Review Sony A7RV, Nikon Z8 + Canon R5ii

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I’ve currently got all 3 cameras and need to make a decision on which to keep and which to sell.

I’ll start with some positives from each system and some negatives I’ve found in case anyone is wondering which system to go for.

Pro’s and cons about each body:

Nikon Z8 - Lovely to hold and use, feels great in the hands due to the grip of the body.

Button placement is good with everything being easy to reach.

Menu system is the best I’ve used, menu items are in the correct place, a nice clean aesthetic to the menu system.

Cons -
Not a huge Z lens lineup and generally bigger and heavier than the equivalent lens from another brand.

Pro -
Canon R5ii - Again lovely to hold and use, the very familiar DSLR body from the 5D series, just a little bit too small for my hands.

I like the rear LCD, nice and crisp, really good refresh and a nice touch screen.

Con -
Menu system is slightly off, it seems simple to use but it takes me ages to find the setting I’m looking for.

RF lenses are ridiculously expensive if you’re buying UK lenses and no intention from Canon to open up their mount to 3rd party manufacturers.

Pro -
Sony A7RV, the smallest and lightest camera of the 3, produces lovely images with the 61mp sensor.

Great lineup in lenses, the smallest and lightest lenses of all 3 brands.

Cons -
Very small in the hands, I do struggle to find it comfortable for long periods of shooting.

Menu system is the messiest of the 3, again takes me a while to find the setting I’m looking for.

All 3 cameras produce lovely images and I personally can’t see much difference between 61mp and 45mp when viewing on my 32” OLED screen.

My gut is telling me to stick with the Nikon Z8 as they have a few very niche lenses which for the price can’t be beaten.

I’m going to keep all 3 camera bodies for a few more weeks if there’s anything anyone would like to know.

When I’m back home I’ll add some pictures taken with all 3 to show the difference between sensors, even though they’re subtle.
 
I was about to say if you're feeling like the Z8 is best in the hand then that might be your best option. You don't need to keep using the newer z glass you could pick up some F glass or Sigma lenses. I currently use all sigma glass with my R5 and its amazing and produces amazing images. Doesn't have all the bells and whistles of RF glass but at a fraction of the cost it works and gives amazing images.
 
I was about to say if you're feeling like the Z8 is best in the hand then that might be your best option. You don't need to keep using the newer z glass you could pick up some F glass or Sigma lenses. I currently use all sigma glass with my R5 and its amazing and produces amazing images. Doesn't have all the bells and whistles of RF glass but at a fraction of the cost it works and gives amazing images.
One of the advantages of the Sony E system no doubt, lens selection is huge.

Nikon Z8 is a big heavy camera though, at almost 1kg it’s chunky compared to the other 2, it’s certainly noticeable when carrying around.
 
It really depends on the glass you already have and value, as well as the ones you intend to get.
All three can work and may even depend slightly on what you specialise in. Overall, sony seems by far the best option for lenses. And canon is the worst. I would even say under 50mm the choice is poor on rf. 24-70 and 15-35 are sort of workable until you compare them to sony gm2. 85% full frame wideangle primes and 24-105 f2.8 zooms are a joke

A7rv is the worst value though (unless you shoot exclusively architecture, studio or landscape) and rvi is imminent within days.
Spec wise r5 ii is slightly ahead of z8. And miles ahead of rv. But again rvi is about to change all that

Canon shape can be much improved with smallrig thinggie and so i believe sony to some degree. You also have a choice of grip. I would suggest original.
 
I’ve currently got all 3 cameras and need to make a decision on which to keep and which to sell.

I’ll start with some positives from each system and some negatives I’ve found in case anyone is wondering which system to go for.

Pro’s and cons about each body:

Nikon Z8 - Lovely to hold and use, feels great in the hands due to the grip of the body.

Button placement is good with everything being easy to reach.

Menu system is the best I’ve used, menu items are in the correct place, a nice clean aesthetic to the menu system.

Cons -
Not a huge Z lens lineup and generally bigger and heavier than the equivalent lens from another brand.

Pro -
Canon R5ii - Again lovely to hold and use, the very familiar DSLR body from the 5D series, just a little bit too small for my hands.

I like the rear LCD, nice and crisp, really good refresh and a nice touch screen.

Con -
Menu system is slightly off, it seems simple to use but it takes me ages to find the setting I’m looking for.

RF lenses are ridiculously expensive if you’re buying UK lenses and no intention from Canon to open up their mount to 3rd party manufacturers.

Pro -
Sony A7RV, the smallest and lightest camera of the 3, produces lovely images with the 61mp sensor.

Great lineup in lenses, the smallest and lightest lenses of all 3 brands.

Cons -
Very small in the hands, I do struggle to find it comfortable for long periods of shooting.

Menu system is the messiest of the 3, again takes me a while to find the setting I’m looking for.

All 3 cameras produce lovely images and I personally can’t see much difference between 61mp and 45mp when viewing on my 32” OLED screen.

My gut is telling me to stick with the Nikon Z8 as they have a few very niche lenses which for the price can’t be beaten.

I’m going to keep all 3 camera bodies for a few more weeks if there’s anything anyone would like to know.

When I’m back home I’ll add some pictures taken with all 3 to show the difference between sensors, even though they’re subtle.
Get rid of all 3 and get the Sony A7RVI that launches next week.
 
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