EOS RPvs Z6 IIIvs A7 IV
Which should you buy?
Entry Full-Frame Stills Photography — EOS RP (2019): An affordable gateway into the RF system. The RP makes sense as a stepping stone camera — if you're committed to Canon RF glass, this is the cheapest full-frame body to buy those lenses for. Just manage expectations on video and battery life.
Hybrid Video & Action — Z6 III (2024): Partial-stacked FF sensor for near-zero blackout, 6K RAW video, and 60fps burst — Nikon's most capable hybrid.
Portrait & Wedding Photography — A7 IV (2021): The full-frame portrait benchmark — 33MP, AI Eye AF, and exceptional skin-tone rendering in a pro-grade hybrid body.
Who should buy what
EOS RP (2019)
- Canon users who want to start investing in RF glass affordably
- Stills photographers who shoot primarily in good light
- Anyone coming from a Canon DSLR wanting the RF system at low cost
- Travel photographers who prioritise compactness over video specs
Z6 III (2024)
- You need the best all-round full-frame camera in Nikon's Z system
- You shoot in challenging or low light and need exceptional high-ISO performance
- You want a hybrid body that genuinely excels at both professional stills and video
A7 IV (2021)
- You want a high-resolution full-frame all-rounder for portraits, weddings, or travel
- You're stepping up from APS-C or a DSLR and want the best all-round full-frame body under £3,000
- You shoot a mix of stills and video and need a single body that handles both seriously
- You want access to the widest lens ecosystem in the mirrorless market
Quick take: The a7 iv has the highest resolution at 33mp; the eos rp is the most affordable; only the z6 iii, a7 iv are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS RP (2019) | Z6 III (2024) | A7 IV (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £2,199 | £2,299 |
| Sensor | 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 24.5MP Full-frame Partial-stacked CMOS | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 26.2MP | 24.5MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 4K/24p (with 1.7× crop), 1080p/60p | 6K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, 4K/60p oversampled, N-Log, 10-bit | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4779 manually selectable positions | Phase-detect, 273 points, subject detection (human/animal/vehicle/aircraft) | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 6.0 stops | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps mechanical | 20fps mechanical, 60fps electronic | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) — very limited | ~380 shots (CIPA) | ~580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 485g (body, battery, card) | 760g body only | 659g body only |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 85.0 × 70.0mm | 138.5 × 101.5 × 74.0mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | EVF, 5.76M dots, 0.90× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Nikon Z-mount (full-frame) | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Dual slots: CFexpress Type B + SD UHS-II | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
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