Canon EOS RP vs EOS R8: which to buy?

Canon's two lower-cost full-frame RF bodies. The EOS RP, with a 26.2MP sensor and DIGIC 8, launched at $1,299 in 2019; the EOS R8, with a 24.2MP sensor, DIGIC X, subject detection and uncropped 4K 60p video, launched at $1,499 in 2023.

Why it exists. This page is for EOS RP owners, and for anyone shopping for a lower-cost full-frame body, who want to know whether the R8's autofocus, sensor and video are worth its higher price. Neither body has in-body image stabilization, so that is not a reason to pick one over the other.

A black Canon EOS RP with a large RF 24-105mm F4 L zoom lens and hood on a white background — **Canon EOS RP**26.2MP · launched at $1,299 in 2019Photo: Matthias Süßen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

A black Canon EOS R8 with an RF zoom lens, on a dark reflective surface — **Canon EOS R8**24.2MP · launched at $1,499 in 2023Photo: Henry Söderlund via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

Side-by-side specs

	Canon EOS RP	Canon EOS R8
Sensor	26.2MP full-frame CMOS; DIGIC 8	24.2MP full-frame CMOS; DIGIC X
ISO	100–40000	100–102400
Autofocus	Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4,779 positions; Eye AF; down to EV -5	Dual Pixel CMOS AF II; people, animal and vehicle detection; down to EV -6.5
Stabilization	None in the body	None in the body
Burst	About 5 fps	6 fps (electronic first curtain); 40 fps (electronic shutter)
Shutter	Mechanical, up to 1/4000 s	No mechanical first curtain; electronic up to 1/16000 s
Viewfinder	2.36M-dot OLED, 0.70x	Same
Screen	3.0in vari-angle, 1.04M dots	3.0in, 1.62M dots
Video	4K 25/23.98p; Full HD 59.94p	Uncropped 4K 59.94p from 6K; Full HD 180p; 10-bit C-Log 3
Card slot	1 SD (UHS-II)	Same
Battery life	About 250 shots	LP-E17; about 370 shots (screen) or 220 (viewfinder)
Size and weight	132.5 × 85 × 70 mm; about 440 g	461 g with battery and card (414 g body only)
Launch price (US)	Canon: Launched at $1,299 in 2019 (US)	Canon: Launched at $1,499 in 2023 (US)

Specs from our EOS RP and EOS R8 reviews, which cite Canon specifications; US launch prices from Canon (February 13, 2019 and February 7, 2023). ✓ = advantage; blank = tie or not directly comparable.

Sample photos

Six photos taken with the EOS RP and five with the EOS R8, shared on Wikimedia Commons under open licenses.

Sample photo 1 of 6 taken with the Canon EOS RP — Taken with the Canon EOS RP. Photo: Jirka Matousek via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

Sample photo 2 of 6 taken with the Canon EOS RP — Taken with the Canon EOS RP. Photo: Ligocsicnarf89 via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 3 of 6 taken with the Canon EOS RP — Taken with the Canon EOS RP. Photo: mark byzewski via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 4 of 6 taken with the Canon EOS RP — Taken with the Canon EOS RP. Photo: Kåre Thor Olsen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 5 of 6 taken with the Canon EOS RP — Taken with the Canon EOS RP. Photo: Matthias Süßen via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 6 of 6 taken with the Canon EOS RP — Taken with the Canon EOS RP. Photo: Jirka Matousek via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (resized)

Sample photo 1 of 5 taken with the Canon EOS R8 — Taken with the Canon EOS R8. Photo: Tisha Mukherjee via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 2 of 5 taken with the Canon EOS R8 — Taken with the Canon EOS R8. Photo: Jeffrey Beall via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 3 of 5 taken with the Canon EOS R8 — Taken with the Canon EOS R8. Photo: Lea-Kim Chateauneuf via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 4 of 5 taken with the Canon EOS R8 — Taken with the Canon EOS R8. Photo: RuteBatista via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Sample photo 5 of 5 taken with the Canon EOS R8 — Taken with the Canon EOS R8. Photo: Tisha Mukherjee via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Who should buy which

Get the EOS RP if

You want the lower-cost way into full-frame RF: $1,299 at launch vs $1,499.
You mostly shoot stills of slower subjects and the RP's Eye AF already does the job.
You want a mechanical shutter; the R8 has no mechanical first curtain.

Get the EOS R8 if

You shoot people, animals or vehicles on the move and want subject detection that works down to EV -6.5.
You shoot video and want uncropped 4K 60p, Full HD 180p and 10-bit C-Log 3.
You want more high-ISO range and more shots per charge.

See our full EOS RP and EOS R8 reviews.

Where to buy

Canon EOS RP

EOS RP · body (new or Renewed)

Canon: Launched at $1,299 in 2019 (US)

Check price (new)Check price (Renewed)
Read the full Canon EOS RP review

Canon EOS R8

EOS R8 · body (new or Renewed)

Canon: Launched at $1,499 in 2023 (US)

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Read the full Canon EOS R8 review