Canon
EOS R8
Lightest Canon full-frame mirrorless — R6 II AF in a compact, affordable body.
$1,499
Released Apr 2023
Nikon
Z9
Flagship stacked mirrorless with 45MP, 8K video, and no mechanical shutter.
$5,899
Released Oct 2021
EOS R8 is 1.4 years newer.
Wins
EOS R8
Wins
Z9
TL;DR — Key differences
- AEOS R8 has higher Burst (mechanical) (6 fps vs 0 fps)
- BZ9 has higher IBIS effectiveness (6 stops vs 0 stops)
- BZ9 has higher RAW buffer depth (1000 frames vs 70 frames)
- AEOS R8 has higher AF points / zones (4897 vs 493)
- AEOS R8 has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 25,600)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
EOS R8
133 × 86 × 70 mm
461 g (1.02 lb / 16.26 oz)
Z9
149 × 150 × 91 mm
1340 g (2.95 lb / 47.27 oz)
EOS R8 is 17mm narrower, 63mm shorter, and 21mm thinner than Z9.
EOS R8 is 879 g lighter than Z9.
Depth (front-to-back): 70mm EOS R8 · 91mm Z9
Back view, to scale
Width × Height — same proportions as the front of the body.
EOS R8
133 × 86 mm
Z9
149 × 150 mm
Top view, to scale
Width × Depth (front-to-back) — see which body is chunkier on the table.
EOS R8
133 × 70 mm
Z9
149 × 91 mm
Sensor size, to scale
EOS R8
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Z9
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
EOS R8
✓ more lensesCanon RF
105+
native lenses available
Z9
Nikon Z
90+
native lenses available
Counts include current first-party and major third-party native autofocus lenses.
Use-case scoring
Which one for what?
Algorithmic scores from verified specs · 10 = best in class
Why pick one over the other
Reasons to choose
EOS R8
Subject recognition
Adds Human, Animal, Bird…
Burst (mechanical)
6 fps vs 0 fps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds H.265, H.264
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 132.5, 86.1, 70
Card types
Adds SD UHS-II
AF points / zones
4897 vs 493 — higher is better
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 25,600 — higher is better
Weight
461 g vs 1340 g — lower is better
Reasons to choose
Z9
AF low-light limit
-8.5 EV vs -6.5 EV — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds People, Birds, Dogs…
Codecs
Adds N-RAW, ProRes RAW HQ, ProRes 422 HQ…
IBIS effectiveness
6 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 149, 149.5, 90.5
Card types
Adds CFexpress Type B / XQD, CFexpress Type B / XQD
RAW buffer depth
1000 frames vs 70 frames — higher is better
Burst (electronic)
120 fps vs 40 fps — higher is better
Both cameras share
- ✓Eye AF — Both support eye af
- ✓Animal / bird AF — Both support animal / bird af
- ✓Pre-Capture / Pre-Release — Both support pre-capture / pre-release
- ✓Weather sealing — Both support weather sealing
- ✓Touchscreen — Both support touchscreen
- ✓Wi-Fi — Both support wi-fi
Pros & cons at a glance
Editorially curated highlights and trade-offs.
EOS R8
Pros
- ✓461g — ultralight full-frame body
- ✓Dual Pixel CMOS AF II (same as R6 II)
- ✓4K 60p oversampled — excellent quality
- ✓Accessible $1,499 price
Cons
- –No in-body stabilization
- –Single SD card slot
- –LP-E17 battery — only 290 CIPA shots
- –USB-C 2.0 — no USB video out
Z9
Pros
- ✓45MP stacked
- ✓8K 60p internal
- ✓120fps stills
- ✓Pro build
Cons
- –Heavy body
- –Expensive
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, EOS R8 or Z9?
Z9 scores 9.5/10 versus 4.5/10 for EOS R8 — 8K recording for future-proof footage.
What's the resolution difference between the EOS R8 and Z9?
EOS R8 is 24.2 MP and Z9 is 45.7 MP, so the Z9 captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS R8 and Z9 have in-body image stabilization?
EOS R8 does not have IBIS, while z9 has 6-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS R8 or the Z9?
EOS R8 reaches 40 fps electronic. Z9 reaches 120 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS R8 and Z9?
EOS R8 weighs 461 g and Z9 weighs 1340 g, so the EOS R8 is 879 g lighter.
Do the EOS R8 and Z9 record 4K video?
EOS R8: 4K up to 60p. Z9: 8K UHD (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the EOS R8 and Z9 weather sealed?
EOS R8: Yes. Z9: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 290 shots (CIPA) for the EOS R8 and 740 shots for the Z9, giving the Z9 the edge.
How much does each cost?
EOS R8 launched at $1,499 and Z9 at $5,899. The EOS R8 is $4,400 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and Nikon press materials.