EOS R8vs A7S II
Sony
A7S II (2015)
Starting from £799 new
Best for Low-light video, documentary & available-light filmmaking
View A7S II
GearScore™ Verdict — Which should you buy?
Full-Frame Entry — EOS R8 (2023): Canon's most affordable full-frame mirrorless — 4K/60p 10-bit and class-leading Dual Pixel AF at an accessible entry price.
Low-Light Video, Documentary & Available-Light Filmmaking — A7S II (2015): A landmark in mirrorless history — the first Sony with IBIS and internal 4K, its low-light video capability still impresses today at a used-market price.
Who should buy what
EOS R8 (2023)
- 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
A7S II (2015)
- Filmmakers and videographers who want legendary low-light performance at a used-price discount
- Documentary shooters working in unpredictable available light conditions
- A7S III shooters who want a second Sony FE body for backup or B-camera use
- Budget-conscious video producers who want full-frame 4K with S-Log at an accessible price
Quick take: The eos r8 has the highest resolution at 24mp; the a7s ii is the most affordable; only the a7s ii is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS R8 (2023) | A7S II (2015) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £1,099 | £799 |
| Sensor | 24.2MP Full-frame BSI CMOS | 12.1MP full-frame BSI Exmor CMOS |
| Resolution | 24.2MP | 12.1MP |
| Video | 4K/60p oversampled 10-bit, FHD/180p | 4K/30p internal (full sensor readout), 1080p/120p, S-Log2/S-Log3 |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 1053 zones, eye/face/subject tracking | 169 phase-detect + 25 contrast AF — limited by modern standards |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS — 4.5 stops (first Sony mirrorless with IBIS) |
| Burst Rate | 6fps mechanical, 40fps electronic | 5fps continuous |
| Battery Life | ~220 shots (CIPA) | ~370 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 461g body only | 584g body only |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 86.1 × 70.0mm | 126.9 × 95.7 × 60.3mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.71× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" tilting LCD, 1.23M dots |
| Mount | Canon RF mount (full-frame) | Sony FE mount (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II slot | Dual SD UHS-I slots |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB Micro-B, Bluetooth (via app), Wi-Fi, 3.5mm mic jack |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS R8 | A7S II |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | ||
| Vlogging & Video | ||
| Street | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — | |
| Low Light | — | |
| Wedding | — | |
| Sports | — |
More comparisons with EOS R8
Camera family history