• 35mm 864.0mm2
  • 22.3 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600
  • 35mm 861.6mm2
  • 42.4 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 32,000

Buy From

Differences

Canon 5D Mark III advantages over Sony A7R III

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Good
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 6.25 vs 4.51 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Fast startup
    ~0.50 vs 1.7 sec
    Faster startup lets you catch the moment
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 950 vs 650 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Top deck display
    Yes vs No
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • Less shutter lag
    0.12 vs 0.25 sec
    Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
  • Has anti-aliasing filter
    Filter vs No Filter
    Reduces unsightly moiré in photos

Sony A7R III advantages over Canon 5D Mark III

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Shoot 4K video
    4K (UHD) vs 1080p
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • High resolution composite
    Yes vs No
    Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Higher effective ISO
    3,523 vs 2,293 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • More dynamic range
    14.7 vs 11.7 evs
    Retain detail in highlight and shadows
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Newer
    6 years vs 12 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • Lighter weight
    657g vs 950g
    Lighter weight
  • More viewfinder magnification
    0.78x vs 0.71x
    Get a bigger view of the scene through the eye-level viewfinder
  • More pixels
    42.4 vs 22.3 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Lacks anti-aliasing filter
    No Filter vs Filter
    Enjoy sharper photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    9.9 fps vs 6.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster RAW shooting
    9.2 fps vs 6.0 fps
    Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
  • Bigger RAW buffer
    30 vs 18 shots
    Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Both provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • External Mic Jack
    Both provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Both provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Dual card slots
    Both provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Both provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Internal flash
    Neither provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon 5D Mark III

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A7R III

Review Excerpt

  • Superb still and video image quality; Powerful, fast, and accurate AF system with loads of cross-type points, loads of configurability and great frame coverage; Rugged, weather-sealed body with great control layout and user-interface configurability.

  • Dynamic range is limited by noise in deep shadows; Somewhat heavy-handed noise suppression and sharpening at default settings. (Shooting RAW avoids both.); No AF illuminator.

  • Fantastic image quality; Improved dynamic range over its predecessor; Very good high ISO performance; Much improved real-world AF performance; Class-leading burst rates, even with RAW; Improved 5-axis in-body image stabilization; Better 4K video quality; 1080/120fps video; Dual card slots; Significantly better battery life.

  • Expensive; Menus still confusing; UHS-II support only on one card slot; No optical low-pass filter means greater risk of moire; No built-in flash; Buffer clearing still slow despite UHS-II support.

The Competition

Compared to Canon 6D

Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 6D
  • $2139
  • 35mm
  • More cross-type AF points
  • Less shutter lag
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
Sony A7R III
Canon 6D
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $1699
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Canon 5D Mark IV

Canon 5D Mark III
Canon 5D Mark IV
  • $2139
  • 35mm
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $2499
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
Sony A7R III
Canon 5D Mark IV
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Less expensive
  • $2499
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Bigger pixels

Compared to Sony A850

Canon 5D Mark III
Sony A850
  • $2139
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Higher effective ISO
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
Sony A7R III
Sony A850
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $2219
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • Fast startup

Compared to Nikon D800E

Canon 5D Mark III
Nikon D800E
  • $2139
  • 35mm
  • Bigger pixels
  • More cross-type AF points
  • $2212
  • 35mm
  • Fast startup
  • Higher effective ISO
Sony A7R III
Nikon D800E
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • $2212
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup

Compared to Sony A99

Canon 5D Mark III
Sony A99
  • $2139
  • 35mm
  • Lens selection
  • Fast startup
  • $1998
  • 35mm
  • Focus peaking
  • Tilt-swivel screen
Sony A7R III
Sony A99
  • $2348
  • 35mm
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
  • $1998
  • 35mm
  • Tilt-swivel screen
  • Bigger pixels
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