C300: C300III essentials

boosh

boosh

Well-known member
Hi all, my C300III turned up this week. I'm coming from my FS700/Odyssey7Q setup which I've used for a whopping 8 years so this is a bit of a change but after an hour of playing around with the camera, I love it. The image is just stunning and finding my way around the camera buttons was simple. Anyway, I wanted to ask any experienced Canon owners what essentials I should get for my C300? I have purchased a dual battery charger (Kastar brand as recommended by someone else on another post), I have 750GB of CFexpress cards, a spare BP-A60 battery and a CFexpress card reader. Is there anything else I should consider or that people have found useful? I have a great selection of EF glass so covered on that front. Thanks!
 
Congratulations! I have been on the FS700/7Q route too. After a fw update the image was great but it was a long way from promises to fulfilment from Convergent.

I left the C300iii as it came. No add-ons, no cage, handles, mounts etc.. only the EFV-50. It's not the best viewfinder I have ever looked through. I don't use it for focussing - the camera does that way better than me - it's okay. Most important it gives me a solid contact point for handheld shooting.

Have in mind the Kastar charger takes very long to charge two batteries. A short night in a hotel won't be long enough.
I started with the original BP-A60 plus 3 Core 98W and ordered another Core. I sometimes power a 7" Portkeys HH7
by the battery too. The C300iii needs more power than I expected though-

Finally I can use my 70-200/2.8 again AF rocks.
Images are gorgeous.

IMG_0761.jpg
 
I'd seriously look into a real EVF, like the Graticle, Eye or even the native Canon($$$). I run the Zacuto Helmet set-up, which is just basically a small cheese plate on-top of the camera with a rail to mount their handle to, which allows me to easily mount their Axis EVF mount and Graticle. A lot of people I run across or clients I have use Zacuto, so it makes it fairly easy to use some of my stuff on their cameras, when need be. Especially my EVF. Also, I've been using the Dolgin TC400 four position simultaneous battery charger for my Canon batts since I got my original C300 in 13(?). It's specced to charge four 5600maH batteries simultaneously in approx. 3.5 hours. I also have four batteries for my 300. One original and three high-capacity. I keep the small original as a back-up/spare/OMG battery.
 
Run&Gun said:
.. I keep the small original as a back-up/spare/OMG battery.
Click to expand...

Which small original one? My C300iii came with the BPA-60
I have the modified BM URSA VF. Great affordable viewfinder but unfortunately
woodencamera doesn't sell the modification kit anymore. I prefer the V50 though :)
 
Clermond said:
Which small original one? My C300iii came with the BPA-60
I have the modified BM URSA VF. Great affordable viewfinder but unfortunately
woodencamera doesn't sell the modification kit anymore. I prefer the V50 though :)
Click to expand...

I was talking about my original C300. The battery it shipped with was a small battery and not the high capacity version. I always used the high capacity batts as the primaries and the small one I could stick in my pocket 'just in case'.
 
Clermond said:
Congratulations! I have been on the FS700/7Q route too. After a fw update the image was great but it was a long way from promises to fulfilment from Convergent.

I left the C300iii as it came. No add-ons, no cage, handles, mounts etc.. only the EFV-50. It's not the best viewfinder I have ever looked through. I don't use it for focussing - the camera does that way better than me - it's okay. Most important it gives me a solid contact point for handheld shooting.

Have in mind the Kastar charger takes very long to charge two batteries. A short night in a hotel won't be long enough.
I started with the original BP-A60 plus 3 Core 98W and ordered another Core. I sometimes power a 7" Portkeys HH7
by the battery too. The C300iii needs more power than I expected though-

Finally I can use my 70-200/2.8 again AF rocks.
Images are gorgeous.

View attachment 139973
Click to expand...

Is it annoying at all having the battery stick out that far? How careful do you have to be about stressing the mount?

I only use BP-A30s on my c200 and the battery is flush with the back so I can press it into my chest without worrying.
 
Run&Gun said:
I'd seriously look into a real EVF, like the Graticle, Eye or even the native Canon($$$). I run the Zacuto Helmet set-up, which is just basically a small cheese plate on-top of the camera with a rail to mount their handle to, which allows me to easily mount their Axis EVF mount and Graticle. A lot of people I run across or clients I have use Zacuto, so it makes it fairly easy to use some of my stuff on their cameras, when need be. Especially my EVF. Also, I've been using the Dolgin TC400 four position simultaneous battery charger for my Canon batts since I got my original C300 in 13(?). It's specced to charge four 5600maH batteries simultaneously in approx. 3.5 hours. I also have four batteries for my 300. One original and three high-capacity. I keep the small original as a back-up/spare/OMG battery.
Click to expand...

If I get the c300 iii I'll definitely eventually pick up the canon viewfinder, that thing looks so nice!

@ boosh, I highly recommend a cinesaddle. They're awesome for something in between literal handholding and a dedicated support system like the easyrig.
 
I wouldn't say any of it is necessary but my rig serves me pretty well. The chest pad is clutch, and it holds my v-mount so I don't have to worry about the A60 sticking out, which is nice, and since then I've added a Hollyland 400 which has worked out better than I anticipated. Great little unit for the price and clients LOVE the iPad streaming/recording/screenshot/drawing functionality. The little handle on the left side lives on every camera rig I've ever made. Love that thing.
 
rob norton said:
Is it annoying at all having the battery stick out that far? How careful do you have to be about stressing the mount?

I only use BP-A30s on my c200 and the battery is flush with the back so I can press it into my chest without worrying.
Click to expand...

I've used mainly the BP-A60 for three years now on the C200 without any issues. That photo really does exaggerate how far it sticks out. I use it as a point of contact when shooting cradled,
it works fine. The mount is rock solid, have never had an issue with breaking the tabs or anything. At least on the C200 and 300 MKII, the BP-A60 is a non-issue.
 
puredrifting said:
I've used mainly the BP-A60 for three years now on the C200 without any issues. That photo really does exaggerate how far it sticks out. I use it as a point of contact when shooting cradled,
it works fine. The mount is rock solid, have never had an issue with breaking the tabs or anything. At least on the C200 and 300 MKII, the BP-A60 is a non-issue.
Click to expand...

Every time I'm tempted to go down the core nano c-98/extra monitor path I keep reminding myself how much I enjoy going with a bare bones set up.
 
Thanks guys, loads of great recommendations. With the chargers, between the original one the camera came with and the Kastar one, I should be good for overnight charging. Does anyone know if there is a sun hood available for the monitor the C300III comes with? I think that could be very useful when filming outside.
 
The Jason Cases fitted pelicans are really nice to have. Fitted cases take a lot of wear and tear off of the C300s.
 
boosh said:
Thanks guys, loads of great recommendations. With the chargers, between the original one the camera came with and the Kastar one, I should be good for overnight charging. Does anyone know if there is a sun hood available for the monitor the C300III comes with? I think that could be very useful when filming outside.
Click to expand...

I have the Hoodman HC300 on order. If you wait for 2 days I can tell you more.
 
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Speaking of essentials, I asked wooden camera about a direct attachment gold mount battery plate, referencing this v-mount plate.

Their reply was "...we are certainly working on one. We do not have a release date at the moment..."

As someone who has not yet invested in larger batteries, I think a low footprint, direct gold mount makes the gold mount the front runner again despite stiff competition from the explosion of mini v-locks.

I know it's easy enough to buy hardware to give a gold mount but I would definitely rather not use rods and go with the smallest set up possible. RED has done so well with this compact philosophy and I think it'd be a shame if we can't take full advantage of the new c-series when in "ball mode".

If the extension unit is required then I can live with a v-gold adapter because size is more of a given at that point.
 
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Clermond, let me know how that works out. Love to know how well it works in bright sunlight. Cheers.
 
Clermond said:
I have the Hoodman HC300 on order. If you wait for 2 days I can tell you more.
Click to expand...

I use the Hoodman H400 on my C200 LCD and it kind of fits although it crops off the edges a tiny bit. But I think the LCD on the C500 MKII/C300 MKIII is a touch larger?
 
rob norton said:
Speaking of essentials, I asked wooden camera about a direct attachment gold mount battery plate, referencing this v-mount plate.

Their reply was "...we are certainly working on one. We do not have a release date at the moment..."

As someone who has not yet invested in larger batteries, I think a low footprint, direct gold mount makes the gold mount the front runner again despite stiff competition from the explosion of mini v-locks.

I know it's easy enough to buy hardware to give a gold mount but I would definitely rather not use rods and go with the smallest set up possible. RED has done so well with this compact philosophy and I think it'd be a shame if we can't take full advantage of the new c-series when in "ball mode".

If the extension unit is required then I can live with a v-gold adapter because size is more of a given at that point.
Click to expand...

Aren't the extension/add-on units available in Gold and V?
 
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