C100: best B-Cam for a C100

R

randomname

Well-known member
After shooting on a 5D MKiii for quite a while, I decided to go ahead and upgrade to a C100 and keep the 5D as a B camera and for if I ever need 60FPS. After using both on a few shoots, though, I'm just really not all that happy with how the footage mixes, the 5D looks way too soft compared to the C100. I was wondering what would pair up the best with a C100, my only real requirements are that it be able to shoot 60FPS (I'd be ecstatic with 120fps, but I can't think of a single camera that would qualify), mix well with the C100 and be cheaper or the same price as the 5D. Is there anything out there that would work?
 
You wont be able to match the detail and sharpness of the C100 because it has that awesome 4K sensor. You can add unsharp mask to the DSLR footage to get closer. The 5D MKIII has a much softer image to help fight of moire and aliasing.
I did a quick test to try and match a 70D with a C100 and got pretty close with little effort but had to sharpen the 70D footage.

http://eriknaso.com/2014/01/04/matching-the-canon-70d-to-the-c100-can-it-be-done/
 
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The best success I've had matching my cams to the C100 is using a hacked GH2 w/ Canon glass. The colors of the GH2 tend to be closer to C100 in WIDE DR mode than the GH3 and the detail of the hacked cam is as close as you will get to C100 sharpness and overall IQ (aside from DR).
 
We have cut the 5D mkIII in by adding post sharpening to it. Also adding film grain in post to both can help pull off the look.
 
I have a couple of Canon DSLR's that I will use in multicam shoots. But, I always use the DSLR's for closeups and cutaway footage and the C100 for any wide shots. The footage cuts fine that way if I shoot in Neurtral. Of course, you also end up wasting the C100 on the less interesting wide shot.
 
When I bought the C100 I asked the same question myself. I wanted to buy a DSLR that would closely match and the sensor would be as close in size as possible so I could use it as a director's viewfinder. So, I emailed support at LENSRENTAL (figuring they would know best) and asked them which DSLR will match the C100 best and here's the response:

The Canon 70D has an ASP-C sensor (x1.6 Crop) which is similar to the Super 35 sensor (1.5x crop) of the C100. The 70D's sensor will allow you to capture images with a similar field of view to that of the C100, while functioning first and foremost as a still picture camera. The dynamic range and low light functionality of the C100 is better than that of the 70D, but there currently aren't any DSLRs available that can match the C100 in dynamic range and low light, in video mode. I suggested the 70D because it's functionality and quality of image can't be beat at that price. Another good option is the Canon 5DmkIII. Although the 5DmkIII has a full frame sensor, it's footage will match well with the C100. The 5DmkIII will give you slightly more dynamic range and low light performance, but still won't match the video specs of the C100. It also prices more expensive than the 70D.

So that's what I bought ($1100) I just took it on a two week vacation just to get to visualize exactly what the 24-105 will do, took 2500 shots! Hope that helps.
 
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