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Nikon and Canon cameras have always been pitted against one another. While both are great in their own ways, often it comes down to price, autofocus, lens range, and build quality. With no other companies offering exceptional full-frame models in their lineup, we examine the two best options designed for serious photographers: the Nikon Z8 and the Canon R5 II. Here is a quick look at which one fares better.
Autofocus
The Nikon Z8 is a beast of a camera, with autofocus that rivals its older brother, the Z9. The focus points are difficult to see, especially for people with visual impairments. However, aside from that, you will have no issues with the speed. The camera was able to detect the dog’s face, making it easier to shoot. As for tracking in lolwlight, it is quite special. It is somewhat unreliable compared to Canon or Sony cameras, but it is ahead of the Leica SL2s. And in good light, the Z8 can track people much faster.
The Canon R5 II missed focus a handful of times when the exposure preview was off. This applies to capturing both people and animals. At the same time, it also worked well when focusing on people of color during the day. With the June update, the autofocus also worked well, locking focus on the intended subjects. And its performance improved over time, with a focus on POC that remained effective even in low light.
Specs:
- Nikon Z8 has 493 autofocus points, 3D tracking, and -9 autofocus sensitivity, and can track animals and people
- Canon R5 II has 1,053 manually selectable points, Eye-Control AF, and Person-Priority AF mode. There is also
Human and Animal Eye Detection
Image Quality/High ISO
Since the Z8 shares the same sensor as the Z9, its image quality is equally impressive. The colors are great and pop in a way that is admirable. The high ISO setting is also clean, allowing you to print images up to ISO 6400 for spotless results. In many ways, it will remind you of the Nikon D3, D700, and D300. For editing, use Capture One, which will help you refine the images more effectively. As for the RAW files, they are quite versatile and can compete with those from the Sony a7R III.
The best part about the Canon R5 II is that it allows you to pull inforation from highlights and shadows. The colors can be a bit muted but you can always fix that later. The high ISO files and the RAW files do not shoy that nuch difference than its predessor.
Specs:
- The Z8 has ISO up to 102,400, -5 exposure compensation, and a burst rate of 30fps
- The Canon R5 II has ISO up to 102,400, -3 exposure compensaton and a burst rate of 30fps
Build Quality
The Nikon Z8 is lightweight, even when paired with the company’s lenses. The camera is weather-resistant, and it features a shutter shield to facilitate lens changes in the field. Other than that, the placement of the buttons is great, the touch screen is good, and the interface is better than the Z9. With the firmware update, you also gain a dedicated Bird AF mode and Rich Tone Portraiture control.
To us, the R5 II felt more of a firmware upgrade than a whole new camera. The menus are slightly more detailed, the on/off switch has been moved, and the joystick doesn’t feel too great. But there are too many buttons to work with. If you are using older Canon batteries, you won’t be able to record videos. And the USB-C won’t charge camera.
Specs:
- The Z8 has a 2100k-dot LCD, 3690k-dot OLED EVF, and it measures 5.7 in.144 mm x 4.7 in.118.5 mm x 3.3 in.83 mm.
- The Canon R5 II had a 2,100,000 Dot LCD, 5.76m-dot EVF and measures 138.5×101.2×93.5 mm
Conclusion
The Nikon Z8 is priced over $3700, while the Canon R5 II is priced at $4000. With only a few hundred dollars of difference, teh choice boils down to the perfromance and comfort. The Z8 is like the mini Z9, which means you can get a lot more from the camera. As for the R5 II, it could have been much better, but alas, it doesn’t feel new. If you are thinking of looking for an all round device, the Z8 is a better choice. But if you are more comfortable with Canon’s interface, then you can go with the R5 II.
