C300: C300 mkII rumours are getting serious

I saw that C700X post on CW and PR.

4K + 10bit 4:4:4 + Global Shutter + on-sensor stabilisation - sounds way too good to be true.

However, if it is true, and given that it's Canon, it will most likely cost more than any indie filmmaker could likely afford...


I heard they were going to give you all that...and pay off your college loans for you.
 
All this stuff is to good to believe :-D
Except Long-GOP and MPEG2.

Anyway, this particular spec summary sounds fake to me ... which doesn't mean there won't be something similar at the NAB.

Most NDA's expire 1-3 weeks before the major expos, so mid-late March rumors might be more accurate. At least, we know there won't be shortage of them.

Followed by the rumors of when the cameras will actually ship. And what the first firmware upgrade will be to make the camera functional.
 
So if the C700x ( if it exists) is doing 4k 444 what's is C500 and what is C300 doing at lower price points or does the x denote a special camera as a go between....or have I missed something ?
 
Based on the bayer pattern and number of photosites, the C500 currently yields 4k 4:2:2.
To get true 4:4:4, Canon would need to increase number of photosites in order for 4k 4:4:4 to be based on real rather than interpolated color.
 
I saw that C700X post on CW and PR.

4K + 10bit 4:4:4 + Global Shutter + on-sensor stabilisation - sounds way too good to be true.

However, if it is true, and given that it's Canon, it will most likely cost more than any indie filmmaker could likely afford...

Uhhh yea, the c300 cost more then any indie filmmaker can afford :)
 
Based on the bayer pattern and number of photosites, the C500 currently yields 4k 4:2:2.
To get true 4:4:4, Canon would need to increase number of photosites in order for 4k 4:4:4 to be based on real rather than interpolated color.
Allegedly, some reincarnation of 5D - often mentioned as either 5DC or 5D X- will have the 1D X 1D C 18 MPX sensor, recording 4K in an APS-H crop. I kind of gets trickier from there. To step up from it, C 300 MK II should have the same s35 sensor from MK I but with better codec, internal 4K at a reasonable bit rate.

Now, for this model to compete with the best, it should feature ~ 24 MPX - 28 MPX full-frame (not s35) sensor, although even that won't be as large as Alexa II has. Canon could, again hypothetically speaking, re-purpose and upgrade its existing 24 MPX FF 5D MK II sensor for a full readout 4K video. To me, C500/700 should have either enough pixels for 444 or 5K/6K recording. To go back to the top cameras on the market in Alexa II, Red Dragon and F65, they have a ~ 20 MPX sensor - albeit of different sizes - which deems sufficient. I don't think C500/700 could get away with simply being an s35 8.8 MPX sensor at this day and age.

Then again, Varicam does and they charge a pretty penny for it.
 
So wait... 34mm x 18mm sensor? That's a bit of an odd size when comparing to 36mm x 24mm for full frame DSLRs or 24.6mm x 13.8mm for the C300/C500. Since using the C300, I have always missed the larger sensors of full frame DSLRs, especially when working with wide lenses so, I'd love to see a bigger chip on that mysterious cam. Just wondering how that odd size would play with EF glass though.
 
C700x is fake:
http://www.canonrumors.com/2015/02/canon-cinema-eos-c700x-rumor-a-fake/

... will move to 8k. That will take time.

From what I understand 8K wont be first broadcast until the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and Canon is a Gold Partner. Would make sense to have something 8K available for then, but that's 5 years away and will be a very limited audience.

I think 2015 will be the year when a decent (pro!) 4K camera will be excellent for the next 5-6 years until the 8K wave hits.

Personally, if the C300 MKII hits the spot I'll be getting out of this current quick churn cycle (3 bodies in 4 years for me) and working it hard until next decade.
 
Last edited:
According to Canon this 5K/6K resolution is non standard. When they move up, they will move to 8k. That will take time.

if that's the case...then they are ridiculous. Most shoot 5k and 6k to deliver in 4k. I would have to think they would understand that basic concept.
 
if that's the case...then they are ridiculous. Most shoot 5k and 6k to deliver in 4k. I would have to think they would understand that basic concept.
Two more factoids - Alexa dominates with a "non-traditional" resolution and your basic 4K Bayer sensor doesn't really deliver 4K anyway. And this doesn't even include 5K/6K for reframing purposes.

But some designs do have some flexibility left in them. Let's see what Canon actually does before fully condemning them.
 
Shot a sizzle for a show pitch today on my "sadly outdated" C100 today (JK, I love this camera, it is amazing for what it is). Was discussing with the co-producer, who owns a Scarlet and an HPX270, what we would buy to shoot this series if we are lucky at NATPE. Lower end DIY/How To Lifestyle show. We both like Canon, but if the C300 MKII turns out to be a lot more than $12k, as much as I really dislike how Sonys render skin tones and make people look, I think we would be on three FS7s. The price is the sweet spot. I think the C100 is my last 1080 camera, the next ones have to be 4k and the C300 MKII sounds like it could conceivably be almost twice the price of the Sony. The show will need to look decent but not cinematic, whatever that means. 4K, robust codec, easy to operate and affordable will be what is needed. Since we are newbs at show running, if we are lucky enough to sell a show, it will undoubtedly be low budget. Not sure if we would have the budgets to rent better cameras like F55s or Amiras. We'll be pitching four projects so if one sells, we will quickly purchase 3-4 cameras. A lot of the concepts involve travel, small spaces, minimal crew and getting in a getting out quickly so a smaller footprint, intuitive camera will be the ticket. This will be the first NAB I have cared about in years. I may even go in person, have not gone since 2007.
 
Interesting, I'd be far less concerned about 4k for a tv show than say an indie feature or promo work.

It does seem to be the way of the future though so I'm not sure I can keep ignoring it like I have been.
 
My feeling is 2016 will be the year for wider 4k content from the likes of Netflix and the other non-broadcast content providers.

Broadcasters only change when it is forced upon them.

Netflix and Hulu etc. will bring this next step to the masses, and this NAB will be the one where the current and future leaders of 4k cameras put down their markers.
 
My feeling is 2016 will be the year for wider 4k content from the likes of Netflix and the other non-broadcast content providers...
Let's see how this whole new FCC "utility" thing plays out first. If the likes of Comcast can't charge premium prices to Neflix, they can easily throttle the prime time speeds to the sub-1080p level.

And then the only 4K will be on Blu-Rays ... whenever it comes out.
 
Let's see how this whole new FCC "utility" thing plays out first. If the likes of Comcast can't charge premium prices to Neflix, they can easily throttle the prime time speeds to the sub-1080p level.

And then the only 4K will be on Blu-Rays ... whenever it comes out.

Good point.

Although with VP9 support in the latest 4k tvs, that MAY help the bandwidth issue.
 
Let's see how this whole new FCC "utility" thing plays out first. If the likes of Comcast can't charge premium prices to Neflix, they can easily throttle the prime time speeds to the sub-1080p level.

And then the only 4K will be on Blu-Rays ... whenever it comes out.

I thought the whole thing was that they CAN'T throttle anymore...?
 
Good point.

Although with VP9 support in the latest 4k tvs, that MAY help the bandwidth issue.
IIRC, Netflix says 4K streaming now requires 20 Mbps in H264 and 10 in HEVC. The problem is, of course, prime time. At 2 AM, all streams could work fine.

I thought the whole thing was that they CAN'T throttle anymore...?
No, they can't discrminate between the various sources. That's the new ruling. The line owners will then just set the same low bit rate for everyone by averaging out their speeds over a 24 hour period.

FCC can't force the line owners to upgrade their speeds or buy more servers and the companies will likely respond by upping customer fees, so if someone wants a 4K stream in prime time from their Netflix or Amazon site, instead of having a 30 Mbps broadband for $40/mo, they'll need to subscribe to a 50 Mbps service for $70/mo.
 
Back
Top