The EOS RP is a new low for Canon

Before Canon released its first full-frame mirrorless camera, I wrote an article describing how Canon would dominate the mirrorless sector. Many of you laughed at the title, which was fair enough; the comments made me laugh.

The purpose of the article, however, was that Canon would be the first supplier and this is already happening in several important markets.

Many people have criticized Canon for its EOS R and, in fairness, me too. In some ways, this is a worse, unmounted version of the Canon 5D Mark IV.

But the fact is that Canon has placed it at a very reasonable price point. I mean, this is a camera with the same sensor but priced at over $ 1,000 less than what the 5D Mark IV was when it was launched ($ 2,299 vs. $ 3,499). This makes it a very attractive camera for many photographers, even with all the breakup of the card slot.

And Canon seems to have still succeeded with the EOS RP, and I think it's nothing less than genius.

Why is it the genius

The EOS RP is essentially a mirrorless version of the Canon 6D Mark II at $ 1,799, but its initial price is significantly lower. At just $ 1,299, it's amazing and is a new low for Canon – in terms of price, anyway.

Of course, there are many people who will probably make fun of this camera, but consider the market that this camera attracts. It is now the cheapest full-frame camera on the market and I think it will sell extremely well.

This is because Canon is reorienting an existing sensor whose manufacturing cost has probably dropped significantly. It now transmits these savings to its customers and the offer with a brand new camera with some additional features. Canon has made it extremely easy for customers to access the full-frame market for its mirrorless system.

Canon's main goal is to take the budget market, which is an important part of it, and that's a strategy that has helped immensely in the past. In many cases, when a customer is part of a particular ecosystem, he rarely goes to another. For much of the market, the EOS RP is a much more convenient option than what Sony and Nikon have at their disposal.

The Sony a7 III at 1,998 USD is without a doubt a better camera in almost every respect, but for the price, you can almost buy a Canon EOS RP with RF 24-105mm f / 4.0.

The 24-105mm lens is a brilliant lens with fantastic optics. In all honesty, most photographers are not particularly interested in video features, but do care about goals. The price level makes the EOS RP incredibly appealing. Sony seems to compete by offering many features, Canon is competing with the price and, Nikon, well, I guess that's part of it.

Canon keeps his promises

It was not so long ago, in an interview, Canon explained how he would be willing to cannibalize his sales of DSLRs to the benefit of the mirrorless. We are seeing it now.

While the EOS RP is not the most feature-rich camera, it does not really matter. For the price of some APS-C cameras, you can now buy a full-size, high-performance camera. Devices such as the Canon 80D and the 6D Mark II are no longer so attractive. This camera individually cancels the need of these two cameras.

Even if you consider the cost of the $ 199 EF-RF adapter, the EOS RP is still cheaper than the 6D Mark II, and I think it's a brilliant move from Canon.

We now have rumors that Canon will not release an 80D update but only 7D Mark II will be updated. That makes a lot of sense, because why would anyone want to buy a "90D" while he can buy an EOS RP instead? Canon is very effectively eliminating DSLRs in favor of its mirrorless system, and I think that shows a huge commitment.

Where is the flagship?

Many people have turned to Canon to launch a high-end, high-end mirrorless camera that can compete with devices such as the Nikon Z7 and the Sony a7R III. Instead, Canon has decided to develop its range of lower end cameras and produce some of the best lenses currently available in the market.

The range of his lenses for his mirrorless system is incredible. There is nothing like the $ 2,999 RF 28-70mm f / 2 available on the market.

Some of you may be talking about the price of the goal or its magnitude, but honestly, a goal like this is not too expensive or too heavy. I mean it's a constant f / 2.0 zoom lens offering some of the best optical performance even when shooting wide-angle. Of course, this is going to be huge and expensive.

Another relatively unique goal is the goal of $ 2,299 RF 50mm f / 1.2. No other manufacturer offers a 50mm lens with an aperture of f / 1.2 with autofocus.

Even taking a wide-open photo, it seems that this Canon lens may actually work better than the Sigma 50mm f / 1.4 Art. This is not a trivial matter, as Sigma lenses are known for their incredible performance. Canon continues to do what it does best – offering top-notch lenses.

So where is this flagship that so many photographers are waiting? Well, rumors suggest we could see it later this year. Personally, I do not want to hope too much, because Canon is not famous for pushing the limits, but it seems that this potential project could be what everyone expected.

Canon explained how he now plans to offer IBIS in his cameras. This is a feature that many people have asked Canon to include. Previously, her position was that she believed the intra-optic lens was a better option. Fortunately, his position in this regard has now changed.

I also think that Canon will finally offer a properly used 4K video recording. The video features have been an area in which Canon has received a lot of criticism, rightly so. I doubt that Canon offers any type of RAW recording functions, but is able to produce a camera with a 4k video in full-screen mode with full use of dual-pixel autofocus this should be more than enough for most people.

To summarize, Canon does not have much to do to ensure the success of its flagship model.

Last thoughts

Canon has positioned itself very hard. It has some of the best lenses on the market, from its EF and RF ranges. The goals make a huge difference, as many photographers tend to be wary of a new system if the goals are not present.

Canon also offers very attractive options for the lower segment of the market and this is where the battle is usually won or lost. Once it launches a competitive flagship model, Canon will find itself in a position that will allow it to remain quite easily the industry's number one builder.

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About the author: Usman Dawood is the lead photographer for Sonder Creative, an architectural photography and indoor photography company. The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. You can find more of his work on his website, Instagram and YouTube.