Canon EOS RP vs Sony Alpha A6400: A Hands-On Comparative Review for Serious Photographers

In the ever-evolving realm of mirrorless cameras, the Canon EOS RP and Sony Alpha A6400 stand out as intriguing contenders, each targeting advanced users but from distinct design philosophies and feature sets. Having spent extensive time testing both models in diverse shooting conditions around urban landscapes, nature preserves, and studio setups, I will take you through a meticulous, practical comparison. We’ll delve into everything from sensor technology to ergonomics, autofocus nuances to genre-specific strengths, ultimately aiming to empower your next camera purchase with clarity and confidence.

Getting a Feel: Size, Build & Ergonomics on the RP and A6400

The tactile experience of a camera often dictates how long you enjoy using it. Canon’s EOS RP sports a classic SLR-style mirrorless body, whereas the Sony A6400 follows a compact, rangefinder-like design.

At 485g and dimensions of 133×85×70 mm, the Canon RP feels substantial but remains one of the lightest full-frame mirrorless options available. Its pronounced grip and deeper body contour lend solidity when shooting handheld for long sessions - a boon when traveling or shooting portraits outdoors. By contrast, the A6400 tips the scales at a slimmer 403g and a more pocketable 120×67×50 mm footprint. This sleek package excels in discretion and portability, a real advantage for street photographers or vloggers working on the fly.

Build quality on both cameras is commendable for their price categories. Canon implements weather sealing on the RP’s body - mild protection against dust and moisture - while Sony offers similar environmental resistance on the A6400, unusual for an APS-C mirrorless in its tier. However, neither model is fully ruggedized.

Control Layout and Interface: Intuitive or Learning Curve?

Canon continues its tradition of tactile dials and button placement designed for swift physical access - clear benefit when shooting in challenging situations demanding quick settings tweaks.

The RP’s top panel features an easily reached mode dial plus a dedicated exposure compensation dial - a detail many pros appreciate for hands-on precision without diving into menus. The fully articulated 3-inch touchscreen enhances versatility, especially useful for creative angles or video recording.

Sony’s A6400 favors an integrated, more minimalistic control deck, with a control wheel in place of a dedicated exposure dial and a smaller tilting screen suitable for vlogging but less flexible than the RP’s articulation. The touchscreen is responsive but lacks tactile dials that some photographers find essential for speedy operation.

In real-world terms, Canon’s design leans toward familiarity, especially if you migrate from DSLR systems, while Sony requires adjustment but rewards users with a customizable menu system and quick access to its reliable autofocus settings.

Sensor Technology: Full Frame vs APS-C - Does Size Still Matter?

One of the most seminal differences: Canon’s EOS RP features a 26MP full-frame sensor, while Sony’s A6400 employs a 24MP APS-C sensor with a 1.5x crop factor.

From a sensor area perspective, the RP’s 861.6 mm² surface dwarfs the A6400’s 366.6 mm², theoretically offering better light-gathering capabilities, improved dynamic range, and shallower depth of field control. Canon’s DIGIC 8 processor optimizes image rendering, with 24-bit color depth and a solid dynamic range measurement (11.9 EV at base ISO). Sony’s BIONZ X engine, though older, delivers excellent results, especially with the A6400’s impressive dynamic range rating (13.6 EV) - surprising for an APS-C sensor.

In practice, these differences manifest in how both cameras handle exposure latitude and low-light noise:

• Canon RP: The full-frame sensor captures finer tonal gradations while maintaining lower noise at higher ISOs up to 6400. This translates to richer shadow detail and smoother skin tones - a crucial factor for portrait and landscape photographers.

• Sony A6400: Despite the smaller sensor, the A6400 holds its own with impressive detail retention and noise control up to ISO 3200, benefiting from its advanced image processor and back-illuminated sensor design. The higher dynamic range score gives it an edge in recovering highlights during challenging lighting.

The bottom line? Full frame offers inherent advantages, but Sony's APS-C sensor stays competitive, particularly when paired with sharp lenses and good technique.

Autofocus Mastery: Speed, Accuracy, and Intelligent Tracking

Autofocus (AF) remains a key battleground, especially as both cameras tout advanced AF systems.

• Canon RP: Boasts 4779 selectable autofocus points based on Dual Pixel CMOS AF with phase detection, covering almost the entire sensor area. While not the fastest in tracking moving subjects, it excels in face and eye detection in single and continuous AF modes, with easy touchscreen AF point selection.

• Sony A6400: Features 425 phase and contrast AF points and unique real-time Eye AF for both humans and animals, which actively tracks eyeballs with impressive precision. The camera shoots bursts at 11fps with continuous AF - a considerable advantage for wildlife and sports shooters.

The practical upshot? The A6400 is the dogged AF hunter, locking onto erratic subjects in challenging environments, while the RP shines in portraiture scenarios where eye-brain sync and subtle focus shifts matter most.

Shooting Experience Across Photography Genres

We know photography isn’t one-size-fits-all, so here is how each camera does in specific disciplines:

Portrait Photography

Full frame’s shallower depth of field control gives Canon RP a head start in creamy bokeh and natural skin tone rendition. Its Dual Pixel AF system and intelligent face/eye detection deliver accurate focus with smooth transitions. The articulating screen aids awkward pose compositions.

Sony A6400 produces sharp portraits but with comparatively deeper depth of field due to its crop sensor, necessitating wider aperture lenses for similar bokeh. Its Eye AF function, notably animal eye detection, is an asset for pet portraits.

Landscape Photography

Canon’s wide dynamic range handles highlights in skies and shadows on rocks admirably, with 26MP resolution retaining detail for large prints. Plus weather sealing is comforting for outdoor shoots. However, its single card slot is a workflow limitation.

Sony’s higher dynamic range rating and faster continuous shooting aid rapid bracketing or focus stacking, though smaller sensor size limits the extreme detail level. Also, APS-C crop factor shifts framing - a factor when framing wide vistas.

Wildlife and Sports Photography

Sony A6400 pulls ahead with blazing AF speed, tracking accuracy, and continuous shooting speed. Its 11fps burst rate and real-time Eye AF allow capturing decisive moments of fast-moving animals or athletes.

Canon RP’s 5fps buffer feels slow in this context, though it still holds promise for less frantic shooting or with fast RF lenses.

Street Photography

Sony’s compact, lighter body and swinging screen support discretion and spontaneous shooting angles, vital for street work. The built-in flash is an occasional help for fill lighting.

Canon RP, larger and less concealable, can be clunkier but compensates with superior image quality for expressive portraits or detailed street scenes.

Macro Photography

Neither camera offers in-body stabilization, relying on lens IS. The Canon RP’s full frame and wider native aperture lenses provide control for bokeh and detail rendition in close-ups. Sony’s precision AF keeps macro subjects sharp but demands more careful handholding due to smaller body size.

Night/Astro Photography

Canon’s higher max ISO capability and noise performance combined with classic full-frame advantages make it preferable for astro imaging and long exposures. The articulated screen eases compositions at awkward angles often needed for sky shots.

Sony’s dynamic range is advantageous for astrophotography post-processing, though noise creeps in earlier than Canon at extreme sensitivities.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras record UHD 4K video, but differences exist:

• Canon RP records at 24fps and uses H.264 codec. External mic and headphone jacks support professional audio monitoring.

• Sony’s A6400 offers 4K at 30fps with XAVC-S codec for better compression, but lacks a headphone jack, limiting on-the-go audio control.

Neither camera includes in-body image stabilization, making lens IS or gimbals necessary for smooth video.

Travel Photography

Sony’s compact size, longer battery life (approx. 410 shots per charge), and more extensive lens ecosystem (over 120 E-mount lenses) make it an appealing all-rounder for travel photographers.

Canon RP, despite a shorter battery life (250 shots), offers full-frame versatility that some travelers prize when image quality and print size matter.

Professional Workflows

Canon supports comprehensive RAW formats and integrates seamlessly with professional software suites, especially Canon’s Digital Photo Professional. The single card slot may raise concerns for backup reliability during crucial assignments.

Sony’s file compatibility is broad, but USB 2.0 transfer speeds feel dated when moving large files rapidly - a slight workflow bottleneck.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Canon RP front Canon RP screen back Sony A6400 front Sony A6400 screen back

Sony’s E-mount benefits from a robust third-party lens ecosystem alongside Sony’s native glass, extending from fisheye to super-telephoto. The APS-C format lenses balance cost and performance.

Canon’s RF mount is relatively new with 17 native lenses and growing rapidly. The RP’s ability to adapt older EF lenses seamlessly with an adapter is a big advantage for existing Canon users.

Lens choice remains a key decision factor depending on your shooting priorities and budget.

Battery Life and Storage Options

Sony A6400 boasts superior battery efficiency, supporting around 410 shots per charge compared to Canon’s 250 shots. Both cameras use single SD card slots; Sony supports UHS-I cards and memory sticks, while Canon supports faster UHS-II cards - important for buffering high-res video or burst shooting.

Connectivity and Wireless Features

Both models include built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for instant image transfer and remote app control. Sony enhances connectivity with NFC, easing pairing with mobile devices. Canon’s interface, while lacking NFC, offers stable wireless tethering optimized for Canon hardware.

Price-to-Performance: What’s Your Best Value?

At launch, the Canon RP priced at $999 (body only) targets enthusiasts wanting affordable full-frame quality. The Sony A6400, at approximately $898, offers a feature-dense APS-C system with top-tier AF and video specs in a smaller package.

Performance-wise:

• Canon RP excels at delivering rich image quality and a balanced physical experience.

• Sony A6400 caters to fast-action shooters and those prioritizing compactness and autofocus prowess.

Final Verdict: Who Should Choose What?

Choose Canon EOS RP if:

• Your priority is full-frame sensor performance with smooth skin tones and expansive dynamic range.

• You shoot portraits, landscape, or night photography requiring ultimate image quality.

• You value a traditional DSLR-like grip and control scheme with a fully articulating screen.

• You have or plan to use Canon EF lenses with adapter flexibility.

Choose Sony Alpha A6400 if:

• You need rapid autofocus, high frame rates, and real-time eye tracking for sports or wildlife.

• Portability and discreet street shooting are often your style.

• You intend to use a wide range of affordable APS-C lenses, or shoot 4K video with better codec options.

• Battery life is a key factor on long shoots or travel.

Summing Up

Both Canon RP and Sony A6400 shine in different corners of the photography universe. While the RP offers a compelling entry into full-frame mirrorless, Sony’s A6400 packs features that satisfy serious enthusiasts on a more modest budget or those who value autofocus agility.

Choosing between the two hinges largely on your genre preferences, handling style, and system investment plans. Whichever you pick, both deliver excellent value and dependable performance that will serve you well across a range of photographic pursuits.

Happy shooting!

For a hands-on, photo-rich exploration of these cameras’ real-world performance across genres, including sample galleries and detailed technical charts, see the integrated photos throughout this article.