EOS RPvs A7 IVvs Sony RX100 VII
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.
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.
Travel & Versatility — Sony RX100 VII (2019): The most versatile compact camera ever made — 24-200mm zoom, 20fps burst, and 960fps slow-motion in a jacket pocket.
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
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
Sony RX100 VII (2019)
- You want serious image quality in a camera small enough to carry absolutely everywhere
- You shoot travel, events, or street photography and want something discreet but genuinely capable
- You need fast burst shooting and reliable autofocus in the most pocketable possible package
Quick take: The a7 iv has the highest resolution at 33mp; the eos rp is the most affordable; only the a7 iv is weather sealed. Scroll down for the full spec breakdown.
Full specifications
| Specification | EOS RP (2019) | A7 IV (2021) | Sony RX100 VII (2019) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £2,299 | £1,099 |
| Sensor | 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS | 20.1MP 1-inch Exmor RS BSI CMOS (stacked) |
| Resolution | 26.2MP | 33.0MP | 20.1MP |
| Video | 4K/24p (with 1.7× crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone | 4K/30p HLG, FHD/960fps super slow-motion |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4779 manually selectable positions | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition | 357-point phase-detect + 425 contrast, Eye AF, tracking |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops | 3-stop Optical SteadyShot |
| Burst Rate | 5fps mechanical | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic | 20fps AF/AE tracking (90fps short burst) |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) — very limited | ~580 shots (CIPA) | ~260 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 485g (body, battery, card) | 659g body only | 302g with battery and card |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 85.0 × 70.0mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm | 101.6 × 58.1 × 42.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes | No |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification | Pop-up EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.59× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) | Fixed Zeiss Vario-Sonnar 24-200mm f/2.8-4.5 |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II | Single SD UHS-I slot |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | USB-C, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, NFC |
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