A few weeks ago, I decided to go to the Canon Experience Center in Costa Mesa to check out the EOS RP camera. I was on the fence about picking one up, (because really, how many cameras should one person own), but decided it's probably a good idea to use the camera in person first. As an owner of an EOS R and a 6D Mark II, I need to sell one of these in order to buy the RP. However, I didn't feel it was a good idea to sell my R to get the RP since they are very similar, and honestly I know I paid too much for the R and right now I'm perfectly happy using it.
Many previous reviews label the RP as the mirrorless version of the 6D II and I would say that's an accurate comparison. They both have a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000th of a second, and that was the only thing I found limiting about my 6d II. There are ways to get around that though, and for what I would use these cameras for, it wasn't a deal breaker. Right now, the 6d II serves as my back up camera and my R is what I use for photos I take for the blog or my personal photos. For these purposes, all these cameras are more than sufficient.
I wanted to see the RP in person to check out a few key features that would make a difference to me: size, weight, and handling.
1) Size
This thing is small! When I went home and was organizing my gear, my original 5D felt like a heavy giant. I love the size of the RP. This is something that would definitely fit in my purse that I could easily take along anywhere. The only issue would be when there is a lens attached. Aside from the RF 35mm F1.8 lens, everything else on the RP would look huge, including any native RP lenses and EF lenses (even more so because of the added length of the adapter mount). I really had to ask myself if having my RF 35mm mounted to this 95% of the time would be something I would use, because if I were to lug around all the other lenses, there really is no point to this smaller size camera that I'm longing for.
2) Weight
If you're looking for a lightweight camera - this is it. I tried it with the RF 35mm, and it was light as a feather. I know it sounds insane, but this alone almost had me ordering online when I got home. While being light, it didn't feel cheap, which is important to me. I've considered buying a EOS Rebel series camera to have something lightweight, but I couldn't get over how cheap it felt (not to mention that accessing features for manual mode just aren't as intuitive). At $1,299, the RP felt like a camera priced right for someone who wanted a lightweight full frame camera, but doesn't need a lot of bells and whistles. Part of the reason why it is lighter and smaller is that Canon got ride of the slide bar. While I thought it was an interesting feature on my R, I still don't use it very much, so it's a feature I won't miss. The OLED screen on top is also replaced with the classic knob to change modes, which I actually prefer.
3) Handling
This is biased, but because I have smaller hands, this felt just like using my R. I didn't even feel that I needed the extension grip (which currently comes free in a bundle along with the adapter from Amazon , B&H, or Adorama). They had a few models to shoot, so I decided to take a few shots to see how it felt to use the camera. The EVF was great, and if you're already a Canon shooter that owns an R, this feels familiar to shoot with. As far as image quality, I feel digital cameras have come such a long way, they're all sufficient if you're a hobbyist. I plan on using this when I'm out and about, and I found these images (that were shot in very low light) to be more than enough.
While I appreciate that they provided some models and stations to shoot at, I really wish Canon would spend the money to diversify their set ups. All it would take is a little time on Instagram, and I'm sure they could come up with something cute and varied, so that we could test these cameras out in different types of lighting and environments. (Note: I did edit these images, but not heavily.)
Is this the camera for you? If you're looking for an inexpensive way to go full frame - yes. If you're heavily invested in Canon glass, but want to dabble in mirrorless - yes. If you're looking for a compact and light travel camera - yes.
Will I be selling my R? No. Will I be selling my 6d II? Maybe. I was really hoping for dual card slots, but knew it wasn't going to happen with this camera. I did think about holding out for the pro version of this mirrorless series that should have two slots, but I read it's priced at almost $4,000. 😳😳😳 I've told myself that I can only get the RP if I actually sell one of my cameras - so we'll see!
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