Is The Canon EOS RP good for astrophotography?

The Canon EOS RP is a capable camera for astrophotography. It has a full-frame sensor that can capture a lot of details. Its focus bracketing, built-in intervalometer, and Vari-Angle LCD are all quite useful for astrophotography and shooting deep space in general.

The Canon EOS RP‘s smaller size and weight are what make it a good choice for traveling and night sky photography compared to a DSLR.

Now, the Canon EOS RP’s battery life is not the best, but it should be good enough for most night sky photography. You should definitely get extra batteries when you’re out there capturing stars, meteors, the moon, and other nightscapes.

Its sensor is actually the same as the one in the Canon 6D Mark II so you can expect similar results.

The Canon 6D Mark II is one of the recommended cameras for Astrophotography on Roger Clark’s website. So, I can definitely say that the Canon EOS RP will have the same performance but in a much smaller package.

Operating the Canon EOS RP is also fast and easy. The menu is well organized, and it’s easy to figure out what you’re doing.

You can find all the basic settings in there but also some advanced options if you want to get creative with your astrophotography.

One thing that I really wished Canon included in the RP is weather sealing. This means that I will have to be extra careful when using this camera in a harsh environment or if it’s raining or snowing outside.

Overall, the Canon EOS RP is an ideal choice for astrophotography if you want a mirrorless camera that is small, light, and capable.

Canon EOS RP astrophotography settings

Astrophotography can be quite challenging because it requires a lot of manual settings. However, the Canon EOS RP is capable of capturing some amazing images if you know what you’re doing.

Here are the basic astrophotography settings that I recommend using with this camera:

• Use a manual or bulb mode.
• Set your shutter speed to 15-30 seconds.
• Use a lens with a wide/fast aperture. Having an f/1.8 as a minimum is highly recommended.
• Select your lens’s widest possible aperture.
• Use an ISO of 400 or 3200 (higher if you have a slower lens).
• Always shoot in RAW format. This is non-negotiable.
• Select Auto or Daylight white balance.
• Turn off the noise reduction feature.
• Use manual focus.
• Set the drive mode to a 10-second delay.

How do you take a picture of the night sky on Canon EOS RP?

It’s important that you have a sturdy tripod with you when you’re capturing the night sky. Here is my simple approach to taking pictures:

• Set the shutter speed to bulb or manual.
• Then set the lens to its widest aperture.
• Use ISO 1000 – 3200, and focus manually.

When you’re ready, press the shutter button You can also use a remote or cable release to open the shutter.

Best Lenses for Astrophotography

Currently, Canon has a few affordable and expensive wide-angle lenses for their RF mount line-up that can be used for astrophotography.

Their Canon RF 35 F/1.8 is actually a great lens for a lot of things but it suffers from “coma” when used for astrophotography.

Coma is a phenomenon that causes stars to appear as comet-like tails when they’re focused on, which is something you want to avoid while shooting the night sky.

I can also say the same with the Canon RF 16 F/2.8 STM. They both suffer from “coma.” So, that leaves us with a few options for astrophotography.

If you want to use an RF lens with your Canon EOS RP, the Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8 L IS USM is your best bet. It’s a great lens for astrophotography and its zoom range is really flexible for shooting landscapes and nightscapes. You can check out Bryan’s review if you’re interested in this amazing lens.

If you feel that you don’t want to spend a lot on an astrophotography lens, then there are other options like the Sigma 20mm F1.4 Art DG HSM Lens.

The Sigma Art line-up is very popular among photographers because of its high image quality and affordable price, but they’re also quite heavy.

Another great astrophotography lens from Canon is the Canon 35 F/1.4 II L USM lens. It is a highly praised lens in the world of astro and nightscape photography and is best known for its amazing image quality and wide-open performance.

It’s actually one of my favorite lenses to use for astrophotography because it performs so well on the stars at F/1.4 and has a relatively wide field of view which allows you to capture more than just the Milky Way with this lens.

And lastly, if you’re tight on budget the Samyang SY14M-C 14mm F/2.8 Ultra-Wide Fixed Angle Lens is a very capable lens that will get you started in astrophotography.

The Samyang 14mm F/2.8 is a manual focus lens which means you’ll need to be able to manually focus on your subject, but it does feature a wide aperture of F/2.8 which is great for shooting deep space photos in low light conditions.

Tripods for Canon RP – Astrophotography

Tripods are one of the most important pieces of equipment you can have in your arsenal when it comes to astrophotography. The best tripod for astrophotography is a sturdy model that will hold your camera and lens steady during long exposures.

The tripod you should choose doesn’t have to be really expensive but it does need to be sturdy and stable. A good tripod will make it easier to capture crisp images of the night sky without having any blurred stars or streaks in your photos.

I can highly recommend the SIRUI AM-254 Carbon Fiber Camera Tripod, it is reasonably priced, stable pretty durable.

I’ve used it plenty of times and I’ve never had any issues with it. It’s very easy to use, especially with the quick-release plate so you can quickly put or remove your camera on. The adjustable legs are sturdy making it easy to set up just about anywhere and it comes with a carrying bag.

Now, If you want something that’s more advanced and portable, you can check out the Peak Design Travel Tripod. It’s a great travel companion, it collapses down to just over 14 centimeters in length and weighs just over 1.5 kgs.

Another great and really affordable tripod for astrophotography is the GEEKOTO 77’’ Tripod. It’s sturdy enough for most people as long as they’re not in extremely harsh conditions. It can also be converted into a monopod for when you want to be more mobile.

Is the Canon EOS RP good for low light?

The Canon RP is a great camera for low-light photography. It has an ISO range of 100-102400 which is pretty impressive for such a small and affordable camera.

You can also get an external light source if you need more light during astrophotography.

What lens can the Canon EOS RP use?

Canon EOS RP can use a wide variety of lenses. It has the new Canon RF mount and obviously, it can use RF lenses. You can also use Canon EF lenses but you need the EF-EOS R mount adapter that is included when you get the RP.

What lens should I use for Astrophotography?

For most astrophotography, you will want to use a wide-angle lens with a focal length of 14mm to 35mm.

Having a lens with a fast aperture such as f/1.4 or f/2.8 is ideal because it makes it easier to shoot in low-light situations. It’s also important that your lens doesn’t suffer from coma when you’re capturing images of stars.

Which mirrorless camera is best for astrophotography?

If you’re just starting out with astrophotography, a mirrorless camera will be an excellent choice. They’re easier to use and they weigh less than DSLRs.

The Canon EOS RP is a great choice for astrophotography. It’s full-frame and its low-light performance is good enough to capture clear images of the night sky.

Is the Canon EOS RP weather sealed?

The Canon EOS RP is not weather-sealed or water resistant. If you plan on using it on rainy or snowy days, you’ll need to invest in a waterproof case. However, its construction is pretty durable and it can withstand a few drops of water or light rain.