Canon
EOS R1
Flagship 24.2MP full-frame BSI stacked RF body with 40fps burst, Dual Pixel Intelligent AF, 6K RAW, and 9.44M-dot EVF.
$6,299
Released Jul 2024
Sony
Alpha 9 III
Global shutter sports flagship with 120fps and zero rolling shutter for pro action.
$5,999
Released Jan 2024
EOS R1 is 6 months newer.
Wins
EOS R1
Wins
Alpha 9 III
3 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AEOS R1 has higher Burst (mechanical) (12 fps vs 0 fps)
- AEOS R1 has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
- BAlpha 9 III has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 40 fps)
- AEOS R1 has lower ISO min (native) (100 vs 250)
- BAlpha 9 III has lower Weight (703 g vs 1115 g)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
EOS R1
158 × 150 × 87 mm
1115 g (2.46 lb / 39.33 oz)
Alpha 9 III
136 × 97 × 83 mm
703 g (1.55 lb / 24.80 oz)
EOS R1 is 22mm wider, 53mm taller, and 4mm thicker than Alpha 9 III.
EOS R1 is 412 g heavier than Alpha 9 III.
Depth (front-to-back): 87mm EOS R1 · 83mm Alpha 9 III
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
EOS R1
158 × 150 mm
Alpha 9 III
136 × 97 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
EOS R1
158 × 87 mm
Alpha 9 III
136 × 83 mm
Sensor size, to scale
EOS R1
36 × 24 mm · Full Frame
864 mm² area
Alpha 9 III
35.6 × 23.8 mm · Full Frame
847 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
EOS R1
Canon RF
105+
native lenses available
Alpha 9 III
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
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 R1
AF low-light limit
-7.5 EV vs -5 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Dogs, Cats…
Burst (mechanical)
12 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 157.6, 149.5, 87.3
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, CFexpress Type B
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better
ISO min (native)
100 vs 250 — lower is better
Codecs
Adds RAW, XF-HEVC S, XF-AVC S
Reasons to choose
Alpha 9 III
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type A, SD UHS-II
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 40 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
Weight
703 g vs 1115 g — lower is better
Resolution
24.6 MP vs 24.2 MP — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 120 fps
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
EOS R1
Pros
- ✓40fps electronic burst
- ✓24.2MP BSI stacked full-frame sensor
- ✓Dual Pixel Intelligent AF
- ✓6K RAW and 4K 120p video
- ✓Dual CFexpress Type B slots
Cons
- –24MP resolution
- –Very expensive
- –Large integrated-grip body
Alpha 9 III
Pros
- ✓Global shutter 120fps
- ✓Zero rolling shutter
- ✓Pro sports AF
- ✓Pre-capture buffer
Cons
- –24.6MP only
- –Premium price
- –Battery drain at max speed
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for wildlife, EOS R1 or Alpha 9 III?
Alpha 9 III scores 9.5/10 versus 6.5/10 for EOS R1 — 120fps burst captures fleeting moments.
What's the resolution difference between the EOS R1 and Alpha 9 III?
EOS R1 is 24.2 MP and Alpha 9 III is 24.6 MP, so the Alpha 9 III captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS R1 and Alpha 9 III have in-body image stabilization?
EOS R1 has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization, while alpha 9 III has 8-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS R1 or the Alpha 9 III?
EOS R1 reaches 40 fps electronic. Alpha 9 III reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS R1 and Alpha 9 III?
EOS R1 weighs 1115 g and Alpha 9 III weighs 703 g, so the Alpha 9 III is 412 g lighter.
Do the EOS R1 and Alpha 9 III record 4K video?
EOS R1: 6K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p. Alpha 9 III: 4K up to 120p.
Are the EOS R1 and Alpha 9 III weather sealed?
EOS R1: Yes. Alpha 9 III: Yes.
How much does each cost?
EOS R1 launched at $6,299 and Alpha 9 III at $5,999. The Alpha 9 III is $300 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and Sony press materials.