Upgrade Guide
Canon Canon EOS R8 Mark II→Canon EOS R3
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Canon EOS R8 Mark II. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS R3
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StabilisationImproved — 8-stop IBIS
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Battery life620 shots (CIPA) vs 150 shots (CIPA, via EVF)
Unchanged or similar
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ResolutionSimilar (24MP)
Suitability by genre
Base scores — computed from verified specs for an enthusiast shooting photo and video. The Upgrade Checker adjusts them for your skill level.
| Genre | Canon EOS R8 Mark II | EOS R3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portrait | -0.2 | ||
| Street | -1.1 | ||
| Travel | -0.9 | ||
| Wedding & Events | +1.1 | ||
| Vlogging & Video | -1.3 | ||
| Filmmaking | +1.1 | ||
| Documentary | +0.1 | ||
| Sports & Action | +0.9 | ||
| Landscape | -0.1 | ||
| Wildlife | +0.4 | ||
| Casual | -1.2 | ||
| Food | -0.6 | ||
| Macro | -1.3 | ||
| Architecture | -0.1 | ||
| Astrophotography | +0.4 |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Canon EOS R8 Mark II | EOS R3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,729 | £5,999 | |
| Released | 2026 | 2021 | ↓ |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 24.1MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | |
| Resolution | 24MP | 24MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled from 6K, 10-bit Canon Log 3/HLG | 6K RAW, 4K/120p, 1080p/180p | |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with subject detection (people/animals/vehicles) | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with Eye Control AF | |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS | 8-stop IBIS | |
| Burst Rate | 40fps electronic | 30fps electronic / 12fps mechanical | ↓ |
| Battery Life | 150 shots (CIPA, via EVF) | 620 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 546g (with battery and card) | 1015g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | 0.76" OLED EVF, 5.76M dots, 120fps | |
| Screen | Vari-angle touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Canon RF | |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-II) | Dual CFexpress Type B |
Compare side-by-side
⚖️ Compare these cameras
See Canon EOS R8 Mark II and EOS R3 next to each other with our interactive comparison tool.
Get a personalised upgrade score
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Tell us what you shoot and we'll score the EOS R3 against your specific genres — not just specs.
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