Nikon Z8vs A6400
Which should you buy?
Sports, Wildlife & Hybrid Professionals — Nikon Z8 (2023): Z9 performance in a compact body — 45MP, 8K/60p RAW, and 20fps burst without the bulk or price of the flagship.
Content Creation & Vlogging — A6400 (2019): The best value APS-C Sony you can buy — especially used. Real-time Eye AF at this price point was transformative when it launched and still makes it one of the most reliable autofocus systems in the lineup.
Who should buy what
Nikon Z8 (2023)
- You need Z9-level performance in a more travel-friendly and portable body
- You shoot wildlife, weddings, or sport and need exceptional resolution with speed
- You want the best Nikon mirrorless body available without carrying the full Z9
A6400 (2019)
- Vloggers and content creators who need a flip screen and reliable AF
- Photographers upgrading from a compact or smartphone
- Beginners who want room to grow into a full E-mount lens ecosystem
- Anyone prioritising autofocus performance at an accessible price
Quick take: The nikon z8 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the a6400 is the most affordable; only the nikon z8 is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | Nikon Z8 (2023) | A6400 (2019) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £3,999 | £899 |
| Sensor | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 24.2MP APS-C Exmor CMOS BSI |
| Resolution | 45.7MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW | 4K/30p (6K oversampled, no crop), 1080p/120p slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect | Phase-detect, 425 points, real-time Eye AF & animal AF |
| Stabilisation | 6-stop IBIS | None (no IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG | 11fps mechanical, 8fps with AF tracking |
| Battery Life | 330 shots (CIPA) | ~410 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 910g body only | 403g (body, battery, card) |
| Dimensions | 144.0 × 118.5 × 83.0mm | 120.0 × 66.9 × 59.7mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification |
| Screen | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 180° flip for selfie/vlog, 921k dots |
| Mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony E-mount |
| Memory Cards | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth | Micro-USB, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC |
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