CLASH OF THE MIRRORLESS TITANS
Sparks fly as we pit the Canon EOS R3 and Nikon Z 9 in a duel for dominance
The hardest concept to grasp when comparing the Canon
EOS R3 and the Nikon Z 9 is that thesearen’teventhemanufacturer’stop-of-theline models. It would be easy to assume that the EOS R3 is a like-for-like mirrorless replacement for the iconic EOS 1DX Mark III DSLR and, likewise, that Nikon had served up the Z 9 as a natural successor to its D6 DSLR speed demon. However, both brands have made it clear that these cameras either sit alongside their mirrored counterparts, or just below in the case of the Canon. This suggests that the best is yet to come and, with the Canon range in particular, the industry is holding its breath for the EOS R1, the model everyone is expecting to become the master of the Paris Olympics this year.
The reason all of this is hard to grasp comes down to just how much technology is already packed into the R3 and Z 9. Both cameras offer blistering frame rates, high-resolution full-frame sensors, and the best autofocus technology the respective ranges have at their disposal. Even at first glance, the built-in vertical grips indicate that both models are aimed squarely at the pro shooter, continuing a tradition that goes back to the earliest days of digital photography, with the Canon EOS 1D/1Ds and Nikon D1/D1H.
The long-time rival companies have taken slightly different approaches to their respective camera specifications. One fits more organically within the kit bag of a sports and wildlife photographer, while the other bridges the gap between action camera and studio workhorse. Both cameras are certainly not cheap, but which gives photographers the biggest bang for their buck? We took the R3 and Z 9 out into the field for a few days to discover which one takes the crown.