Sony α9 III
Global shutter · 24.6 MP · 120fps
Canon EOS R5 Mark II
45 MP stacked · 8K60 RAW · AI detection
Canon EOS R5 Mark II takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sony α9 III lands at 94 and Canon EOS R5 Mark II at 95. That puts Canon EOS R5 Mark II ahead by 1 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
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
Pick Canon EOS R5 Mark II if…
- ✓8K 60p RAW internal recording
- ✓Next-gen AI subject detection (5,850 AF points, 100% coverage)
- ✓Up to 30 fps electronic burst
Winner by scenario
Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate testVideo
Canon EOS R5 Mark IICompared on the video sub-score
Canon EOS R5 Mark II leads on video (96 vs 92).
Ergonomics
TieCompared on the ergonomics sub-score
Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.
Value for money
Canon EOS R5 Mark IISpecdex score per dollar at MSRP
Canon EOS R5 Mark II more score per dollar ($4,299 vs $5,999).
Score breakdown
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sony α9 III | Canon EOS R5 Mark II |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 24.6 MP global-shutter CMOS | 45 MP BSI stacked CMOS |
| Mount | Sony E | Canon RF |
| Max shutter | 1/80000 s electronic | — |
| Burst | Up to 120 fps full-res JPG / 14-bit RAW | 12 fps mechanical / 30 fps electronic |
| Video | Up to 4K (3840×2160) at 120 fps | 8K 60p RAW · 4K 120p |
| AF | 759 phase-detect points (still) / 627 (video) | 5,850 user-selectable points, 100% coverage |
| ISO | ISO 250–25600 native (125–51200 extended) | 100–51200 (exp. 50–102400) |
| Weight | 702 g (with battery + card) | — |
| Stabilization | — | 5-axis IBIS |
Sony α9 III
- +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
- −24.6 MP feels conservative for the price
- −$5,999 body-only
- −ISO range tops at 25600 native
Canon EOS R5 Mark II
- +8K 60p RAW internal recording
- +Next-gen AI subject detection (5,850 AF points, 100% coverage)
- +Up to 30 fps electronic burst
- −Price jumped from R5
- −Body heats in extended 8K recording
- −Battery life modest
FAQ: Sony α9 III vs Canon EOS R5 Mark II
Which is better, Sony α9 III or Canon EOS R5 Mark II? +
Canon EOS R5 Mark II scores 95 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 1. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sony α9 III worth the price? +
At $5,999, Sony α9 III delivers a Specdex score of 94 — strongest in af.
Is Canon EOS R5 Mark II worth the price? +
At $4,299, Canon EOS R5 Mark II delivers a Specdex score of 95 — strongest in autofocus.
Does Sony α9 III or Canon EOS R5 Mark II 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, Sony α9 III or Canon EOS R5 Mark II? +
Canon EOS R5 Mark II — leads on video (96 vs 92). Compared on the video sub-score.
Which is the better value, Sony α9 III or Canon EOS R5 Mark II? +
Canon EOS R5 Mark II — more score per dollar ($4,299 vs $5,999). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.