C100: Best B-Cam to the C100

R

randomname

Well-known member
I've been shooting with my C100 for a year and a half now and am absolutely smitten with the camera. I've been using my 5D MKiii as a B-Cam and slow motion camera when I need it, but I've never been all that happy using it side by side with the C100, and on top of that, the A7S and GH4 are both have some very attractive features that the 5D can't deliver. So I'm wondering, should I sell the 5D to pick up a GH4 or A7S? If so, which would you recommend, with it's primary function being a B Cam for the C100.
 
I'm gonna be one of those guys that says the best b-cam to a c100 is another c100. Particularly with the mkII coming out soon, used prices for the c100 are going to be pretty reasonable... especially when you factor in being able to keep/interchange all the same accessories, and the fact that if your A-Cam dies you can still keep going with the exact same camera. Pretty attractive option if you ask me...

meanwhile, I don't have a ton of experience with mixing gh4/a7s with c100, but I'd be very surprised if you got BETTER matching footage from a different company's camera than you're getting with the 5d mkIII. The 5d and the c100 have different features, but canon cameras are canon cameras, and panasonic cameras are panasonic cameras.

OR, and stay with me here, secret option 3 is to go ahead and go for a new c100 mkII, to get some of those added features, and keep your mkI as the b-cam. Don't know if that investment will be a good return for you, but it's certainly an option.
 
I was in almost the exact same situation a few weeks ago. C100 as main, and typically renting another C100 or similar for B-cam (mainly for corporate work).

I took into consideration that I also shoot weddings, so I went with the A7s as a B-cam (as another C100 was out of the budget). I've yet to shoot a wedding with it, but I've had 4 corporate shoots with it so far, and am not regretting the decision.

Things I've 'discovered' or am learning still (had the C100 for 1.5-2 years as well) -> More difficult to use than the C100, I feel less confident using it as I do when using the C100 (something I hope changes with experience with it).

Lenses I had did not work well at all with Metabones adapter -> Ended up with Rokinon 14 & 85 cine lenses (E-Mount). Will be getting more e-mount lenses.

I will have to get ND filters. Shooting today outdoors -> S-log completely out of the question. Was at F11 with the ISO all the way down using PP6. Quickly realize how much I've taken the built-in C100 ND filters for granted (another cost/something to use).

Comes with 2 batteries, I bought 2 generic ones ($25 each), work perfect, I would say as good as the originals. Shot a full day today, I didn't come close to worrying about power for the A7s. Batteries charge quick as well. No worries on this front.

Full-Frame / APS-C option is actually extremely helpful, much more that I had expected it to be.

S-Log is much flatter than C-log. Really impressed with the dynamic range, and the IQ/sharpness has been fantastic.

Why A7s over the GH4 for me?
Low light for weddings, Full Frame sensor with APS-C option (I thought would helpful), but it was more-so not wanting to deal with the micro 4/3 crop factor. I was hoping S-log would offer at least something close DR-wise to C-log on the C100 (it certainly is).
I'm sure I will end up renting/buying a Shogun when available/needed. Internal would be nice of course, but I was okay with the sacrifice.

Final Verdict so far:
Would buy the A7s again. Very happy with it as a B-cam.
 
What are you shooting? If it's just sit-down interview type situations, the 5DmkIII is fine. As much as I HATE using a still cam as a video camera, I have used my 5DmkIII as a reverse and 3rd or 4th camera with my C300. It matches really well. As a matter of fact, I just used it a few days ago for the reverse on the talent with my C300. I really didn't want to, but given the choice(prod asked if I had a 5D or said we could use one of their Panny 160's), I opted for the 5D because there was no way in hell the little 1/3" baby cam would match.

Definitely stay in the Canon family if you're wanting to match as closely as possible with minimum fuss.
 
chappelldigital said:
I was in almost the exact same situation a few weeks ago. C100 as main, and typically renting another C100 or similar for B-cam (mainly for corporate work).

I took into consideration that I also shoot weddings, so I went with the A7s as a B-cam (as another C100 was out of the budget). I've yet to shoot a wedding with it, but I've had 4 corporate shoots with it so far, and am not regretting the decision.

Things I've 'discovered' or am learning still (had the C100 for 1.5-2 years as well) -> More difficult to use than the C100, I feel less confident using it as I do when using the C100 (something I hope changes with experience with it).

Lenses I had did not work well at all with Metabones adapter -> Ended up with Rokinon 14 & 85 cine lenses (E-Mount). Will be getting more e-mount lenses.

I will have to get ND filters. Shooting today outdoors -> S-log completely out of the question. Was at F11 with the ISO all the way down using PP6. Quickly realize how much I've taken the built-in C100 ND filters for granted (another cost/something to use).

Comes with 2 batteries, I bought 2 generic ones ($25 each), work perfect, I would say as good as the originals. Shot a full day today, I didn't come close to worrying about power for the A7s. Batteries charge quick as well. No worries on this front.

Full-Frame / APS-C option is actually extremely helpful, much more that I had expected it to be.

S-Log is much flatter than C-log. Really impressed with the dynamic range, and the IQ/sharpness has been fantastic.

Why A7s over the GH4 for me?
Low light for weddings, Full Frame sensor with APS-C option (I thought would helpful), but it was more-so not wanting to deal with the micro 4/3 crop factor. I was hoping S-log would offer at least something close DR-wise to C-log on the C100 (it certainly is).
I'm sure I will end up renting/buying a Shogun when available/needed. Internal would be nice of course, but I was okay with the sacrifice.

Final Verdict so far:
Would buy the A7s again. Very happy with it as a B-cam.
Click to expand...

For the price of the Sony plus mounts, lenses, and ND filters you could just about buy a used C100? I just got a C100 and have a 5D3. After having the 5D3 now for over a year I'm somewhat comfortable with it, but there is always something I forget to adjust on it during the pressure of setting up for a shoot. Using the C100 and the 5D3 together is like carrying on a conversation in two different languages at the same time. The C100 is effortless.

Last time I did a shoot, I of course forgot to switch the picture style back to neutral after having shot some photos in standard. The C100 in WD range seems a bit flat after my experience with the 5D3. I think if your running around with two different cameras it's a bit of a gamble as to whether or not you have them matched up under all conditions. I have considered selling the 5D3 and getting another C100...... but I need a good camera for photos as well.

I would like to see some examples of 5d3 and C100 footage together. Here is what I did a few weeks ago. The wide angle was the 5d3 with a Canon 50mm i.4.... the C100 had the 24-105. Unfortunately I forgot to adjust the picture style back to neutral from standard, so I think the results would have been better in neutral..... but live and learn.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJ8Qi3VFLzA&list=UUG7NugrUNvx0mc9m9mZtatA
 
Michael Thames said:
For the price of the Sony plus mounts, lenses, and ND filters you could just about buy a used C100?
Click to expand...

It would be close I think.
Total cost I'm in so far has been $3553 -> Still need to get an ND Filter -> Might put me around $3600. (Although an 80 dollar commlite adapter would have let me not have to get $700 in new lenses).
I did want the low-light ability, and the 4K possibility when I need it in the future. Haven't seen any used C100's around here (not that I've been looking), but I wouldn't let mine go for under $4500. So still about $1000 cheaper (ish depending on options you go for etc).

Colour Matching -> Here are a few samples from this past week
S-Log & C-Log - Straight out of camera
S-Log_C-Log.jpg

Slight Colour Correct (I'm not a colourist)
S-Log_C-Log_CC.jpg

Sample 2 - C-log and PP6 (as I didn't have an ND to be able to do S-LOG outside) - Straight out of camera
PP6_C-Log.jpg
Slight Colour Correct
PP6_C-Log_CC.jpg


Just stuff to look at. Personally, I'm liking how they match so far. This is me shooting both cameras, so quick setups and not sure if I had them white balanced exactly the same (I think the "sunlight" WB on the C100 and the "sunlight" WB on the A7s are a tad different, so using a specific kelvin value works better).
 
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