Canon
EOS R3
Pro 24MP full-frame stacked-sensor body built for sports, news, wildlife, and high-speed hybrid capture.
$5,999
Released Sep 2021
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
Released within a month of each other.
Wins
EOS R3
Wins
Z9
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AEOS R3 has higher Burst (mechanical) (12 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 150 frames)
- AEOS R3 has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
- BZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 30 fps)
- AEOS R3 has higher AF points / zones (1053 vs 493)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
EOS R3
150 × 143 × 87 mm
1015 g (2.24 lb / 35.80 oz)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
EOS R3 is 7mm shorter and 3mm thinner than Z9 but it is also 1mm wider.
EOS R3 is 325 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 87mm EOS R3 · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
EOS R3
150 × 143 mm
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
EOS R3
150 × 87 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
EOS R3
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 R3
✓ more lensesCanon RF
105+
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 R3
Burst (mechanical)
12 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds RAW, H.265, H.264
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 150, 142.6, 87.2
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, SD UHS-II
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better
AF points / zones
1053 vs 493 — higher is better
AA filter
Only EOS R3 supports it
EVF resolution
5,760,000 vs 3,690,000 — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -7.5 EV — lower is better
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
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 150 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Cars, Bicycles, Motorcycles…
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only Z9 supports it
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 120 fps
- ✓Internal RAW video — Both support internal raw video
- ✓In-body stabilization — Both support in-body stabilization
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
EOS R3
Pros
- ✓30fps electronic burst from a stacked full-frame sensor
- ✓Exceptional low-light AF down to -7.5 EV
- ✓Integrated pro body with large LP-E19 battery
- ✓6K RAW video and 4K 120p
- ✓Rugged weather-sealed construction
Cons
- –24MP resolution trails higher-detail rivals
- –Large integrated-grip body
- –Expensive compared with enthusiast full-frame bodies
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 landscape, EOS R3 or Z9?
Z9 scores 9.5/10 versus 7.0/10 for EOS R3 — 45.7MP — excellent for prints up to 24×36".
What's the resolution difference between the EOS R3 and Z9?
EOS R3 is 24.1 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS R3 and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
EOS R3 has 8-stop in-body image stabilization, while z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS R3 or the Z9?
EOS R3 reaches 30 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS R3 and Z9?
EOS R3 weighs 1015 g and Z9 weighs 1340 g, so the EOS R3 is 325 g lighter.
Do the EOS R3 and Z9 record 4K video?
EOS R3: 6K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the EOS R3 and Z9 weather sealed?
EOS R3: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 620 shots (CIPA) for the EOS R3 and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
EOS R3 launched at $5,999 and Z9 at $5,899. The Z9 is $100 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and Nikon press materials.