Canon made a bit of a surprise announcement back in September that they were going to be upping the maximum ISO setting on the Cinema EOS cameras from 20,000 ISO all the way to 80,000 ISO. Not only is that firmware update out today for the C100 and C300 (it doesn't seem like it's ready for the C500 yet), but we've also got a video sample of the quality you can expect from the new ISO options. Check out the video below as well as all of the other goodies Canon has unlocked for the Cinema cameras.

Thanks to Daniel from SilvaStreet, here's a sample of the new ISO modes on the Canon C100 (download on Vimeo for best quality):

We've also got some samples from cinema5D, this was shot on the C500 back in September on a pre-release version of the firmware:

Sure, 80,000 may be pretty noisy without any noise reduction in camera, but with max noise reduction added and maybe some in post you could easily get something usable and not distracting if you needed it. Almost two years ago I wrote a post which featured a video using the C300 and the moon as the main light source, and now we could get that same scene even brighter. Though 80,000 may not pass in narrative work, that extra two stops of light over the max ISO could be crucial for a documentary or nature shoot that you're only going to be able to get once.

I could also see needing some of the ISOs if you want a deeper f-stop for some reason, or if you're limited by the lens on the camera. Most zooms are a minimum of f/2.8, which can be as much as two stops slower than a fast prime lens. If you need the zoom at certain times for what you're shooting, you can make up that extra stop or two with the new ISO settings.

Here's a list of what's new in the firmware update for the C100:

1. Ability to move the magnification viewing area around the LCD using the MAGN Function.

2. ISO up to 80,000 has been added.

3. A Key Lock menu setting has been added which now makes it possible to lock all operations, including the START/STOP button.

4. Peripheral Illumination Correction Data has been added for seven (7) Canon Cinema lenses (EF mount) and eleven (11) Canon EF Lenses.

5. Internal camera menus are now controllable from buttons on the camera body. Previously, they were only controllable from the joystick grip unit.

6. In addition to the [EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM], the function to enable continuous focusing and correct aperture on a subject in the middle of the screen when one of the two EF STM lenses is attached, has been extended to include the [EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM] lens.

And for what's new in the C300:

EOS C300 Cinema EOS Camera & EOS C300 PL Cinema EOS Camera

1. Ability to move the magnification viewing area around the LCD using the MAGN Function.

2. Support for a 1440x1080/35Mbps recording mode.

3. ISO up to 80,000 has been added.

4. Added functionality to support the optional Canon GPS Receiver GP-E1.

5. A Key Lock menu setting has been added which now makes it possible to lock all operations, including the START/STOP button.

6. Using the optional Canon WFT-E6 Wireless File Transmitter, the camera's remote-control application allows two users to access the same unit via a Wi-Fi® link providing simultaneous camera operation and control and metadata input simultaneously.

7. [Lens Exchange] and [ND+/ND-] have been added as functions that can be allocated to any assignable button.

8. A new Wide DR gamma setting provides an expanded dynamic range of 800%.

9. Flicker Reduction has been improved.

EOS C300 Cinema EOS Camera only

10. Provides Push Auto Iris and One-Shot AF operation.

11. A new AE Shift function and the selection of various light-metering modes are now available when used with some Canon Cinema lenses (EF mount) and Canon EF Lenses.

12. Ability to assign the two control dials to operate either Iris or ISO sensitivity independently.

13. Peripheral Illumination Correction Data has been added for seven (7) Canon Cinema lenses (EF mount) and fifteen (15) Canon EF Lenses.

14. A function has been added to enable continuous focus and iris setting on a subject in the middle of the screen when one of the two EF STM lenses** is attached.

**[EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM], [EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM].

I know a lot of people were asking for these changes with the C300, so it's nice to see Canon add the locks and assignable buttons (though you would think with how much you're paying for the camera body -- at least in the case of the C300 -- that you'd see a little more hurry in how quickly some of these seemingly simple firmware updates go out). The C300 also gets the wider dynamic range mode of the C100, which means you can get a flatter picture profile if you want it. With the slightly better internal recording of the C300, this mode will probably be even more useful.

You can download the updates over on the Canon site.

Links:

cameracanonfirmwarecamerasc300canonc300c500c100canonc500canonc100
Cinematography & Cameras