Canon
EOS R8
Lightest Canon full-frame mirrorless — R6 II AF in a compact, affordable body.
$1,499
Released Apr 2023
Sony
Alpha 1 II
50MP stacked flagship with 30fps RAW, 8K video, and Sony's fastest hybrid performance.
$6,499
Released Nov 2024
Alpha 1 II is 1.6 years newer.
Wins
EOS R8
Wins
Alpha 1 II
1 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 1 II has higher IBIS effectiveness (8.5 stops vs 0 stops)
- AEOS R8 has higher AF points / zones (4897 vs 759)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher EVF refresh rate (240 Hz vs 60 Hz)
- BAlpha 1 II has higher EVF resolution (9,437,184 vs 2,360,000)
- AEOS R8 has higher ISO max (native) (102,400 vs 32,000)
Key specs at a glance
Size and weight, to scale
EOS R8
133 × 86 × 70 mm
461 g (1.02 lb / 16.26 oz)
Alpha 1 II
136 × 97 × 83 mm
743 g (1.64 lb / 26.21 oz)
EOS R8 is 4mm narrower, 11mm shorter, and 13mm thinner than Alpha 1 II.
EOS R8 is 282 g lighter than Alpha 1 II.
Depth (front-to-back): 70mm EOS R8 · 83mm Alpha 1 II
Sensor size, to scale
EOS R8
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Alpha 1 II
35.9 × 24 mm · Full Frame
862 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
EOS R8
Canon RF
105+
native lenses available
Alpha 1 II
✓ more lensesSony E
350+
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
AF low-light limit
-6.5 EV vs -4 EV — lower is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 132.5, 86.1, 70
AF points / zones
4897 vs 759 — higher is better
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 32,000 — higher is better
Weight
461 g vs 743 g — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds Vehicle
Burst (electronic)
40 fps vs 30 fps — higher is better
Max video bit rate
180 Mbps vs 150 Mbps — higher is better
Reasons to choose
Alpha 1 II
IBIS effectiveness
8.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 136.1, 96.9, 82.9
EVF refresh rate
240 Hz vs 60 Hz — higher is better
EVF resolution
9,437,184 vs 2,360,000 — higher is better
RAW buffer depth
200 frames vs 70 frames — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
Resolution
50.1 MP vs 24.2 MP — higher is better
Subject recognition
Adds Insect, Car/Train, Airplane
Both cameras share
- ✓AA filter — Both support aa filter
- ✓ISO min (native) — Both 100
- ✓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
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
Alpha 1 II
Pros
- ✓50MP stacked sensor
- ✓30fps blackout-free burst
- ✓8K 30p video
- ✓Best Sony AF
Cons
- –Very expensive
- –Complex menus
- –Large files
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, EOS R8 or Alpha 1 II?
Alpha 1 II 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 Alpha 1 II?
EOS R8 is 24.2 MP and Alpha 1 II is 50.1 MP, so the Alpha 1 II captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS R8 and Alpha 1 II have in-body image stabilization?
EOS R8 does not have IBIS, while alpha 1 II has 8.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS R8 or the Alpha 1 II?
EOS R8 reaches 40 fps electronic. Alpha 1 II reaches 30 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS R8 and Alpha 1 II?
EOS R8 weighs 461 g and Alpha 1 II weighs 743 g, so the EOS R8 is 282 g lighter.
Do the EOS R8 and Alpha 1 II record 4K video?
EOS R8: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 1 II: 8K (max), 4K up to 120p.
Are the EOS R8 and Alpha 1 II weather sealed?
EOS R8: Yes. Alpha 1 II: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 290 shots (CIPA) for the EOS R8 and 520 shots for the Alpha 1 II, giving the Alpha 1 II the edge.
How much does each cost?
EOS R8 launched at $1,499 and Alpha 1 II at $6,499. The EOS R8 is $5,000 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and Sony press materials.