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Canon EOS R1 — Stacked 24MP · 40fps · Pro sports
Canon

Canon EOS R1

Stacked 24MP · 40fps · Pro sports

96
/ 100
From $6,299
VS
Canon EOS R1 wins by 2
Sony α9 III — Global shutter · 24.6 MP · 120fps
Sony

Sony α9 III

Global shutter · 24.6 MP · 120fps

94
/ 100
From $5,999
Specdex verdict

Canon EOS R1 takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Canon EOS R1 lands at 96 and Sony α9 III at 94. That puts Canon EOS R1 ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Canon EOS R1 if…

  • ✓Eye-control AF returns and works
  • ✓No-blackout EVF at 40fps
  • ✓Built-in vertical grip

Pick Sony α9 III if…

  • ✓First full-frame global-shutter camera
  • ✓120 fps at full resolution (14-bit RAW)
  • ✓Sync flash to any shutter speed up to 1/80000 s
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Autofocus

Tie

Compared on the autofocus sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Video

Canon EOS R1

Compared on the video sub-score

Canon EOS R1 leads on video (96 vs 92).

Build

Canon EOS R1

Compared on the build sub-score

Canon EOS R1 leads on build (96 vs 92).

Value for money

Tie

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.

Canon EOS R1 96
vs
94 Sony α9 III

Score breakdown

Canon EOS R1
96
sensor 92
af 100
video 96
build 96
ergonomics 96
Sony α9 III
94
sensor 92
af 100
video 92
build 92
ergonomics 92

Specs side-by-side

Canon EOS R1 versus Sony α9 III — full spec comparison
Spec Canon EOS R1 Sony α9 III
Sensor
24.2 MP stacked CMOS
24.6 MP global-shutter CMOS
Mount
Canon RF
Sony E
Burst
40 fps electronic / 12 fps mechanical
Up to 120 fps full-res JPG / 14-bit RAW
Video
6K 60p RAW · 4K 120p
Up to 4K (3840×2160) at 120 fps
AF
Dual Pixel Intelligent AF + Eye-control
759 phase-detect points (still) / 627 (video)
Storage
Dual CFexpress B
—
Weight
1115 g
▲ 702 g (with battery + card)
Max shutter
—
1/80000 s electronic
ISO
—
ISO 250–25600 native (125–51200 extended)

Canon EOS R1

Pros
  • +Eye-control AF returns and works
  • +No-blackout EVF at 40fps
  • +Built-in vertical grip
Cons
  • −Resolution conservative at 24 MP
  • −Heavy at 1115g
  • −Pro-only price

Sony α9 III

Pros
  • +First full-frame global-shutter camera
  • +120 fps at full resolution (14-bit RAW)
  • +Sync flash to any shutter speed up to 1/80000 s
Cons
  • −24.6 MP feels conservative for the price
  • −$5,999 body-only
  • −ISO range tops at 25600 native

FAQ: Canon EOS R1 vs Sony α9 III

Which is better, Canon EOS R1 or Sony α9 III? +

Canon EOS R1 scores 96 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Canon EOS R1 worth the price? +

At $6,299, Canon EOS R1 delivers a Specdex score of 96 — strongest in af.

Is Sony α9 III worth the price? +

At $5,999, Sony α9 III delivers a Specdex score of 94 — strongest in af.

Does Canon EOS R1 or Sony α9 III last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for video, Canon EOS R1 or Sony α9 III? +

Canon EOS R1 — leads on video (96 vs 92). Compared on the video sub-score.

Which is better for build, Canon EOS R1 or Sony α9 III? +

Canon EOS R1 — leads on build (96 vs 92). Compared on the build sub-score.