Canon EOS R3

The EOS R3 is a full-frame mirrorless camera built around speed. Its maximum 30 fps burst rate and 6K video ceiling point it at photographing motion, from sport to wildlife.

It is a big camera to carry. At 1015 g with a body measuring 150 x 143 x 87 mm, it favours planned assignments over light, discreet travel.

The Canon RF mount gives access to the RF lens range, and dual card slots plus USB charging make longer shoots easier to plan.

A 24 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor sits at the core, paired with the Digic X processor. That resolution suits general assignment work, printing at normal sizes and leaving sensible latitude for moderate crops.

Speed is the defining strength. The maximum shutter speed of 1/8000s handles bright daylight, and the camera can shoot at up to 30 fps, a maximum figure rather than a promise of sustained rate. The autofocus system offers 1053 points, though the count alone says nothing about coverage or tracking performance.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, so handheld work at slower shutter speeds becomes more dependable. The electronic viewfinder, with 5.76 million dots, gives a detailed preview of framing and exposure before you commit.

An Optics score of 84, assessed as exceptional, places it in the top 4% of cameras in our database for Optics. The native ISO range of 100 to 102400 spans bright through to dim conditions, though image quality at each setting is a separate question.

The R3 records at up to 6K, adding pixels that leave room to crop or reframe in editing. Its Video score of 96, rated exceptional, marks recording as a defining strength within this assessment.

Frame rates run to 120 fps for slow-motion playback. The 6K resolution and 120 fps rate are separate maximums, giving you different options for resolution and motion work.

A timelapse function is built in, and video files record in MPEG-4. Resolution, frame rate and timelapse support combine to drive the exceptional Video score. That mix covers high-resolution delivery, slow-motion work and changes unfolding over time, with a straightforward handoff into common editing software after the shoot.

The 3.2-inch touch LCD offers 4.15 million dots, supporting detailed review on the back of the camera. Touch input is available, and the screen flips to support framing from different angles.

Weather sealing protects against dust and moisture in the field, though it does not make the camera waterproof. GPS is built in, so location data can travel with your files.

There is no built-in flash, but external flash units are supported, so controlled lighting is simply a matter of packing a speedlight. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are both present for wireless connection, and the Features score of 87 rates the feature set as very good.

Two card slots accept SD, SDHC and SDXC media alongside CFexpress Type B, including UHS-II compatibility. That range of supported media lets you match card choice to the job at hand.

The LP-E19 battery carries a rating of 760 shots. Real-world endurance varies with how you shoot, so treat the figure as a benchmark and carry a spare for long assignments away from home too.

USB charging is also available for topping up the battery between shoots or on location. The Storage & Battery score of 81, rated exceptional, reflects the dual card slots, the battery rating and USB charging.