Canon is attempting to go after a brand new market with its newest full-frame mirrorless digicam, the EOS RP ($1,299, physique solely). It’s the smallest—and lowest priced—full-frame mannequin thus far. Canon nonetheless has some work to do with regards to growing the RF system—particularly within the realm of compact and inexpensive lenses—however the RP itself is a stable, entry-level mannequin. It does not supply the burst fee or the massive EVF you get with costlier full-frame cameras, nevertheless it additionally does not price $2,000. We’ve solely had a day to make use of the RP; learn on for a primary impression, and test again quickly for a full assessment.
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Small Body, Big Sensor
The RP’s headline function is its measurement—it does not have a brand new picture sensor, or class-leading autofocus and burst capability, or next-generation video capabilities. Instead you get a lightweight (1.1-pound), svelte (3.4 by 5.2 by 2.8 inches, HWD) digicam with a snug grip and ample controls.
Canon does not promote the RP as a being protected against mud and moisture, however does point out the extent of safety is much like the midrange 80D SLR. I really feel comfy utilizing the 80D in gentle precipitation, however would take warning so as to add some exterior safety earlier than taking it out in heavier climate.
Some photographers might even discover the RP to be a bit too small, so Canon is bringing a modest add-on grip to market. The $79.99 Extension Grip EG-E1 provides just a bit little bit of top to the physique and grip, with out sacrificing entry to the battery compartment or tripod socket. It’s accessible in black, to match the digicam physique, however can also be accessible with blue or crimson accents, if you wish to add just a bit little bit of aptitude to the package.
I attempted the digicam with and with out the grip, and it is definitely extra comfy in my arms with it added. Your mileage might range, particularly if in case you have smaller arms. For context, I usually really feel very comfy with a full-frame mirrorless digicam or SLR with out an built-in grip. Huge our bodies just like the Canon EOS-1D X should not my cup of tea.
Lenses and Kits
The asking value is a giant deal too. We’ve seen full-frame mirrorless cameras promote for round $1,000 earlier than, nevertheless it’s at all times been a reduction on a mannequin that beforehand offered for extra. The present low cost darling is the Sony a7 II, which carries a $1,399 body-only price ticket, however is, at press time, on sale for $999 as a physique solely or for $1,199 with a fundamental 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 zoom lens.
The RP’s $1,299 body-only value is aggressive, however Canon’s package choices do not look as enticing. You can get the RP with the native RF 24-105mm F4 L IS USM for $2,399, or in a bundle with the EF 24-105mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM and EF-EOS R adapter for $1999.
Neither package incorporates a reduction, though Canon can be providing a brief value discount by way of March 30. If you purchase the RP throughout that point with the RF 24-105mm you will obtain a $200 low cost, in addition to a bundled Extension Grip.
Canon additionally skipped package reductions when bundling the RF 24-105mm with the EOS R. The draw back is that you simply’re not saving cash by shopping for the elements collectively. If there is a silver lining, it does offer you some flexibility in choosing your first lens—you do not really feel locked into beginning with the package zoom—however there’s additionally a contact of grey, as there merely aren’t a whole lot of lenses accessible for the RF system proper now.
Both kits have their very own attraction. If you do not have an funding in Canon EF SLR lenses, take into consideration splurging for the RF 24-105mm F4 bundle—it is a greater lens than the EF 24-105mm F3.5-5.6. If you do have already got a whole lot of Canon lenses, getting a bundled adapter will assist you to use them with the RP, and whereas the 24-105mm STM does not have the brightest aperture, it is a tremendous performer.
But it does level out a weak spot with the RF lens system, because it stands in its very early levels of improvement—inexpensive glass. Canon’s preliminary batch of lenses was nearly all L-series—its top-end glass—except the RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM—and can be joined by a 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM later this yr, though we do not understand how a lot the 24-240mm will price.
Canon’s upcoming lens roadmap is closely slanted towards professional customers. Where are the low-cost zooms? It appears like Canon is steering you to EF SLR lenses and adapters to fulfill the wants of consumers with tighter budgets. It’s not a foul technique—Canon has an enormous library of SLR lenses in any respect forms of value factors—however we would nonetheless prefer to see a lens designed and priced just like the EF 24-105mm F3.5-5.6 IS STM in a local RF mount to higher match the RP in value and measurement.
Body and Controls
We’ve talked about simply how small the RP is, however how does it deal with? Pretty nicely, it seems, though photographers used to professional our bodies might discover it a bit missing. I used to be glad to see that Canon has included two management dials—key if you wish to have fast entry to each shutter and aperture management when taking pictures in Manual or Canon’s distinctive Flexible Priority (Fv) publicity mode. I used to be much less glad to see the On/Off change all by itself on the left facet of the highest plate, simply as it’s within the EOS R physique—I am extra of a fan of cameras that put energy across the shutter launch.
Both dials are on the highest plate. The entrance wheel sits vertically, on the prime of the handgrip, simply behind the angered shutter launch. The rear wheel is a horizontal one. It sits flat in opposition to the rear of the highest plate, so you may flip it comfortably along with your proper thumb. A Lock change sits subsequent to it, an odd function in a digicam aimed on the entry-level market. Engaging the lock turns off the controls. It’s a helpful function when you may have publicity settings locked in for a scene and do not wish to threat unintended adjustments. To keep away from any form of confusion, the RP shows “Controls Locked” within the viewfinder and LCD when the lock is engaged.
The RP does embody Canon’s M-Fn button, a strong, customizable button which, by default, is used to vary the energetic autofocus space along side the flip of a dial. I am not a fan of that operation, so I reprogrammed the button to toggle by way of the assorted focus space settings with a single press.
The solely different button up prime is Record, which begins video rolling with a single press. The button makes use of the controls saved within the C3 financial institution, so you may set the body fee and backbone, however you will be caught in a Program mode. Manual publicity is not accessible, though you may change the brightness of your clip utilizing EV compensation. If you are severe about video, the RP most likely is not the digicam for you, nevertheless it does permit for full handbook publicity when rolling video for those who transfer the Mode dial to the video place.
Speaking of the Mode dial, the RP has one—the higher-end EOS R doesn’t, opting as an alternative for a button to vary the taking pictures mode. I just like the dial strategy higher—you at all times have a visible indicator of how the digicam is ready. The RP gives the usual modes starting from totally computerized to completely handbook, and consists of three customizable C slots, Scene settings, and Canon’s distinctive Fv mode.
We first noticed Fv—Flexible Priority—within the EOS R. It offers you prepared entry to the shutter, aperture, ISO, and EV management. You use the rear dial to toggle amongst them and the entrance dial to vary the worth. I do not personally discover it to be that helpful—I am glad taking pictures in Manual mode with computerized ISO engaged—however I will not fault Canon for together with it. Flexible Priority might come in useful for sure disciplines, and is an efficient software to show budding shutterbugs the connection between the f-stop, shutter velocity, ISO, and publicity.
The rear management format is similar to what you see on the EOS R, though the RP does omit the EOS R’s divisive, touch-sensitive M-Fn Bar. The Menu button is on the prime left nook, subsequent to the EVF eyecup, and the rest of the controls are on the fitting facet. The AF ON, AE-L “Controls Locked”, and Focus Area buttons are on the prime proper nook, raised barely when put next with the thumb relaxation indentation that sits subsequent to them.
Below the thumb relaxation we discover Info, Play, and Delete buttons, together with a four-way directional pad and the Q/Set button. There’s no devoted focus joystick, however you may set the rear d-pad to maneuver the main focus space round, or use the contact LCD to set the main focus level.
The RP’s bodily interface is pretty configurable. Different buttons will be programmed to do various things. If you do not use the rear AF ON button for its default goal you may set it to do one thing else. The on-screen Q menu is not configurable, however does present prepared entry to a couple of dozen capabilities, together with the Drive setting, metering sample, and focus mode.
Canon has opted to make use of a swing-out, vari-angle LCD on the RP. I like the flexibility the display supplies—you may view it from just about any angle, and even face it ahead for vlogging and selfies. Some different mirrorless fashions, together with the older Sony a7 II, which is priced according to the RP, embody screens that tilt up and down, however do not swing out or face ahead. The draw back is that it isn’t as fast to easily tilt the display for a fast low-angle shot.
The display itself is sharp and brilliant, squeezing 1,040okay dots into its 3-inch body. I did not have any points seeing it outside on a brilliant winter morning in New Orleans. There can also be an EVF for eye-level use. The viewfinder is sharp at 2.36 million dots, and refreshes at a brisk 60fps, however is quite small. At 0.7x magnification it is extra according to APS-C fashions in measurement, not the massive EVFs we have seen within the current spate of expensive full-frame rivals just like the Nikon Z 6{/ziffarticle.
Getting used to the small EVF was the largest hurdle I confronted in really utilizing the RP. I’ve grown accustomed to utilizing cameras just like the Z 6, the Sony a7 III, and Canon’s personal EOS R, all of which sport fashionable viewfinders which might be as large to the attention as a pro-level SLR. From a sensible standpoint, I did not have an issue framing my topic or getting a common really feel for a scene with the RP, however I did battle to note some smaller, distracting objects within the background of a body that I might have doubtless observed had I been utilizing a much bigger EVF.
Power and Connectivity
The EOS RP consists of the conventional assortment of wi-fi tech. It has Bluetooth, which makes it simpler to hook up with your cellphone, in addition to Wi-Fi for video and picture switch. During the time I had with the digicam, I used to be requested by Canon to not flip the Wi-Fi on, because the community identify included the mannequin designation of the the nonetheless top-secret RP. I will take a more in-depth have a look at the Wi-Fi after I assessment the RP—however relaxation assured that Canon’s Wi-Fi techniques typically work fairly nicely with Android and iOS units alike.
The RP is the primary full-frame Canon digicam in current reminiscence to make use of a battery aside from the ever present LP-E6N. But the E6N is simply too large to slot in the RP’s grip, so Canon has opted for a smaller battery right here. Because of this, the RP is just rated to get about 250 pictures per cost. Using Wi-Fi can minimize into the determine, and for those who use burst seize closely you will get extra. But I discovered the estimate to be a very good one—I acquired about 325 pictures over a full day of pictures earlier than the battery gave up the struggle.
The RP has a single UHS-II SD reminiscence slot, situated in the identical compartment because the battery. It additionally has bodily connections for a wired distant management, mini HDMI and USB-C ports, and 3.5mm headphone and microphone connections.
Autofocus and Imaging
We’ve but to carry out any form of lab checks on the RP’s focus system, however have spent a full day with the digicam within the area, photographing numerous topics. Understand one factor up entrance—the RP just isn’t the full-frame digicam you need in case your pictures requires quick bursts and speedy autofocus.
Its taking pictures velocity—5fps with locked focus and a meager 3fps when monitoring shifting topics—performs a giant half in that. The autofocus system itself, which makes use of the identical sensor-based Dual Pixel AF know-how discovered within the EOS R and APS-C EOS M household, is fast and correct, even when working in dim gentle.
But 3fps is not sufficient for many forms of motion. You can work with it and nonetheless get good outcomes, however you will must do a greater job getting your timing all the way down to get the shot of the soccer ball going into the purpose with a digicam that shoots at 3fps versus one with a speedier taking pictures fee.
The EOS RP enjoys a giant benefit over SLRs by way of protection space. Because it is a mirrorless digicam, the main focus system is correct on the picture sensor, and covers many of the body—about 88 % from prime to backside and the whole lot from left to proper. SLRs, particularly inexpensive full-frame fashions, group the main focus factors in a a lot smaller, central space of the body.
Because of this the RP can discover a topic nearly wherever in a picture. And the Dual Pixel AF system does an excellent job of locking on to one thing. I used to be a bit of disillusioned with its Face and Eye detection, nonetheless. The digicam tended to lose faces in the event that they had been even partially obscured, and did not lock onto eyes with the identical confidence and readiness because the Sony a7 III. I noticed the identical conduct with the EOS R—not stunning, because it makes use of a really comparable focus system.
Of course, you do not have to let the RP select the main focus level or establish faces and pupils for you. There are loads of handbook focus areas accessible, together with a small pinpoint focus level all the best way to bigger teams of factors which you can transfer utilizing the contact perform of the LCD or the rear directional pad. And you may at all times faucet on the rear display to establish a topic for focus and monitoring.
The EOS RP makes use of the identical 26MP full-frame picture sensor that the corporate put within the 6D Mark II SLR. We anticipate picture high quality to be very comparable, if not an identical. We had been fairly proud of the 6D Mark II’s JPG output once we examined the digicam, however discovered that its Raw photos suffered at ISO 12800 and up, and that photos shot on the decrease finish of the spectrum confirmed much less means to push shadows with out harming picture high quality than we have seen in competing fashions.
At press time, Adobe has not added assist for the EOS RP’s Raw format to its Creative Cloud suite. We’ll take a more in-depth have a look at the digicam’s Raw picture high quality when that adjustments. For the needs of this preview, we transformed Raw photos to 16-bit TIFF format utilizing Canon Digital Photo Professional 4 software program and toned to style in Adobe Lightroom Classic CC.
One factor you could wish to use the Canon software program for is macro work. The RP helps automated focus bracketing. You’ll entry the function through the digicam menu, there is no different solution to get to it. It brackets as many pictures as you need, as much as 999, and shifts the aircraft of focus barely between every. With software program you may mix the photographs into one picture, with higher depth of area than you’d be capable of get with a single publicity. Take a have a look at the 2 photos above—a single publicity at f/1.8 on the left, and a stacked composite of 100 photos on the fitting—to get an concept of the way it can improve depth of area for shut focus work.
The RP makes use of a completely digital shutter in an effort to shortly, and silently, seize the complete swath of photos for stacks. Oddly sufficient, you may’t flip the digital shutter on in most modes. There is a Scene setting that takes benefit of the function, however while you’re in Scene mode you aren’t getting entry to shutter velocity or aperture management. Casual snapshooters will not thoughts, however anybody who prefers to manage publicity manually goes to be disillusioned by the limitation.
Video
The EOS RP does assist 4K, however with caveats. It’s solely an possibility at 24fps, and there is a heavy crop utilized to the footage, which limits the power to seize large scenes. The RP makes extra sense to extra folks as a 1080p digicam. It can report at 30 or 60fps (for some purpose, Canon has purposefully omitted 24fps).
Remember that the RP does not have in-body stabilization, so you’ll want to use a stabilized lens for handheld video. Our take a look at footage was shot with a lens with out IS, the RF 28-70mm F2 L USM, so it’s a bit shaky.
Aside from the shortage of IBIS—Canon plans on including the tech to future EOS R cameras, however I would be shocked to see it in a physique this small—the 1080p high quality could be very good. Details are as crisp as you’d anticipate from the format, which places 2MP of knowledge into each body versus the 8MP provided by 4K, and autofocus is easy.
First Impressions
Given its value and have set, Canon’s goal marketplace for the RP is fairly clear—patrons stepping as much as a full-frame system, whether or not or not it’s from an APS-C mannequin or a smartphone. The digicam itself will serve them fairly nicely. It’s the lenses that will not, at the least not but.
The RF mount could be very younger—the primary digicam to function it has solely been on sale for a couple of months. Canon focused on pro- and enthusiast-grade lenses at launch, which is nice information for severe photographers who need an f/2 normal zoom or an f/1.2 prime, however leaves potential others with the prospect of shopping for a local zoom that prices practically as a lot as digicam physique itself.
The $1,100 RF 24-105mm F4 L is price its price, however could also be out of the attain of potential RP clients. That leaves you with the prospect of utilizing tailored SLR lenses. To Canon’s credit score, its lenses work simply as nicely with the RP and adapter as they do on an SLR. But even simply including the adapter takes away from the RP’s sized-down design.
I would like to see Canon launch some much less bold, less expensive lenses for the RF system. And I’ve little question it is going to—simply not this yr. The upcoming slate of lens releases consists of one client zoom, a 24-240mm, and a spate of unique f/2.8 professional zooms and f/1.2 primes. The EOS RP screams for a small, inexpensive 24-70mm f/4 or a lens just like the EF 40mm f/2.8 STM, an inexpensive pancake-style lens that turns into extra of a muffin while you add the required adapter to the combination.
The problem of lenses apart, I am impressed with simply how a lot Canon has put into the RP’s small physique. Its picture sensor might not be class-leading, nevertheless it’s certainly not poor, and controls are practically as sturdy because the enthusiast-oriented EOS R. Autofocus is speedy and responsive, even in dim gentle, and the vari-angle LCD makes it doable to carry the digicam at attention-grabbing angles and nonetheless see your body.
The RP begins transport to clients in March. We’ll have some extra ideas on it—together with a ranking—once we’ve had a bit extra time for testing.