EOS RPvs A7 IV
GearScore™ Verdict — 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.
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)
- Working photographers who want a reliable full-frame all-rounder
- Portrait, wedding, and event photographers needing 33MP and fast AF
- A7 III owners ready for a major upgrade in resolution, AF, and video
- Hybrid shooters who want 4K/60p and 33MP stills in one dependable body
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) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £799 | £2,299 |
| Sensor | 26.2MP Full-Frame CMOS | 33MP Full-frame BSI Exmor R CMOS |
| Resolution | 26.2MP | 33.0MP |
| Video | 4K/24p (with 1.7× crop), 1080p/60p | 4K/60p oversampled, 10-bit internal, S-Log3, S-Cinetone |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4779 manually selectable positions | 759-point phase-detect, AI subject recognition |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | 5-axis IBIS, 5.5 stops |
| Burst Rate | 5fps mechanical | 10fps mechanical, 30fps electronic |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) — very limited | ~580 shots (CIPA) |
| Weight | 485g (body, battery, card) | 659g body only |
| Dimensions | 132.5 × 85.0 × 70.0mm | 131.3 × 96.4 × 79.8mm |
| Weather Sealed | No | Yes |
| Viewfinder | EVF, 2.36M dots, 0.70× magnification | EVF, 3.69M dots, 0.78× magnification |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen |
| Mount | Canon RF-mount | Sony FE (full-frame E-mount) |
| Memory Cards | Single SD UHS-II | Dual slots: CFexpress Type A + SD UHS-II |
| Connectivity | USB-C, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth | USB-C (3.2 Gen 2), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi |
Suitability by genre
| Genre | EOS RP | A7 IV |
|---|---|---|
| Portrait | — | |
| Travel | — | |
| Street | — | |
| Video | — | |
| Wildlife | — | |
| Studio Portraits | — | |
| Outdoor Portraits | — | |
| Wedding & Events | — | |
| Vlogging & Video | — | |
| Landscape | — | |
| Sports & Action | — |
GearScore™ suitability scores are based on aggregated purchaser reviews weighted by photography genre. See how scores are calculated →
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Camera family history