Up to the Mark? C100 Mark II review

When Canon introduced the hugely popular EOS C300 camera, many people saw it as the budget Arri Alexa, and when it released the C100, it was the budget C300 - using the same large sensor everyone loved, but losing the ability to record industry-standard 50Mbps video in the camera, although that was nothing the addition of an Atomos Ninja or similar recorder couldn’t address.

 

New Canon EOS C300 Mark II - 4K/Ultra HD + 15 stops dynamic range

Canon has unveiled its upcoming EOS C300 Mark II, an improved version of its highly regarded C300. It will record digital cinema 4K (4096x2160) and broadcast Ultra HD (3840x2160) 10-bit 4:2:2 formats internally, or 10/12-bit 4:4:4 files in 2K (2048x1080) and HD (1920x1080). It also boasts 15 stops of dynamic range, slightly better than Arri’s Alexa. However, it will also cost more than many of its rivals (such as Sony’s FS7), at £11,299 + VAT (almost $17,000) when it is released in September.

Canon XC10 compact Ultra HD camera

Canon has announced a new lightweight video and digital stills camera, the XC10, which can record Ultra HD (3840x2160) video and will cost £1,600 (about $2,400) when it ships in June.

Although it is not part of the Cinema EOS range, it does offer some of their features, and is designed to be suitable as a B camera for larger productions. However, it is essentially competing with a couple of established 4K cameras, the Sony A7s, which offers wonderful low-light capabilities with a full-frame sensor for about the same price, and the popular Panasonic GH4, which is slightly cheaper.

Canon EOS C100 Mark II

Canon’s entry-level EOS C100 Mark II Super 35mm camera has received a major upgraded that is designed to offer: improved image quality; better in-camera recording quality; greater creative flexibility; easier operation; and wireless sharing. There is also an improved, tiltable electronic viewfinder and a new flip-out OLED display (just one of many improvements that recognise that the C100 is often used by lone shooters).

It is the first Cinema EOS camera to get integrated WiFi, for file transfer via FTP, and can record HD at up to 50/60p in both MP4 (at up to 35Mbps) and AVCHD (up to 28Mbps), or HD and SD, simultaneously to the two SD cards (and upload the lower bitrate version). There is also browser-based camera control via WiFi.

Canon firmware upgrades for 4K

Canon has announced several firmware upgrades for its EOS C500 and EOS C300 Digital Cinema Cameras, DP-V3010 4K reference display and Cinema Raw Development software, most of which will better integrate acquisition and management of 4K footage into every workflow situation (except the C300 of course, which doesn’t do 4K).

Principal amongst them is support for the recently defined ITU BT.2020 colour space for Ultra HD production. This will be most noticeable on the 30-inch DP-V3010 4K professional reference display. The BT.2020 input signals will be mapped to the native colour space of the DP-V3010 for output, to ensure that images are displayed with the widest possible colour gamut and the greatest possible accuracy. Of course, BT.2020 support starts with the camera, so the C500 will be able to create it too.

Canon XF200 + XF205 launched

Canon’s new XF205 and XF200 compact video cameras fit into the XF range between the existing XF100/XF105 and XF300/XF305, although as the XF200 models each have a single slightly-bigger-than one-third-inch CMOS sensor, they are nearer the 100/105 than the 300/305.

Canon's 4K - EOS-1D C now EBU Tier 1 approved

Canon’s 4K DSLR camera, the EOS-1D C, has become the first DSLR to meet the EBU Tech 3335 requirements that show it can deliver an image of high enough quality for top-end broadcast production. If you are interested in the tests the camera had to pass here's the link to the EBU doc.

The camera is based on the EOS-1D X, but is designed for video-supporting in-camera 4K (4,096x2,160) recording with 4:2:2 colour sampling.

Canon announces new XA25, XA20 + Legria HF G30 camcorders

Canon is expanding its semi-pro/high-end consumer handheld video camera range with three new compact models. Two new professional X-series models, XA25 and XA20, combine an all-new imaging system with professional audio and WiFi connections in a compact, lightweight (1.1kg/2.6lbs) package that fits in the palm of a hand.

The new Legria HF G30 (also known as the Vixia HF G30 in the US) has the same imaging system, but without the XLRs and is aimed at enthusiast videographers, such as hobbyists or film students.

Firmware updates for C500, C300, C100 + improved Cinema Raw software

Canon has announced upcoming firmware updates for three of its Cinema EOS System cameras, as well as various new functions for its Cinema Raw Development (CRD) software.

Once the upgrades are available, the EOS C500, C300 and C100 will support a new Magnify function allowing users to check focus in different parts of an image on the camera LCD, as well as the centre, to give added control and flexibility during shooting.

Canon 35mm cinema prime lens

Canon is developing a new 35mm cinema prime lens for large-format single-sensor digital cameras, such as its Cinema EOS range.

It will be compatible with super 35mm-size sensors, full-frame 35mm and APS-C. The new EF-mount 35mm lens will become the sixth prime lens in Canon’s EF Cinema lens line-up, giving an option between the existing 24mm and 50mm lenses. 

A development sample of the 35mm cinema lens is on display in the Canon booth during the 2013 NAB show in Las Vegas (April 8-11), with the aim of an official launch during 2013.

C300 is most popular rental camera

Canon's C300 camcorder has topped Televisual's list of the most popular rental cameras in the UK for 2012

The full list is:

Canon launches EOS C100 – a half-price C300 (with half the bit rate)

Canon’s new entry-level member of its large-sensor EOS Cinema camera range will be less than half the price of the acclaimed C300, but unfortunately it isn’t an XF camera, as it records 24Mbps AVCHD to SD cards rather than 50Mbps MXF.

However, it does have a lockable HDMI port with full, 4:2:2 uncompressed output, so anyone with a Ninja 2 or similar external recorder, can get the glorious C300 sensor at a sensible price.

For the full details, have a look at our EOS C100 preview on the UrbanFoxTV blog.

New XF firmware for 35Mbps recording

Canon has announced a new firmware update for its four XF cameras that will enable a new 35Mbps recording mode. 

It will essentially make them compatible with earlier Sony XDCAM HD codecs capturing 1440 x 1080 HD video at 35Mbps at 60i or 50i – which is still widely used for news. The 1440 x 1080 format was the standard resolution offered by HDV tape cameras (using 1440 instead of 1920 is a form of compression - the pixels are then stretched in the edit to cover the 1920 x 1080 image). It will help the XF camcorders integrate more easily with standard workflows used by some broadcasters.

Once the firmware is installed, the recording mode will be accessed through the regular mode selection menu on the camcorder and the frame rate will be automatically selected, dependent on the camcorder's PAL (50i) or NTSC (60i) setting. All previously supported XF-series video resolutions and frame rates will still remain available.

The firmware is expected to be available for download at the end of May 2012 and will be available on the individual product pages through the Canon website.

Canon EOS C500 4K camcorder launches

Canon has announced a new 4K digital cinema camera, the EOS C500, which will be available late this year for a likely list price of £20,000/€24,600 including VAT (US pricing hasn’t been revealed, but should be under $30,000).

Canon adds to XF language support

A new firmware update for the XF camcorder series adds seven additional languages – French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Simplified Chinese and Spanish – to the XF300, XF305, XF100 and XF105.

The firmware, version 1.0.3.0, supports the languages across the camcorders’ menu system and is available now from http://software.canon-europe.com

XF305 and HPX250 comparison

Panasonic AG-HPX250

I’ve recently written a review of the Panasonic AG-HPX250 over on our UrbanFox.TV technology blog, but how does it relate to its biggest rival?

On this page I thought it would be interesting to compare and contrast the HPX250 with the Canon XF305, its direct rival. I’ve chosen the XF305, rather than the XF300, because they both have the timecode in/out and Genlock (and the XF300 does not) so it is a more fair comparison.

Canon C300 XF camera launched

New Canon C300

There is a new addition to the Canon XF line with the newly announced C300, which will cost around $20,000 and should be available January 2012 for the EF mount model (which is Canon's regular electronic mount) or in March for the PL-mount model (suitable for use with a wide range of cine lenses, from the likes of Zeiss or Arri - or other stills lenses via adaptors) - the mounts don't appear to be interchangeable. Canon also launched 14.5-60mm and 30-300mm cine zooms in EF and PL-mount versions and 24mm, 50mm and 85mm primes for EF-mount only.

Canon also announced a new DSLR camera that will shoot 4K video at 24p (Motion JPEG) using a full frame sensor (cropped to APS-H size for video - about 80%), but that is still in development.

Canon EOS-1D X announced

Canon's latest DSLR is the full-frame EOS-1D X, which it calls "the film-maker’s DSLR" as it deals with most of problems video users have with the 5D Mark II and 7D cameras, with full control over audio levels, focus, exposure and frame rate during recording. It's advanced processing deals with moiré, rolling shutter effects and chromatic aberration, and it can record intra frame (full frames rather than reference frames) H.264.

For the full story, take a look at our main blog: Canon EOS-1D X filmmaker’s DSLR

Firmware upgrade for XF305 + XF300

Canon has announced a firmware upgrade for the XF305 and XF300  to help those shooting in 3D and adding double-slot recording.

Most of the new features were already available on the XF105 (because it was launched after the XF305) including the ability to configure two units for 3D HD video capture.

But, there are some things I feel are still missing, that could easily be added.

Training Course Notes: Synchronising Timecode

Timecode socket on the
Canon XF305

One of the advantages of buying a Canon XF305 or XF105 is the ability to sync timecode between cameras. Synchronised timecode can make editing multi camera shoots a lot easier.

However, someone asked me a few weeks ago if it was possible to sync a Sony with a Canon. In theory there is no reason why you can't, because all the manufacturers use SMPTE timecode. But, I wanted to check...and the answer is yes you can.

I've put together a video to show you how to sync a Canon XF305 with a Sony EX3. But, it would work between any two cameras that generate or recognise SMPTE timecode.