Canon EOS RP review

The Canon EOS RP is small, affordable and versatile. It's not cutting edge tech, but the cheaper it gets, the more we like it

Canon EOS RP review

Digital Camera World Verdict

While its competitors are going to great pains to create increasingly advanced – and increasingly expensive – high end full-frame mirrorless cameras, Canon is catering to crop sensor consumers who are looking for a full-frame upgrade that won’t break their back or their bank balance. The Canon EOS RP is a big success in this regard, offering full-frame functionality and 4K video in a package that’s notably smaller, lighter and cheaper than almost all its rivals. It’s far from an entry level camera, but it’s ideal an entry level full-frame camera.

Pros

  • +

    Svelte, lightweight body

  • +

    Fully articulating screen

  • +

    4K video

  • +

    Aggressively priced

Cons

  • -

    Body feels small for big RF lenses

  • -

    Loses the R’s sensor shutter

  • -

    1.6x crop + no Dual Pixel AF in 4K

  • -

    Miserly battery life

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The arrival of the Canon EOS RP surprised us a bit. Despite multiple reports that it would be a professional-grade version of the Canon EOS R (though make no mistake, the pro EOS R5 is coming), the Canon EOS RP was instead a more populist version of the company’s full-frame mirrorless model. 

Indeed, the ‘P’ in the model name stands for ‘Popular’, in the Japanese sense meaning ‘for everybody’, which could make this the best Canon camera for enthusiasts and first time full frame camera buyers. In fact, by virtue of its low price, small size and good handling, it earns a place on our list of the best full frame mirrorless cameras you can get right now.

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Canon RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM (1/250 sec, f/3.5, ISO400)
Canon RF 24-105mm f/4 IS USM (1/1000 sec, f/4, ISO200)

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James Artaius
Editor

The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera MagazinePhotoPlus: The Canon MagazineN-Photo: The Nikon MagazineDigital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.