C300 vs F3

[Jim Anderson]

Decided on the Canon C300 after also carefully considering the Sony F3 since my client base is mainly network television, documentary, corporate and web work at this point in my career. The need for 10bit 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 is simply not needed for me. What I like about the C300 is the in-camera 50mbps 4:2:2 MXF wrapped codec and the XLR audio inputs. I have since found video clips online with major DPs including Rodney Charters (24, Marley & Me, Newlyweds among others) raving about the C300 when they compared it to other cameras including the Alexa, Scarlet and the big Sonys (F35, F65 etc). He also pointed out that Star Wars was entirely filmed in 8bit. There have been many negative comments on these threads regarding the 16k price for the C300, but the reality for me, already owning a 5D package with a trove of EF and EF-S lenses along with CF cards made the price no issue at all. To purchase the F3, Nanoflash, S-Log, SxS cards and two good zoom and wide angle lenses would have cost at least 30k. Different strokes for different folks. Thanks to Barry Green for great advice on the right camera for the right client base. My C300 arrives today.

 

[alpi69]

Decided on the Canon C300 after also carefully considering the Sony F3 since my client base is mainly network television, documentary, corporate and web work at this point in my career. The need for 10bit 4:2:2 and 4:4:4 is simply not needed for me. What I like about the C300 is the in-camera 50mbps 4:2:2 MXF wrapped codec and the XLR audio inputs. I have since found video clips online with major DPs including Rodney Charters (24, Marley & Me, Newlyweds among others) raving about the C300 when they compared it to other cameras including the Alexa, Scarlet and the big Sonys (F35, F65 etc). He also pointed out that Star Wars was entirely filmed in 8bit. There have been many negative comments on these threads regarding the 16k price for the C300, but the reality for me, already owning a 5D package with a trove of EF and EF-S lenses along with CF cards made the price no issue at all. To purchase the F3, Nanoflash, S-Log, SxS cards and two good zoom and wide angle lenses would have cost at least 30k. Different strokes for different folks. Thanks to Barry Green for great advice on the right camera for the right client base. My C300 arrives today.

Congrats Jim. Many here had similar thinkings when deciding for a new cam. The F3 has its value, but for many people the compromises are just too big with it.

The C300 is a real workhorse. Very fast set up, very easy to use, very tough in taking the grind of a working day. And the images are pretty much comparable with cams for much more than 16k.

Enjoy it