Canon EOS RP full test
We test Canon’s new mirrorless full-frame EOS RP, a strong option if you’re looking to upgrade from a crop-sensor camera
We test Canon’s new full-frame mirrorless RP to see if it’s worth upgrading
Despite rumours that it would be a professional-grade version of the Canon EOS R (which is indeed coming), the Canon EOS RP is instead a more populist version of the company’s full-frame mirrorless model. Indeed, the ‘P’ in the name stands for ‘popular’, in the sense of meaning ‘for everybody’.
This tells you exactly who the EOS RP is intended for. The company listened to feedback and realized that there was a lot of interest in the EOS R from advanced amateur photographers: the kind who already own an APS-C camera (such as a Canon EOS 77D or M50) 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 adjacent to the 6D Mark II in the
product line-up, just as the EOS R sits adjacent to the 5D Mark IV. Like its bigger brother, 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.
While the RP is powered by the new Digic 8 processor, its 26.2Mp sensor is almost exactly the same as the one inside the 6D Mark II. Accordingly, the RP has the same ISO range of 100-40,000 (expandable to 102,400), along with Dual Pixel CMOS AF. It has 4,779 AF positions (split into 143 zones) offering 88% x 100% coverage, and can autofocus down to -5EV.
Servo AF now supports Face Tracking with Eye AF (which was a bit of a glaring omission on the EOS R), along with single-point Spot AF, which has been transplanted from the 6D Mark II. The RP can shoot in 4K up to 25fps, but loses Dual Pixel CMOS AF and suffers about a 1.76x crop while doing so. In 1080p it can shoot up to 50fps, without a crop and with the benefit of Dual Pixel.
Build and handling
Arguably the most impressive thing about the Canon EOS RP is its tiny 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 an appropriate lens, such as the RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM or an EF 50mm f/1.8 STM with the EF-EOS R Mount Adapter, the camera feels almost as deft and manoeuvrable as a Fujifilm
or Olympus system. However, this compact advantage when the RP is paired with smaller lenses becomes a bit of a drawback when it’s paired with larger lenses – and the RF range is dominated right now by monsters like the 950g Canon RF 50mm f/1.2l and the 1430g 28-70mm f/2l.
Like the EOS R, there is a bit of a disconnect between the smaller consumer-grade body and the much larger pro-grade lenses that truly dwarf the EOS RP. Even the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4l kit lens feels unwieldy, at 700g. This is probably why Canon, cannily, 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 0.39-inch, 2360k-dot electronic viewfinder has been transplanted from the EOS M50. It works perfectly well, even though it’s a tad smaller than the EOS R’s. We’re supremely grateful that Canon opted to keep the fully articulating touchscreen, though, at three inches and a million dots, it isn’t as hi-tech as its big brother’s. But if anything it actually feels a little more responsive. The EOS R’s opinion-dividing embellishments, the M-FN touchbar and the Mode button, have both been dropped from the RP, 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 dumped is the shutter that shields the sensor from debris while you change lenses.
Performance
While it’s quite tempting to draw comparisons against the equivalent Nikon Z 6 or even the EOS R, it’s important to remember that the EOS RP isn’t in the same price bracket as either of those cameras. Accordingly, while its performance
seems comparatively unspectacular in some respects, the RP performs well for an affordable full-frame mirrorless camera.
In terms of image quality and dynamic range, the files produced by the RP are excellent, and handle very similarly to those produced by the 6D Mark II in post-production. Its burst mode is half a step 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 slow down.
While the Digic 8 processor enables the RP to shoot 4K video, the output is heavily 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 tough swallow. And, tragically, 4K still suffers from the ‘wobbly jelly’ rolling shutter effect that afflicts the EOS R. 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 Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software.
Ultimately, the EOS RP offers a shooting experience that feels familiar and intuitive for Canon users – and produces fantastic images that stand shoulder-toshoulder with any camera in the line-up. This really is a souped-up 6D Mark II in a smaller body with
It’s ideal for owners of APS-C Canon bodies who want to upgrade
an EVF and 4K – even though 4K comes with concessions, making 1080p the better video option.
It’s an ideal option for APS-C Canon owners who want to upgrade to a full-frame system and continue to use their existing EF or EF-S lenses, while retaining the lightness and compactness of the smaller cameras. Indeed, the RP pairs better with EF-S lenses and the likes of the EF ‘nifty fifty’ than it does with the bulkier RF glass – and, with the Mount Adapter EF-EOS R included in the box, existing lenses can be mounted right away. While the Canon EOS RP is far from an entry-level camera, it might just be the ideal entry-level full-frame camera, at an affordable price.