Tech: Canon EOS RP

Do you really need a camera anymore?

About 4 or 5 years ago mobile phones hit a point where there really wasn’t anywhere else to go with them with regards to Apps and Operating systems. What we’ve seen since then is a gradual improvement in the hardware side of things and with phones like the latest iPhone and the Pixel 4 taking a good photo with a phone has been something virtually anyone can do.

So with all these improvements why bother forking out on a stand-alone camera?

Well, if you are serious about photography and have the money to spend there’s still quite a few good reasons. Even the best smartphone cameras don’t get anywhere near the level of performance I got from the Canon EOS RP I had on loan recently.

Canon EOS RP

The Canon EOS RP is a 26MP compact digital mirrorless camera that is touted more towards the keen amateur/ semi-pro photographer who is looking for an all rounder without breaking the bank too much. It’s actually a more compact and cheaper version of Canon’s 2018 30.3MP EOS R and at around £1300 (with a RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM Lens) it’s a fair bit cheaper too. After a short time with the camera I really didn’t want to send it back again and its one of those things on my wish-list right now.

For someone who isn’t technically advanced when it comes to shooting with a 35mm digital mirrorless camera, I was really impressed by the logical and intuitive layout and menu system. I have to admit that most of the time I was taking photographs using the ‘Automatic’ function, but with an easy to use interface that takes (considering the amount of features and options available) relatively little time to get your head around you can start to get more confident using other modes without resorting to the dreaded manual. I was also able to shoot 4K video (and audio using an aux microphone) that was broadcast quality.

Take pictures without the click

If you’re in a natural environment or somewhere like a church or a place where silence is imperative the EOS RP’s silent mode is a nice feature. As it uses an electronic shutter instead of a mechanical one that click noise is notable by its absence.

Fix it on the fly

The EOS RP also takes photo editing to another level and it’s now very easy to retouch or enhance one of your pics before you send it off with a large range of filters and photo adjustment options. It’s just the sort of thing you need if you’re working to a tight deadline and you don’t have a laptop with you.

I also really like the Canon App that allows you to use your phone to take the photo with and its also very easy to sync the camera via bluetooth or wifi enabling you to send the pics to any connected devices. It’s perfect for the Instagrammer who wants that something extra to their photos. Another nice feature that is starting to creep into mobile phones too is the ability to create a shot where the person or main feature in the shot is sharp, but the background is slightly out of focus. The Canon EAS RP does this really well enabling you to also adjust the amount too and in certain situations, it can add a subtle, but distinctive extra dimension to a photo.

Lenses

The camera is available to purchase without a lease and there are at least 7 or 8 lenses now available for this camera. I tested the camera with a versatile RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens which offers f/4 constant maximum aperture maintains consistent performance throughout the zoom range and suits working in a variety of lighting conditions. In other words, it’s a fantastic all-rounder. I took the camera to a fashion show in Milan and although I wasn’t in the photographer’s pit I was able to get some really nice crisp shots by zooming in quite a bit. It works well in low light, benefitting also from an image stabilizer which is also good when shooting the aforementioned video. It also comes with an Ultrasonic Motor that delivers quick, quiet, and precise autofocus performance along with full-time manual focus override.

In addition to the previously mentioned here are a few of the specs available on the Canon EOS RP.

Specs
UHD 4K video from ISO 100-40000 (so it works well in reduced light)
Continuous shooting up to 5 frames per second for sports/action shots
The sensor also facilitates an advanced Dual Pixel CMOS AF system, with 4779 selectable on-sensor phase-detection points for quickly and accurately acquiring focus during stills and video operation.
There is a 2.36m-dot OLED electronic viewfinder along with a rear 3.0″ 1.04m-dot adjustable touchscreen LCD monitor for easier viewing even if the sun is in your eyes.
Weight wise it is surprisingly light and at only 458g (minus lense) it’s a camera that you can take with you anywhere. One thing to note is that with a lense on it is quite front heavy, it would be great to see a few lighter lenses on the horizon too.

Obviously, as this is the web I’ve had to compress the images on this page so they can load, so please bear in mind these are not a true representation of the image resolution of the pics from the camera.

Summary
A great camera, that is intuitive and easy to use for photographers whose interest has been pricked and who are looking to take the next step up. I would happily take one of these on my travels and to be honest I became quite attached to it. While it is true that excellent results can be had from Smartphone cameras these days when it comes to producing consistently high-quality images in a range of conditions a camera like the Canon EOS RP will still wipe the floor every time and while the camera isn’t cheap its range of features and amazing results mean it is money well spent and (for now anyway) smartphones still have some way to go.
For more info visit store.canon.co.uk

Flush the Fashion

Editor of Flush the Fashion and Flush Magazine. I love music, art, film, travel, food, tech and cars. Basically, everything this site is about.