I have decided to buy a new camera for one reason only: size and weight. I have found that my Canon 6D and my usual go to lens; the Sigma 35mm 1.4 Art are just not the right tools for me anymore and are giving me a lot of backache after trailing the streets for hours on end. Like many of you I have decided to finally go mirrorless. The choices on offer are vast and over the past few months, I have spent hours watching YouTube videos and reading online articles. From my research and given my budget, my two options seemed to be either the Canon EOS R or the Sony A7R iii.

Canon EOS R

The EOS R has a lot of negative reviews, mainly due to the lack of IBIS, 4K cropped video and dual card slots. For me though it’s not an issue – I have never had a card fail on me and I don’t shoot video, so 4K crop and image stabilisation really isn’t a deal breaker. I have already invested in the system and can easily adapt my current lens line up, which is a big bonus. The megapixel count is more than enough and the new RF lenses are truly innovative.

Sony A7R iii

The Sony A7R iii is a beast of a camera on paper and Sony really is leading the way in mirrorless technology and now has a great selection of lenses to suit all budgets. I only shoot RAW so the inferior colour science compared with Canon is not an issue for me. However, the build quality is definitely second-class compared to the EOS R. Build quality aside – the AF focus, lens selection, megapixel count, video capabilities, and image stabilisation certainly gives Canon a run for its money.

And the winner is?

Neither. With the announcement of the Fujifilm X-Pro 3, I have decided to jump into the Fuji system. The X-Pro 3 ticks all the boxes and serves my style of photography. I generally only shoot street and travel photography, I don’t need all the bells and whistles the above systems offer. The Fuji lenses are fantastic, affordable and generally lightweight. The ergonomics and control the Fuji system offers is something I yearn for and yes, I love the film nostalgia Fuji offers. The ability to do some editing in camera, really appeals to me and will hopefully enable me to improve my workflow. I also like the idea of a hidden screen to stop me from constantly checking my photos, and the hybrid viewfinder really allows the photographer to focus on taking photos.

My Takeaway

There isn’t a perfect camera – each system has its pros and cons, you have to choose what works for you. On paper the X-Pro 3 is the right tool for me, and I am excited to get my hands on it next month. I am hoping the X-Pro 3 will give me more creative control over my photographs and more importantly encourage me to take more photographs. I will hold on to my trusty Canon 6D, but it probably won’t get much street time when the X-Pro 3 moves in.