nofilmschool » c300

Canon Announcements: C300 Push Autofocus, C500 ACES Support, & New 35mm Cinema Prime Lens

Dave Kendricken — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 20:02:41 +0000

The days when Canon made its prized quality lenses separately for either its bizarre HDV psuedo-progressive imaging camcorders (remember those?) or its high-res digital stills cameras are gone — having bled into the present day. Now, its lenses have a significant stake in the production of 4K digital cinema, and its Cinema CN-E EF-mount line of compact prime lenses will be fully rounded out by a just-announced 35mm prime, due out before the close of the year (that makes six lenses now: 14, 24, 35, 50, 85, 135). Furthering the same professional motion picture mission, Canon has also announced free firmware/software upgrades for automated functions such as Push Autofocus, as well as professional-grade ACES pipeline support for color management. Some updates apply to different cameras than others, so check below for more details. (more…)

Canon C100 and C500 ND Filter/Sensor Dust Prevention Improvement Now Available for the C300

Joe Marine — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 23:43:53 +0000

Internal ND filters are incredibly helpful on set, especially if you’re in a situation where you are trying to move quickly. We’ve seen that the particular filters inside the Canon C100/C300/C500 are actually very specific to the cameras themselves, and they do a good job of blocking out infrared light, which starts to appear more with standard ND filters as you block out visible light. It seems Canon has had some issues with keeping this area of the camera dust-free, so they’ve made some modifications. Check out the details below. (more…)

Canon C300 Price Drops to $14K, Plus Some New 7D Mark II DSLR Rumors

Joe Marine — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 04:39:52 +0000

A little over a week ago, there was a rumor that Canon would be introducing a brand new digital cinema camera between the C300 and the C100 at NAB 2013. At that time, the C300 was retailing for $16,000 and the C100 could be had for $6,500. In terms of the price difference, it was feasible for there to be a camera in-between (even if spec wise it doesn’t make much sense). Now, Canon has dropped the C300 price by $2,000 until April 30th for both EF and PL models, and it very well could be a permanent price drop. We’ve also got a rumor of a replacement 24 Megapixel camera for the aging Canon 7D. So what does that mean for the rest of their product lines? (more…)

Canon Finally Releases Official Firmware Update to Correct C300 Color Fringing

Joe Marine — Sat, 16 Feb 2013 20:00:39 +0000

It’s looking like this strange and random problem might finally be no more (or at least so minimal that it won’t be noticed). If you’re a C300 owner, it’s certainly possible you haven’t even noticed it. The issue was related to extremely high contrast scenes where green or purple fringing would appear on edges. I originally wrongly assumed it might be a sensor issue, but it’s clear now that it is probably related to the debayering or processing in the camera. (more…)

Is Canon Introducing a New Cinema Camera Priced Between the C100 and C300 at NAB?

Joe Marine — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 21:59:08 +0000

While the internet seems to be looking for a specific camera from Canon that they haven’t quite delivered yet, their digital cinema cameras — specifically the C300 — fly off the shelves and are consistently the most rented (if you don’t believe me, ask anyone who runs a rental house). That, of course, won’t stop the company from releasing new models, and it seems we may see a brand new camera along with some new cinema lenses at the yearly NAB show in April. Click through for more details and analysis. (more…)

Film Looks the Easy Way: FilmConvert Now Supports Canon C300 and Arri Alexa, BMCC Coming Soon

Joe Marine — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 15:54:51 +0000

A solid color grade can very quickly take the edge off an image that looks “too digital.” If you don’t have much time to spend on said color grade, but you’d like to get a great look very easily, a film LUT that attempts to recreate some of the magic we get from Kodak and Fuji stocks could serve you well. We’ve discussed FilmConvert a bit before, but basically it’s either a standalone program or a plugin for the major Apple and Adobe products that uses the color science of the specific camera you’re using in order to precisely match the film stocks they have in their system. Now they’ve introduced another update, this time including support for the Canon C300 and the Arri Alexa. (more…)

Which is the Better Value, Canon C100 or C300? Plus a Short Film Scene Shot with the C100

Joe Marine — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 01:04:28 +0000

This camera seems to be getting as much vitriol in the comments on this website as the Canon 1D C, but the Canon C100 also has its share of defenders. It might not be priced perfectly considering the features, but it’s a camera that should just work out the box without much fuss, and Canon has made some key changes compared to the C300 that might be a deal-breaker for some, but well worth the cost-savings for others. I’ve said quite a bit about where I think this camera can fit in, but don’t take my word for it, here is Philip Johnston with his review (which is also available for download): (more…)

Canon Supposedly Fixes C300 Color Fringing, but Good Luck Getting the Firmware Update

Joe Marine — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 21:17:18 +0000

We reported on an issue a while ago about certain instances where the Canon C300 would show strange color fringing on the edges of very bright or overexposed images. I had suspected this might be a fatal flaw (I was completely wrong), but it seems the issue was probably related to downscaling as some people pointed out at that point in the comments. Now we have confirmation that Canon has a firmware update that supposedly fixes this issue, but not only are you going to have a tough time getting it, but you might even have a hard time getting a Canon representative to acknowledge that it exists. (more…)

Color Science Versus Color Art with the Canon C300

Dave Kendricken — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 13:30:10 +0000

As artists of a visual medium, we know when something looks “good” or “right” and we know something doesn’t. Of course, “good” is a lot more subjective than “right,” and that’s part of the beauty of what we do. One of the things that directly determines such qualities of an image is the color science of the given camera we’re working with. The color science of every manufacturer is different, and depending on the guts of the camera, each camera may differ as well. Art Adams at ProVideo Coalition has just posted a great, in-depth analysis of the various color matrices of the Canon C300 and what individual flair they bring to your imagery. Read on for some of his findings. (more…)

New from Redrock: Blackmagic/C100 ultraCages, lowBase, and an Exclusive NoFilmSchool Discount

Dave Kendricken — Sat, 20 Oct 2012 00:00:48 +0000

Let’s face it, unless a camera is designed to go on your shoulder, it’s either going to need some sort of rig, or you’re going to have to get creative to achieve maximum stability. Not only that, but many of these smaller cameras don’t have any good way for you to grab them quickly. That’s where Redrock Micro’s ultraCage product line comes in. They’ve introduced two new cages that are specifically designed to fit snugly around the Blackmagic Cinema Camera and the recently announced Canon C100. They’ve also come up with the lowBase, a great solution to add rails to tall cameras without increasing the height of your rig. If all of this weren’t news enough, Redrock is also offering a 10% discount — exclusively to NoFilmSchool readers. (more…)

Watch the First Canon C100 Footage Available Online, How Does It Compare to Its Big Brother?

Joe Marine — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 17:48:38 +0000

The camera that seemingly appeared out of nowhere at the end of last month, the Canon C100, looks like it has its first real footage online. While we don’t have an official price yet from the largest American reseller, B&H, it’s looking like the final price may be somewhere between $6,000 and $8,000. In typical Canon style, though, the video is something we’ve got to watch extremely compressed through an online streaming service (in this case Vimeo). The creator of the video, Sebastien Devaud, had a talk with Sebastian over at cinema5D at this year’s IBC about the camera and shooting the video for Canon. There is also a behind-the-scenes of the video that is embedded below. (more…)

Canon Shrinks the C300 EOS Cinema Camera, Calls It the C100, and Prices It at $8,000

Joe Marine — Wed, 29 Aug 2012 14:07:13 +0000

We all knew it was coming at some point — a Canon EOS Cinema camera under $10,000. Today Canon announced the C100, the cheaper sibling of the C300 (a lot cheaper at half the price). While it looks like this camera should be able to go head to head with the FS700 (considering the price), it’s actually an FS100 for $3,000 more and with a less compatible mount. Either way it’s just another option for filmmakers to consider when choosing their next camera. Check out the specs and analysis below. (more…)

Need to Learn a Camera's Interface Before You Use It? These Free Camera Simulators Can Help

Justin Minich — Thu, 31 May 2012 13:46:14 +0000

So you just got hired onto a production as an AC or a Camera Operator, and you know that you have the knowledge, talent, and skill to produce some beautiful images. There’s just one problem: You’ve never laid a hand on the camera that’s being used in the production. It’s probably not going to look too good if you have to spend a lot of time fiddling around in the menus to find the settings you’re looking for, but not to worry. Canon just released a camera simulator for the C300, and there are also simulators available for the Arri Alexa, and the Sony F65: (more…)

The Redrock microRemote is a Professional Wireless Follow Focus for Under $2500

Joe Marine — Wed, 09 May 2012 18:57:59 +0000

We’ve already shown off one of the cheaper wireless follow focus systems from JAG35. Now Redrock Micro has partially redesigned their microRemote Wireless Follow Focus system by developing their own motor and creating a new controller (in addition to the iPhone controller). They’ve also got a rig system called the ultraCage that is designed to be form-fitting to cameras like the Canon C300 or the Canon 5D Mark II and 5D Mark III. I had a chance to talk with Brian Valente and Loren Simons at the Redrock NAB booth, and you can see that video embedded below. (more…)

Zacuto's Plasma Light is the Cheapest and Softest 1x1 in Existence, But is It Better Than LED?

Joe Marine — Tue, 08 May 2012 12:18:36 +0000

We all know that LEDs are the next big movement in lighting technology — or are they? Zacuto is introducing a one-of-a-kind light panel that uses a patented micro-plasma technology not unlike what is found in a plasma television — which has phosphors that glow when energy is introduced. Of course, it’s a bit more complicated than that, but the bottom line is that this panel is softer, and has a greater lumen rating than any other 1-foot-by-1-foot panel on the market today. In the embedded video below, Steve Weiss from Zacuto gives us an introduction of the panel, as well as a walk-through of their Recoil rig, Tornado Follow Focus, and FS100 rig. (more…)

The Canon C300 (DeVito) Gets a Genetically Superior Twin, the 4K C500 (Schwarzenegger)

Ryan Koo — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 19:12:17 +0000

A $15,000 DSLR? Now we’ve seen it all. No, wait — we haven’t seen it all, as Canon is just getting started with their Cinema EOS line. And they’re also just getting started with 4K acquisition: their latest addition is to be the Canon C500 (pictured), which is essentially a 4K version of the C300. (more…)

Defects in a Large Sensor Video Camera? Purple and Green Fringing on the Canon C300

Joe Marine — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 13:00:18 +0000

The Canon C300 is quite the camera, and by all accounts it’s a high-end professional camera (and we should refer to it as such since it’s the most expensive camera Canon makes). But something strange is going on that could affect your footage in a very real and disastrous way as compared to other cameras. Paul Antico at NextWaveDV has discovered a very disturbing image artifact that appears in purple and green blocks on overexposed edges. He’s not the only one, as others have replicated this exact same problem.

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Get The Most Out of Your Canon C300, AbelCine Releases Custom Scene Files

Joe Marine — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 22:32:03 +0000

For those who are looking to immediately get a specific look with their C300, or are looking to match some Canon DSLRs in-camera, AbelCine has created some custom scene profiles. These profiles have a range of uses, but they are ideal when using minimal color correction in post, because most of them push the highlights quite a bit. The standard Canon Log profile is still good for getting a flat image as it retains as much detail as possible in the highlights and shadows. (more…)

'Understanding the C300' - a Guide That Translates the Specs into Footage

E.M. Taboada — Sun, 18 Mar 2012 22:34:50 +0000

When looking at cameras, it’s easy to get caught up in the numbers game — is the footage 4:4:4; how many stops of latitude does it have; will it output raw? These features and numbers are important, but it’s easy to forget what they mean, and how they actually impact your footage. It doesn’t help that it can be hard to get your hands on original files with full shooting details, instead of compressed internet versions that may have been corrected three ways till Sunday. With this in mind, Gaal Laszlo has put up an informative and interesting guide to the Canon C300 that aims to show just how the numbers play out in actual footage — he has included original files for download and comparison, along with a great and detailed explanation: (more…)

'Saturday Night Live' DP Alex Buono Shoots On, and Quite Likes, the Canon C300

Ryan Koo — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:51:31 +0000

Alex Buono, Director of Photography for Saturday Night Live, has been shooting on DSLRs for quite some time (the intro for the show was in fact shot on a Canon 5D Mark II and 7D). Here, he gets his hands on a C300, shoots some spots for the show, and talks about his impressions of the camera (which are quite positive). Here’s the video, courtesy Clint Milby: (more…)