nofilmschool » canonc300

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…)

Which Camera Won the Zacuto Camera Shootout? The (Anonymous) Winners and Losers

Ryan Koo — Mon, 02 Jul 2012 20:21:44 +0000

A couple weeks ago Zacuto released their Revenge of The Great Camera Shootout, which pitted the Apple iPhone 4S, Panasonic GH2 (Hacked), Canon 7D, Canon C300, Sony FS100, Sony F3, Sony F65, RED Epic, and Arri Alexa against each other. This year, however, there was a twist — they didn’t tell you which was which. I ran a poll asking folks which camera they liked the most, and with over 600 responses here are the results, by camera letter: (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…)

So Many New Camera Tests it's Hard to Keep Track: Phantom Miro, RED SCARLET, Sony F3, and Canon C300

Ryan Koo — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:56:43 +0000

We’re trying to share more actual shorts and not just camera tests here, as a difference of one stop in dynamic range from one camera to the next is not going to make or break your narrative or doc. From DSLRs costing hundreds to 4K cameras costing tens of thousands, there is a great camera out there for your budget. Still, one question all filmmakers will be asked is, “what do you want to shoot on?” and so it’s still handy to keep tabs on what’s available. Here are several new tests of some of the latest large-sensor imagers: (more…)

The Canon 5D Mark III, Canon C300, and RED SCARLET Shoot a Nighttime Bike Race Side-by-Side

Ryan Koo — Thu, 03 May 2012 02:36:46 +0000

Remember when video cameras had sensors that were one third of an inch? It was damn hard to shoot anything at night. But now there are a million cameras (well, not a million, but a bunch) with Super35-size sensors. So while you can actually get a decent exposure while shooting a bike race at night now, not all sensors are created equal. Here’s the Canon 5D Mark III, Canon C300, and RED SCARLET filming the same bike race. The first pass of the video has no key (so you don’t know which is which), and then they show you the second time around: (more…)

Can You Tell the Difference Between the ARRI Alexa and Canon C300 in This 'Game of Thrones' Test?

Joe Marine — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 00:36:20 +0000

Comparisons are fun, even more when they’re for expensive cameras. As I’ve said before, we try to look at all sorts of different topics from around the film industry, and we are not just going to look at DIY options like the hacked GH2. Shane Hurlbut, who runs a fantastic and informative blog himself, was recently shooting a promo for HBO’s Game of Thrones. He decided to shoot the Canon C300 alongside the Arri Alexa for the promo. Shane came up with some interesting results. (more…)

The $4500 Sony PMW-100: a Sign of Codecs to Come on the 4k Sony F5 (And Why Canon Should Be Worried)

Joe Marine — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 18:15:16 +0000

The powerhouse FS700 wasn’t the only new camera that Sony recently announced. Another camera was quietly (at least to this community) introduced that packs a punch and has its sights square on Canon’s event/doc cameras: the XF100 and XF300 series. The real announcement behind the announcement is the way that Sony is positioning its separate camera models and features. Sony has a clear idea about where specific cameras should stand in terms of features and price, and it seems we might get a more powerful F3 sooner rather than later. (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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The Canoflex C300 Rig Combines the Best of Arri Past and Canon Present

Joe Marine — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 18:27:01 +0000

Speaking of the C300, AC Tim Arasheben has developed a camera rig for the Canon C300 based partially on the Arri SR3 16mm camera. Even though I’m calling it a rig, I probably shouldn’t, because it goes way beyond a normal rig. The Canoflex C300 is one of those tools that gives you exactly what you need, when you need it. It regulates power for practically anything you attach to it, and also has multiple HD-SDI outputs – a must on professional sets. Let’s see what makes the Canoflex tick. (more…)

The Moon as Your Key Light? The Canon C300 Delivers

Joe Marine — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 19:17:52 +0000

Hyperbole? Not really. It’s no secret that the Canon C300 is a low-light monster. It’s also marginally better than the F3 and FS100 in high-ISO situations (debatable, but from what I’ve seen, it holds slightly more detail and color information in those extreme situations). But this is just ridiculous. Barry Goyette has posted a video of mostly available light C300 footage – and get this – parts were lit with just moonlight. Yes, that moon, as in the reflection of the sun off of the lunar surface. For the really interesting footage, wait until after the credits. Here’s the video: (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…)