Home Camera Review: Canon EOS RP

Review: Canon EOS RP

Canon EOS RP is a highly capable still full frame camera for everyone with value for money price point. Best for APS-C upgrader

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Are you from one of the groups that have been shooting APS-C all this while and looking to upgrade to mirrorless full-frame? Take a look at this Canon EOS RP.

Despite previous rumours prior to its launch that it would be a professional-grade version of the Canon EOS R, the Canon EOS RP is instead a more affordable version of the company’s full-frame mirrorless model. We would guess the “P” stands for the all the “People” – Affordable.

Canon listened to feedback and realised that there was a lot of interest in the EOS R from advanced amateur photographers: the kind who already own an APS-C camera and want to take the leap into full-frame, but don’t need the specialist features and don’t want the bulk and weight.

The EOS RP, therefore, sits a step lower than the EOS R, but alongside to the 6D Mark II in the product line-up, the RP shares a great deal of architectural similarity with the 6D Mark II, from the sensor to the feature set. Yet it’s housed in a body that is Canon’s smallest and lightest-ever full-frame camera. At a glance, it look like an enlarge version of EOS M5.

While the heartbeat of the RP is powered by the new Digic 8 processor, its 26.2MP sensor is near identical as the one inside the 6D Mark II. Technically, the RP has the same ISO range of 100-40,000 (expandable to 102,400), and top-up with Dual Pixel CMOS AF. It has 4,779 AF positions, split into 143 zones offering 88% x 100% coverage, with -5EV.

Servo AF now supports Face Tracking with Eye AF, along with single-point Spot AF, which has been replicated from the 6D Mark II. The RP can shoot in 4K up to 25fps, but in a non-Dual Pixel CMOS AF mode and at 1.76x crop. In 1080p it can shoot up to 50fps, without a crop and with the benefit of Dual Pixel mode.

It’s not a fast camera for sports, but the Canon EOS RP takes stunning portraits.

Build and handling
Noticeably the most impressive thing about the Canon EOS RP is its smaller form factor. Weighing just 485g including a battery and memory card, it’s 175g lighter than the EOS R and 280g lighter than the 6D Mark II. Paired with the RF 35mm f1.8 IS Macro STM or an EF 50mm f1.8 STM with the EF-EOS R Mount Adapter, the camera look and feels like a perfect match.

However, when it’s paired with larger lenses, it may look a little awkward – and the RF range is dominated right now by monsters like the 950g Canon RF 50mm f1.2L and the 1,430g 28-70mm f2L.

Even the Canon 700g RF 24-105mm f4L kit lens feels slightly out of place, but it’s bearable. This is probably why Canon, is offering a bundle with the EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM instead, which feels a better fit for this camera.

The 2,360k-dot electronic viewfinder is identical with the EOS M50. It works perfectly well, even though it’s a tad smaller than the EOS R’s. We have also predicted that Canon keeps the fully articulating touchscreen, though; at three inches and a million dots, it isn’t as hi-tech as the EOS R.

On the hard buttons, the M-Fn touchbar and the Mode button, have both been dropped, along with the top LCD screen. Replacing them is Canon’s familiar Mode dial, which takes up less space and makes the shooting process more intuitive, as you don’t have to stop and think every time you switch modes. Sadly, also missing was the shutter that protects the sensor from dust while you change lenses.

Performance
While it’s quite tempting to make comparisons with the Nikon Z 6 or the Sony A7 III, it’s important to remember that the EOS RP isn’t in the same bracket as either of those cameras. To be frank, while its performance seems comparatively not on par in some respects, the RP performs well for a camera in its category.

In terms of image quality and dynamic range, the RP is excellent, and handle very similarly to those produced by the 6D Mark II in post-production. Its burst mode is slower, at 5fps with a single focus point or 4fps with Servo AF tracking, and you can get about 50 14-bit raw files on a UHS-II card before the camera starts to crawl.

While the Digic 8 processor enables the RP to shoot 4K video, the output has to be compromised, as it has been in other Canon bodies. The 1.76x crop is one thing, being limited to 25fps is another – but losing the Dual Pixel CMOS AF really is hard to swallow. That, if you are shooting in 4K, otherwise, it will be least of a problem for now.

The famed ‘Canon colour science’ delivers rich, faithful reproduction.

On the plus side, you get to use Focus Peaking in MF – even though the histogram still disappears during filming. The new Focus Bracketing mode, a first for any Canon camera, is a welcome addition for macro. This semi-automated focus stacking system enables you to tell the camera how many images to take: it then shoots each frame while moving the focus point between shots.

The result is a series of images that can be merged to extend depth of field, although the RP doesn’t do this in-camera – you’ll need to do it manually or download the new version of Digital Photo Professional.

It’s a great option for owners of APS-C Canon bodies who want to upgrade to a full-frame system and continue to their existing EF lenses while retaining the lightness and compactness of the smaller cameras. We think the RP pairs better with EF-S lenses and, with the Mount Adapter EF-EOS R included in the box, existing lenses can be mounted right away.

Surprisingly, the EOS RP uses the same model of battery used in the EOS M5 and M6. Using these batteries in the M5/M6 are decently okay (up to almost 300 shots), but it is a little under stamina with the RP (around 250 shots per charge), we hope for the upcoming model upgrades, put in the EOS R battery, at least.

To sum it up, the EOS RP offers a shooting experience that feels familiar for Canon users and produces fantastic images that stand shoulder-to-shoulder with any camera in the line-up. We may think this really is a beefed-up 6D Mark II in a smaller body with an EVF and 4K or an upsized EOS M5 with a full frame sensor.

Impressive dynamic range makes shooting indoors or low light a breeze.

While the Canon EOS RP is not really an entry-level camera, it could just be the ideal entry-level full-frame camera. The bundle price starts at RM5,999. visit my.canon for more information.

Specification:

  • Sensor: 26.2MP full frame CMOS, 35.9 x 24mm
  • Image processor: Digic 8
  • AF points: 4,779 Dual Pixel AF positions (143 zones)
  • ISO range: 100 to 40,000 (exp 50 to 102,400)
  • Max image size: 6,240 x 4,160
  • Metering modes: Evaluative, Partial, Spot, Centre-Weighted
  • Video: 4K at 25p, FHD at 25p/50p, HD at 25/50p
  • Viewfinder: 0.39-inch EVF, 2.36m dots, 100% coverage
  • Memory card: SD/SDHC/SDXC (supports UHS-II)
  • LCD: 3-inch fully articulating touchscreen, 1.04m dots
  • Max burst: 5fps (One Shot), 4fps (Servo AF)
  • Connectivity: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth
  • Size: 133 x 85 x 70mm
  • Weight: 485g with card and battery
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REVIEW OVERVIEW
Verdict
Editor | Arthur Chen
Editor, Photographer, Video Director & Producer and avid Traveller. The media industry has been my playground for a long time and is getting more exciting by the days.
review-canon-eos-rpThe Canon EOS RP is a highly capable stills camera that anyone looking to graduate to full-frame photography would do well to consider. Despite being much slimmer than the EOS R, the RP retains the EOS R’s deep grip. The price point for a full-frame beginner is still one of the deciding factors, in which Canon has strategically placed this in the sweet spot.