EOS RPvs Nikon Z8vs 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.
Sports, Wildlife & Hybrid Professionals — Nikon Z8 (2023): Z9 performance in a compact body — 45MP, 8K/60p RAW, and 20fps burst without the bulk or price of the flagship.
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
Nikon Z8 (2023)
- You need Z9-level performance in a more travel-friendly and portable body
- You shoot wildlife, weddings, or sport and need exceptional resolution with speed
- You want the best Nikon mirrorless body available without carrying the full Z9
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 nikon z8 has the highest resolution at 46mp; the eos rp is the most affordable; only the nikon z8, a7 iv are weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS RP (2019) | Nikon Z8 (2023) | A7 IV (2021) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £3,999 | £2,299 |
| Sensor | 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 45.7MP full-frame BSI stacked CMOS | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 26.2MP | 45.7MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 4K/24p (with 1.7× crop), 1080p/60p | 8K/60p RAW, 4K/120p, ProRes RAW | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4779 manually selectable positions | Subject detection AF, 493-point phase-detect | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 6-stop IBIS | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps mechanical | 20fps RAW / 120fps JPEG | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) — very limited | 330 shots (CIPA) | ~580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 485g (body, battery, card) | 910g body only | 659g body only |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 85.0 × 70.0mm | 144.0 × 118.5 × 83.0mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | 0.5" Quad-VGA OLED EVF, 3.69M dots, 120fps | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" tilting touchscreen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Nikon Z-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Dual CFexpress Type B / XQD | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C 3.2, HDMI full-size, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
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