Besides carrying a certain premium historical, so to speak, full-frame cameras don't always stop to optimize a critical aspect like size. Everyone wants the latest advantages of modern photography, but if that means dragging a brick wherever you go, enthusiasm wanes. For that and other reasons, the Canon EOS RP is so interesting. Although it can't avoid some compromises, this mirrorless presents itself as one of the most compact and lightweight in its category, with image quality that doesn't lag behind, and a not-so-terrible price.
The search for that 'first camera' is a bit intimidating at first, and part of the responsibility falls on the manufacturers themselves, who fight to receive that privilege by bombarding consumers with dozens of cameras and specifications. That's how we arrive at the Canon EOS RP. At first glance it may seem like 'just another Canon,' but on closer inspection we discover a serious candidate to become that 'first camera,' or at least the first full-frame of any enthusiast or Canon fan looking for a second body.
Designed to Be Enjoyed
Originally announced in February, the Canon EOS RP features a 26.2-megapixel effective full-frame CMOS sensor, backed by the DIGIC 8 image processor. Its ISO sensitivity ranges from 100 to 40,000, with a Boost in both directions of 50-102,000, while its shutter speed ranges from 1/4,000 to 30 seconds. Its three-inch touchscreen is articulated (up to 170 degrees horizontally and vertically), with a resolution of 1.04 million dots, and on the viewfinder side we find an OLED module with 2.36 million dots and 100 percent coverage.
The autofocus system on the Canon EOS RP prioritizes precision over speed. On one hand, the user has 143 phase-detection areas, subdivided into 4,779 points. The camera responds solidly in the vast majority of cases, and also includes support for eye detection. Firmware update 1.3.0 (which, by the way, is not the latest) enabled multiple optimizations for both autofocus in general and eye tracking, and its installation is definitely recommended.
On the other hand, the Canon EOS RP has a burst limited to 5 FPS, or 4 FPS if we prefer continuous autofocus. That means the camera isn't designed for action or extreme sports, but as compensation it delivers an infinite buffer for JPEG (technically until the card is full), or 50 frames when shooting RAW.
Moving to the interface, the Canon EOS RP manages to bend some rules and write new ones. Almost immediately anyone would think it's a gigantic mirrorless, but nothing could be further from the truth. The EOS RP is one of the most compact and lightest full-frame cameras of this generation (thanks to a combination of polycarbonate and magnesium alloy), with excellent grip, touch interaction that never feels uncomfortable, and well-placed controls based on two dials easy to reach with the right thumb. One condition that could complicate matters is very large and adapted lenses, but it's not a serious problem.
Regarding the mode dial, the Canon EOS RP offers a kind of extended version compared to other cameras from the Japanese giant. It's divided into a zone with Full Auto and Special Scenes 'SCN' (the list goes up to twelve), and a creative zone with Flexible Priority 'Fv', Programmed Auto 'P', Shutter Priority 'Tv', Aperture Priority 'Av', Manual 'M', Bulb 'B', Movie, and three custom entries to save your settings, 'C1-C2-C3'. Any additional details can be found in the manual.
At this point it's logical to ask how well the Canon EOS RP handles video. The good news is that the camera can record 4Kp24 with a bitrate of 120 megabits per second. The bad news is that its final quality falls a couple of steps below other models. The camera applies a significant crop on the sensor to get 4K, and also disables the Dual Pixel system, forcing us to return to contrast detection. Things are a bit more interesting in 1080p, especially after firmware 1.4.0 which includes 1080p24 support (Canon keeps forgetting this and we don't understand why). That video mode uses the full width of the sensor, and with the exact combination of Dual Pixel and electronic stabilization, it's possible to extract decent video. Still, I think the message is clear: Video is not a major priority for the Canon EOS RP.
Accessories for the Canon EOS RP
The price of the Canon EOS RP body floats around 1,300 euros at the moment, but anyone interested can save about 200 euros by taking the Amazon Warehouse route. The real premium is in the kit that includes a 24-240, jumping to 2,000 euros on average. Fortunately, adapters come to the rescue, and the rest of the accessories stay at very reasonable prices.
Batteries and Power
250 shots per charge. The battery performance on the Canon EOS RP is one of its main weak points, and although nothing stops us from using a USB-C compatible power bank to recover energy, the best strategy is to get a secondary battery. The LP-E17 module has wide availability, and its price doesn't cross the 55-euro barrier.
Supports and Tripods
The search for a tripod for the Canon EOS RP must consider the possibility of adapting multiple lenses without creating balance problems, and all arrows point to a classic of this section, the Gloxy GX-T6662A. With a maximum load of 10 kilograms, 1.6 meters of working height and an aluminum alloy design, the tripod offers an attractive combo of robustness, comfort, and portability. On the other hand, if you're looking for something more compact, there's no need to look beyond the Clampod Takeway T2, with its 40-kilogram limit, impressive grip, and just 200 grams of weight.
Bags and Backpacks
From a technical standpoint, the Canon EOS RP doesn't have weather sealing. Its good construction prevents that from becoming a major drawback, but that's not a license to neglect it. You'll need good transport, and that comes in the form of a Gloxy Pro AW backpack, available in three different sizes, with padded and modifiable interior, and an extra waterproof cover. If a backpack format isn't convenient, you should follow the path of the Vanguard Discover 22 bag, with enough space to hold a body, flash, and two lenses, plus a tablet, and multiple accessories.
Memory Cards
The Canon EOS RP doesn't have high demands regarding write speed, so when buying a compatible memory card you can try to save a few euros, or invest fully and look for a model with great capacity. Today we offer both alternatives. On one hand, the SanDisk Extreme 64-gigabyte reads at 90 MB/s and writes at 40 MB/s, without crossing 25 euros. On the other hand, the SanDisk Extreme Pro 256-gigabyte is ideal for photos 'and' video, with V30 certification and 90 MB/s writing. The compatible cards are identified as "IM713363821,IM713363808".
Accessories and Cleaning
Even the best photograph can depend on an unexpected visual trick, and if you're going to experiment with your Canon EOS RP, nothing better than a PhotoBall K9 in your gear. Available in two sizes and with impeccable optical quality, you'll get beautiful images, especially outdoors. And when the session ends, it's time for care and cleaning. For that, the Gloxy 6-in-1 kit is a great ally, bringing everything you need, without breaking its cost-benefit ratio.
Travelers, bloggers, enthusiasts, beginners, Canon fans who want a second body. All of them are the target of the Canon EOS RP. Compromises, some limitations... nobody says it's perfect. But it's easy to use, comfortable, lightweight, and has that Canon backing we can never ignore. Moreover, time is on our side, and as months pass, its cost will surely begin to drop a bit. Good luck!
