We've all been wondering what Canon's video division has been up to since their 5D Mark II HDSLR unwittingly ushered in a low-cost, large sensor video revolution. The answer three years in the making: the Canon Cinema EOS C300. There are two cameras, the C300 and C300PL, which are identical except for the PL lens mount on the latter. Via DV Info, here are the official specs:
- 8.3 megapixel 2160×3840 Super-35 CMOS sensor (4K resolution) with Digic DV III processor
- Canon XF codec (50Mbps 4:2:2 1080p MPEG2 MXF) records to two Compact Flash card slots
- Canon LOG gamma, SDI, compact body, Custom Presets and menus similar to Canon XF series
- Exposure and focus control are completely manual — there is no automatic exposure or autofocus
- Sold as a system, including LCD monitor / XLR audio unit, side grip, top handle, and battery charger
- Headphone jack (first EOS-branded camera to have this, though it's obviously necessary
- Uses existing BP-955 and BP-975 batteries
- Lacks dual-link HD-SDI for native 4:4:4 output, though ships with LOG Gamma unlike the Sony F3
- Available January 2012
- Price: $20,000
Yes, the sensor's native resolution is 4K but the C300 outputs a maximum of 1080P. More on that here: how the C300's claimed resolution stacks up to other cameras. You can see from the form factor that DSLR accessory manufacturers should be rejoicing, as this camera's going to need the same kind of rig for shoulder-mount shooting. In addition to the new pro technology center in Hollywood, there are a bunch of new lenses on the way too:
- Canon Zoom Lens CN-E14.5-60mm T2.6 L S (wide zoom, EF version)
- Canon Zoom Lens CN-E14.5-60mm T2.6 L SP (wide zoom, PL version)
- Canon Zoom Lens CN-E30-300mm T2.95-3.7 L S (telephoto zoom, EF version)
- Canon Zoom Lens CN-E30-300mm T2.95-3.7 L SP (telephoto zoom, PL version)
- Canon Prime Lens CTZ-029 (24mm) (EF)
- Canon Prime Lens CTZ-030 (50mm) (EF)
- Canon Prime Lens CTZ-031 (85mm) (EF)
Hit the link below for more details. In the meantime, here's a video from Zacuto, who already has accessories for the C300:
While the camera reportedly pulls in 12 stops of dynamic range, there are questions about its bit depth -- someone said it was only 8-bit, which is confirmed by the PDF spec sheet at the link below -- but even if it were 10-bit, Canon certainly has the RED SCARLET-X, which pretty much wipes the C300 off the map specs-wise, to worry about.
Links:
- Canon EOS C300 Official Page
- Canon EOS C300 Media Gallery
- Canon USA Announces Cinema EOS C300 and EOS C300 PL Cameras - DV Info
[image via Wide Open Camera]
