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

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 A7c	Canon EOS R8
Mount	Sony E	Canon RF
Format	Full-Frame	Full-Frame
Sensor	CMOS	CMOS
Resolution	6000 x 4000 pixels	6000 x 4000 pixels
ISO Range	100-51,200 (50-204,800 extended)	100-102,400 (50-204,800 extended)
Shutter speed	1/8000 to 30 sec	1/16000 to 30 sec
Continuous shooting	Up to 10fps	Up to 40fps
Focus type	Auto & manual focus	Auto & manual focus
Focus modes	Continuous-servo AF (C), direct manual focus (DMF), manual focus (M), single-servo AF (S)	Continuous-Servo AF, Manual Focus, Single-Servo AF
AF points	FF 693 phase detection / 425 contrast detection	Photo: Phase Detection: 4897 Video: Phase Detection: 4067
AF sensitivity	-4 to +20 EV	-6.5 to +21 EV
Stabilisation	5-axis sensor-shift	Sensor-Shift, 5-Axis (Video Only)
Viewfinder	2.36m-dot 0.65" 0.9x OLED EVF	2.36m-dot 0.39" OLED EVF
LCD	3" 921k-dot articulating (flippy out) touchscreen LCD	3" 1.62m-dot articulating (flippy out) touchscreen LCD
Internal video	4K 30fps (8-bit 4:2:0), 1080p 120fps	4K 60fps (10-bit 4:2:2), 1080p 180fps
External video	4K 8-Bit 4:2:2	None
Memory card slots	1x UHS-II SD card slot	1x UHS-II SD card slot
Connectivity	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth	Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
Dimensions	124 x 71.1 x 59.7mm	132.59 x 86.11 x 70.1 mm
Weight	509g with battery & memory card	461g 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]