p.1 #1 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
****THIS IS ABOUT ERGONOMICS, NOT ABOUT AESTHETICS (NOTHING TO DO WITH BEING "PRETTY OR UGLY").***
Is it just me, or does the new R8II look nearly identical to the Sony A7 series camera bodies?
I was looking forward to the release of the R8II, but after seeing pictures of it, I'm a bit disappointed. I really hope Canon doesn't go in that direction because I love the feel of the R6II and older EOS body styles.
p.1 #3 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
Who cares what the camera looks like? A camera is a tool, not a bloody fashion accessory. Most casual users would be impressed by anything not a smartphone.
The R8 II is a cheap camera with a puny battery. Maybe Canon should make it in 5 different fruit colors so our 13 YO nieces and nephews would like it.
p.1 #4 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
EB-1 wrote:
Who cares what the camera looks like? A camera is a tool, not a bloody fashion accessory. Most casual users would be impressed by anything not a smartphone.
The R8 II is a cheap camera with a puny battery. Maybe Canon should make it in 5 different fruit colors so our 13 YO nieces and nephews would like it.
EBH
I disagree 110%. Sharp edges make for an uncomfortable grip. Think about any tool that has sharp edges on the handle or grip; way too uncomfortable for any prolonged use.
When I travel I usually spend 10 to 12 hours per day walking around with my camera. The last thing I need is to have a sharp-edged camera digging into my hand all day (especially near the top panel near the trigger release button). That's one of the reasons I dislike my Sony A7iv. This R8II is almost identical to my Sony A7iv.
p.1 #5 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
But you said "looks too much like," nothing about the ergonomics. Sony cameras are terrible for the wide of hand. I suffer constantly with them when handheld, but prefer a tripod.
p.1 #7 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
At the risk of wading needlessly into a crossfire, cameras do have a role as fashion accessories for those who want that. I don’t think Fuji and Leica and the Olympus PEN would be so popular otherwise. Horses for courses.
p.1 #8 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
Ugly cameras tend to not sell well, especially among hobbyists. Think of all the shooters dressing up their cameras with Spider-Man skins, cute hotshoe covers, aluminum body caps that look like car rims, and magnesium cages they don't attach anything to. Looks matter. Nevertheless, Sony is popular among social influencers and video bloggers, so Canon probably made the R8 MK II a fugly Sony wannabe on purpose.
p.1 #9 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
Does attractive design help you take better pictures? Of course not, but there is something to be said for good industrial design. It can increase your enjoyment when you pick it up. There’s a reason tech products have all generally improved in industrial design dramatically since Apple began pushing the industry that way, and people realized that tech doesn’t need to be utilitarian. It can work and bring you a bit of joy from using something well designed and attractive.
p.1 #10 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
I think very few cameras are pretty. I pass judgment on the R8II by how well it handles. I’m mainly interested in that joystick and a bit in IBIS. That’s about it over the R8.
p.1 #11 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
It's about how it feels in the hand. I never think about my R6 when photographing, it just becomes an extension of myself. That wasn't the case with a few other cameras I've owned, always conscious that I had this thing in my grip. This R8II might appeal to the new photographers, but I think those who are used to Canon's other cameras might pass on this.
p.1 #12 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
Jman13 wrote:
Does attractive design help you take better pictures? Of course not, but there is something to be said for good industrial design. It can increase your enjoyment when you pick it up. There’s a reason tech products have all generally improved in industrial design dramatically since Apple began pushing the industry that way, and people realized that tech doesn’t need to be utilitarian. It can work and bring you a bit of joy from using something well designed and attractive.
Re-read my OP and point out where I stated it was either pretty or ugly. I mentioned the word FEEL, as in ergonomics. And yes, if a canera has sharp edges that dig into your hand uncomfortably like the Sony A7iv, then it does not have a good FEEL abd will affect my picture taking..
p.1 #13 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
snegron7 wrote:
Re-read my OP and point out where I stated it was either pretty or ugly. I mentioned the word FEEL, as in ergonomics. And yes, if a canera has sharp edges that dig into your hand uncomfortably like the Sony A7iv, then it does not have a good FEEL abd will affect my picture taking..
Oh ergonomics are, in my opinion, one of the most important things about a camera. The R8 II will still likely feel very nice in the hand. Its rear thumb ‘groove’ is a bit more vertical than usual, so that has me a little curious on feel, but Canon is the best in the industry at ergonomic design so I am trusting that they didn’t sacrifice that.
And while your edit highlights what you intended, your original post makes it seem very much that you were primarily concerned with looks, with ergonomics as secondary point, as the title is “Does the new R8 II look too much like a Sony?” And your first sentence is “Is it just me, or does the new R8II look nearly identical to the Sony A7 series camera bodies?”
Both of which appear to be discussing aesthetics. And overall design doesn’t say too much about ergonomics, especially when the grips do not look anything alike. The overall body design is very Sony-like, but the main grip looks almost identical to the R8 (save for the shutter button section which is angled differently, but still not like Sony), and the back, while different from recent Canon cameras in some ways, looks nothing like a Sony. The resemblances are predominantly aesthetic from the front.
p.1 #14 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
Jman13 wrote:
Oh ergonomics are, in my opinion, one of the most important things about a camera. The R8 II will still likely feel very nice in the hand. Its rear thumb ‘groove’ is a bit more vertical than usual, so that has me a little curious on feel, but Canon is the best in the industry at ergonomic design so I am trusting that they didn’t sacrifice that.
And while your edit highlights what you intended, your original post makes it seem very much that you were primarily concerned with looks, with ergonomics as secondary point, as the title is “Does the new R8 II look too much like a Sony?” And your first sentence is “Is it just me, or does the new R8II look nearly identical to the Sony A7 series camera bodies?”
Both of which appear to be discussing aesthetics. And overall design doesn’t say too much about ergonomics, especially when the grips do not look anything alike. The overall body design is very Sony-like, but the main grip looks almost identical to the R8 (save for the shutter button section which is angled differently, but still not like Sony), and the back, while different from recent Canon cameras in some ways, looks nothing like a Sony. The resemblances are predominantly aesthetic from the front. ...Show more →
I’d say both Olympus and Pentax are better at ergonomics than Canon, but that may just be me…
p.1 #15 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
snegron7 wrote:
Re-read my OP and point out where I stated it was either pretty or ugly. I mentioned the word FEEL, as in ergonomics. And yes, if a canera has sharp edges that dig into your hand uncomfortably like the Sony A7iv, then it does not have a good FEEL abd will affect my picture taking..
It depends on whether these corners are such that you actually touch them. My issue with the Sony ergonomics wasn’t the corners but mostly the tight space between the grip and the lens.
p.1 #17 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
snegron7 wrote:
Is it just me, or does the new R8II look nearly identical to the Sony A7 series camera bodies?
Similar? No. If the Sony looked like that, I wouldn't have bought one. My condolences to all the Canon users - this attempt at a Sony copy was a total flop in my opinion. It’s doubly sad when you consider that a retro-style camera was expected.
Sep 11, 2026 at 08:01 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #18 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
johnvanr wrote:
It depends on whether these corners are such that you actually touch them. My issue with the Sony ergonomics wasn’t the corners but mostly the tight space between the grip and the lens.
This was my major issue with Sony ergonomics as well and these pictures suggest that this camera won't be nearly as bad on that issue. Still I suspect for my very large hands it will be too small and I have grown to appreciate being able to see aperture, shutter speed, and ISO just by looking down at the camera and without using the LCD, which I mostly keep hidden facing the camera, or the viewfinder. That means I really want a small top LCD or dedicated dials for each of these parameters. This camera appears to have neither, so for me it would never be my primary camera, but that is just me.
That said, I suspect in a couple of years when the price drops I will get it to replace my R7 as my secondary camera. I don't love the ergonomics of that camera, but as a secondary camera I can live with them and this camera has a joystick and IBIS and a FF sensor with a reasonably fast sensor scan speed so I think it will be a nice upgrade to my R7.
p.1 #19 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
Steve Spencer wrote:
This was my major issue with Sony ergonomics as well and these pictures suggest that this camera won't be nearly as bad on that issue. Still I suspect for my very large hands it will be too small and I have grown to appreciate being able to see aperture, shutter speed, and ISO just by looking down at the camera and without using the LCD, which I mostly keep hidden facing the camera, or the viewfinder. That means I really want a small top LCD or dedicated dials for each of these parameters. This camera appears to have neither, so for me it would never be my primary camera, but that is just me.
That said, I suspect in a couple of years when the price drops I will get it to replace my R7 as my secondary camera. I don't love the ergonomics of that camera, but as a secondary camera I can live with them and this camera has a joystick and IBIS and a FF sensor with a reasonably fast sensor scan speed so I think it will be a nice upgrade to my R7....Show more →
I have come to like my R8 but it doesn’t replace my R5. It does replace my R6II, though. But I’m using the R8 mostly with M-mount lenses, something I’m starting to doubt in general.
Sep 11, 2026 at 08:35 AM
Steve Spencer Offline • • • • • • • Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #20 · Does the New R8II Looks Too Much Like a Sony?
johnvanr wrote:
I have come to like my R8 but it doesn’t replace my R5. It does replace my R6II, though. But I’m using the R8 mostly with M-mount lenses, something I’m starting to doubt in general.
I think for me the R8 II would be a lot better for manual focus lenses than the R8. I need a joystick for shooting manual focus lenses and IBIS is really a must too. Despite its small size, I doubt it will even be my travel camera with manual focus lenses. My big hands don't like small cameras and I really like having the top LCD to see shooting parameters. I am very happy with my R5 II for manual lenses. For my secondary camera when I replace my R7 in a couple years it will likely be between the R6 II and the R8 II. I am not sure which way I will go, and I will probably just let my wife decide. She uses the R7 at least as much as I do and she will probably prefer the smaller R8 II and that will be fine with me.
