Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Canon - EOS R5 Mark II | Nikon - Z 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 746 g | 910 g |
| AF points | 1053 | 493 |
Between the EOS R5 Mark II and Z 8, the EOS R5 Mark II comes out ahead in weight / af points, while the Z 8 wins on several specs. Overall, the EOS R5 Mark II scores 81.8 and the Z 8 scores 75.1 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The EOS R5 Mark II edges ahead on the Mars Score (81.8 vs 75.1), but the 6.7-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the EOS R5 Mark II if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. The biggest gaps in its favor are weight, af points. The single most decisive one: Weight — 164.00 g less. 746 vs 910.
The Z 8 similarly does not carry a headline advantage on the popular specs — look at the full table for category-specific deltas.
Both ship with comparable sensor size, megapixels, max video, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the EOS R5 Mark II is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Canon - EOS R5 Mark II or Nikon - Z 8?
Canon - EOS R5 Mark II leads the current Mars Score by 6.7 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare weight against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Canon - EOS R5 Mark II if…
Canon - EOS R5 Mark II has the measurable edge on weight g, af points.
Choose Nikon - Z 8 if…
Nikon - Z 8 does not lead a decisive measured field here, so choose it for price, ecosystem, design, or availability when those matter more to you.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Canon - EOS R5 Mark II wins
- ▲Weight — 164.00 g less. 746 vs 910.
- ▲AF points — 113.59% more. 1053 vs 493.
Why Nikon - Z 8 wins
- No decisive advantages.
Spec comparison
Sensor
| Spec | Canon - EOS R5 Mark II | Nikon - Z 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor sizeⓘ | Full Frame | Full Frame |
| Megapixels | 45 MP | 45 MP |
| Max ISO | 102400 | 102400 |
Video
| Spec | Canon - EOS R5 Mark II | Nikon - Z 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Max video | 8K | 8K |
| RAW video | true | true |
| Log profileⓘ | true | true |
Autofocus
| Spec | Canon - EOS R5 Mark II | Nikon - Z 8 |
|---|---|---|
| AF pointsⓘ | 1053lead | 493 |
| Eye AFⓘ | true | true |
| In-body stabilizationⓘ | true | true |
Body & Controls
| Spec | Canon - EOS R5 Mark II | Nikon - Z 8 |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 746 glead | 910 g |
| Weather sealedⓘ | true | true |
| Dual card slotsⓘ | true | true |