With Canon unveiling the R1 and Sony introducing the a1 II update, Nikon’s Z9 now faces stiff competition in the Canon R1 vs Nikon Z9 vs Sony A1 II battle. A flagship camera is the pinnacle of a company’s technological expertise and serves as a benchmark for judgment. Should a flagship excel in every scenario? And is there truly a “best” option today? Here is our 2024 Flagship Camera Review.
Landscape Photography
Canon R1 vs Nikon Z9 vs Sony a1 II
Landscape photography spans diverse applications, focusing less on rapid autofocus and more on high-resolution detail for large prints and dynamic range to handle challenging lighting. I’ll discuss the cameras in no specific order and maintain that order throughout this review.
Nikon Z9
The Z9, though the oldest, remains a reliable flagship excelling in detail and dynamic range. Its 45-megapixel sensor is perfect for large-scale prints or extensive cropping, complemented by Nikon’s distinct color science and robust white balance rendering. Its rugged body design can withstand virtually any outdoor condition.
The controls on the Z9 are intuitive and highly customizable, with an ergonomic grip that balances well with long lenses. A minor drawback is the absence of a mechanical shutter, which slightly affects dynamic range compared to Canon and Sony. Despite this, the Z9 is an outstanding choice for landscapes and adventure photography.
However, its relatively low-resolution electronic viewfinder (EVF) at 3.69 million dots may disappoint some users.
Canon EOS R1
Canon’s R1 is built tough for outdoor use, offering impressive dynamic range with excellent shadow detail and noise control. However, Canon’s approach to noise reduction in RAW files can slightly compromise detail, even in unprocessed shots.
With a 24-megapixel sensor, the R1 delivers good overall performance but lacks the resolution for very large prints or extensive cropping compared to its rivals. Canon may introduce a higher-resolution version in the future, but currently, the R1 isn’t the top choice for these needs.
Its sensor boasts lightning-fast scanning and a strong electronic shutter mode that eliminates rolling shutter effects.
Sony A1 II
The A1 II retains the 50-megapixel sensor from its predecessor, which was ahead of its time. It provides ample detail for large prints and achieves dynamic range similar to Canon, without baked-in noise reduction. Its compact body is advantageous for travel and hiking.
Sony claims its new design, derived from the a9 III, offers enhanced durability. While earlier models had issues with water resistance around the battery door, this hasn’t been a problem in my experience with the a1 II. For landscape and astrophotography, it’s an excellent choice.
Portrait Photography
Canon R1 vs Nikon Z9 vs Sony a1 II
Portraiture tests a camera’s ability to focus precisely on a subject’s eyes, track movements seamlessly, and perform well with studio flashes, especially outdoors. While color accuracy and skin tone rendering are important, all three cameras excel in these areas, so I won’t dwell on them further.
Nikon Z9
The Z9’s 1/250-second flash sync speed helps reduce ambient light, and its 3D tracking is among the most intuitive and reliable systems available. It excels in automatically detecting subjects, effortlessly transitioning between people, pets, or other objects without manual selection.
Although slightly larger than ideal for portraits, the Z9 feels solid in hand, and the Z8 is available for those who prefer a smaller body. Its electronic shutter also supports flash synchronization at higher speeds, making outdoor portrait sessions more manageable. Autofocus and image quality make it a strong contender for portrait work.
Canon EOS R1
The R1 reliably tracks eyes, heads, or bodies, adapting well when eyes aren’t visible. Its 24-megapixel sensor isn’t a major drawback for traditional portraits, as extreme sharpness can sometimes be unflattering. However, for high-detail needs, the lower resolution may be limiting.
Canon’s flash sync capabilities are impressive: up to 1/320 second with manual flashes and 1/400 second with TTL flashes in electronic shutter mode. These faster sync speeds allow greater control over ambient light in bright conditions, enhancing outdoor portraits.
Eye detection in the R1 performs well, though not consistently better than its predecessor, the R3. Hopefully, this feature will improve with future updates.
Sony a1 II
The a1 II offers dependable real-time tracking autofocus that locks onto subjects with precision. Its newly introduced automatic subject detection works seamlessly. Flash sync speeds are competitive, with 1/400 second in mechanical shutter mode for TTL flashes and 1/250 second for manual flashes. These options effectively reduce ambient light while preserving dynamic range.
The a1 II’s fast flash sync speeds and excellent autofocus make it highly capable for portraiture, whether in a studio or on location.
Sports and Action Photography
Canon R1 vs Nikon Z9 vs Sony a1 II
Sports, wildlife, and photojournalism are among the most demanding genres for cameras, requiring rugged designs, quick autofocus, and rapid burst shooting to capture decisive moments. Here’s how the three cameras perform in these high-stakes scenarios.
Nikon Z9
The Z9 offers a full range of focusing modes, including 3D tracking combined with subject detection. It adapts automatically to various subjects and has improved significantly with firmware updates, even in challenging conditions like rain or snow.
For burst rates, the Z9 supports 20 frames per second (fps) in RAW mode and up to 120 fps in JPEG mode with some cropping. While 20 fps is sufficient for most scenarios, the higher rates can be useful for ensuring you capture critical moments. Its pre-release buffered shooting mode is also helpful but limited to JPEG.
Canon EOS R1
Designed for sports and action, the R1 shines in these environments. Its AI-powered autofocus predicts player or object movements effectively, making it ideal for fast-paced games like basketball or hockey. Even with helmeted players, eye detection remains accurate.
The R1’s 40 fps burst rate with uncropped, lossy-compressed RAW files is exceptional, with a buffer that handles extended shooting sessions effortlessly. At 20 fps, the R1 delivers uncompressed RAW files, offering a slight quality boost. Though limited to 24 megapixels, this resolution is often adequate for sports photography.
Pre-capture burst mode is particularly valuable for capturing fleeting moments without wasting storage.
Sony a1 II
Despite its smaller body, the a1 II pairs well with long lenses when equipped with a battery grip. Its autofocus performs impressively, even in demanding settings like an NFL game. Automatic subject detection and pre-burst shooting modes bring it on par with its competitors.
Burst rates are versatile, reaching 30 fps with lossy-compressed RAW files while maintaining minimal quality loss. Like its rivals, 20 fps is usually sufficient, but the ability to push beyond that is a welcome option.
Videography
Canon R1 vs Nikon Z9 vs Sony a1 II
Video is an increasingly essential aspect of modern photography, especially for photojournalists who are also tasked with videography. These flagship cameras must handle high-quality video production while capturing action as a versatile hybrid tool. All three cameras focus reliably in video mode, tracking most moving subjects across the frame. Jordan tested each model in various video scenarios and found their performance to be largely equal.
Nikon Z9
The Z9 offers a very useful compressed raw recording mode that doesn’t require an external recorder. This mode provides excellent control over noise reduction, white balance, and exposure. The Z9 also supports internal raw recording at up to 8.3K, outshining its competitors. Furthermore, it records oversampled 4K footage up to 60p, ideal for capturing fast-paced sports and high-quality slow-motion shots. With these capabilities, the Z9 remains the most versatile video camera of the three, and it also comes at the most affordable price.
Not all sports footage requires high-speed action, and the Z9’s 45-megapixel sensor excels in delivering incredible detail.
Canon EOS R1
The R1 features internal raw recording modes that offer flexibility, although its 24-megapixel sensor limits it to 6K resolution. Despite this, the R1 still delivers impressive video quality and supports oversampled 4K 60p footage, similar to the Z9.
Sony a1 II
The a1 II falls behind its competitors as it does not offer any internal raw recording modes. While it can output raw video to an external recorder, it is limited to 4K resolution, putting it at a disadvantage. However, the a1 II still provides excellent 4K video recording and an internal 8K option, though the 4K footage is subsampled, losing some detail. You can shoot 8K and oversample 4K footage during post-production, but this is less convenient than the Z9 or R1.
Both the Z9 and a1 II utilize the full sensor width for 8K recording and offer ample room for cropping or reframing, especially when shooting in native log formats. The Canon R1, however, lacks a high-resolution video mode, limiting its flexibility. Shooting raw at 6K is as high as it goes with the R1.
In conclusion
The Canon R1 vs Nikon Z9 vs Sony a1 II debate boils down to your specific needs. The Z9 is the best value, offering an exceptional balance of performance and price. The R1 excels in action photography, and the a1 II, despite its shortcomings, still offers solid performance for those who need a powerful all-around camera.