The year-old Nikon Z5 II is still streets ahead of Canon's new EOS R8 Mark II
and it's the entry-level full-frame camera Id buy

Date:
Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:11:28 +0000

Description:
Canon's entry-level full-frame EOS R8 Mark II comes more than a year after
the Nikon Z5 II, yet the two share many similarities and there's one surprising winner.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Canon EOS R8 Mark II Today's best Canon EOS R8 Mark II deals 1,729 View Deal 1,729 View Deal 1,729 View Deal We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Nikon Z5 II Today's best Nikon Z5 II deals voucher gift 1,304.15 View Deal 1,599 View Deal 1,599 View Deal We check over 250 million products every day for the best prices

Canon 's EOS R8 Mark II is here, with a fresh new look that's inspired by
the world's leading camera manufacturer's heritage, and finished off with a "modern twist". The resemblance to Canon's analog SLRs such as the T80 or
AE-1 is faint, but in any case the new model is certainly a decent upgrade of the EOS R8, adding image stabilization, a multi-controller, and various performance and design improvements.

When I pored over the specs and pricing of the EOS R8 Mark II during my hands-on , however, a surprising reality came into sharp focus: Nikon's year-and-a-bit-old Z5 II remains highly competitive and it costs less than Canon's latest entry-level full-frame mirrorless model. If you're considering your first full-frame camera and are not tied to Canon or another system, you should totally read on to find out more about the new EOS R8 Mark II, and how it fares against our Camera of the Year 2025 winner , the Nikon Z5 II. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: 1. Sensor Both feature a 24MP full-frame sensor Both sensors are equipped with image stabilization, rated
up to 7.5EV This section is going to be straightforward: both cameras have a full-frame 24MP sensor that's equipped with image stabilization (IBIS) rated up to 7.5EV.

Besides nuances in how each camera handles color and noise, and personal preferences, the image quality will be pretty similar. Having said that, I've historically found Canon's image stabilization to perform better than
Nikon's. You may like Canon EOS R8 Mark II review: new look, familiar
features Canon EOS R8 II isn't the retro camera fans expected but its a
smart upgrade from the EOS R8 I'd choose this seven-year-old DSLR over the Canon EOS R1 any day Sensor winner: Tie Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original 2. Video Both shoot 4K video up to 60fps, but the Z5 II has a 1.5x crop Both shoot 4K 30fps with 10-bit color depth from the sensor's full width, the Z5 II shoots 12-bit RAW 1080p slow motion recording up to 180fps (EOS R8 Mark II) and 120fps (Nikon Z5 II) Color profiles for video; new 'filmtones' for EOS R8 II, well-regarded RED profiles for Z5 II There's much more to unpack and compare regarding each camera's video features. Both can shoot 4K video at 30fps with 4:2:2 10-bit color depth from the full width of the sensor, and up to 60fps at this resolution, although at this frame rate there's a 1.5x crop in the Z5 II.

The Nikon camera, however, is the only one that can shoot 12-bit internal RAW video, which certainly gives it the quality edge for users who want greater tonal depth and editing latitude, and who don't mind the larger file sizes. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our
trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

Slow motion recording is also possible in 1080p, but again the EOS R8 Mark II has the frame rates edge it can shoot 6x slow motion (180fps) to the Z5 II's 4x slow motion (120fps).

There's no shortage of color profiles for each camera, either. There's each company's version of a gradable, flat Log profile (C Log and N-Log) and Rec 709, while Canon has introduced two new 'filmtones' looks and the Nikon Z5 II features a RED RAW profile. Each can link with a companion app to import custom profiles, too. Users with either camera should have no issues getting
a style they like.

Both camera's video recording is supported by powerful autofocus and image stabilization, making smooth and sharp run-and-gun filming a distinct possibility. The EOS R8 Mark II features a tally lamp to indicate when recording is active, but the Z5 II offers dual SD card slots for overflow / backup storage, whereas the Canon camera just has the one slot. What to read next The best mirrorless cameras, based on in-depth testing The best Canon camera Today's best beginner mirrorless cameras, based on my in-depth testing

There are distinct advantages for each camera and more besides that I
haven't got into here and as such it's tricky to call an outright winner in this category. Video winner: Tie Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original Today's best Canon EOS R8 Mark II and Nikon Z5 II deals
Canon EOS R8 Mark II 1,729 View Deal See all prices voucher gift Nikon Z5 II 1,304.15 View Deal See all prices We check over 250 million products every
day for the best prices 3. Design Canon EOS R8 Mark II: 546g body (with battery and card), not weather resistant, single card slot Nikon Z5 II: 700g body (with battery and card), weather resistant mag alloy, dual card slot The EOS R8 Mark II is the guinea pig for Canon's new design. It forgoes the sweeping curves we've come to associate with Canon camera, in favor of straight, angular lines and a pronounced viewfinder bump that are "inspired
by Canon's heritage". In this sense, it actually has more in common with the Nikon camera than previous Canon models.

Beyond the looks, the cameras are roughly the same size, but the EOS R8 Mark II is notably lighter at 546g. The quality of its buttons, controls and body have a much more entry-level feel to them, whereas the Z5 II feels more like
a level up. The Z5 II feels like the more robust of the two, plus it's officially noted as weather resistant whereas the EOS R8 Mark II is not. The gulf in quality is compounded by the displays... Design winner: Nikon Z5 II Image 1 of 4 (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock) (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock)
Image 1 of 4 View Original Image 2 of 4 View Original Image 3 of 4 View Original Image 4 of 4 View Original 4. Displays Canon EOS R8 Mark: 3.0-inch 1.62m-dot vari-angle LCD and 0.39-inch 2.36m-dot EVF Nikon Z5 II: 3.2-inch 2.1m-dot vari-angle LCD and 0.5-inch 3.69m-dot EVF Put simply, the Nikon Z5 II's LCD screen and EVF displays are higher-specced than the EOS R8 Mark
II's, despite the camera arriving almost 18 months earlier.

Both screens are vari-angle, so they can be pulled out to the side of the camera and tilted for low-level shooting / rotated for selfies. The Z5 II's display is slightly larger at 3.2-inches to the Canon's 3.0-inches, and it
has a higher resolution, although the pixel density is roughly the same.

I've used both cameras separately, but can attest to the superior quality of the Z5 II's EVF it's physically bigger, has more pixels, higher magnification, and is brighter in short, a more immersive display. This category is an easy win for the Z5 II. Displays winner: Nikon Z5 II Image 1
of 4 (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock) (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock) Image 1 of 4 View Original Image 2 of 4 View Original Image 3 of 4 View Original Image 4
of 4 View Original 5. Performance Canon EOS R8 Mark: 220-shot (VF) / 340-shot (LCD) battery life, Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, 40fps with pre-capture Nikon Z5
II: 340-shot (VF) / 350-shot (LCD) battery life, Hybrid phase detection AF, 30fps with pre-capture If you prefer using a viewfinder, then the battery
life of the Z5 II is much better than the EOS R8 Mark II, although the
playing field is somewhat levelled when using the LCD. Neither camera has a particularly impressive battery life, but both can be recharged on the go,
via USB-C.

Both also have excellent autofocus performance, with subject tracking and detection for humans, animals and vehicles. I haven't directly compared the performance of each camera, but they do inherit autofocus systems from
pricier models that I have tested at length. Canon's 'Register People' mode
is super handy for prioritizing specific people in crowded scenes and you
can store up to 10 faces at any one time.

Canon improved autofocus sensitivity in low light down to -7.5EV in its second-gen EOS R8, but the Nikon camera was already more sensitive, being rated to -10EV.

For outright burst shooting speeds, Canon has the edge it's capable of up to 40fps, compared to 30fps for the Nikon. However, neither are true sports cameras in the sense that once the buffer is full, they will slow up quicker than high-end models. The Z5 II has both a mechanical and electronic shutter, while the Canon model only has the latter. Performance winner: Tie Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original 6. Price and availability Canon EOS R8 Mark II announced on Sep 16, 2026, for $1,899 / 1,729 / AU$2,529 Nikon Z5 II was released on April 3, 2025 for $1,699 / 1,599 / AU$2,699, but the price has since dropped Canon's EOS R8 Mark II has only just been announced
at the time of writing, and its sales start date is October 20. It will cost $1,899 / 1,729 / AU$2,529 body only, or 2,119.99 / AU$2,859 with the budget 24-105mm F4-7.1 kit lens / $2099 with the 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens in
the US. Naturally, there are no price cuts yet.

Nikon's Z5 II, meanwhile, was released almost 18 months ago, and at list
price was approximately 10% cheaper in the US and UK, but a little more in Australia so no huge difference. However, it has since come down in price, and that margin has increased. Like the Canon model, it's available in a kit with a 24-105mm F4-7.1 lens, but there are other good-value kits on sale, including with the 24-200mm travel zoom. Price winner: Nikon Z5 II Image 1 of 2 (Image credit: Tim Coleman) (Image credit: Future / Alex Whitelock) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original Canon EOS R8 Mark II vs Nikon
Z5 II: early verdict As entry-level full-frame cameras, the Canon EOS R8 Mark II and Nikon Z5 II share many key features, including things like a 24MP full-frame sensor with image stabilization, 4K video recording and powerful autofocus.

There are specific features unique to each model that stand out, but not enough to swing the balance either way. However, where the gulf becomes clear is in each camera's overall handling and quality the Nikon Z5 II's superior displays, control layout, body quality, extra card slot and better battery life deliver a better all-round shooting experience.

The Canon feels every much the entry-level camera with powerful features, whereas the Nikon camera redefines entry-level quality. And when you think that the Z5 II has pricier components but costs less, it feels like a solid win for the Canon rival. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



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