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• Beginner Photography
Canon EOS RP vs EOS R • Landscape Photography
• Wildlife Photography
BY SPENCER COX | 13 COMMENTS
LAST UPDATED ON AUGUST 1, 2023 • Portraiture
• Post-Processing
• Advanced Tutorials
Considering that the Canon EOS RP and EOS R are both older, less expensive
Canon full-frame mirrorless cameras, you may be wondering which one is right
for you. The two cameras actually have a lot of differences under the hood, both
RIGHT NOW
minor and major, in everything from autofocus to sensor characteristics. The EOS
Is The Decisive Moment
R is more advanced than the EOS RP, but is it worth the difference in price?

Camera Feature Canon EOS RP Canon EOS R

Announced February 2019 September 2018

Camera Type Mirrorless Mirrorless

Sensor Type CMOS CMOS

Image Processor DIGIC 8 DIGIC 8

Resolution 26.2 MP 30.3 MP

Pixel Dimensions 6240×4160 6720×4480

Sensor Dimensions 35.9 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame) 36.0 x 24.0 mm (Full Frame)
To Become a
Sensor Pixel Size 5.76µ 5.36µ
Photography Life Member
Low Pass Filter Yes Yes

IBIS (In-Body Image Stabilization) No No

Base ISO ISO 100 ISO 100 REVIEWS

Max Native ISO ISO 40,000 ISO 40,000 • Camera Reviews
Extended ISOs ISO 50-102,400 ISO 50-102,400 • Lens Reviews

High-Resolution Sensor Shift No No • Other Gear Reviews

• Best Cameras and Lenses
Focus Stack Bracketing Yes No

Pre-Shoot Burst Mode No No PHOTOGRAPHY TUTORIALS

Fastest Shutter Speed 1/4000 1/8000

Longest Shutter Speed 30 seconds 30 seconds

Continuous Shooting (Mechanical 5 FPS 8 FPS

Shutter)
PHOTOGRAPHY LANDSCAPE
Continuous Shooting (Electronic 5 FPS 8 FPS BASICS PHOTOGRAPHY
Shutter)

Notes for High FPS Shooting No autofocus at 5 FPS (autofocus at No autofocus at 8 FPS (autofocus at
4 FPS) 5 FPS)

Buffer Size (Raw) 50 frames (5 FPS) 47 frames (8 FPS)

Autofocus System Hybrid PDAF Hybrid PDAF WILDLIFE MACRO

PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY
Autofocus Points 143 143

Maximum Low-Light AF Sensitivity -3.5 EV -4.5 EV

(Standardized to f/2, ISO 100)

Standard Flash Sync Speed 1/180 1/200

Curtain to Protect Sensor at No Yes COMPOSITION & BLACK & WHITE

Shutdown CREATIVITY PHOTOGRAPHY

Video Features

Maximum Video Bit Depth (Internal) 8 bits 8 bits

Maximum Video Bit Depth (External) 8 bits 10 bits

Raw Video No No NIGHT SKY PORTRAIT

PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOGRAPHY
4K Maximum Framerate 25 FPS 30 FPS

1080P Maximum Framerate 60 FPS 60 FPS

Additional Video Crop Factor 1.6x crop at 4K 1.74x crop at 4K

Chroma Subsampling 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External) 4:2:0, 4:2:2 (External)

Video Recording Limit 30 min 30 min STREET PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHY VIDEOS
Physical and Other Features

Card Slots 1 1
UNIQUE GIFT IDEAS
Slot 1 Type SD (UHS-II) SD (UHS-II)

Rear LCD Size (Diagonal) 3.0 in 3.2 in

Rear LCD Resolution 1.04 million dots 2.1 million dots

Articulating LCD Yes Yes

Touchscreen Yes Yes

Viewfinder EVF EVF

Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x 0.76x

Viewfinder Resolution 2.36 million dots 3.69 million dots

Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%

Voice Memo No No

Headphone Jack Yes Yes

Microphone Jack Yes Yes

Built-in Flash No No
SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL
GPS No No
If you like our content, you can subscribe to our
Bluetooth Yes Yes newsletter to receive weekly email updates using

WiFi Yes Yes the link below:

USB Type Type C 2.0 Type C 3.1

Subscribe to our newsletter
Battery Type LP-E17 LP-E6N

Battery Life (Viewfinder) 210 frames 350 frames

Battery Life (Rear LCD) 250 frames 370 frames

Battery Life (Eco Mode) 270 frames 560 frames

Weather Sealed Yes Yes

Weight (Body Only w/ Battery + 485 g (1.07 lbs.) 660 g (1.46 lbs.)
Card)

Dimensions (LxHxD) 133 x 85 x 70 mm (5.2 x 3.3 x 2.8″) 136 x 98 x 84 mm (5.3 x 3.9 x 3.3″)

Price Comparison

MSRP, Body Only $1000 (Check Current Price) $1800 (Check Current Price)

Used Prices Canon EOS RP Used Prices Canon EOS R Used Prices

As you can see, there are really only a few areas where the EOS RP beats the
EOS R: mostly just size, weight, and price. The other differences in the RP’s favor
are small, such as a slightly better 4K video crop factor of 1.6× rather than 1.74×.
Although, I do like that the EOS RP has a focus bracketing mode for focus
stacking.

At the same time, many of the differences between these two cameras are quite
minor. A 3.0″ vs 3.2″ LCD? Not a big deal. 1/200 flash sync speed vs 1/180?
Neither is great, but they’re too similar to really matter. Even the difference in
sensor resolution is hardly a major point in the EOS R’s favor, since 26.2
megapixels and 30.4 megapixels are almost indistinguishable in practice.

To me, there are only a few specific differences which really matter, and which tip
in the EOS R’s favor: continuous shooting speed, HDMI video output, LCD/EVF
resolution, and battery life.

HDMI Output: If you shoot HDMI video, the fact that the EOS R has 10-bit
color and C-log is a clear step up from the RP’s 8-bit color without C-log.
This doesn’t apply to all photographers, or even most of them – but plenty of
people will end up buying the RP for video and Youtube purposes, at which
point these differences can matter.
Continuous Shooting: In terms of continuous shooting, neither camera is a
speed demon, especially when you want to autofocus during a continuous
burst. The EOS R goes up to 5 FPS, and the EOS RP goes up to 4 FPS. If you
don’t need AF from shot to shot, the difference is clearer in the EOS R’s
favor, with 8 FPS versus 5. This difference might be important depending on
your genre of photography, but, again, not all photographers will care.
LCD and EVF Resolution: One factor with a broader impact – though maybe
a shallower one – is that the EOS RP has a lower-resolution LCD and lower-
resolution EVF than the RP. The RP’s LCD and EVF are still plenty high-
resolution for detailed image previews, but the shooting experience with the
EOS R will be a bit nicer between the two.
Battery Life: At best, the EOS R gets 560 shots per charge, while the EOS
RP gets 270. At worst, those numbers are 350 and 210 respectively. This
puts the EOS R at about double the battery life of its sibling. You can always
carry an extra battery if you have the EOS RP, but then you’re missing out on
some of the weight savings.

Size Comparison and Ergonomic Differences

Beyond specifications, the EOS R and EOS RP have surprisingly similar control
layouts, with just a few important differences between them. Before I cover that,
however, here is quick size comparison between the two cameras:

As you can see, the EOS RP is significantly shorter than the EOS R, in large part
because the viewfinder area is not as tall. However, the grip on the EOS R is also
noticeably taller than that of the EOS RP. No wonder it’s so easy to find extension
grips on the market for the EOS RP; without one, some photographers would find
the grip uncomfortable.

Now, here is a top view (also to scale) to demonstrate the control differences
between these two mirrorless bodies:

Most of the top controls are very similar between these two cameras. In terms of
differences, the EOS R has an additional top information panel, and an
associated “illuminate” button. The other major difference is that the Canon EOS
R has a “Mode” button within one of the command dials, while the EOS RP has a
traditional PASM mode dial instead. The locking mechanism for the associated
command dial is also different.

Now let’s take a look at the back of these two cameras:

As you can see, the buttons on the back of the two cameras are nearly identical.
The EOS R has a touch slider at the top near the viewfinder, while the RP does
not, but otherwise there are no meaningful differences between the rear controls
of these two cameras.

This means you should not make your decision between the EOS RP and EOS R
based on button layouts. Aside from a couple minor differences, these two
cameras will handle the same.

Recommendations
If you are on the fence at all, you should get the EOS RP. For the big savings over
the EOS R, you can buy some great lenses or other accessories that take the RP
to the next level.

However, there is a reason why the EOS R commands a higher price, and the
differences between these two cameras certainly will matter for some
photographers. For example, the EOS R has a faster frame rate and higher video
specifications, as well as better battery and higher-resolution screens.

If you are a videographer or wedding photographer, the EOS R’s benefits might
be worth the extra price. For most other types of photography – especially if
price is a concern – go for the Canon EOS RP. It is a great value, especially now
that it’s older and is selling for excellent prices on the used market.

If you want a newer camera, you may want to check out a camera from the EOS
R8, R6, or EOS R5 lines instead.

DISCLOSURES, TERMS AND CONDITIONS AND SUPPORT OPTIONS

TAGGED WITH: CANON, CANON EOS R, CANON EOS RP, CANON MIRRORLESS

About Spencer Cox

I'm Spencer Cox, a landscape photographer based in Colorado. I
started writing for Photography Life a decade ago, and now I run
the website in collaboration with Nasim. I've used nearly every digital camera
system under the sun, but for my personal work, I love the slow-paced
nature of large format film. You can see more at my personal website and my
not-exactly-active Instagram page.

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13 COMMENTS Newest

Darrell Wood
July 20, 2021 8:29 pm

Hi. Does RP have animal AF

1 Reply

Jordi
August 12, 2019 4:59 am

Thanks for the article!

Just one cuestion.

Is the RP sensor, thanks to have less megapixels and the same DIGIC8 processor, better in
low light conditions?

Thanks!!

0 Reply

Jacques CONDEMINE
March 5, 2019 6:45 am

Pas un mot sur l’absence du flash. Si on veut déboucher les ombres, le flash ajouté
augmente le poids de l’appareil.

1 Reply

Marcel
Reply to Jacques CONDEMINE June 15, 2019 6:19 am

Nowadays who needs a flash? Only in specific situations but then a external flash does a
better job.

PS. and off topic. It is better to comment in English here, I also don’t bother people here
with my mother tongue.

1 Reply

jean pierre (pete) guaron

February 27, 2019 4:35 am

Spencer, increasingly, lately, I am seeing similar comments – or finding similar things, when I
make my own comparisons. Across the board – not just on camera bodies.
It seems to me that the goods and services on offer to ‘togs these days are so close that the
old days of sudden attacks of GAS and lusting after the “latest and greatest” are passing.
Not suggesting there’s no point to it all. But for the life of me, I can’t see what I’d get out of
flipping my D850 for a Z7. And you seem to be saying much the same about the choices in
the Canon range.
Same with lenses. Once we were taught zooms were poor optically, and primes were the
thing – but good zooms these days produce results almost indistinguishable from primes.
I’m even finding something similar with the various post processing programs on offer!
Sigh – at last I can give up worrying about such things, and get back to actually using my
gear, instead of talking about it!

3 Reply

Phil
February 24, 2019 10:55 am

Can we use Sony fe on eos-r via adapter, and eos-r on Sony A7?
Thanks

0 Reply

Name *
February 17, 2019 10:18 pm

We are always told that it is better to put good glass on a basic body than poor glass on a
top of the range body. The basic RP with good glass follows that model. So far so good. But
the silent mode, one of the advantages for street photography is only available in the scene
modes not in aperture, shutter, or manual mode, which becomes a do not buy.

0 Reply

Roger West
February 17, 2019 4:33 pm

We are always told that it is better to put good glass on a basic body than poor glass on a
top of the range body. The basic RP with good glass follows that model. So far so good. But
the silent mode, one of the advantages for street photography is only available in the scene
modes not in aperture, shutter, or manual mode, which becomes a do not buy. Why does
canon dislike silent mode so much that they insist on crippling it?

0 Reply

Peter
Reply to Roger West February 18, 2019 8:48 am

So what is it good for?

0 Reply

toni
February 16, 2019 11:33 am

Canon want to compete with Sony A7 II: A cheap entry FF mirrorless camera.

I think that Nikon must do the same to survive and stop the drip towards Sony. And soon!

0 Reply

Joachim
Reply to toni February 20, 2019 12:55 am

U-hu.

And what lenses to mount in front of that body? I start to ask myself if Can0n’s strategy
was not the better one from beginning and I still feel my disappointment about that
mainstreamish dull and uninspired selection of FL. Also, was it really necessary to put 3
50 mm-ish lenses on the roadmap? and leave the rest adapted?

0 Reply

Jason
February 15, 2019 11:20 am

As long as they don’t name the next one EOS RIP, they should be OK.

0 Reply

Spencer Cox Author

Reply to Jason February 15, 2019 11:26 am

You needn’t worry, Jason! I have confirmation from my sources that the next camera in
this lineup will be called the EOS REAPER.

2 Reply

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