Canon user considering upgrading SL1 to RP

Hello

My gf and I are over 15 years users of Canon bodies. We enjoy the interface.

The only exception is the Sony RX100 III we use in alpinism or other activities were weight REALLY matters.

We own a EOS 6D M1 and an SL1 (100D).

We currently have EFS 18-55, EF 40 pancake, 50 f/1.8, 100 f/2, 16-35 f/4, 24-70 f/4, 70-300 USM II, other stuff like Samyang 14mm f2.8 for astro...

What we are looking for:
We would like a body with fast, accurate and easy to use focus. Both SL1 and 6D I believe are a bit outdated compared to mirrorless performance.

We would use it indoor for shooting candid portraits (100mm...) and family moments (40mm) so we are looking for a body with more friendly and helping focusing techniques.

We would also use it outside for street (30 to 70mm) as a replacement of SL1. So keeping something lighter than our 6D.

I don't believe any body would currently replace the usage we have of the RX-100 so I'm not necessarily looking for something VERY light. This is why I did not consider recent crop mirrorless. In addition that would lead us to buying new lenses.

So, given what we have, do you think the Canon EOS RP would be a big step forward for what we are looking for? And if so, with an RF lens? or what we have is more than enough?

Examples of our body/lens usage (I included a bit more SL1 as this is the one that will be replaced):

DSC-RX100M1 37mm f/6,3

DSC-RX100M1 10mm f/10

EOS SL1 (100D) Sigma 18-200 18mm f/9

Canon EOS SL1 with 100mm f/2 at f/10

EOS SL1 wit 18-55 at 27mm f/4

EOS SL1 with prime 50mm at f/4,5

EOS 6D 14mm f/2,8

EOS 6D wit 16-35 at 16mm f/4

Well, RP has the same sensor as 6D MkII, so you should get better resolution and dynamic range in smaller body compared to the 6D. If you have all the needed lenses for 6D for the purposes you intend to use RP, then there's no need to change ... now. If it turns out you have resolution problems with some lens, you can cross that hurdle later.

What you don't get is longer battery life. Multiply your battery needs by 2 or 3! I'm also not so fond of the UI in RP, but that is personal opinion of one coming from 7D and 7D MkII.

so much I bought two.  I have the 40mm pancake and it is great on the RP, even with the adapter.  Battery life is not good on the RP, however, and 3rd party batteries just stop working, with no warning at all, usually at very inopportune moments.  I always have a couple of spares with me, and recharge frequently.  I am not sure the RP is much better than what you have though, and the adapter sort of defeats the purpose of the small size of the RP.  Most of my EF lenses feel front-heavy on my RP.  IQ of the lenses is fine, however.

Amazon has the RP with the RF 24-240 on sale right now for $1500, which makes a great do-everything combination. The RP does a great job focusing and rendering, though it's not a cutting-edge sensor, or focusing engine like the R6.

Really nice shots!

We made the same upgrade (SL1 to the RP with the RF 24-240).  I’ve since picked up the RF 35, RF 85 f/2, and RF 100-400 f/ 5.6-8.

Its leaps forward from the SL1. I’m sure it’s just as far behind the R5 and R6.  But it’s been loads of fun and a much better interface and AF vs the SL1.

JustUs7 wrote:

Really nice shots!

We made the same upgrade (SL1 to the RP with the RF 24-240). I’ve since picked up the RF 35, RF 85 f/2, and RF 100-400 f/ 5.6-8.

Its leaps forward from the SL1. I’m sure it’s just as far behind the R5 and R6. But it’s been loads of fun and a much better interface and AF vs the SL1.

Honestly, I don’t see how the R5 or R6 would improve any of the above images. Their key feature is fast focus tracking while shooting bursts of moving objects. For stationary or mid-speed objects, I think there is very minimal difference, if any.

I think that’s true if a lot of “upgrades”.  They aren’t necessarily about improving already good results.  But they are about reducing the number of stinkers and making good results easier to obtain.

The RP wouldn’t improve on the OP’s fantastic SL1 pictures.  But for me, it cut way down on my misses.  Honestly we missed the reach of our APS-C sensor enough that we added an M6II for my wife.  She never liked the size of the RP.

borisdenice wrote:

The only exception is the Sony RX100 III we use in alpinism or other activities were weight REALLY matters.

We own a EOS 6D M1 and an SL1 (100D).

We currently have EFS 18-55, EF 40 pancake, 50 f/1.8, 100 f/2, 16-35 f/4, 24-70 f/4, 70-300 USM II, other stuff like Samyang 14mm f2.8 for astro...

What we are looking for:
We would like a body with fast, accurate and easy to use focus.  ....something lighter than our 6D, ....not necessarily looking for something VERY light.

So, given what we have, do you think the Canon EOS RP would be a big step forward for what we are looking for? And if so, with an RF lens? or what we have is more than enough?

Parsing through your posting [above], I think you have two camera options:

1) RP: same sensor as your 6D, fast, accurate, easy to use; lighter than your 6D; and,

2) R6:  much better sensor than your 6D; fast, accurate, easy to use; and slightly lighter than your 6D (680g v. 770g).

Personally, I think that you have some rather good lenses that would be leveraged with a better sensor than the 6D or RP, but that's just my opinion.

Q

quokka wrote:

borisdenice wrote:

The only exception is the Sony RX100 III we use in alpinism or other activities were weight REALLY matters.

We own a EOS 6D M1 and an SL1 (100D).

We currently have EFS 18-55, EF 40 pancake, 50 f/1.8, 100 f/2, 16-35 f/4, 24-70 f/4, 70-300 USM II, other stuff like Samyang 14mm f2.8 for astro...

What we are looking for:
We would like a body with fast, accurate and easy to use focus. ....something lighter than our 6D, ....not necessarily looking for something VERY light.

So, given what we have, do you think the Canon EOS RP would be a big step forward for what we are looking for? And if so, with an RF lens? or what we have is more than enough?

Parsing through your posting [above], I think you have two camera options:

1) RP: same sensor as your 6D, fast, accurate, easy to use; lighter than your 6D; and,

2) R6: much better sensor than your 6D; fast, accurate, easy to use; and slightly lighter than your 6D (680g v. 770g).

Personally, I think that you have some rather good lenses that would be leveraged with a better sensor than the 6D or RP, but that's just my opinion.

Q

RP shares a sensor with a 6D Mark II, not a 6D.  FWIW.

Thanks Steve for your feedback! appreciated.

So what is your most used or loved lens on your RP?

JustUs7 wrote:

I think that’s true if a lot of “upgrades”. They aren’t necessarily about improving already good results. But they are about reducing the number of stinkers and making good results easier to obtain.

So would you say that mirrorless and RP's functions make the shooting experience more productive? (ie not needing to check each pic taken as what you see is what you get, etc...)

The RP wouldn’t improve on the OP’s fantastic SL1 pictures. But for me, it cut way down on my misses. Honestly we missed the reach of our APS-C sensor enough that we added an M6II for my wife. She never liked the size of the RP.

What is the pb with the RP for your wife? too heavy? because it's actually not big...

I have not used an RP so I can't really speak to that experience, but I often read good things about it. I am, however, very glad that I moved to the R-system and absolutely love my R6. I agree with the idea of purchasing the RF 24-240 if you do get the RP, as it is a surprisingly good lens that spends an awful lot of time on my R6, in spite of having the lovely 24-105 f/4L. Having said all of that though, you might hang on to the little SL1...I just bought one a couple of months ago for someone who wanted an inexpensive, lightweight but capable camera, and then decided that they didn't want the SL1, so I kept it. What a cool little camera in such a small package, and it delivers very nice photos (your shots are clear evidence of that!). The other thing that I like is that the the UI in live view is pretty similar to live view on my R6, so it's not difficult to move from one to the other. I frequently walk around with my R6 and 100-400L and the SL1/18-135 USM (Nano) combo. The SL1 is also a good alternative when I don't want to carry my more expensive gear somewhere, but still want to fell that I'm able to 'get the shot' should the situation present itself.

Andy

borisdenice wrote:

JustUs7 wrote:

I think that’s true if a lot of “upgrades”. They aren’t necessarily about improving already good results. But they are about reducing the number of stinkers and making good results easier to obtain.

So would you say that mirrorless and RP's functions make the shooting experience more productive? (ie not needing to check each pic taken as what you see is what you get, etc...)

For me, it’s both WYSIWYG nature of the EVF, with things like a level and histogram in the EVF while you’re shooting.  Having three wheels (with control ring lenses) to change settings on the fly, and the much more obvious confirmation of focus with the EVF vs 9 tiny little red dots in the OVF of the SL1.  All that works for a better shooting experience for me.  I also discovered that I enjoy focus bracketing.  As the RP does that automatically without special equipment, it’s a cool thing for this amateur to explore.

The RP wouldn’t improve on the OP’s fantastic SL1 pictures. But for me, it cut way down on my misses. Honestly we missed the reach of our APS-C sensor enough that we added an M6II for my wife. She never liked the size of the RP.

What is the pb with the RP for your wife? too heavy? because it's actually not big...

I think that was two fold.  The 24-240 is much bigger than the Sigma 18-250 we were using.  And WAY bigger than the equivalent reach of the EF-M 18-150. Second, I really took to the RP and she wanted her own toys. 😁. As we never used full frame DSLR’s, the body isn’t a lot bigger than the SL1, but lenses are.

borisdenice wrote:

Thanks Steve for your feedback! appreciated.

So what is your most used or loved lens on your RP?

I usually have a RF 16mm 2.8 on one camera and a RF 24-105 f4.0L or RF 24-240 on the other. My favorite is the RF 70-200 f4.0L but I don't use it much. Least used lense: RF 85mm f2.0.

I recently got an RP despite having an R and I really like it so far. was considering to go big and get a R5, but did not find a hot enough price.

AF is nice on the RP and the R.

May be worth going bigger and going for the R6.

I just needed a 2nd camera body to mount my  RF lenses and got a deal on the RP with the 24-105L

I've shot an SL1, 6D, RP and R6.  From an SL1 to an RP, it's a huge upgrade all around for sure.  From a 6D to an RP, its mostly about the controls and interface more than from the sensor IQ alone.  I love my R6, but for casual/fun shooting, the RP is handy because of its size (but take extra batteries).  The RP with an RF 50mm 1.8 is a perfect smaller kit.  The R6 is wonderful, but its much more expensive.  The RP was my first entrance to mirrorless and I shot it all the time until i graduated to an R6.

I got my RP last year after having the R since 2018.  I don't shoot a lot of action, so I see no advantage to the R5 or R6.

Even if I did, the RP is the ultimate number two camera and the ultimate travel camera.  So get it, even if you decide on the R6.

All of my premium glass is EF.  It is so good, that I think any upgrade in glass will be incremental at best.  I love my EF 24-70 F4 that you also have.

The small, light, inexpensive, and versatile RF glass has tempted me, though, and I have given into the temptation.  I have the RF 16, 35, and 85 STM lenses.  Those three make up my total kit for travel by plane.

I used to have a Canon Rebel for years then an RX100IV until it started to act up. I agonised for ages on what to get but noting too big. I looked at loads of stuff incl. Fuji, Olympus etc. but kept coming back to the RP because if fitted my smallish hands like a glove with all the buttons easily reachable. The initial reviews were not great but it has gained fans since.  I found an online offer here in Switzerland for the RP and the 24-105mm f4-7.1 for ca. $870 on the day of my birthday! I must say I really love the RP and the image quality. The 24-240mm is a fantastic all-rounder if a tad heavy. The 35mm F1.8  is my go to lens indoors. The 24-105mm is really light and makes a great super combo. Even though the R5 is fantastic I'd probably still get an RP now a year later.