Decision tools · Compare
EOS R8 vs A1
Quick take: The A1 has the highest resolution at 50MP; the EOS R8 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
A1 2021
Best for Professional sport, wildlife, portrait & hybrid shooting
£4199
new today at Wex Photo Video
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Verdictwhich should you buy?
EOS R8 — Full-Frame Entry: Canon's most affordable full-frame mirrorless — 4K/60p 10-bit and class-leading Dual Pixel AF at an accessible entry price.
A1 — Professional Sport, Wildlife, Portrait & Hybrid Shooting: 50MP, 30fps, 8K — the Sony A1 is the most complete professional camera ever made.
Who should buy what
EOS R8 (2023)
is the right camera for you if…
- Photographers wanting full-frame image quality at the lowest RF price
- EOS RP owners upgrading to better autofocus and modern video specs
- Beginners who want to start on full-frame without overspending
- Travel photographers who want a lightweight full-frame RF body
A1 (2021)
is the right camera for you if…
- Professional photographers who need resolution and speed without compromise
- Sports and wildlife photographers demanding the absolute fastest Sony
- Studio and fashion photographers who also shoot sport or events
- A9 III or A7R V owners who want a single body that does everything
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | EOS R8Canon · 2023 | A1Sony · 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,629Best | £4,199 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 50.1MP Full-Frame Stacked BSI CMOS Exmor RS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 50.1MPBest |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled 10-bit, FHD/180p | 8K/30p, 4K/120p, 1080p/240p |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 1053 zones, eye/face/subject tracking | Real-time Tracking, AI subject recognition — 759 phase-detect points |
| Stabilisation | No stabilisation | IBIS — up to 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic | 30fps electronic with full AF/AEBest |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~430 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 461g (body only)Best | 737g (with battery and card) |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 86.1 × 70.0mm | 128.9 × 96.9 × 80.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× | EVF, 9.44M dots, 0.90× magnification, 240fps |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" fully tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF mount (full-frame) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual CFexpress Type A / SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Wi-Fi 5GHz, Bluetooth, Ethernet, 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
EOS R8
A1
Portrait
7.5/10
8.2/10
Street
6.8/10
6.1/10
Travel
6.6/10
6.0/10
Wedding & Events
6.4/10
7.9/10
Vlogging & Video
6.4/10
—
Filmmaking
6.5/10
7.8/10
Documentary
7.1/10
7.6/10
Sports & Action
7.9/10
8.8/10
Landscape
6.2/10
7.6/10
Wildlife
7.9/10
8.7/10
Casual
5.5/10
4.8/10
Food
6.9/10
7.4/10
Macro
7.3/10
7.3/10
Architecture
6.2/10
7.9/10
Astrophotography
6.3/10
6.8/10
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 →
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