When the Sony A1 was launched in January 2021, no different digicam might match its mixture of 30fps capturing, 50MP decision and 8K video. How issues change! The Sony A1 II has arrived with a complete collection of technical enhancements, however rival makers have been even busier.
The Nikon Z9 has been particularly spectacular, though it took a number of firmware updates to launch its full potential. And now we’ve got the Nikon Z8, a digicam with a lot of the ability of the Z9 however in a a lot smaller type issue nearer in dimension and weight to the mighty Sony A1 II.
The Nikon Z8 all however matches the A1 II for decision, beats it for 8K video and seems to win by a mile for steady capturing burst charges – and all for round half the value. The Z8 is clearly one of many finest Nikon cameras you should buy, simply because the Sony A1 II is among the finest Sony cameras. However which of those is the finest digicam for professionals?
There are many particulars within the specs that may show simply as necessary because the headline specs, so is the Nikon Z8 actually a detailed rival to the Sony A1 II, or is the Sony truly a much better all-round digicam that justifies its large value premium?
Let’s evaluate these cameras in much more element to seek out out…
Sony A1 II vs Nikon Z8 in 2024
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Sensor
The Nikon Z8 has solely 5MP much less decision than the Sony A1 II however has a stacked CMOS sensor and absolutely digital shutter. (Picture credit score: Nikon)
• Sony A1 II: 50.1MP full body Exmor RS with Sony BIONZ XR processor, pixel-shift mode as much as 800MP from 16 frames • Nikon Z8: 45.7MP full body stacked CMOS, 180MP high-res pixel shift mode
The Sony A1 II doesn’t have the best decision in a full body mirrorless digicam, however it’s the second-highest behind the Sony A7R V, Leica SL3, Leica M11 and Sigma fp L. The very fact is, although, that 50MP is more likely to be sufficient for nearly any utility and, if not, Sony’s pixel-shift excessive decision mode can mix as much as 16 frames for a large 800MP picture.
It’s only 5MP forward of the Nikon Z8, nonetheless, a digicam at not rather more than half the value. 5MP shouldn’t be more likely to make a lot distinction in any respect, so when it comes to decision these two cameras are carefully matched. In case you are excited about high-res pixel-shift capturing, although, the Z8 solely goes as much as 180MP.
ISO vary
• Sony A1 II: ISO 100-32,000, exp 50-102,400 • Nikon Z8: ISO 64-25,600, exp 32-102,400
Curiously, the Nikon Z8 has a barely decrease commonplace ISO most, although each cameras go proper as much as ISO 102,400 in expanded mode. Panorama shooters may be swayed by the Z8’s decrease minimal ISO, nonetheless, which is able to allow barely longer exposures in out of doors photographs. Sony does declare as much as 15 stops of dynamic vary at decrease ISOs.
Autofocus
Nikon has made large strides with its AF topic detection and monitoring AF however in our exams its AF shouldn’t be fairly as ‘sticky’ because the Sony’s. (Picture credit score: Nikon)
• Sony A1 II: Hybrid AF, 759 section detect AF factors. AI processing unit, auto AI topic recognition, human pose estimation • Nikon Z8: Hybrid AF, 493 AF factors. Deep studying AF, Topic detection and AF work all the way down to -9EV in Starlight mode
There’s little question that Nikon has made large strides in AI autofocus and topic monitoring, however our personal exams recommend it’s not fairly on the similar stage because the Sony A1 II. This digicam now provides computerized topic recognition (eventually, Sony!) and improved Actual-time Recognition AF, Actual-time Monitoring and human eye recognition. Sony is an acknowledged chief in AF and monitoring and the Z8 compared doesn’t fairly present the identical ‘stickiness’ when following shifting topics. The power to focus in mild ranges as little as -9EV, nonetheless, is fairly wonderful.
Steady capturing
Which digicam is healthier for steady capturing? It sounds just like the Nikon Z8 is healthier, however the A1 II truly provides a quicker body price for individuals who favor to shoot uncooked information. (Picture credit score: Sony)
• Sony A1 II: 30fps, 120 AF/AE calculations per second, pre-capture mode, max 400 JPEGS, 200 RAW+JPEG, 100 lossless compressed RAW • Nikon Z8: 60fps or 30fps full decision JPEG, 120fps 11MP JPEG, 1000+ HE uncooked information at 20fps
On paper, the Nikon Z8 seems the higher digicam for quick motion, with a better most body price of an incredible 120fps and a most buffer capability of 1000+ HE (Excessive Effectivity) uncooked information. All shouldn’t be because it appears, nonetheless, as a result of with the intention to obtain these larger burst speeds with the Z8, it’s a must to settle for some compromises. Its 30fps mode is JPEG solely, its 60fps mode brings an APS-C crop and at 120fps it solely captures 11MP pictures.
Actually, the Z8’s most velocity for uncooked information is 20fps, the place the A1 II can shoot uncooked at 30fps. For that cause, it’s a sophisticated comparability. The Z8 is technically quicker however for individuals who wish to shoot uncooked it’s the Sony A1 II that has the benefit.
Video
The Nikon Z8 wins for video, with 8K 60p seize and inner uncooked recording. (Picture credit score: Nikon)
• Sony A1 II: 8K 30p 4:2:2 10-bit, Tremendous 35 oversampled from 5.8K, 4K as much as 120p • Nikon Z8: 8.3K 60p 12-bit uncooked inner, 4K as much as 120p
The Sony A1 was one of many first mirrorless cameras to have the ability to shoot 8K video, however rival digicam makers have moved on and whereas the Sony A1 II has many enhancements, its 8K video remains to be capped at 30fps. The Nikon Z8, then again, provides 8.3K 60p seize utilizing Nikon’s 12-bit N-RAW format. When you favor to shoot in 4K then these two cameras are evenly matched, with body charges as much as 120fps. Right here, the Sony’s superior AF monitoring is more likely to be the deciding issue, together with its refined stabilization choices (subsequent part).
Stabilization
The Sony A1 II has higher stabilization on paper, with as much as 8.5 stops of compensation in comparison with 5.5 stops for the Nikon Z8. (Picture credit score: Sony)
• Sony A1 II: 5-axis IBIS, 8.5 stops on the middle, 7.0 stops at periphery • Nikon Z8: 5-axis, 5.5 stops
Sony claims 8.5 stops of shake compensation for the A1 II, whereas the Nikon Z8 seems a way behind at 5.5 stops. The precise, dependable stabilization you get with digital cameras doesn’t all the time align with the quoted figures, however the Sony does nonetheless seem to have a bonus right here.
This benefit probably extends if you take note of the A1 II’s Lively Stabilization mode and its Dynamic Lively mode, which applies digital stabilization too.
Viewfinder
The Sony A1 II’s digital viewfinder is in a category of its personal, with a bigger panel than the Z8, larger magnification and 9.44m dots of decision in comparison with the Nikon’s 3.69m dots. (Picture credit score: Sony)
The Nikon Z8 has a modest however efficient 3.69m-dot EVF, with a decision that’s maybe a bit of decrease than many may count on from a flagship digicam. The Sony A1 II has no such drawback, boasting a bigger 0.64 kind EFV panel with an enormous 9.44m-dot decision. Each cameras supply blackout-free viewing, however the Sony’s has a barely larger 0.9x magnification in comparison with 0.8x for the Nikon Z8. It’s a fairly clear win for the Sony’s EVF.
Rear display screen
Just like the Nikon Z8, the Sony A1 II provides a vertical/horizontal tilt mechanism – however it might probably additionally flip out and pivot like a vari-angle display screen. (Picture credit score: Sony)
Sony has launched a really intelligent 4-axis tilt mechanism on the A7 II which mixes a traditional on-axis tilt with a flip-out vari-angle pivot. The Nikon Z8 doesn’t supply a vari-angle display screen however as a substitute gives a mixed vertical/horizontal tilting hinge which, for photographers, might show simply as helpful. By way of design, the Sony A1 II does appear to have the sting.
In any other case, the show specs are equivalent. Each cameras characteristic a 3.2-inch show usefully bigger than the common 3-inch dimension, and each have a decision of two.1 million dots.
Storage
The Sony A1 II provides two matched dual-format CFexpress Sort A/SD UHS II card slots, however the Nikon Z8 has a mixture of 1 CFexpress Sort B and one SD UHS II slot. (Picture credit score: Sony)
• Sony A1 II: 2x SD/CFexpress Sort A • Nikon Z8: 1x CFexpress Sort B, 1x SD UHS-II
Purists will most likely favor the Sony A1 II’s storage setup, which consists of two dual-format CFexpress Sort A/SD UHS II card slots. The SD compatibility means anybody with a inventory of SD playing cards can nonetheless use them, whereas the CFexpress Sort A assist provides quicker write speeds, unlocking extra of the Sony’s potential. The one draw back is that CFexpress Sort A playing cards are each slower and dearer than the extra extensively used CFexpress Sort B format – which is what the Nikon Z8 makes use of.
The Z8’s storage system is configured in another way. Just like the Sony, it has twin card slots, however one is for SD UHS II playing cards and the opposite is for CFexpress Sort B. This provides the identical dual-format flexibility because the A1 II, and entry to quicker, cheaper CFexpress Sort B playing cards, however you now not have the flexibility to make use of ‘paired’ playing cards of the identical velocity and format in each slots.
Sony makes use of its efficient and widely-used NP-FZ100 battery within the A1 II, and its efficiency right here is fairly good – word that you’ll get a considerably longer battery life should you use the rear display screen fairly than the EVF.
The Nikon Z8 is barely disappointing right here. It makes use of an EN-EL15c variant of its long-running EN-EL15 cell, which did a terrific job in its DSLRs however provides simply 340 photographs on a cost within the Nikon Z8. When you intend to exit for an intense full-day’s capturing with both digicam you must take spares, however all of the extra so with the Nikon Z8.
Dimension and weight
The Nikon Z8 is a number of millimetres bigger than the A1 II, and heavier too. It follows on from Nikon’s basic ‘professional’ management structure, although, and incorporates a high panel standing LCD show, which the Sony doesn’t have. (Picture credit score: Nikon)
• Sony A1 II: 136.1 x 96.9 x 82.9mm, 743g • Nikon Z8: 144 x 118.5 x 83mm, 910g
Given the large energy of the Sony A1 II, it’s a surprisingly compact digicam. Actually it’s noticeably smaller than the Nikon Z8 in width and top, and it’s additionally an excellent deal lighter – although by the point you connect a constant-aperture professional lens, these cameras are going to really feel fairly comparable.
Worth
Why does the Sony A1 II price a lot? That is more likely to be a significant factor for anybody selecting between this digicam and the Nikon Z8. (Picture credit score: Sony)
The value level is by far the most important distinction between these two cameras. On the time of scripting this, the Nikon Z8 may be very actually round half the value of the Sony A1 II. The pricing might have some historic context, because the unique Sony A1 price round $6,500 / £6,500 and Sony was hardly more likely to step down from that with its new and improved substitute. The Nikon Z8, in the meantime, is in some methods residing within the shadow of the Z9 so it was all the time going to have a lower cost level.
It does appear as if Sony has painted itself right into a nook with the Sony A1 II’s pricing. When the unique digicam got here on the market was nothing prefer it, however now there may be, and it’s loads cheaper.
Sony A1 II vs Nikon Z8: abstract
(Picture credit score: Future)
There are areas the place you may say the Sony A1 II is unquestionably superior to the Nikon Z8 and a few areas the place the steadiness shifts extra in the direction of the Nikon. The Sony has a small edge for outright decision, although hardly sufficient to make a big sensible distinction. Sony’s legendary AF applied sciences are improved once more for this mannequin, and it’s nonetheless simpler than the Z8 on this respect.
However the superior 8K video of the unique A1 doesn’t appear to have moved on a lot in any respect, and it’s now trumped by the 8K 60p uncooked seize of the Nikon Z8. Worse (for Sony), the Z8 can boast a lot larger burst speeds than the Sony A1 II, although admittedly that is solely by switching to JPEG seize and in the end decrease resolutions – so this isn’t such a clear-cut ‘victory’ in spite of everything.
The largest issue on this comparability, nonetheless, is definitely the value. The Sony A1 II stays the most costly mainstream full-frame mirrorless digicam of all, and the massive differential in value between this digicam and the Nikon Z8 is difficult to elucidate. While you take every thing under consideration you may argue that the Sony’s superior AF, refined stabilization and 30fps uncooked capturing make it general the higher digicam – maybe – nevertheless it’s not a transparent win, and the value differential is large.
