Head-to-head · Best Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

Nikon Z8 vs Panasonic Lumix S1R II

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

The short answer

Nikon Z8 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.3). The gap is mostly about enthusiast-pros wanting Z9 performance and 8K RAW in a smaller, lower-cost body — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

Nikon Z8

4.5

$3,499as of May 26

The Nikon Z8 is the enthusiast-pro flagship of the year — Z9 internals in a smaller body at a lower price. PhotographyBlog rates it 4.5/5 and DPReview gave it their Gold Award. The stacked sensor, no-mechanical-shutter design, and 8.3K ProRes RAW make it the most video-capable option at this tier without stepping up to the $6,500 A1 II. Weight and battery life are the main tradeoffs versus smaller rivals.

Strengths

— 45.7 MP stacked BSI CMOS sensor inherited from the flagship Z9 at 25% less weight and ~60% lower price
— Mirrorless design with no mechanical shutter — silent, zero shutter blackout, rated to 1/32,000s electronic
— 8.3K/60p ProRes RAW internal recording — matches the Z9 for professional video workflows

Watch-outs

— Larger and heavier than the Sony A7R V at 910g (vs 723g) — not as comfortable for travel/street
— Battery life (330 shots CIPA) trails the Sony A1 II (530 shots) — two batteries recommended for shoots
— XQD/CFexpress card slot adds media cost compared to the Sony A7R V's dual SD

$3,499 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #4 in Best Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras

Panasonic Lumix S1R II

4.3

$4,499.95as of May 29

The Panasonic Lumix S1R II is the value flagship — PhotographyBlog 5/5 and TechRadar 4.5/5, though PCMag more reserved at 3.5/5 citing AF gap. If you want 44 MP, 8.1K ProRes RAW, and pro video features at ~$1,000 less than the Canon R5 II or Nikon Z8, this is the pick. The L-mount lens ecosystem and slightly trailing AF are the reasons to pay up for Nikon or Canon if budget allows.

Strengths

— 44 MP partially-stacked BSI sensor — surprisingly close to stacked performance at a lower price than the Nikon Z8 or Canon R5 II
— 8.1K/30p Apple ProRes RAW internal + V-Log for pro video colorists — video-first flagship among this list
— In-body stabilization rated to 8 stops; Dual IS 2 with compatible lenses hits ~9.5

Watch-outs

— L-mount lens ecosystem is smaller than Sony E, Canon RF, or Nikon Z — fewer native lens options, especially primes
— Battery life trails competitors at 350 shots CIPA
— PCMag's 3.5/5 score reflects softer consensus — some reviewers feel the AF still trails the big three even with phase detect

$4,499.95 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

How they stack up

Nikon Z8

Z9 internals (45.7MP stacked, 8.3K/60p) in a smaller body for less money — the value-per-capability leader of the flagships.

Panasonic Lumix S1R II

44MP with class-leading video specs at the lowest entry of the high-res group; smaller lens ecosystem than Canon/Sony/Nikon.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Nikon Z8	Panasonic Lumix S1R II
Sensor	45.7MP Stacked BSI CMOS	44MP BSI CMOS
ISO	64–25600 (exp. 32–102400)	80–51200
Video	8.3K/60p RAW, 4K/120p	8K/30p, 5.8K/30p ProRes RAW
Stabilization	IBIS, up to 6 stops	IBIS, up to 8 stops
Weight	910 g	795 g
Storage	CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II	CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II

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