Canon EOS RP EOS RP Black 2019 Review

The Canon EOS RP is the cheapest route to a full-frame mirrorless system, and its autofocus is shockingly good. But the battery life is a real pain point, and the lack of weather sealing limits where you can shoot. If you're a hobbyist or content creator on a budget who values image quality over speed, this is a fantastic little camera, just buy extra batteries.

Canon squeezed a full-frame sensor into a ridiculously small and light body with the EOS RP, and frankly, it's kind of a steal for the price you can find it at now. This thing weighs just 485 grams, so you can toss it in a bag and forget it's there until you need it. The 26.2MP sensor and DIGIC 8 processor aren't cutting-edge, but they deliver the kind of shallow depth-of-field and low-light flexibility that crop-sensor cameras just can't match.

It's not without its quirks, though. The battery life is rough, the burst speed is sluggish, and there's no weather sealing to protect it from the elements. But if you're a streamer, vlogger, or someone dipping a toe into full-frame mirrorless without selling a kidney, the RP makes a strong case for itself. Just keep a couple of spare batteries handy.

Our testing puts the autofocus system in a league of its own for this price class, landing in the 99th percentile overall, which means it's about as good as it gets right now. Eye AF is sticky and reliable, and that Dual Pixel CMOS AF handles both stills and video with minimal fuss. Video quality is strong too, sitting in the 91st percentile, but there's a catch: 4K comes with a heavy crop and tops out at 25fps, so it's not the best for fast action. The 5-axis IBIS is effective for handheld shooting, notably above average, and the fully articulating touchscreen is a joy for selfie angles. But the burst shooting at 5fps feels dated, the sensor dynamic range is middle-of-the-pack, and the battery life, well, it's one of the worst we've tested at just 270 shots per charge.

Prices for the EOS RP are all over the map, we've seen it as low as $629 and as high as some absolutely laughable bundles north of $175,000 (seriously, what's in that box?). At the typical street price under a grand, it's the cheapest ticket into Canon's RF full-frame ecosystem, and that's huge. You're getting a sensor that delivers lovely images, a fantastic autofocus system, and a lightweight body that won't weigh you down. For a budget-conscious creator, it's an easy recommendation, provided you know its limitations.

Stacked against competitors like the Nikon Z6 III or Panasonic S5IIX, the RP feels a generation behind in video features and burst performance, but it also costs several hundred dollars less. The Sony a6700 has an APS-C sensor but trounces the RP in battery life and video framerate options, making it a better hybrid choice if full-frame isn't a must. The Fujifilm X-H2 offers way more resolution and speed, but again, at a higher price. If you simply want the cheapest full-frame mirrorless body to pair with affordable RF glass, the RP still holds a niche nobody else touches.

If you need a camera that can handle rain, dust, or a full day of shooting without swapping batteries, look elsewhere. Action and wildlife photographers will feel hamstrung by the 5fps burst, and serious video shooters who need uncropped 4K at 60fps should save up for something like the Panasonic S5IIX or Sony a6700 instead.

This camera is ideal for first-time full-frame buyers, travel photographers who prioritize weight, and content creators who mostly shoot in controlled environments. If you're coming from a Canon DSLR, the transition is painless and the image quality jump will make you smile. For streaming, vlogging, and general YouTube work, it absolutely nails the basics for the money.