Canon
EOS-1D X Mark III
Canon flagship DSLR for sports and news with 20fps and legendary reliability.
$6,499
Released Feb 2020
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Z9 is 1.7 years newer.
Wins
EOS-1D X Mark III
Wins
Z9
1 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AEOS-1D X Mark III has higher Burst (mechanical) (16 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 20 fps)
- BZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 200 frames)
- AEOS-1D X Mark III has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
- BZ9 has higher AF points / zones (493 vs 191)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
EOS-1D X Mark III
138 × 98 × 88 mm
720 g (1.59 lb / 25.40 oz)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
EOS-1D X Mark III is 11mm narrower, 52mm shorter, and 3mm thinner than Z9.
EOS-1D X Mark III is 620 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 88mm EOS-1D X Mark III · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
EOS-1D X Mark III
138 × 98 mm
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
EOS-1D X Mark III
138 × 88 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
EOS-1D X Mark III
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
EOS-1D X Mark III
✓ more lensesCanon EF
300+
native lenses available
Z9
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
EOS-1D X Mark III
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Burst (mechanical)
16 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds RAW, H.265, H.264
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 138, 98, 88
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, SD UHS-II
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better
AA filter
Only EOS-1D X Mark III supports it
Weight
720 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 20 fps — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 200 frames — higher is better
AF points / zones
493 vs 191 — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
EOS-1D X Mark III
Pros
- ✓20fps DSLR
- ✓Pro build
- ✓Dual CFexpress
- ✓Excellent AF
Cons
- –DSLR platform
- –20MP
- –Very heavy
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, EOS-1D X Mark III or Z9?
EOS-1D X Mark III scores 10.0/10 versus 5.5/10 for Z9 — 20fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the EOS-1D X Mark III and Z9?
EOS-1D X Mark III is 20.1 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS-1D X Mark III and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
EOS-1D X Mark III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS-1D X Mark III or the Z9?
EOS-1D X Mark III reaches 20 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS-1D X Mark III and Z9?
EOS-1D X Mark III weighs 720 g and Z9 weighs 1340 g, so the EOS-1D X Mark III is 620 g lighter.
Do the EOS-1D X Mark III and Z9 record 4K video?
EOS-1D X Mark III: 4K up to 60p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the EOS-1D X Mark III and Z9 weather sealed?
EOS-1D X Mark III: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 520 shots (CIPA) for the EOS-1D X Mark III and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
EOS-1D X Mark III launched at $6,499 and Z9 at $5,899. The Z9 is $600 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and Nikon press materials.