There have been rumors that Canon could be announcing some new cinema cameras in 2014, and recent price drops on the C100 and C500 seem to confirm that. While the C500 launched at over $20K, reductions from Canon have now brought it to $17,000 -- at least until January 4th -- and the C100 is now at an all-time low price, coming in at just $5,000. We've also got new firmware 1.0.4.1.00 for the C500 which brings 80,000 ISO and a few other changes to the camera (to bring it in line with the C100 and C300). Click through for more.

Canon Price Drops

The new price drop makes the C100 quite a value, even with its poor EVF, because at $5,000, there isn't really anything else in this price range with great low-light sensitivity and ND filters built-in. The C500 is now a much better value compared to competing products (only $3,000 more expensive than the C300), and it's much closer in line with something like Sony's F5, which can do 4K RAW with some add-ons just like the C500 (in fact they're very similar in price now if you purchase everything to do 4K RAW on both).

We'll have to wait and see what happens at NAB 2014, but I have a feeling we're going to see something new from Canon, as it's now been a little over 2 years since the C300 was first introduced. A new flagship could be coming, and it's also possible we will see something slot in between the C100 and C300, possibly as a C300 replacement with better internal recording.

Canon C500 Firmware 1.0.4.1.00

And here's a little bit on the new firmware for the C500:

EOS C500 Cinema EOS Camera & EOS C500PL Cinema EOS Camera

  1. When using the Magnify focus assist function, the ability to move the magnified viewing area around the LCD has been added.
  2. Maximum ISO setting has been increased to ISO 80,000.
  3. Cinema Gamut mode and DCI-P3+ mode have been added to provide expanded color gamut options in RAW capture.
  4. 4096×1080-pixel RAW format resolution has been added.
  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 up to two users to access the same unit via a Wi-Fi link providing simultaneous and independent control of camera operation and metadata input.
  7. Canon Log LUT support has been made possible for HD/SD SDI terminal output.
  8. ACESproxy output from monitor terminal has been added.
  9. [ND]/[ND-] have been added as functions that can be allocated to any assignable button.

EOS C500 Digital Cinema Camera only

  1. Ability to assign the two control dials (body and grip) to operate either Iris or ISO sensitivity independently has been added.
  2. Peripheral Illumination Correction Data has been added for seven (7) Canon Cinema lenses (EF mount) and eleven (11) Canon EF Lenses.

You can find links to firmware for both the C500 and C500 PL below, as well as links to purchase either the C100 or C500.

Links:

canoncameras4Kc500c100canonc500canonc100
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