Complete Technical Specifications
Comparison Table
| Technical Parameter | Canon EOS R6 Mark III | Sony A7 IV | Difference | Professional Impact |
|---|
| Sensor | 32.5MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | 33.0MP Full-Frame BSI CMOS | -0.5MP | No practical difference in resolution |
| Sensor Readout Speed | 13.5ms | 67.6ms | 54.1ms faster | Canon: Minimal rolling shutter distortion |
| Max Burst Rate (ES) | 40 fps (Lossless RAW) | 10 fps (Compressed RAW) | 30 fps advantage | Canon captures 4x more frames per second |
| Max Burst Rate (MS) | 12 fps | 10 fps | 2 fps advantage | Minor improvement for mechanical shooting |
| Pre-Capture Buffer | 20 frames @ 40fps | None | N/A | Canon captures 0.5s before shutter press |
| AF Low-Light Limit | EV -6.5 | EV -4.0 | 2.5 stops better | Canon focuses in near darkness |
| AF Coverage | 100% sensor area (1053 zones) | 94% sensor area (759 points) | 6% more coverage | Canon better for edge compositions |
| IBIS Performance | 8.5 stops (w/ IS lens) | 5.5 stops | 3 stops advantage | Canon enables 1/8s handheld @ 200mm |
| Video Resolution Max | 7K DCI RAW 12-bit 60p | 4K UHD 10-bit 4:2:2 60p | 3K resolution gap | Canon: 49.3MP vs Sony: 8.3MP source |
| 4K 60p Crop Factor | 1.0x (Full-frame) | 1.5x (APS-C) | 0.5x crop advantage | Canon maintains native FOV |
| Open Gate Recording | 7K 3:2 (6960×4640) | None | N/A | Canon: 32.3MP vs standard 4K 8.3MP |
| Log Profiles | C-Log2 (15+ stops), C-Log3 | S-Log3 (14+ stops) | 1+ stop advantage | Canon captures more highlight detail |
| Color Sampling | 4:2:2 10-bit internal | 4:2:2 10-bit internal | Tie | Both suitable for professional grading |
| Monitoring Tools | Waveform, False Color, Histogram | Zebras, Peaking | Professional advantage | Canon enables precise exposure control |
| Recording Media | CFexpress B + SD UHS-II | CFexpress A + SD UHS-II | Speed advantage | CF-B: 1700MB/s vs CF-A: 800MB/s |
| Buffer Depth (RAW) | ~200 frames @ 40fps | ~80 frames @ 10fps | 120 frame advantage | Canon sustains high-speed shooting longer |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 620 shots (LCD) | 600 shots (LCD) | 20 shots advantage | Negligible difference in real use |
| LCD Resolution | 1.62M dots | 1.04M dots | 0.58M dots advantage | Canon: Sharper focus verification |
| Body Weight | 670g (body only) | 658g (body only) | 12g heavier | Negligible weight difference |
| Launch Price (2025) | $2,799 | $1,999 | $800 premium | Canon commands 40% price premium |
Performance Data Benchmarks
Rolling Shutter Measurements
- Canon R6 Mark III: 13.5ms readout time
- Panning speed tolerance: 90°/second before visible distortion
- Helicopter rotor test: Minimal skew at 40fps
- Sony A7 IV: 67.6ms readout time
- Panning speed tolerance: 18°/second before visible distortion
- Helicopter rotor test: Severe skew at 10fps
Stabilization Test Results
| Focal Length | Canon R6 III (8.5 stops) | Sony A7 IV (5.5 stops) | Handheld Threshold |
|---|
| 50mm | Sharp @ 1/2s | Sharp @ 1/8s | Canon: 4x slower shutter |
| 200mm | Sharp @ 1/8s | Sharp @ 1/30s | Canon: 3.75x slower shutter |
| 400mm | Sharp @ 1/15s | Sharp @ 1/60s | Canon: 4x slower shutter |
Video Bitrate & Recording Limits
| Format | Canon R6 III Bitrate | Max Recording Time | Sony A7 IV Bitrate | Max Recording Time |
|---|
| 7K RAW 60p | 1800 Mbps | 23-35 min (temp dependent) | N/A | N/A |
| 4K 60p 10-bit | 600 Mbps | Unlimited (45°C limit) | 600 Mbps | Unlimited (40°C limit) |
| 4K 30p 10-bit | 300 Mbps | Unlimited | 300 Mbps | Unlimited |
| 1080p 120fps | 200 Mbps | Unlimited | 200 Mbps | Unlimited |
Autofocus Performance Metrics
- Canon R6 Mark III:
- Human Eye AF acquisition: 0.03s (EV 0)
- Animal Eye AF acquisition: 0.05s (EV 0)
- Low-light tracking failure rate: 8% @ EV -5
- Sony A7 IV:
- Human Eye AF acquisition: 0.04s (EV 0)
- Animal Eye AF acquisition: 0.07s (EV 0)
- Low-light tracking failure rate: 35% @ EV -5
Lens Ecosystem Cost Analysis (Professional Kit)
| Lens Type | Canon RF Price | Sony E-mount Price | Savings w/Sony |
|---|
| 24-70mm f/2.8 | $2,299 (RF) | $1,199 (Sigma) | $1,100 |
| 70-200mm f/2.8 | $2,699 (RF) | $1,399 (Tamron) | $1,300 |
| 85mm f/1.4 | $1,899 (RF) | $899 (Sigma) | $1,000 |
| Total Kit Cost | $6,897 | $3,497 | $3,400 |
Note: Canon RF mount has no third-party AF lens options at launch. Sony ecosystem includes 40+ third-party AF lenses.
Thermal Performance Data
Recording Duration Tests (25°C Ambient)
| Format | Canon R6 III | Sony A7 IV | Test Conditions |
|---|
| 4K 60p 10-bit | 2 hours 15 min | 2 hours 30 min | Continuous recording |
| 4K 30p 10-bit | Unlimited | Unlimited | No overheating |
| 7K RAW 60p | 23 min (standard) / 35 min (high-temp mode) | N/A | High-bitrate mode |
| 1080p 120fps | Unlimited | Unlimited | Standard mode |
Professional Workflow Impact Data
Post-Production Time Savings
| Task | Canon R6 III (7K Source) | Sony A7 IV (4K Source) | Time Saved |
|---|
| 4K Delivery from RAW | 2.1 hours | 1.8 hours | +0.3 hours |
| Vertical Crop (9:16) | 15 minutes (from 7K Open Gate) | 45 minutes (separate shoot) | 30 minutes saved |
| Digital Stabilization | 8 minutes (minimal crop) | 22 minutes (significant crop) | 14 minutes saved |
| Color Grading Latitude | 4.5 stops recovery | 3.8 stops recovery | Better highlight retention |
Business ROI Analysis (5-Year Projection)
| Cost Factor | Canon System | Sony System | Difference |
|---|
| Initial Body Investment | $2,799 | $1,999 | +$800 |
| 3-Lens Professional Kit | $6,897 | $3,497 | +$3,400 |
| Annual Lens Expansion | $2,400 | $1,200 | +$1,200 |
| 5-Year Total Cost | $19,296 | $12,696 | +$6,600 |
| Revenue Impact | Requires $1,320/mo additional income to justify | Lower barrier to profitability | Sony: 52% faster ROI |
Technical Verification Sources
- Sensor readout measurements: [Camera Labs, November 2025]
- IBIS performance testing: [DPReview Studio Tests, 2025]
- Thermal testing data: [Imaging Resource Field Tests, October 2025]
- AF low-light testing: [EOS Magazine Lab Results, November 2025]
- Lens pricing data: [B&H Photo Professional Pricing, November 2025]
