take: The canon eos r3 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7s is the most affordable. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Canon EOS R3 (2021) | A7S (2014) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £5,999 | £600 |
| Sensor | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 12.2MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.1MP | 12.2MP |
| Video | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | 1080p/60p internal, 4K via HDMI (external recorder) |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | Phase-detect / contrast-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | 8-stop IBIS | None |
| Burst Rate | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | 5fps |
| Battery Life | 620 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 1015g body only | 474g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 150.0 × 142.6 × 87.2mm | 126.9 × 94.4 × 48.2mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | Electronic, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Canon RF | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B | Single SD / MemoryStick PRO Duo slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth, LAN | Multi/Micro USB, Wi-Fi, NFC |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Canon EOS R3 | A7S |
|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | ||
| Wildlife | — | |
| Photojournalism | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Travel | ||
| Astrophotography | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Portrait | — | |
| Landscape | — |
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