Canon R vs Sony A99

The Canon EOS R and the Sony Alpha SLT-A99 are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in September 2018 and September 2012. The Canon R is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the A99 is a DSLR. Both cameras are equipped with a full frame sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 30.1 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 24 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon R		Sony A99
Mirrorless system camera		Digital single lens reflex
Canon RF mount lenses		Sony A mount lenses
30.1 MP, Full Frame Sensor		24 MP, Full Frame Sensor
4K/30p Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 100-40,000 (50 - 102,400)		ISO 100-25,600
Electronic viewfinder (3690k dots)		Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)
3.2 LCD, 2100k dots		3.0 LCD, 1229k dots
Swivel touchscreen		Fully flexible screen (no touchscreen)
8 shutter flaps per second		6 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization only		In-body stabilization
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
370 shots per battery charge		500 shots per battery charge
139 x 98 x 84 mm, 660 g		147 x 111 x 78 mm, 812 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS R and the Sony Alpha SLT-A99? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon R and the Sony A99 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony A99 is notably larger (20 percent) than the Canon R. Moreover, the A99 is markedly heavier (23 percent) than the Canon R. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the Canon R gets 370 shots out of its LP-E6N battery, while the A99 can take 500 images on a single charge of its NP-FM500H power pack. The power pack in the Canon R can be charged via the USB port, so that it is not always necessary to take the battery charger along when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon R	139 mm	98 mm	84 mm	660 g	370	Y	Sep 2018	2,299
2.		Sony A99	147 mm	111 mm	78 mm	812 g	500	Y	Sep 2012	2,799
3.		Canon R6	138 mm	98 mm	88 mm	680 g	360	Y	Jul 2020	2,499
4.		Canon 90D	141 mm	105 mm	77 mm	701 g	1300	Y	Aug 2019	1,199
5.		Canon 6D Mark II	144 mm	111 mm	75 mm	765 g	1200	Y	Jun 2017	1,999
6.		Canon 80D	139 mm	105 mm	79 mm	730 g	960	Y	Feb 2016	1,199
7.		Canon 6D	145 mm	111 mm	71 mm	770 g	1090	Y	Sep 2012	2,099
8.		Nikon Z6	134 mm	101 mm	67 mm	675 g	310	Y	Aug 2018	1,999
9.		Nikon D750	141 mm	113 mm	78 mm	750 g	1230	Y	Sep 2014	2,299
10.		Nikon Df	144 mm	110 mm	67 mm	760 g	1400	Y	Nov 2013	2,749
11.		Panasonic GH5s	139 mm	98 mm	87 mm	660 g	440	Y	Jan 2018	2,499
12.		Sony A7 III	127 mm	96 mm	74 mm	650 g	610	Y	Feb 2018	1,999
13.		Sony A9	127 mm	96 mm	63 mm	673 g	650	Y	Apr 2017	4,499
14.		Sony A99 II	143 mm	104 mm	76 mm	849 g	490	Y	Sep 2016	3,199
15.		Sony A77	143 mm	104 mm	81 mm	732 g	470	Y	Aug 2011	1,399
16.		Sony A850	156 mm	117 mm	82 mm	895 g	880	Y	Aug 2009	1,999
17.		Sony A900	156 mm	117 mm	82 mm	895 g	880	Y	Sep 2008	2,999
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The Canon R was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 18 percent) than the A99, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature a full frame sensor, but their sensors differ slightly in size. The sensor area in the A99 is 1 percent smaller. They nevertheless have the same format factor of 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 30.1MP, the Canon R offers a higher resolution than the A99 (24MP), but the Canon R has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 5.36μm versus 5.96μm for the A99). However, the Canon R is a much more recent model (by 5 years and 11 months) than the A99, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels.

The resolution advantage of the Canon R implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the Canon R for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 33.6 x 22.4 inches or 85.3 x 56.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 26.9 x 17.9 inches or 68.3 x 45.5 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 22.4 x 14.9 inches or 56.9 x 37.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Sony A99 are 30 x 20 inches or 76.2 x 50.8 cm for good quality, 24 x 16 inches or 61 x 40.6 cm for very good quality, and 20 x 13.3 inches or 50.8 x 33.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon R has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS R has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 40000, which can be extended to ISO 50-102400. The corresponding ISO settings for the Sony Alpha SLT-A99 are ISO 100 to ISO 25600, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-25600.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon R	Full Frame	30.1	6720	4480	4K/30p	24.5	13.5	2742	89
2.		Sony A99	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	25.0	14.0	1555	89
3.		Canon R6	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4k/60p	24.2	14.3	3394	90
4.		Canon 90D	APS-C	32.3	6960	4640	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
5.		Canon 6D Mark II	Full Frame	26.0	6240	4160	1080/60p	24.4	11.9	2862	85
6.		Canon 80D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.2	1135	79
7.		Canon 6D	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.8	12.1	2340	82
8.		Nikon Z6	Full Frame	24.3	6048	4024	4K/30p	25.3	14.3	3299	95
9.		Nikon D750	Full Frame	24.2	6016	4016	1080/60p	24.8	14.5	2956	93
10.		Nikon Df	Full Frame	16.2	4928	3280	none	24.6	13.1	3279	89
11.		Panasonic GH5s	Four Thirds	9.9	3680	2700	4K/60p	..	..	..	..
12.		Sony A7 III	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	14.7	3730	96
13.		Sony A9	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	24.9	13.3	3517	92
14.		Sony A99 II	Full Frame	42.2	7952	5304	4K/30p	25.4	13.4	2317	92
15.		Sony A77	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	24.0	13.2	801	78
16.		Sony A850	Full Frame	24.4	6048	4032	none	23.8	12.2	1415	79
17.		Sony A900	Full Frame	24.4	6048	4032	none	23.7	12.3	1431	79

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the Canon R provides a higher video resolution than the A99. It can shoot video footage at 4K/30p, while the Sony is limited to 1080/60p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The two cameras under consideration are similar with respect to both having an electronic viewfinder. However, the one in the Canon R offers a substantially higher resolution than the one in the A99 (3690k vs 2359k dots). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon R and Sony A99 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon R	3690	Y	3.2	2100	swivel	Y	1/8000s	8.0	n	n
2.		Sony A99	2359	Y	3.0	1229	full-flex	n	1/8000s	6.0	n	Y
3.		Canon R6	5760	n	3.0	1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
4.		Canon 90D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	11.0	Y	n
5.		Canon 6D Mark II	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	6.5	n	n
6.		Canon 80D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	7.0	Y	n
7.		Canon 6D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5	n	n
8.		Nikon Z6	3690	Y	3.2	2100	tilting	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
9.		Nikon D750	optical	Y	3.2	1229	tilting	n	1/4000s	6.0	Y	n
10.		Nikon Df	optical	Y	3.2	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.5	n	n
11.		Panasonic GH5s	3680	n	3.2	1620	swivel	Y	1/8000s	12.0	n	n
12.		Sony A7 III	2359	n	3.0	922	tilting	Y	1/8000s	10.0	n	Y
13.		Sony A9	3686	n	3.0	1440	tilting	Y	1/8000s	20.0	n	Y
14.		Sony A99 II	2400	Y	3.0	1229	full-flex	n	1/8000s	12.0	n	Y
15.		Sony A77	2359	Y	3.0	921	full-flex	n	1/8000s	12.0	Y	Y
16.		Sony A850	optical	Y	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0	n	Y
17.		Sony A900	optical	Y	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0	n	Y

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The Canon R has a touchscreen, while the A99 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the Canon R is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Canon R writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the A99 uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The A99 features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the Canon R only has one slot. The Canon R supports UHS-II cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 312 MB/s), while the A99 can use UHS-I cards (up to 104 MB/s).

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS R and Sony Alpha SLT-A99 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon R	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	3.1	Y	-	Y
2.		Sony A99	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon R6	Y	mono	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.2	Y	-	Y
4.		Canon 90D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
5.		Canon 6D Mark II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	Y
6.		Canon 80D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Canon 6D	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Nikon Z6	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
9.		Nikon D750	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
10.		Nikon Df	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Panasonic GH5s	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	full	3.1	Y	-	Y
12.		Sony A7 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	3.1	Y	Y	Y
13.		Sony A9	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
14.		Sony A99 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
15.		Sony A77	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Sony A850	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Sony A900	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the Canon R offers wifi support, while the A99 does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Sony A99 (unlike the Canon R) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the A99 has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

The Canon R is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon. In contrast, the A99 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on eBay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the A99 was succeeded by the Sony A99 II. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Sony websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon R better than the Sony A99 or vice versa? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Advantages of the Canon EOS R:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (30.1 vs 24MP) with a 12% higher linear resolution.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Requires less light for good images (0.8 stops ISO advantage).
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• More detailed viewfinder: Has higher resolution electronic viewfinder (3690k vs 2359k dots).
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.76x vs 0.71x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2100k vs 1229k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8 vs 6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (139x98mm vs 147x111mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 152g or 19 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• Faster buffer clearing: Supports a more advanced SD data transfer standard (UHS-II vs UHS-I).
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (18 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 5 years and 11 months of technical progress since the A99 launch.

Arguments in favor of the Sony Alpha SLT-A99:

• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (500 versus 370) out of a single battery charge.
• Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
• Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in September 2012).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the Canon R is the clear winner of the match-up (21 : 6 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon R and the Sony A99 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the Canon R and the A99 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon R	4/5	o	79/100	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2018	2,299
2.		Sony A99	5/5	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,799
3.		Canon R6	5/5	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	5/5	Jul 2020	2,499
4.		Canon 90D	4/5	+	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2019	1,199
5.		Canon 6D Mark II	4/5	+	80/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2017	1,999
6.		Canon 80D	4/5	+ +	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	1,199
7.		Canon 6D	5/5	+ +	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099
8.		Nikon Z6	5/5	..	..	4.5/5	5/5	Aug 2018	1,999
9.		Nikon D750	5/5	+ +	90/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	2,299
10.		Nikon Df	4/5	..	81/100	4/5	4/5	Nov 2013	2,749
11.		Panasonic GH5s	..	..	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2018	2,499
12.		Sony A7 III	..	+ +	89/100	5/5	5/5	Feb 2018	1,999
13.		Sony A9	5/5	+ +	89/100	5/5	5/5	Apr 2017	4,499
14.		Sony A99 II	..	..	85/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	3,199
15.		Sony A77	5/5	91/100	81/100	..	5/5	Aug 2011	1,399
16.		Sony A850	3/5	..	75/100	..	4.5/5	Aug 2009	1,999
17.		Sony A900	..	+ +	+ +	4.5/5	5/5	Sep 2008	2,999
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Canon R vs Sony A99

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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