Still undecided about Canon EOS R vs EOS RP battle? Let us give you a clear comparative analysis for an informed decision.
Launched in September 2018, Canon EOS R was the first full-frame mirrorless equipment by the brand! A late entrant into the mirrorless competition, Canon took its sweet time to launch its first full-frame mirrorless protege. By that time, Nikon’s Z series and Sony’s A7 series had already launched and experimented with mirrorless technology.
So, when it came to the launch of its first mirrorless product, Canon did its homework and came up with a reliable and effective camera that comes with full compatibility with the EF mount lenses. It was important to get it right if Canon was to create a future-proof camera that will replace the DSLR cameras!
The EOS R cameras came with a full-frame CMOS sensor and a desirable Dual Pixel CMOS AF system. The emphasis on RF lens mount technology is praiseworthy here. With a larger 54 mm inner diameter and shorter flange-back distance of 20 mm, the RF mount system completely changed the optics of photography. Though at the time, there were very few RF lenses to choose from, the company is frequently experimenting and adding more RF lenses each year. For the earlier EF lenses, the camera manufacturer giant brought a mount adapter that allows compatibility with modern mirrorless equipment.
The Canon EOS RP full-frame mirrorless camera, which is an affordable variant of the R, came in later after a gap of a few months in February 2019. It came with an affordable price tag for a 35mm full-frame gear and offers slightly different specs than the EOS R. The idea is pretty simple here. The RP camera came with lesser size, weight and price, to make the technology accessible to a larger group of customers. Let us find out some essential differences between the two cameras specs-wise and performance-wise.
Specifications:
Canon EOS R:
30 MP Full-frame format CMOS sensor
ISO: 100-40,000
AF: Dual Pixel, Focus points – 5655
Viewfinder: 0.5 OLED with 3,690k dots
Lens system: RF Mount
Screen: 3.2-inch screen
4k video shooting at 8.0fps
Weight: 660g
Battery Life: 250 shots
Canon EOS RP:
26 MP full-frame format CMOS sensor
ISO range 100-40,000
AF: Dual Pixel, Focus points – 4779
Viewfinder: 0.39 OLED with 2,360k dots
Lens system: RF mount
Screen: 3.0-inch screen
4K UHD at 5fps
Weight: 485g
Battery life: 370 shots
Design and size:
Mirrorless cameras are better liked due to their compact size and less weight. The Canon EOS RP weighs around 175g less than its counterpart, which makes it the smaller of the two and easier to carry.
The affordable RP is undoubtedly a piece of beginner-level equipment in Canon’s full-frame mirrorless range. The compact camera is smaller in size, height-wise and weight-wise.
The bigger EOS R models comes with a large front grip which makes it easier to carry. That does not mean that RP’s grip is not comfortable. For a better grip, the RP camera comes with an EG-E1 grip extender, which comes in handy especially if a person has larger hands.
Now, RP falls under the entry-level mirrorless category. So, it comes with slightly simpler functionality. For instance, there is no top OLED screen. Also, you get to select the shooting modes through the PSAM dial. Interestingly, the R model provides a bit of information on the selected mode though a few lines. Pro-level photographers can simply disable this feature via Mode Guide settings.
The menu settings are also a bit different in both the cams. For example, the EOS R has 12 function buttons on the device in comparison to RP which comes with just 10. At the rear side, RP is missing the M-Fn touch bar, which is great for tactile gestures.
Photography parameters:
Both the equipment comes with the same advanced DIGIC 8 image processor and DLO (digital lens optimizer), which creates fine detailing in the pictures. The ISO range is the same, which is 50-102,400. So, there is no difference in this category.
The difference in shutter speed is perhaps where the R model is a clear winner. While the affordable RP comes with a shutter speed range of 30-1/4000 sec plus B, the high-priced R comes with 30-1/8000 sec plus B. The difference is quite big here, and the R model is more advanced in this category.
The lack of effective exposure recovery, in comparison to competitors like Sony, makes the pictures a bit noisy in the RP. Noise Control is controlled through 4 steps – Off, Low, Standard, and High, and can result in better pictures.
The higher resolution value of 30MP is an obvious advantage for EOS R. In terms of percentage in resolution between the two, the difference is approximately 14%, which is quite high for pro-level users. The dynamic range is also better in the R model.
AF capability:
Both cameras use an advanced phase-detection system or the Dual Pixel CMOS AF. You can easily select the AF areas as per your needs. For example, one point AF or large zone AF. The EOS R comes with a few more autofocus options.
When it comes to portraits, the face/eye detection system is pretty much the same in both models. The tracking method allows for easy detection of AF points and good results.
The difference in selectable autofocus points makes a difference in the final images. While the R comes with 5,635 selectable autofocus points, the RP comes with lower 4,779 AF points. Also, there is a slight difference when focusing levels (-6RV vs -5EV) which brings different results in low-light pictures and videos.
Video Quality:
Unfortunately, the RP model does not come with Dual Pixel CMOS AF for 4k shooting videos. So, while you can get a good result for a static video, the video capability for handheld videography is pretty basic. The only option is to switch to full HD mode. The winner here is the R product, which comes with 12 stops of dynamic range at ISO 400. Also, R can save 10-bit 4:2:2 video to an external recorder in comparison to RP’s 8-bit capability.
Additionally, the cropping issue with the videos for both devices makes for an unhappy customer! Unfortunately, both the cameras lack an in-body stabilization feature. Digital IS for videos is available for EOR RP, which makes video shooting capability slightly advanced as compared to the R.
Continuous shooting mode:
The continuous shooting mode is quite an important feature in today’s photography. The technology here is in favour of R with 5fps shooting speed as compared to the 4 fps shooting speed of RP. Though the shooting speeds look good on paper, it is reduced if the AF tracking is enabled. This is a negative aspect for both the cameras.
Buffer capacities of both models come with a slight difference. While the RP can shoot 50 raw files in burst mode, the R can click 47 raw files in C-RAW format.
Both cameras are not designed for sports or fast-action photography. However, the Dual Pixel CMOS AF system does help the case of fast subject tracking and can deliver average results.
Stabilization factor:
There is no in-body image stabilization feature in both cameras. Lens-based image stabilization is the only option here. However, the RP model comes with digital IS for videos, which means it is the better of the two when it comes to the stabilization factor.
Today, the price difference between the two models is quite less.
For a pro videographer or photographer, the R model is a better choice. The EOS R might always remain a better camera when it comes to advanced specs, but the RP is an everyday camera which is a great device for an entry-level enthusiast who is just starting his way into mirrorless technology. The smaller size and price makes it a viable option for amateur use and exploration.
But there is one category in which both the cams perform equally; ease of use. Both mirrorless cameras are created for comfort and straightforward functionality, which makes them a desirable piece of equipment for photographers from around the world.
