DIY Photography

Your one stop shop for everything photo-video

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

An in-depth look at the Canon EOS R8 vs Sony A7c – Which is better?

May 19, 2023 by John Aldred Add Comment

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

When it comes to cameras, “better” is often a very subjective term. The needs of each person and the features each camera offers don’t necessarily mean that a given camera is “best” for everybody. So where does the recently released  Canon EOS R8 (buy here) fit in? Generally regarded as the replacement for the Canon EOS RP, the EOS R8 seems tailor-made for vloggers and social creatives.

But how does it stand up to the competition? And is it “best” for your needs? While “better” is often subjective, there are things that can be tested to see what specific features are objectively better. In this video, The Slanted Lens looks at the Canon EOS R8 and the Sony A7c (buy here) to see how the two compare and which of those specs are objectively better.

[Related reading: Sony A7C II announcement rumoured for some time during 2023]

Canon EOS R8 vs Sony A7c Specs

On paper, the two cameras are fairly similar in many ways. There are some obvious advantages to the Canon EOS R8, such as 4K 60p and 1080p HD video up to 180fps. Not to mention the fact that it shoots them in 10-bit 4:2:2 rather than the 8-bit 4:2:0 of the Sony A7c. The EOS R8 has a one-stop faster maximum shutter speed and one-stop higher ISO capability before you go into the extended range. Continuous shooting on the EOS R8 also hammers the A7c, with a maximum frame rate of 40fps.

Of course, the Sony A7c has a couple of advantages, too – but, as mentioned above, subjective needs, etc. The Sony A7c sports a mechanical shutter, whereas the Canon EOS R8 shutter is fully electronic. The Sony A7c also offers 8-bit 4:2:2 external recording over the HDMI output, and the EOS R8 doesn’t offer any external recording options. The Canon EOS R8 offers a generous 2 hours of continuous recording, although the Sony A7c has no limit on continuous recording.

As you can see, objectively better specs in one aspect or another are still quite subjective.

Sony A7cCanon EOS R8
MountSony ECanon RF
FormatFull-FrameFull-Frame
SensorCMOSCMOS
Resolution6000 x 4000 pixels6000 x 4000 pixels
ISO Range100-51,200 (50-204,800 extended)100-102,400 (50-204,800 extended)
Shutter speed1/8000 to 30 sec1/16000 to 30 sec
Continuous shootingUp to 10fpsUp to 40fps
Focus typeAuto & manual focusAuto & manual focus
Focus modesContinuous-servo AF (C), direct manual focus (DMF), manual focus (M), single-servo AF (S)Continuous-Servo AF, Manual Focus, Single-Servo AF
AF pointsFF 693 phase detection / 425 contrast detectionPhoto: Phase Detection: 4897
Video: Phase Detection: 4067
AF sensitivity-4 to +20 EV-6.5 to +21 EV
Stabilisation5-axis sensor-shiftSensor-Shift, 5-Axis (Video Only)
Viewfinder2.36m-dot 0.65" 0.9x OLED EVF2.36m-dot 0.39" OLED EVF
LCD3" 921k-dot articulating (flippy out) touchscreen LCD3" 1.62m-dot articulating (flippy out) touchscreen LCD
Internal video4K 30fps (8-bit 4:2:0), 1080p 120fps4K 60fps (10-bit 4:2:2), 1080p 180fps
External video4K 8-Bit 4:2:2None
Memory card slots1x UHS-II SD card slot1x UHS-II SD card slot
ConnectivityWi-Fi, BluetoothWi-Fi, Bluetooth
Dimensions124 x 71.1 x 59.7mm132.59 x 86.11 x 70.1 mm
Weight509g with battery & memory card461g with battery & memory card

Which should you get?

The almost-22-minute video looks at many features of the two cameras, including image sharpness, ergonomics, autofocus performance for both stills and video, stabilisation, high ISO performance, dynamic range and various other factors of both bodies. Some of the results may be quite surprising, given that the Sony A7c is a significantly older body released in 2020. Sure, that’s only three years ago, but that’s practically an eternity in camera years.

Some tests show very little difference between the two cameras, but there are definitely some benefits of the newer Canon EOS R8 over the A7c, especially when it comes to video – and the fact that it’s the cheaper of the two – and it does seem to offer the edge in a few other areas. But with the EOS R8 being a much newer body, one would certainly hope it scores quite a few points, objectively speaking.

Which is best for you? Well, as always, it depends on your needs, budget and any existing compatible kit you might already own. There are also rumours that the A7c is about to see its successor released soon, which will upset the balance once again.

[via The Slanted Lens]

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Comparing the Canon EOS R, EOS RP, EOS R5 and EOS R6 head-to-head for portraits How to simulate large aperture depth of field outdoors in Photoshop with depth maps Depth of Field: the ultimate beginner’s guide to controlling depth of field using lens aperture in nature photography Sony’s new tiny A7C full-frame mirrorless camera has now officially been announced

Filed Under: Gear Tagged With: camera comparison, Canon EOS R8, comparison, Sony A7C, The Slanted Lens

John Aldred: from diyphotography.net

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

« Lens review: TTArtisan 100mm F2.8 2x Macro tilt-shift
Google’s new AI feature answers your questions about photos without captions »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • Comparing iPhone 13 vs iPhone 14 for astrophotography
  • Don’t buy a Z8 directly from Nikon, customers say
  • YouTube is killing off “Stories” to focus on Shorts and Live
  • Four ways to shoot epic stop motion hyperlapse with a smartphone gimbal
  • Canon reported to be working on a “zoomable” teleconverter

Udi Tirosh: from diyphotography.netUdi Tirosh is an entrepreneur, photography inventor, journalist, educator, and writer based in Israel. With over 25 years of experience in the photo-video industry, Udi has built and sold several photography-related brands. Udi has a double degree in mass media communications and computer science.

Alex Baker: from diyphotography.netAlex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

David Williams: from diyphotography.netDave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred: from diyphotography.netJohn Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic: from diyphotography.netDunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy