Canon
EOS R8
Lightest Canon full-frame mirrorless — R6 II AF in a compact, affordable body.
$1,499
Released Apr 2023
Sony
Alpha 7 IV
33MP hybrid all-rounder with 10-bit 4K 60p and AI-powered subject tracking.
$2,499
Released Oct 2021
EOS R8 is 1.5 years newer.
Wins
EOS R8
Wins
Alpha 7 IV
2 categories tied
TL;DR — Key differences
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher IBIS effectiveness (5.5 stops vs 0 stops)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher RAW buffer depth (828 frames vs 70 frames)
- AEOS R8 has higher AF points / zones (4897 vs 759)
- AEOS R8 has higher Burst (electronic) (40 fps vs 10 fps)
- BAlpha 7 IV has higher Max video bit rate (600 Mbps vs 180 Mbps)
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 7 IV
131 × 96 × 80 mm
658 g (1.45 lb / 23.21 oz)
EOS R8 is 10mm shorter and 10mm thinner than Alpha 7 IV but it is also 1mm wider.
EOS R8 is 197 g lighter than Alpha 7 IV.
Depth (front-to-back): 70mm EOS R8 · 80mm Alpha 7 IV
Sensor size, to scale
EOS R8
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Alpha 7 IV
35.9 × 23.9 mm · Full Frame
858 mm² area
Lens ecosystem
Native lens selection
EOS R8
Canon RF
105+
native lenses available
Alpha 7 IV
✓ 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
Burst (electronic)
40 fps vs 10 fps — higher is better
ISO max (native)
102,400 vs 51,200 — higher is better
Pre-Capture / Pre-Release
Only EOS R8 supports it
Weight
461 g vs 658 g — lower is better
Subject recognition
Adds Vehicle
Reasons to choose
Alpha 7 IV
IBIS effectiveness
5.5 stops vs 0 stops — higher is better
Dimensions (W×H×D mm)
Adds 131.3, 96.4, 79.8
RAW buffer depth
828 frames vs 70 frames — higher is better
Max video bit rate
600 Mbps vs 180 Mbps — higher is better
Codecs
Adds XAVC HS, XAVC S, XAVC S-I
Subject recognition
Adds Insect, Car/Train, Airplane
Internal RAW video
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
In-body stabilization
Only Alpha 7 IV supports it
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
- ✓4K max frame rate — Both 60 fps
- ✓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 7 IV
Pros
- ✓33MP — more detail for cropping and print
- ✓10-bit 4K 60p (Super35 crop) / 4K 30p full-frame
- ✓Full-size HDMI port
- ✓759 phase-detect AF points
Cons
- –4K 60p requires Super35 crop
- –10fps burst lags behind R6 II at 40fps
- –Complex menu system
Full specifications
✓ = category winner
Frequently asked
Quick answers generated from verified specs.
Which is better for video, EOS R8 or Alpha 7 IV?
Alpha 7 IV scores 7.5/10 versus 4.5/10 for EOS R8 — 4K recording.
What's the resolution difference between the EOS R8 and Alpha 7 IV?
EOS R8 is 24.2 MP and Alpha 7 IV is 33 MP, so the Alpha 7 IV captures more detail for cropping and large prints.
Do the EOS R8 and Alpha 7 IV have in-body image stabilization?
EOS R8 does not have IBIS, while alpha 7 IV has 5.5-stop in-body image stabilization.
Which shoots faster bursts — the EOS R8 or the Alpha 7 IV?
EOS R8 reaches 40 fps electronic. Alpha 7 IV reaches 10 fps electronic.
What's the weight difference between the EOS R8 and Alpha 7 IV?
EOS R8 weighs 461 g and Alpha 7 IV weighs 658 g, so the EOS R8 is 197 g lighter.
Do the EOS R8 and Alpha 7 IV record 4K video?
EOS R8: 4K up to 60p. Alpha 7 IV: 4K up to 60p.
Are the EOS R8 and Alpha 7 IV weather sealed?
EOS R8: Yes. Alpha 7 IV: Yes.
Which has better battery life?
Rated battery life is 290 shots (CIPA) for the EOS R8 and 580 shots for the Alpha 7 IV, giving the Alpha 7 IV the edge.
How much does each cost?
EOS R8 launched at $1,499 and Alpha 7 IV at $2,499. The EOS R8 is $1,000 less.
Specs sourced from manufacturer data. Use-case scores algorithmically derived. Last reviewed May 2026.
Product images courtesy of Canon and Sony press materials.