Canon Cameras
Canon EOS RP Review
Canon EOS RP is Canon’s most affordable full-frame mirrorless model, aiming to bring full-frame performance to a wider audience. However, in practice, its extremely outdated video features, virtually nonexistent high-speed shooting capability, the lack of IBIS and weather sealing and entry-level specs mean it often feels underpowered. Its lightweight and compact body, along with Canon’s color science, still appeal to some users, but it is generally seen as a major compromise – a camera that delivers full-frame image quality but not the overall experience photographers might expect for the price.
Canon EOS R System
The release of the Canon EOS R in 2018 introduced the Canon RF-mount. With a larger mount diameter, shorter flange distance and a 12‑pin electronic interface, it allowed Canon to design faster, sharper lenses with better low-light performance. Compared to older DSLRs the system is smaller and lighter while also improving autofocus speed and overall image quality. After nearly a decade, the EOS R System now provides a wide selection of lenses. Canon EF-mount lenses (older DSLR lenses) remain fully compatible with Canon R System cameras via the EF-EOS R adapter.
Canon EOS RP Price
Canon EOS RP Specifications
General
Canon EOS RP uses a 26.2 MP CMOS sensor paired with Canon’s older DIGIC 8 processor.
The body is compact and ergonomic, but not weather-sealed. The dials are made of metal and feel high quality. Like most buttons, they offer extensive customization.
There is no built-in image stabilization (IBIS). Electronic stabilization is available for video, but it comes with a heavy crop and does not perform well compared to newer models.
The camera features a fully articulating LCD screen, but it is much less responsive than those on newer models.
The camera includes only one card slot.
Autofocus
Canon EOS RP uses Canon’s signature Dual Pixel AF system. Autofocus performance has improved compared to the Canon EOS R. Eye-detection AF is now also available in continuous mode and performs well when the subject is moving. However, it struggles when the subject moves away from the camera and when there are distractions in the foreground. Performance also degrades noticeably in low-light conditions and in video mode.
While Canon’s autofocus is generally considered to be one of the strong points of its cameras, the systems in the EOS RP and EOS R are clearly much less responsive than those found in newer Canon models and they fall behind competitors from other brands. Overall, autofocus performance is acceptable mainly for slower-moving subjects and casual photography.
Photography
Image quality is solid, with the pleasing natural colors Canon is known for. High-ISO performance was decent for its time, however, images do not offer particularly strong dynamic range and lifting shadows in post-production often reveals noticeable noise.
Canon EOS RP can shoot at only 2.5 fps in RAW with full autofocus and at 4 fps with reduced autofocus performance. 5 fps mode is available, but only with the mechanical shutter and without autofocus.
Overall, the photography performance of the EOS RP falls far behind competing models, as most rivals offer faster BSI (backside-illuminated) sensors. These sensors typically provide better dynamic range, improved low-light performance and significantly better high-speed continuous shooting capabilities.
Video
Video is considered one of the EOS RP’s weakest areas.
Canon EOS RP offers 4K recording, but only at 25 fps and with a heavy 1.6x crop. Dual Pixel AF is also not available when recording in 4K. Image quality is not particularly impressive and rolling shutter distortion is a significant issue. As a result, the footage is acceptable only for small displays.
Competing mirrorless cameras from other brands, as well as Canon’s newer entry-level EOS R8, offer oversampled 4K video without a crop, resulting in much more detail and improved dynamic range.
Full HD (1080p) recording is available at up to 60 fps.
720p recording is available at up to 120 fps, but this mode lacks continuous autofocus and produces noticeably low-quality footage.
Both internal and external recording are limited to 8-bit.
There is no IBIS and while electronic stabilization is available, it comes with a crop and performance is certainly outdated.
| Feature | Canon EOS RP |
|---|---|
| Release Date | February 2019 |
| Megapixels | 26.2 MP |
| Image Resolution | 6240 × 4160 |
| Sensor Size | Full Frame |
| Sensor Type | CMOS |
| Image Processor | DIGIC 8 |
| IBIS | No |
| Weather Sealing | No |
| Lens Mount | Canon RF |
| Body Type | Mirrorless |
| PHOTO | |
| Native ISO | 100 – 40,000 |
| Expandable ISO | 50 – 102,400 |
| Shutter Speed | 1/4000 – 30s |
| Burst Rate (Mechanical) | 4 fps RAW (5 fps without AF) |
| Burst Rate (Electronic) | 4 fps RAW |
| Buffer | ~ 50 RAW |
| Shutter Types | Mechanical, Electronic, EFCS |
| Silent Shooting | Yes (Electronic Shutter) |
| Exposure Compensation | ±3 EV |
| High-Res (Sensor Shift) | No |
| Pre-Capture Mode | No |
| VIDEO | |
| 4K Video | 4K 25fps (1.6x crop) |
| Max Frame Rate | 4K 25fps (1.6x crop) / 1080p 60fps |
| Bit Depth | 8-bit |
| Recording Limit | 29m 59s |
| Timelapse Recording | Yes |
| AUTOFOCUS | |
| AF System | 'Dual Pixel CMOS AF' |
| AF Points | 143 |
| AF Coverage | 88% Frame Coverage |
| AF Joystick | No |
| DISPLAY / VIEWFINDER | |
| Articulated Screen | Fully Articulating |
| Touch Screen | Yes |
| LCD Size | 3" |
| LCD Resolution | 1,040,000 |
| EVF Resolution | 2,360,000 |
| EVF Refresh Rate | 60 fps |
| EVF Coverage | 100% |
| EVF Magnification | 0.70× |
| MORE INFO | |
| Card Slot 1 | SD (UHS-II) |
| Card Slot 2 | / |
| Sensor Protection System | No |
| USB | Type C 2.0 |
| USB Charging | Yes |
| HDMI | Type D (Micro HDMI) |
| Microphone Port | 3.5 mm |
| Headphone Port | 3.5 mm |
| Built-in Flash | No |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes |
| Battery | LP-E17 |
| Battery Life | ~ 300 frames |
| Wi-Fi / Bluetooth | Yes |
| Dimensions | 133 × 85 × 70 mm |
| Weight | 485 g |
Canon EOS RP Alternatives
Canon R8
Canon EOS R8 (2023) is Canon’s modern entry-level full-frame model and a major upgrade over the older EOS R and EOS RP. It is essentially a more compact and more affordable version of the Canon EOS R6 Mark II, sharing the same 24 MP sensor and highly advanced autofocus system. The R8 offers oversampled 4K 60 fps recording in 10-bit without a crop (although rolling shutter is noticeable). It lacks IBIS, it has no full mechanical shutter and has only one card slot. It can shoot at up to 40 fps in 12-bit RAW with the electronic shutter (with noticeable rolling shutter distortion).
The R8 is one of Canon’s most well-balanced cameras and offers solid value, making it an excellent entry point into Canon’s full-frame R system for anyone interested in photography or video.
Sony A7 III
Sony A7 and Sony A7 II could be considered alternatives, as they are slightly cheaper on the used market compared to the EOS RP (the A7 II is still offered as a new product in some regions). However, both are clearly inferior to all other cameras on this list. They use old, non-BSI sensors and they lack many modern features, since they were released all the way back in 2013 and 2014.
Sony A7 III (2018) was a major upgrade and remains one of the most popular full-frame cameras today. It features weather sealing, IBIS, dual SD card slots, 10 fps continuous shooting, oversampled 4K video recording and it uses a 24 MP BSI sensor, enabling excellent low-light performance and strong dynamic range.
Sony A7 III is priced similarly to the Canon R8 with many cheaper used options available, since it’s more popular and has been around for longer.
Nikon Z6
Nikon Z5 II
Nikon Z6 (2018) was Nikon’s first mirrorless full-frame camera and essentially an alternative to the Canon EOS R, since both were released almost at the same time. It offers a 24 MP BSI sensor, weather sealing, IBIS, oversampled 4K 30 fps recording without a crop, external 12-bit RAW recording and 12 fps RAW continuous shooting.
A used Z6 is still a solid option for those entering the Nikon full-frame system for the very first time and is clearly superior compared to the Canon EOS RP, but it’s otherwise difficult to recommend over the Z6 II or the newer Z5 II.
Nikon Z6 II (2020) retains the same 24 MP BSI sensor as the original Z6 but adds dual EXPEED 6 processors, dual card slots, improved autofocus tracking, expanded video options (including cropped 4K at 60 fps), a higher burst rate and a larger buffer. It is a strong all-around option for both photography and video, but the Z5 II improves even further.
Nikon Z5 II (2025) also features the same 24 MP BSI sensor, but upgrades to a faster EXPEED 7 processor resulting in better autofocus performance. It can shoot at up to 11 fps in RAW with the mechanical shutter (14 fps JPEG), up to 14 fps RAW with the electronic shutter (30 fps JPEG) and it can record oversampled 4K 30 fps video (internally in 12-bit RAW) and 4K at up to 60 fps with a 1.5x crop.
The Z5 II costs about the same as the Canon R8 or the Sony A7 III. As of now, the Z5 II is definitely the best entry point into Nikon’s full-frame Z system for anyone interested in photography or video.
Canon EOS RP Price
Final Verdict
Canon EOS RP was Canon’s attempt at an affordable entry-level full-frame mirrorless camera, but its compromises are significant. It has an older sensor, a slow burst rate, weak autofocus and offers only heavily cropped, low-quality 4K video recording. If you are considering getting into Canon’s full-frame mirrorless system, the extremely capable Canon EOS R8 is a far better option.
If you are not specifically looking for a Canon camera, similarly priced alternatives such as the Nikon Z5 II and Sony A7 III may offer a more well-rounded feature set, especially for photographers.
More Affordable APS-C Alternatives
If you don’t feel the need for full-frame, there are also several excellent more affordable APS-C options on the market. Canon only offers the R10, with the R7 available at a much higher price, but APS-C models from other brands are often a better choice.
Sony offers excellent cameras in its APS-C lineup (the a6000 series), particularly the a6100 and a6400, with the a6700 available at a higher price point. Sony has used the same E-mount since 2010, which means there are over 200 lenses available and a massive second-hand market. For beginners entering the Sony system, that means more options and much better prices.
Nikon Z50 and Z50 II are also excellent, more affordable APS-C alternatives. Pairing them with the two kit lenses – the 16-50mm and the 50-250mm – gives you a high-quality Nikon setup for a fraction of the price of any full-frame kit.