Canon EOS R3
Announced September 14, 2021
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Exceptional
The Canon EOS R3 is a robust, high-speed mirrorless camera engineered for professionals who prioritize rapid action, sports, and wildlife photography. While it excels with its advanced autofocus system and durable build, some users find its 24-megapixel resolution limiting compared to higher-density competitors.
Weighted from 26 reviewer scores
Pros
- Highly responsive and accurate autofocus with advanced subject tracking
- Strong low-light performance and dynamic range
- Fast burst shooting speeds of 30 fps
- Durable, weather-sealed build with excellent ergonomics
- Innovative Eye Control AF functionality
Cons
- Lower 24-megapixel resolution compared to flagship competitors
- Mixed memory card slots including SD and CFexpress
- High price point for a non-flagship body
- Inconvenient micro HDMI port
- Limited video features and potential overheating
- Launch price $5,999.99 (USD)
- Sensor 24.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS
- Video 6K 59.94p UHD 100p
- Stabilization In-body IS, 8 stops (CIPA)
- Burst 30 fps electronic 12 fps mechanical
What the Reviewers Say
All 26 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- PetaPixel 9/10
The Canon EOS R3 is the best that the company makes.
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For now, my impression is that the R3 looks very capable and that Eye Control should be taken very seriously, even by those who think it sounds gimmicky.
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From a stills photographer’s perspective, the Canon EOS R3 is one of the best Canon cameras on the market.
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It continues this story, so the Canon EOS R3 is Canon's most powerful and impressive camera to date, exuding sheer confidence.
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The Canon EOS R3 is the ultimate Canon camera choice for photographing sports, action, photojournalism, wildlife, and a host of other subjects.
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If you’re the kind of photographer that needs the latter, then Canon has probably created pretty much the perfect camera for you. It tracks effortlessly and has the kind of low light performance that will enable the shots at the margins than many lesser cameras will miss.
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Canon has produced a superb camera that offers a truly professional photographic tool as the flagship of the EOS R mirrorless system. The handling is excellent, everything having been well thought out.
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The new Canon EOS R3 combines the familiar blueprint of the 1D-X series with all the benefits of mirrorless to create a truly remarkable camera for professional sports and wildlife photographers and videographers alike.
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The files look great, the colors look great, but more so than anything, the autofocus was mind-blowing. Yes, the autofocus is mind-blowing.
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This is the professional camera of the future – and it's here now.
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The Canon EOS R3 is loaded with high-tech features, including an autofocus system you control with your eyes, but still nails all of the fundamentals, making it a phenomenal camera for sports and wildlife pros.
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It can handle anything from wildlife photography to weddings and events. However, if you are a filmmaker, a similarly priced cinema camera will likely be a better option.
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The EOS R3 is a speed demon with lowish resolution, solid video chops and a high $6,000 price tag. With that odd mix, it's mainly designed for news or sports journalists.
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If the mirrorless camera market were a poker game, it’s safe to say that Canon’s EOS R3 is the company’s ace-in-the-hole. The full-frame camera is the 1-DX of the full-frame mirrorless R family —a rugged, fast, professional camera.
- Photo Review 9.0/10
The Canon EOS R3 will meet the needs of sports photographers and many photojournalists who need to shoot professional-standard stills and video.
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The Canon EOS R3 is a highly capable, customizable and creative camera that provides a versatile set of options to the serious photographer. In short, it frees the photographer to apply the art and science of photography to create professional images.
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There is no moment or action that photographers and videographers cannot capture with Canon's new mirrorless camera, the Canon EOS R3.
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All in all, it was a good experience. I had a lot of fun using it.
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Canon EOS R3 is the most complete hybrid camera that Canon has ever released.
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During the short amount of time I was able to shoot with the Canon EOS R3, I found it to be an amazing camera, and I'm sure it will excel in sports, action, and probably wildlife photography as well.
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The EOS R3 is for full-time shooters who shoot sports, news and action all day, every day. It's a smaller, lighter, faster version of the 1DX Mark III.
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[T]his is a camera that I highly, highly recommend because of its quick AF as well as its accuracy, and obviously 30 shots per second.
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It exceeded our expectations, and out of the many cameras we had, became one we tended to pick up more often than not. However, Canon does need to figure out the pricing structure, as this sits above the other flagship offerings while not being an official flagship camera.
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In my opinion, absolutely. Although the 1DX Mark III is still Canon's flagship, the Canon EOS R3 combines the great advantages of the mirrorless system with the durability and robust build of the 1DX series, and if I had to invest in a new camera right now, it would be this one.
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Using the Canon EOS R3 was certainly inspiring, and I can’t wait to see what my friends and colleagues will be producing with this spectacular camera in the months and years ahead.
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I would say that is this camera's strong point, is how fast it is, and that's saying that this camera is probably going to be best for sports photographers and for wildlife photographers.
