Decision tools · Compare
Canon EOS R8 Mark II vs A9
Quick take: The Canon EOS R8 Mark II is the most affordable.
16 specs side by side·15 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Sony
A9 2017
Best for Professional sports, wildlife & action photography
£1999
list price · used from £1012 at eBay
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Verdictwhich should you buy?
A9 — Professional Sports, Wildlife & Action Photography: The camera that changed professional photography — the A9's 20fps blackout-free burst and silent shutter proved mirrorless had definitively surpassed the DSLR.
Who should buy what
A9 (2017)
is the right camera for you if…
- Sports photographers who want the original 20fps mirrorless at a lower used price than the A9 II
- Wildlife photographers who need blackout-free burst with fast, reliable tracking
- Sony FE system users who want a professional sports body
- Photographers interested in the camera that changed the industry
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | Canon EOS R8 Mark IICanon · 2026 | A9Sony · 2017 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,729Best | £1,999 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP full-frame CMOS | 24.2MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 24.2MP |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled from 6K, 10-bit Canon Log 3/HLG | 4K/30p, 1080p/120p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with subject detection (people/animals/vehicles) | 693 phase-detect + 25 contrast-detect, real-time eye/body tracking |
| Stabilisation | 7.5-stop IBIS | IBIS — 5-axis, up to 5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 40fps electronicBest | 20fps (blackout-free, silent electronic shutter with full AF/AE) |
| Battery Life | 150 shots (CIPA, via EVF) | ~650 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 546g (with battery and card)Best | 673g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | — | 126.9 × 95.6 × 63.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots | EVF, OLED 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification, 60fps refresh (blackout-free) |
| Screen | Vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD (UHS-II) | Dual SD UHS-II slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, HDMI (micro), Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, HDMI |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
Canon EOS R8 Mark II
A9
Portrait
8.3/10
7.5/10
Street
6.9/10
6.0/10
Travel
6.6/10
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
7.1/10
7.5/10
Vlogging & Video
6.7/10
—
Filmmaking
7.0/10
6.7/10
Documentary
7.7/10
6.8/10
Sports & Action
8.0/10
8.2/10
Landscape
6.4/10
6.1/10
Wildlife
8.3/10
8.2/10
Casual
5.8/10
4.6/10
Food
8.0/10
6.5/10
Macro
8.5/10
5.8/10
Architecture
6.6/10
6.0/10
Astrophotography
6.3/10
7.3/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
Next
More comparisons with Canon EOS R8 Mark II
Camera family history