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 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.

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.

New Mini Hoods for C100, C300/C500 plus C100 raincover

Petrol Bags is launching new mini LCD hoods for Canon’s C100, C300 and C500 at NAB2013 (April 8-11 in Las Vegas), as well as a C100 raincover.

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.

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 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