C100 Mark ii
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NorBro
Major Contributor
If you can get a good one, an URSA Mini 4K is around the same price and its IQ is extremely superior - but the camera is basically unusable for anyone who shoots without lights since its max ISO is 400 (technically it's 800 but FPN is too noticeable even if you crush shadows).
Proper cameras that are cinema systems like the above just don't sell for that low unless they are old and used, and even then there aren't many choices.
Proper cameras that are cinema systems like the above just don't sell for that low unless they are old and used, and even then there aren't many choices.
drboffa
Well-known member
The Sony Fs5 is another option for a solid HD camera in that price range; you can probably find a used one for about $1500 if you look. It also shoots UHD (albeit in an 8-bit codec, limited to 30p, unless recording externally with the raw upgrade).
The first few seasons of "No Reservations" were shot on the F3, and they look great.
The C100 Mkii is still a very good choice if you're staying in HD. I believe the autofocus is superior to the two Sony cameras, although I don't have personal experience with it.
The first few seasons of "No Reservations" were shot on the F3, and they look great.
The C100 Mkii is still a very good choice if you're staying in HD. I believe the autofocus is superior to the two Sony cameras, although I don't have personal experience with it.
It was posted in the wrong forum and more appropriate for the Canon Cinema EOS section. Thanks for your feedback NorBro.
They must have felt - quite legitimately, I assume - that the pro market, including the lower end, has already shifted toward 4K such as GH-4/ GH-5/A7S/II and one might as well pick up a used C100 if one wanted an HD only camera. On top of that, they made a fairly big jump in quality with C-rippled 200, recording 4K Raw Light. They could have named it C100 MKIII, since it was priced similarly to the original C100 of half a decade earlier.
NorBro
Major Contributor
Yeah, but that's just spec talk on the business side of it.
Some people who use cameras for certain purposes could have benefited from an updated super-sampled 1080p/2K image from a 6K sensor with 10-bit high bitrates.
The C100 Mark II was already looking soft a few years later and could have had a really nice upgrade (just look at the image of any Blackmagic 1080p).
Recording 10 hours a day with CRL and then transcoding the footage in post just to have 1080p is unmanageable for most, especially for reality-based show content like the OP mentioned.
Some people who use cameras for certain purposes could have benefited from an updated super-sampled 1080p/2K image from a 6K sensor with 10-bit high bitrates.
The C100 Mark II was already looking soft a few years later and could have had a really nice upgrade (just look at the image of any Blackmagic 1080p).
Recording 10 hours a day with CRL and then transcoding the footage in post just to have 1080p is unmanageable for most, especially for reality-based show content like the OP mentioned.
Back in 2017 BHPhoto dropped the price of the original C100 down to $1699 during their Black Friday sale. It's been 7 years since the Mark ii has been announced. Hoping they do the same price drop soon...The C100 Mark ii is old but suites my needs of a proper video/cinema HD camera that does not need to be frankenrigged and is good in low light. Just sitting back seeing our options of HD cameras and whether to purchase new or used.
Of course but, as I had posted on the GH-6 thread, the photo-video manufacturers need to move a lot of units to justify a release. IMO, Canon did enough with C200 (even with its 8-bit cripple hammer) to feel no terrible wrath of the video shooters scorned.
NorBro
Major Contributor
They're mostly fine for sensitive microphones around -30 dBV/Pa.
But a lot of great mics are between -40 and -50 or more, which the preamps will struggle with because they aren't powerful enough. And if you raise the levels past the sweet knob spot of 5-7, you'll introduce more noise.
But a lot of great mics are between -40 and -50 or more, which the preamps will struggle with because they aren't powerful enough. And if you raise the levels past the sweet knob spot of 5-7, you'll introduce more noise.
One point of failure that has surprised me with the C100's (both mk2 and OG): the handles. We've been rocking C100's since they were released (alongside newer cams), and I keep running into issues where the XLR's in the handles start to go. Last time I sent a few in, the price was pretty high to repair or replace. But the bodies themselves have been rock solid.
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
The c200 is the oldest cam without handle hell
there a c300i and almost 2 going cheap
id have a c100 over a no nd cam any time
ursa and f3 are too heavy (I owned an f3)
c100 good - c200 maybe better
fs5 very light so maybe good too
there a c300i and almost 2 going cheap
id have a c100 over a no nd cam any time
ursa and f3 are too heavy (I owned an f3)
c100 good - c200 maybe better
fs5 very light so maybe good too
morgan_moore
Major Contributor
Speed booster goes on fs5- worth considering as 24-105 might be something you need
I have 15-85 canon it’s the best s35 canon lens you never heard of- awesome with my c200
I have 15-85 canon it’s the best s35 canon lens you never heard of- awesome with my c200
KarlSutton
Well-known member
The preamps are fine on the handle, here's a video I made years ago; https://youtu.be/A0hJH5a08Wo
NorBro
Major Contributor
COS-11D has great sensitivity, -35 dBV/Pa.
It doesn't need much juice which is why your results are so favorable.
___
But your video is also an excellent example showing how a sensitive microphone used with decent camera preamps can sound without external assistance.
A lot of the misconceptions about cameras having really bad internal preamps came from using very low sensitive microphones and people jacking up the gain, which resulted in hissing.
Sony's ECM-44B is a lav I've seen recommended a countless number of times back in the day as a decent budget option, and that microphone is a whopping -53.
-35 vs. -53...tremendous difference.
I'm not sure the C100 would even have enough gain to raise the levels to proper places in some situations. That's when you learn how important an external preamp/mixer could be.
It doesn't need much juice which is why your results are so favorable.
___
But your video is also an excellent example showing how a sensitive microphone used with decent camera preamps can sound without external assistance.
A lot of the misconceptions about cameras having really bad internal preamps came from using very low sensitive microphones and people jacking up the gain, which resulted in hissing.
Sony's ECM-44B is a lav I've seen recommended a countless number of times back in the day as a decent budget option, and that microphone is a whopping -53.
-35 vs. -53...tremendous difference.
I'm not sure the C100 would even have enough gain to raise the levels to proper places in some situations. That's when you learn how important an external preamp/mixer could be.