Canon
EOS R5 C
Cinema-focused 45MP full-frame hybrid with active cooling, 8K RAW 60p, and Canon Cinema EOS video tools.
$4,499
Released Jan 2022
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
EOS R5 C is 3 months newer.
Wins
EOS R5 C
Wins
Z9
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- AEOS R5 C has higher Burst (mechanical) (12 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher IBIS effectiveness (6 stops vs 0 stops)
- BZ9 has higher Burst (electronic) (120 fps vs 20 fps)
- BZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 180 frames)
- BZ9 has higher Battery life (CIPA) (740 shots vs 320 shots)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
EOS R5 C
142 × 101 × 111 mm
770 g (1.70 lb / 27.16 oz)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
EOS R5 C is 7mm narrower and 49mm shorter than Z9 but it is also 21mm thicker.
EOS R5 C is 570 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 111mm EOS R5 C · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
EOS R5 C
142 × 101 mm
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
EOS R5 C
142 × 111 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
EOS R5 C
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 R5 C
✓ 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 R5 C
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird
Burst (mechanical)
12 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds Cinema RAW Light, XF-AVC, H.265…
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 142, 101, 111
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B, SD UHS-II
AF points / zones
1053 vs 493 — higher is better
ISO max (native)
51,200 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
770 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -6 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
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 180 frames — higher is better
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
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Card slots — Both 2
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
EOS R5 C
Pros
- ✓8K RAW 60p internal recording with active cooling
- ✓Cinema EOS interface and professional video tools
- ✓45MP full-frame stills capability
- ✓4K 120p slow motion
- ✓CFexpress Type B plus SD UHS-II storage
Cons
- –No in-body stabilization
- –Battery life is limited for high-end video
- –Larger body than the EOS R5
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 sports, EOS R5 C or Z9?
Z9 scores 9.0/10 versus 5.5/10 for EOS R5 C — 120fps burst — pro-level action capture.
What's the resolution difference between the EOS R5 C and Z9?
EOS R5 C is 45 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS R5 C and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
EOS R5 C does not have IBIS, while z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS R5 C or the Z9?
EOS R5 C reaches 20 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS R5 C and Z9?
EOS R5 C weighs 770 g and Z9 weighs 1340 g, so the EOS R5 C is 570 g lighter.
Do the EOS R5 C and Z9 record 4K video?
EOS R5 C: 8K RAW (max), 4K up to 120p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the EOS R5 C and Z9 weather sealed?
EOS R5 C: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 320 shots (CIPA) for the EOS R5 C and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
EOS R5 C launched at $4,499 and Z9 at $5,899. The EOS R5 C is $1,400 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and Nikon press materials.