Upgrade Guide
Canon EOS R→Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
→
Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the EOS R. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS-1D X Mark III
-
Burst rate16fps mechanical, 20fps live view vs 8fps continuous (5fps with AF/AE)
-
Battery life~2850 shots (CIPA) vs ~350 shots (CIPA)
-
Generation2 years newer (2020 vs 2018)
Unchanged or similar
-
Resolution20MP (down from 30MP — optimised for low light)
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS R | EOS-1D X Mark III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -1.0 | ||
| Landscape | -2.0 | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Wedding | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +3.0 | ||
| Sports | — | ||
| Sports & Action | — | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Street | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | EOS R | EOS-1D X Mark III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £3,500 | |
| Released | 2018 | 2020 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 30.3MP full-frame CMOS | 20.1MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 30MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p (1.7× crop), 1080p/60p | 5.5K RAW, 4K 60fps (crop), 4K 60fps (full-frame via firmware) | |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF — 5655 AF areas, Eye AF | 191-point all cross-type OVF AF; 525-point Dual Pixel CMOS AF (Live View) | |
| Stabilisation | None | — | |
| Burst Rate | 8fps continuous (5fps with AF/AE) | 16fps mechanical, 20fps live view | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~350 shots (CIPA) | ~2850 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 660g body only | 1250g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.71× magnification | OVF 0.76× magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 3.0" touchscreen, tilting | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 4.15M dots | |
| Mount | Canon RF mount (full-frame) | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type B slots |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See EOS R and EOS-1D X Mark III next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
Run the upgrade checker →
Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS-1D X Mark III against your specific genres — not just specs.
Other upgrades from the EOS R
Related buying guides
Camera family history