This week Canon has launched a camera that’ll seek to be putting Red
Scarlet and Arri Alexa in their place. It’s the brand new Canon C300 cinema
camera and it’s been revealed at Hollywood’s Paramount Studios where a crowd
included journalists and the film industry elite – including no less than
Martin Scorsese apparently. This fantastic looking camera has no less than an
EF or PL mount (not both, different models,) 1080p video capture, two CF card
slot, timecode, and HD-SDI output.
The introduction of the EOS C300/C300 PL
coincides with the launch of the Cinema EOS System, marking Canon’s
full-fledged entry into the digital high-resolution production industry. The
new professional digital cinematography system spans the lens, digital cinema
camera and digital SLR camera product categories.
Equipped with an EF lens mount, the EOS C300
is supported by an all-star cast of high-performance EF lenses, not only the
wide array of interchangeable EF lenses for EOS SLR cameras that have earned
the trust and respect of photographers around the world, but also the EF cinema
lenses in the newly announced Cinema EOS System. When outfitted with a Canon EF
lens, the C300’s peripheral illumination correction automatically corrects for
vignetting in accordance with each lens’s optical characteristics, and enables
iris control from the camera. Canon EF lenses also enable the recording of such
metadata as the name of the lens used, aperture setting and shutter speed.*1
High-Resolution
Full-HD Performance
The Canon EOS C300/C300 PL’s newly developed
Super 35 mm-equivalent CMOS sensor incorporates approximately 8.29 million
effective pixels and has a pixel size that is larger than that for conventional
professional camcorders, enabling greater light-gathering capabilities for
enhanced sensitivity and reduced noise. The sensor reads Full HD (1920 x 1080
pixels) video signals for each of the three RGB primary colors, decreasing the
incidence of moiré while realizing high resolution with 1,000 horizontal TV
lines.
Supported by a heightened signal read-out
speed, the CMOS sensor reduces rolling shutter skews, a phenomenon prevalent
with CMOS sensors in which fast-moving subjects may appear diagonally
distorted. Additionally, the powerful combination of the sensor with Canon’s
high-performance DIGIC DV III image processor facilitates high-precision gamma
processing and smooth gradation expression.
In addition to MPEG-2 Full HD (MPEG2 422@HL
compliant) compression, the EOS C300/C300 PL employs 4:2:2 color sampling for
high-resolution performance that minimizes the appearance of “jaggies” at
chroma edges. Additionally, with a maximum recording rate of 50 Mbps, the
camera supports the recording of high-quality video.
The camera’s video and audio recording file
format adopts the industry-standard MXF (Material eXchange Format), an open
source file format ideally suited for non-linear editing systems. Recording to
versatile, readily available CF cards, the EOS C300/C300 PL realizes high
cost-performance and, equipped with two CF card slots, makes possible the
simultaneous recording of video data to two CF cards.
With a compact body design measuring 5.2 (w)
x 7.0 (h) x 6.7 (d) inches, the Canon EOS C300/C300 PL delivers exceptional
maneuverability, enabling shooting from vantage points all but inaccessible to
large cinema cameras, such as close to the ground for high-impact low-angle
shots, and alongside walls. In accordance with on-location shooting needs, the
camera can be outfitted with a handle,
grip, thumb rest and monitor unit, and offers an array of industry-standard
terminals, including HD/SD-SDI video output for the external recording of
high-quality video content. When using a WFT-E6B wireless file transmitter for
EOS digital SLR cameras (sold separately), the EOS C300/C300 PL can be
controlled remotely by means of such common devices as smartphones or tablet
PCs.
The camera is equipped with four start/stop
buttons positioned at various locations to satisfy any preferred camera-holding
style, and can be outfitted with a variety of third-party accessories,
including matte boxes, follow focuses and external video and audio recorders.
The unit also achieves seamless integration with third-party editing systems
and provides added peace of mind through its dust-proof, drip-proof
construction and built-in cooling system.
The new camera allows users to adjust image
quality to match that of professional camcorders and EOS-series digital SLR
cameras, and offers Canon Log Gamma, enabling flat image quality with subdued
contrast and sharpness for maximum freedom in post-production editing and
processing. In addition to frame rates of 59.41i, 50.00i, 29.97P, 25.00P and
23.98P, the EOS C300/C300 PL features a 24.00p mode, matching the 24
frame-per-second frame rate of film cameras for high compatibility with common
film-production workflows.
Other features include fast-motion shooting,
achieved by capturing fewer frames per second to create action up to 60x normal
speed, and slow-motion down to 1/2.5x*2 made possible by capturing more frames
per second. Frame rates between 1 and 60 frames per second (fps) *3 can be
adjusted in increments of 1 fps.
Additionally, a selection of Custom Pictures
lets users freely adjust image quality for greater control over how content
looks.
Pricing
and availability
The Canon EOS C300 (EF mount) digital cinema
camera is scheduled to be available in late January 2012 for an estimated list
price of $20,000. The Canon EOS C300 PL (PL mount) digital cinema camera is
scheduled to be available in late March 2012 for an estimated list price of
$20,000.
For
more information and to view online demonstration footage of the new products
please visit: www.usa.canon.com/cinemaeos
*1
Compatible features differ depending on the EF Cinema Lens used.
*2
1/2.5x possible only when recording in 720p mode.
*3
When 59.41i frame rate is selected.
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