Preproduction Canon C300 cameras have been floating around for a while, and now DSLR/video maestro Philip Bloom has released an excellent video review. As Bloom notes, the camera is a hybrid: the C300 is the answer to the question, "what would happen if a Canon DSLR and Canon XF camcorder had a baby?" Check it out if you're interested in the C300, which rumor has it will retail stateside for virtually the same price as the Sony F3 (currently $14k), substanitally less than the originally-quoted $20k. Here's Philip's review:
Like most, when the camera was unveiled on November 3rd I was underwhelmed. Spec wise nothing new. Price wise at the original $20k…ouch…pretty much everyone I knew had little interest in the camera... footage started to come out that people really liked, and more importantly once you actually hold it and play with it suddenly it became a lot more desirable. Just in the UK the camera went on a tour of loads of cities and I was hearing from all these people I know who loved it in the “flesh”. The positive buzz just got louder and louder.
Here is Bloom's sample short, shot on a preproduction C300 and Canon DSLRs (for timelapse):
My own impressions are that I might be interested in a Sony F3 instead of the C300, because of its ability to go upmarket (for additional money, with the S-Log firmware and an external recorder like the Convergent Gemini). However, if you're not interested in S-Log 4:4:4 output, or if you already have a good collection of Canon glass, the C300 may be the right choice. The RED SCARLET, to me, is a different camera for different purposes (much of the time), so I won't be getting either the Sony or Canon, but one thing's for sure: there are a lot of great options in the $10k-$30k range (once you include kit items). Meanwhile, it seems the Sony FS100 basically owns the $5k pricepoint (unless you're into the AF100).
There are some people lurking here who apparently have some issues with Philip... not from actually knowing him personally but just from criticizing his work from afar. Please, keep your comments constructive. He's giving his honest opinion of a camera and we can all benefit from that!
Link: Canon C300 review and short film “Le Mont, La Pluie et La Nuit” - Philip Bloom
