Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Nikon - Z 8 | Sony - α1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 910 g | 743 g |
| AF points | 493 | 759 |
| Megapixels | 45 MP | 50 MP |
Between the Z 8 and α1 II, the Z 8 comes out ahead in several specs, while the α1 II wins on weight / af points. Overall, the Z 8 scores 75.1 and the α1 II scores 79.6 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The α1 II edges ahead on the Mars Score (75.1 vs 79.6), but the 4.5-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
The Z 8 does not pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec-table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the α1 II if you carry the device everywhere and weight or thickness has been the deciding factor before. Its strongest claims are weight, af points, megapixels. The single most decisive one: Weight — 167.00 g less. 743 vs 910.
Both ship with comparable sensor size, max video, in-body stabilization, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: there is no wrong answer here — match the spec advantages to how you actually use the product. The Mars Score parity says both are well-rounded; the differences are about trade-offs, not quality.
Which should you buy: Nikon - Z 8 or Sony - α1 II?
Sony - α1 II leads the current Mars Score by 4.5 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare megapixels, weight against the way you will actually use the product.
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.
Choose Sony - α1 II if…
Sony - α1 II has the measurable edge on weight g, af points, megapixels.
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 Nikon - Z 8 wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Sony - α1 II wins
- ▲Weight — 167.00 g less. 743 vs 910.
- ▲AF points — 53.96% more. 759 vs 493.
- ▲Megapixels — 11.11% more. 50 MP vs 45 MP.
Spec comparison
Sensor
| Spec | Nikon - Z 8 | Sony - α1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor sizeⓘ | Full Frame | Full Frame |
| Megapixels | 45 MP | 50 MPlead |
| Max ISO | 102400 | 102400 |
Video
| Spec | Nikon - Z 8 | Sony - α1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Max video | 8K | 8K |
| RAW video | true | true |
| Log profileⓘ | true | true |
Autofocus
| Spec | Nikon - Z 8 | Sony - α1 II |
|---|---|---|
| AF pointsⓘ | 493 | 759lead |
| Eye AFⓘ | true | true |
| In-body stabilizationⓘ | true | true |
Body & Controls
| Spec | Nikon - Z 8 | Sony - α1 II |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 910 g | 743 glead |
| Weather sealedⓘ | true | true |
| Dual card slotsⓘ | true | true |