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EOS RP colour vs R8

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ElhanDobriv

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I used to have an RP, I ended up selling it because I needed something with more powerful video. I really liked the image, especially the colours. I’ve been considering getting another but see that there is an R8 now with better 4K video support. This might be a better option but I’m not sure if the R8 is going to have that same colour output. Is anyone here able to comment on the colours from an R8 vs the RP?
 
ElhanDobriv said:
I used to have an RP, I ended up selling it because I needed something with more powerful video. I really liked the image, especially the colours. I’ve been considering getting another but see that there is an R8 now with better 4K video support. This might be a better option but I’m not sure if the R8 is going to have that same colour output. Is anyone here able to comment on the colours from an R8 vs the RP?
Click to expand...
Not the RP, but I did replace a 6D ii (same sensor as RP) with a R8, and IMO the R8 isn't quite as warm as the 6D ii was. I might argue that it looks more "correct" with whites appearing to be "whiter".

R8 is a far better camera in many/most (possibly all) respects than RP, and IMO the detail that the R8 sensor reveals is noticeably better than 6D ii (RP) when using the same lens on the same scene with same settings and different bodies.

The AF and associated subject detection and tracking is FAR better on R8 than RP.
 
Had the RP in the past, now have the R8 as my travel / backup body. Can’t tell much difference in terms of colours but as already said in other replies the R8 is a significant step up from the RP in all respects (focus, speed, image quality, etc). Useful that the R8 uses the same battery type and extension grip as the RP so no change needed there if you already have those accessories.
 
ElhanDobriv said:
I used to have an RP, I ended up selling it because I needed something with more powerful video. I really liked the image, especially the colours. I’ve been considering getting another but see that there is an R8 now with better 4K video support. This might be a better option but I’m not sure if the R8 is going to have that same colour output. Is anyone here able to comment on the colours from an R8 vs the RP?
Click to expand...
The default profiles are different. The R8 is more neutral and slightly "dull" whereas the RP has a bit of that old-school look with a general warmer approach - a bit more umph in the red channel. Out of cam the RP paints a slightly prettier picture if you ask me. But the R8 is fairly easy to tweak though so if you know what you are doing you can make the R8 to look like the RP, or at least in the ballpark.

In general it is better to work on a color profile and look created by yourself rather than relying on different cameras for a certain color look. I used to do that but it's always a lost battle since the output can be so different for each model - especially in ACR. Adobes profiles are all over the place.

That said - a solid camera profile with excellent colors created by the manufacturer is hard to beat.
 
These threads come up regularly. In full frame I’ve had all the 5D range, a 6Dii then R, RP, R5, R8. I don’t see huge differences between them - but I don’t shoot jpeg, always RAW. I always use DXO raw converters, and not the unreliable Adobe profiles. With DXO I have been able to get consistent results across all these and various crop bodies. In DXO there are literally dozens of camera-specific and alternative profiles. Bear in mind that regardless of software, jpeg output is determined by the in-camera processor and what “picture style” is set in the menu, also the white balance setting. AWB (plus or minus white priority) does also change between models, and in any case is only ever a compromise based on the ambient lighting, not an absolute. The lens used can also affect the colour balance. A baked-in jpeg colour balance can be difficult to change significantly in post.

You can create a custom profile for jpeg from a RAW file, by using Canon’s DPP, that can then be loaded into your camera as a custom picture style.

There are so many variables that it is difficult to compare objectively, and personal preferences play a large part too. It’s rare for people to agree on what they like or want - see earlier threads !!! Finally the monitor influences what you see, and is in turn influenced by the lighting in your viewing area.
 
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drsnoopy said:
These threads come up regularly. In full frame I’ve had all the 5D range, a 6Dii then R, RP, R5, R8. I don’t see huge differences between them - but I don’t shoot jpeg, always RAW. I always use DXO raw converters, and not the unreliable Adobe profiles. With DXO I have been able to get consistent results across all these and various crop bodies. In DXO there are literally dozens of camera-specific and alternative profiles. Bear in mind that regardless of software, jpeg output is determined by the in-camera processor and what “picture style” is set in the menu, also the white balance setting. AWB (plus or minus white priority) does also change between models, and in any case is only ever a compromise based on the ambient lighting, not an absolute. The lens used can also affect the colour balance. A baked-in jpeg colour balance can be difficult to change significantly in post.

You can create a custom profile for jpeg from a RAW file, by using Canon’s DPP, that can then be loaded into your camera as a custom picture style.

There are so many variables that it is difficult to compare objectively, and personal preferences play a large part too. It’s rare for people to agree on what they like or want - see earlier threads !!! Finally the monitor influences what you see, and is in turn influenced by the lighting in your viewing area.
Click to expand...
I use DXO to process 90% of what I do. The exception is when I need the excellent masking in LR (especially portraits). I have tried just about every standard color profile in DXO and typically I use either the default camera profile or vibrant (for Canon, Olympus and LUMIX). But I have the film simulation module also and my most used “go to” is Kodak Color Plus negative film profile. It has very strong contrast and you have to lighten up on the black slider a bit, but I really like the results. And it works well on all three brands, though not necessarily identically. The only thing it doesn’t have is the traditional Canon profiles (Natural, Standard, Landscape etc). Plus it adds too much yellow to green scenic shots, so it is not a universal solution. But you can add your own special sauce in the Color wheel.
 
drsnoopy said:
These threads come up regularly. In full frame I’ve had all the 5D range, a 6Dii then R, RP, R5, R8. I don’t see huge differences between them - but I don’t shoot jpeg, always RAW. I always use DXO raw converters, and not the unreliable Adobe profiles. With DXO I have been able to get consistent results across all these and various crop bodies. In DXO there are literally dozens of camera-specific and alternative profiles. Bear in mind that regardless of software, jpeg output is determined by the in-camera processor and what “picture style” is set in the menu, also the white balance setting. AWB (plus or minus white priority) does also change between models, and in any case is only ever a compromise based on the ambient lighting, not an absolute. The lens used can also affect the colour balance. A baked-in jpeg colour balance can be difficult to change significantly in post.

You can create a custom profile for jpeg from a RAW file, by using Canon’s DPP, that can then be loaded into your camera as a custom picture style.

There are so many variables that it is difficult to compare objectively, and personal preferences play a large part too. It’s rare for people to agree on what they like or want - see earlier threads !!! Finally the monitor influences what you see, and is in turn influenced by the lighting in your viewing area.
Click to expand...
+1 regarding DXO. If color is important then DXO is very flexible. The default look is a bit overcooked IMO so I usually turn off a lot of the settings initially and start from there and then build my look.

Another cool thing with DXO is that you can export your edited files as linear DNGs so you can do the rest of the editing in Lightroom if you want. With DXOs color signature.
 
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. When I had the RP I found that any attempt to edit in Lightroom usually resulted in me making it look worse. Ultimately the only changes I ended up making would be minor exposure adjustments, but many times just exporting as is. Exported RAWs showed a bit more detail than the JPEGs, but most of the time jpeg images looked so good I didn’t feel they needed editing.

I’ve been browsing Flickr for images shot on either camera and I find myself picking more favourites from the RP than the R8. Very frustrating because on paper the R8 is the better camera for me.
 
Thomas Fransson have some great film simulations for canon.

thomasfransson.gumroad.com

Subscribe to Thomas Fransson on Gumroad

Presets, Picture Styles and LUT's Here you'll have access to my collection of presets to enhance your photography and videography.
thomasfransson.gumroad.com thomasfransson.gumroad.com

And no, film sims in not just a Fuji thing. Check it out
 
ElhanDobriv said:
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. When I had the RP I found that any attempt to edit in Lightroom usually resulted in me making it look worse. Ultimately the only changes I ended up making would be minor exposure adjustments, but many times just exporting as is. Exported RAWs showed a bit more detail than the JPEGs, but most of the time jpeg images looked so good I didn’t feel they needed editing.

I’ve been browsing Flickr for images shot on either camera and I find myself picking more favourites from the RP than the R8. Very frustrating because on paper the R8 is the better camera for me.
Click to expand...
With all due respect, choosing a camera on the basis of the colour rendition of mages on Flickr is totally unreliable. The images could have been taken with different settings, and/or processed in many different ways, and you have no idea which. Some are “straight out of camera”, some will be expertly colour corrected, and some may be heavily over-processed, particularly saturation.

You are correct in your conclusion that the R8 is a better camera in every respect, and the replies above should reassure you that you can adjust the colour balance to suit your own preferences.
 
ElhanDobriv said:
  1. ElhanDobriv wrote:
Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. When I had the RP I found that any attempt to edit in Lightroom usually resulted in me making it look worse. Ultimately the only changes I ended up making would be minor exposure adjustments, but many times just exporting as is. Exported RAWs showed a bit more detail than the JPEGs, but most of the time jpeg images looked so good I didn’t feel they needed editing.

I’ve been browsing Flickr for images shot on either camera and I find myself picking more favourites from the RP than the R8. Very frustrating because on paper the R8 is the better camera for me.
Click to expand...
For your use case, you can say R8 and RP have quite different colors.
 
ElhanDobriv said:
I used to have an RP, I ended up selling it because I needed something with more powerful video. I really liked the image, especially the colours. I’ve been considering getting another but see that there is an R8 now with better 4K video support. This might be a better option but I’m not sure if the R8 is going to have that same colour output. Is anyone here able to comment on the colours from an R8 vs the RP?
Click to expand...
I had the RP for a couple of years, and now I own the R8, which is a much better camera overall. That said, in general I preferred the default (starting point) colors from the RP. I shoot raw and process in ACR using the great Color Fidelity profiles. Very happy with them.

I only had the R8 for about a month, and quickly realized that the main correction (bias) it needs is for white balance, but that’s a matter of taste: I have mine set 2 points “cold” (blue) and 1 point “purple”, which gives me the results I want.

In summary, even if the R8 colors may need small adjustments here and there, the overall performance and usability of the camera are truly excellent, so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. Just be prepared to spend the first month of use adjusting it to your taste.

Cheers,

Ricardo
 
ElhanDobriv said:
I used to have an RP, I ended up selling it because I needed something with more powerful video. I really liked the image, especially the colours. I’ve been considering getting another but see that there is an R8 now with better 4K video support. This might be a better option but I’m not sure if the R8 is going to have that same colour output. Is anyone here able to comment on the colours from an R8 vs the RP?
Click to expand...
Some excellent advice all-round.

I would add that once you get a new camera, to place a ColorChecker or WhiBal type reference card in each of your scenes (in the same light as your subject) to aid in building your custom profile.

Even now I like to keep a reference card, or even a folded sheet of (true) white paper in a back pocket to use in tricky light/situations. It's a huge time saver!

R2
 
Tango 55 said:
ElhanDobriv said:
I used to have an RP, I ended up selling it because I needed something with more powerful video. I really liked the image, especially the colours. I’ve been considering getting another but see that there is an R8 now with better 4K video support. This might be a better option but I’m not sure if the R8 is going to have that same colour output. Is anyone here able to comment on the colours from an R8 vs the RP?
Click to expand...
I had the RP for a couple of years, and now I own the R8, which is a much better camera overall. That said, in general I preferred the default (starting point) colors from the RP. I shoot raw and process in ACR using the great Color Fidelity profiles. Very happy with them.

I only had the R8 for about a month, and quickly realized that the main correction (bias) it needs is for white balance, but that’s a matter of taste: I have mine set 2 points “cold” (blue) and 1 point “purple”, which gives me the results I want.

In summary, even if the R8 colors may need small adjustments here and there, the overall performance and usability of the camera are truly excellent, so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. Just be prepared to spend the first month of use adjusting it to your taste.

Cheers,

Ricardo
Click to expand...
 
Tango 55 said:
ElhanDobriv said:
I used to have an RP, I ended up selling it because I needed something with more powerful video. I really liked the image, especially the colours. I’ve been considering getting another but see that there is an R8 now with better 4K video support. This might be a better option but I’m not sure if the R8 is going to have that same colour output. Is anyone here able to comment on the colours from an R8 vs the RP?
Click to expand...
I had the RP for a couple of years, and now I own the R8, which is a much better camera overall. That said, in general I preferred the default (starting point) colors from the RP. I shoot raw and process in ACR using the great Color Fidelity profiles. Very happy with them.

I only had the R8 for about a month, and quickly realized that the main correction (bias) it needs is for white balance, but that’s a matter of taste: I have mine set 2 points “cold” (blue) and 1 point “purple”, which gives me the results I want.

In summary, even if the R8 colors may need small adjustments here and there, the overall performance and usability of the camera are truly excellent, so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. Just be prepared to spend the first month of use adjusting it to your taste.

Cheers,

Ricardo
Click to expand...
Adjusting the in-camera color balance has no effect on your RAW files though. Only the preview jpeg.
 
Last edited:
drsnoopy said:
Tango 55 said:
ElhanDobriv said:
I used to have an RP, I ended up selling it because I needed something with more powerful video. I really liked the image, especially the colours. I’ve been considering getting another but see that there is an R8 now with better 4K video support. This might be a better option but I’m not sure if the R8 is going to have that same colour output. Is anyone here able to comment on the colours from an R8 vs the RP?
Click to expand...
I had the RP for a couple of years, and now I own the R8, which is a much better camera overall. That said, in general I preferred the default (starting point) colors from the RP. I shoot raw and process in ACR using the great Color Fidelity profiles. Very happy with them.

I only had the R8 for about a month, and quickly realized that the main correction (bias) it needs is for white balance, but that’s a matter of taste: I have mine set 2 points “cold” (blue) and 1 point “purple”, which gives me the results I want.

In summary, even if the R8 colors may need small adjustments here and there, the overall performance and usability of the camera are truly excellent, so I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it. Just be prepared to spend the first month of use adjusting it to your taste.

Cheers,

Ricardo
Click to expand...
Adjusting the in-camera color balance has no effect on your RAW files though. Only the preview jpeg.
Click to expand...
If we are talking about the WB calibration it will affect the WB in ACR/Lightroom though. It doesn't change any colors per se of course, just that the WB gets a different starting point based on the settings in camera.

If we are talking about the color tone in the picture style settings (as well as WB calibration) then it also shows up as default values when RAWs are edited in DPP
 
Last edited:
It seems most people believe the colours are not too far away. I’ve been having a look into the R8 a bit more, it’s more expensive but tbh the price isn't really a concern. Although given how much more powerful the R8 is, it could potentially be a light weight replacement for my Lumix S5. Canons RF lens range has much expanded since I had the RP, an RF 24mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.8 would probably do most of what I want.
 
ElhanDobriv said:
It seems most people believe the colours are not too far away. I’ve been having a look into the R8 a bit more, it’s more expensive but tbh the price isn't really a concern. Although given how much more powerful the R8 is, it could potentially be a light weight replacement for my Lumix S5. Canons RF lens range has much expanded since I had the RP, an RF 24mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.8 would probably do most of what I want.
Click to expand...
I agree that the R8 is superior to the RP though it shares the weakness in battery life. But I have the RP and also an R. I don't need to be buying more camera bodies right now.

I have looked at the Lumix S5 in the past and liked what I saw. I rented one for a few days a year or two ago along with a Sigma f/2.8 standard zoom (28-70mm?) . Other than the DFD wobble in continuous autofocus, it performed well. And the L lens mount has been filling out nicely. What I liked in particular, was that there were two lens manufacturers (Sigma and Panasonic) to choose from. I am particularly envious of the L mount 20-60mm zoom lens. What a great focal range!

I currently own Lumix M4/3 gear (two GH5S units) for theater and events, so the S5 would be a really good match. But the cost and inconvenience of switching is just too much.

If you like primes and a 24mm and 50mm fit your style of shooting, then the R8. RF 24mm and RF 50mm are a great setup.

As you were making your post, I was just making notes for myself on what it would take to make my RP my main travel and general purpose camera (versus a M4/3 camera). I mainly adapt EF lenses and my favorites right now, ironically, are my EF 24mm f/2.8 IS and EF 50mm f/1.4. The RF 24-105mm STM zoom would be very practical, but I have always enjoyed shooting with primes. I have travelled to both China and Japan in the past with a Canon 5D and EF28mm and EF50mm. And I didn't use the 50mm that much in those days (I have grown to like the 50mm focal length more in recent years).

And my second thought is that I accumulated some adapters from various 35mm camera mounts the last time I had an RP (Canon FD, Leica M39, Konica AR and Nikon F). That gives me many alternatives to the EF 50mm (about five as I recall). But it also allows me to look at adding a compact moderate telephoto such as an FD100mm or Konica 135mm. When I am shooting for fun, manual focus with the RP's focus peaking is actually nice.

Good luck with your R8 combo!
 
2ndact scene1 said:
ElhanDobriv said:
It seems most people believe the colours are not too far away. I’ve been having a look into the R8 a bit more, it’s more expensive but tbh the price isn't really a concern. Although given how much more powerful the R8 is, it could potentially be a light weight replacement for my Lumix S5. Canons RF lens range has much expanded since I had the RP, an RF 24mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.8 would probably do most of what I want.
Click to expand...
I agree that the R8 is superior to the RP though it shares the weakness in battery life. But I have the RP and also an R. I don't need to be buying more camera bodies right now.

I have looked at the Lumix S5 in the past and liked what I saw. I rented one for a few days a year or two ago along with a Sigma f/2.8 standard zoom (28-70mm?) . Other than the DFD wobble in continuous autofocus, it performed well. And the L lens mount has been filling out nicely. What I liked in particular, was that there were two lens manufacturers (Sigma and Panasonic) to choose from. I am particularly envious of the L mount 20-60mm zoom lens. What a great focal range!

I currently own Lumix M4/3 gear (two GH5S units) for theater and events, so the S5 would be a really good match. But the cost and inconvenience of switching is just too much.

If you like primes and a 24mm and 50mm fit your style of shooting, then the R8. RF 24mm and RF 50mm are a great setup.

As you were making your post, I was just making notes for myself on what it would take to make my RP my main travel and general purpose camera (versus a M4/3 camera). I mainly adapt EF lenses and my favorites right now, ironically, are my EF 24mm f/2.8 IS and EF 50mm f/1.4. The RF 24-105mm STM zoom would be very practical, but I have always enjoyed shooting with primes. I have travelled to both China and Japan in the past with a Canon 5D and EF28mm and EF50mm. And I didn't use the 50mm that much in those days (I have grown to like the 50mm focal length more in recent years).

And my second thought is that I accumulated some adapters from various 35mm camera mounts the last time I had an RP (Canon FD, Leica M39, Konica AR and Nikon F). That gives me many alternatives to the EF 50mm (about five as I recall). But it also allows me to look at adding a compact moderate telephoto such as an FD100mm or Konica 135mm. When I am shooting for fun, manual focus with the RP's focus peaking is actually nice.

Good luck with your R8 combo!
Click to expand...
When I had an RP I mainly used it with the EF 50mm f1.8 STM. I still have the lens, I was using it on the S5 with the sigma adapter before the Lumix 50mm f1.8 existed. The S5 has the best IQ of any camera I’ve used, it just has weak AFC. The 20-60mm sold me on the camera I have used it extensively. I also tend to favour 24mm for travel, at 24mm f5.6 it’s excellent.

The only weakness with the S5 as a travel setup is; it’s probably one of the heaviest bodies in the segment. Thats where the RP/R8 has an advantage, they’re extremely light full frame cameras. I remember opening my bag once and just thinking “wow, look how much space this RP doesn’t take up”.
 
ElhanDobriv said:
2ndact scene1 said:
ElhanDobriv said:
It seems most people believe the colours are not too far away. I’ve been having a look into the R8 a bit more, it’s more expensive but tbh the price isn't really a concern. Although given how much more powerful the R8 is, it could potentially be a light weight replacement for my Lumix S5. Canons RF lens range has much expanded since I had the RP, an RF 24mm f1.8 and 50mm f1.8 would probably do most of what I want.
Click to expand...
I agree that the R8 is superior to the RP though it shares the weakness in battery life. But I have the RP and also an R. I don't need to be buying more camera bodies right now.

I have looked at the Lumix S5 in the past and liked what I saw. I rented one for a few days a year or two ago along with a Sigma f/2.8 standard zoom (28-70mm?) . Other than the DFD wobble in continuous autofocus, it performed well. And the L lens mount has been filling out nicely. What I liked in particular, was that there were two lens manufacturers (Sigma and Panasonic) to choose from. I am particularly envious of the L mount 20-60mm zoom lens. What a great focal range!

I currently own Lumix M4/3 gear (two GH5S units) for theater and events, so the S5 would be a really good match. But the cost and inconvenience of switching is just too much.

If you like primes and a 24mm and 50mm fit your style of shooting, then the R8. RF 24mm and RF 50mm are a great setup.

As you were making your post, I was just making notes for myself on what it would take to make my RP my main travel and general purpose camera (versus a M4/3 camera). I mainly adapt EF lenses and my favorites right now, ironically, are my EF 24mm f/2.8 IS and EF 50mm f/1.4. The RF 24-105mm STM zoom would be very practical, but I have always enjoyed shooting with primes. I have travelled to both China and Japan in the past with a Canon 5D and EF28mm and EF50mm. And I didn't use the 50mm that much in those days (I have grown to like the 50mm focal length more in recent years).

And my second thought is that I accumulated some adapters from various 35mm camera mounts the last time I had an RP (Canon FD, Leica M39, Konica AR and Nikon F). That gives me many alternatives to the EF 50mm (about five as I recall). But it also allows me to look at adding a compact moderate telephoto such as an FD100mm or Konica 135mm. When I am shooting for fun, manual focus with the RP's focus peaking is actually nice.

Good luck with your R8 combo!
Click to expand...
When I had an RP I mainly used it with the EF 50mm f1.8 STM. I still have the lens, I was using it on the S5 with the sigma adapter before the Lumix 50mm f1.8 existed. The S5 has the best IQ of any camera I’ve used, it just has weak AFC. The 20-60mm sold me on the camera I have used it extensively. I also tend to favour 24mm for travel, at 24mm f5.6 it’s excellent.

The only weakness with the S5 as a travel setup is; it’s probably one of the heaviest bodies in the segment. Thats where the RP/R8 has an advantage, they’re extremely light full frame cameras. I remember opening my bag once and just thinking “wow, look how much space this RP doesn’t take up”.
Click to expand...
714g for the S5 vs. 485g for the RP. I just looked it up because I did not remember that the difference was that significant. 714 g is approaching Canon 6D territory! Now I understand your plan. You are also unburdened with legacy EF glass or DSLR’s, so you are starting from a clean plate.

The two copies of the LUMIX GH5S that I use are each 660g. That is why I am looking for a lighter alternative for leisure/travel use. The GH5S is the most comfortable camera I have ever experienced for multi hour jobs. And having two identical bodies is very helpful when working in no or low light. But It makes no pretense of being compact; it is a professional tool. But the irony that a full frame camera like the RP/R8 is a more compact option is striking.

I actually did buy an R8 about 15 months ago, along with an off brand battery grip because my experience with the RP shutting down without warning at important moments was quite negative. But the battery grip was very uncomfortable to hold. So I sent it all back after 24 hours. The images I took testing it out were impressive though. I think it is a good choice.
 
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