Canon’s entry-level full-frame mirrorless does a lot to appeal to enthusiast photographers, says Andy Westlake, but some might find it over-simplified

Canon EOS RP

Overall rating:

Canon EOS RP

Features:

Build/Handling:

Metering:

Autofocus:

AWB Colour:

Dynamic Range:

Image quality:

LCD viewfinder:

Pros:

+ Streamlined, easy-to-use control layout with plenty of customisation
+ Well-integrated touchscreen interface
+ Compatible with EF-mount SLR lenses via supplied adapter
+ Fully-articulated screen affords extra compositional flexibility

Cons:

- No in-body image stabilisation
- Over-simplified controls
- Viewfinder visibility is poor in bright light

Manufacturer:

Canon

Price as reviewed:

£1,399.99 (body with EF-mount adapter)

Canon EOS RP: At a Glance

£1399.99 with EF-mount adapter
26.2MP Full-frame sensor
ISO 50-102,400 (extended)
5 fps continuous shooting
2.36m-dot electronic viewfinder
3-in 1.04m-dot fully-articulated touchscreen
£2329.99 with RF 24-105mm F4L lens and EF adapter

When Canon announced its full-frame mirrorless system last September, it received something of a mixed reaction. The EOS R body was packed full of new ideas, but in its bid to break away from traditional DSLR design and re-think how cameras should work, ended up feeling somewhat alien to long-standing EOS users. This stood in stark contrast to Nikon’s Z 6 and Z 7, which behave much like miniaturised versions of the firm’s DSLRs.

Canon EOS RP with the compact RF 35mm f/1.8 IS Macro STM lens

Canon’s second offering, the EOS RP, is in essence a smaller, simpler model compared to the EOS R, at a considerably lower price. Indeed at £1400 body-only it has the lowest introductory price of any full-frame mirrorless to date, which naturally makes it one of the most affordable full-frame cameras on the market. It shares a lot in common with its sibling design-wise, but loses some of its more controversial elements. This immediately makes it feel more like a traditional EOS, although still with some significant differences.

The EOS RP is attractively priced at £1400 including an EF-mount adapter

Canon has made a point of making the EOS RP compact and lightweight, to the extent that at 485g including battery and card, it weighs less than the EOS 800D entry-level APS-C DSLR. The firm has also radically streamlined the external design and control layout, and while it mostly works well, I think that in some ways it has gone too far for enthusiast users.