C300: Canon at NAB2015 starts to make "headlines"

[Spartacus]

Or have an FS7 for half the cost. Unless it's the same price as the Sony or does 120 fps at 4k I don't know why people would buy it at double the price. Just my thoughts.
Steve

Markets are a lot about perception of brands. The FS7 brand might get there (I doubt it), but the C300 brand already has arrived.
I still believe Canon's stand in pro photography is overlooked by people who believe the winds will change in favor of other (currently newer/cheaper/technically better) video cameras.
SloMo and 4K is a given in the C300II, if they add ProRes owners of the FS7 (or whatever camera) will have a hard time convincing producers to NOT go with a C300II.

 

[LeoGrey]

15 stops, global shutter, pro res internally, 60fps 4k/96fps 1080, full sensor read out at BOTH 4k and 1080, slick low light performance with killer ergonomics and functionality.

 

[puredrifting]

I'll be amazed if the C300 MKII records ProRes internally but I guess stranger things have happened. The FS7 is selling, the specs are great, but unlike the higher end cameras, to me, the FS7 makes people look bad. I have yet to see any footage from the FS7 where the way it made people look wasn't distractingly bad. I am not anti-Sony at all, I rented the FS700 and the F55 last year for projects, but whenever I try to photograph people, the Sony color science is very unflattering in comparison to Canon. I would pay double for the C300 MKII over the Sony because the Sony just doesn't ring my bell. I am sure at least some others will feel the same. A camera is not a sum of its specs.

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

15 stops, global shutter, pro res internally, 60fps 4k/96fps 1080, full sensor read out at BOTH 4k and 1080, slick low light performance with killer ergonomics and functionality.

That would be nice but I doubt you will see global shutter at that price range.

 

[DLD]

I don't think anybody really wants another 1DC, they probably just want a C300 that does 4k. At $8K another 1DC type camera makes no sense if it's not competitive with the A7s/GH4 in price, nor much smaller than the C300 in size. You're just paying a lot of money for a 1D X, which barely any videographers need.

A full frame 4K hybrid will work very well for a narrative, even if it needs a lot of add-on's such as a Q7 or a Shogun.

I'll be amazed if the C300 MKII records ProRes internally but I guess stranger things have happened. The FS7 is selling, the specs are great, but unlike the higher end cameras, to me, the FS7 makes people look bad. I have yet to see any footage from the FS7 where the way it made people look wasn't distractingly bad. I am not anti-Sony at all, I rented the FS700 and the F55 last year for projects, but whenever I try to photograph people, the Sony color science is very unflattering in comparison to Canon. I would pay double for the C300 MKII over the Sony because the Sony just doesn't ring my bell. I am sure at least some others will feel the same. A camera is not a sum of its specs.

I like the Camera Store FS7 use - and a lot of them are in 1080P but I don't dispute the resolution - but most of the clips I've seen do look kind of blah to me too. Sony needs to migrate its F65 sensor down its lineup, IMO. That'll make for some really great cameras in the $25,000-$40,000 range.

 

[PedroAquiles]

I bet on 9.990$ or 12.990$ price tag for the C300 mk2, don´t see a 16.000$ launch like in 2011.

- LCD like the c100 mk2 not in the handle
-4K just 30p-25p no slow motion - no raw
- 1080 just 60p
- Advanced AF
- Shoulder mount optional rig.

 

[Graham King]

CanonRumors reporting at least 14 stops DR, 4K @ 60fps and 1080 @ 240fps. Please let it be true!! I would cash out $16k for that.

 

[kylemorgan8]

I bet on 9.990$ or 12.990$ price tag for the C300 mk2, don´t see a 16.000$ launch like in 2011.

- LCD like the c100 mk2 not in the handle
-4K just 30p-25p no slow motion - no raw
- 1080 just 60p
- Advanced AF
- Shoulder mount optional rig.

+1

Perhaps they will give it another 25-30 frames in 1080p (i.e.-96fps or 100fps @ 1080p). Those looking for 4k internal at 60fps or raw at a $12k price point are dreaming.

 

[Samir Patel]

Specs are on newsshooter.com

 

[SlyCooper]

Specs are on newsshooter.com

I like what I'm reading.

 

[George Loch]

$17k

 

[DLD]

Canon usually settles for it's formula of ~11.5 Stops of DR, and great (sometimes best in class, though not Sony's class) low light. That's a good way to go for a Docu/small show camera. In the same way it makes sense for the Alexa to be less low light sensitive, but have 14 stops of DR. Those shows have lights, are able to work super effectively around the 400/800 ASA range. I don't think Canon actually has enough incentive to make a new sensor, as much as a new recording system/workflow. It'd be neat if they tried to source a sensor from somewhere else, like RED does, for the C500, but it's unlikely they want to dominate the high end market....

Well, they did develop a new sensor for C300 MK II.

Gotcha ... I think you do need an auto focus system then. Dual Pixel with a bunch of crossover points might/should/ought to help...

To quote myself here - apparently the new model will have 80% of the screen covered by this Dual Pixel Auto Focus. A major improvement off the previous models. Also has face detect ... (or does it? ... I think Dan Chung says it does)

 

[alaskacameradude]

Also has face detect ... (or does it? ... I think Dan Chung says it does)

The brochure says it does too....

 

[puredrifting]

I wrote on March 21st:

"Make what you will of this but spoke with two different sources this week who have seen specs or prototypes of the C300 MKII. Definitely 4k (as if we thought it wouldn't be), supposedly 10 bit and 12 bit codec options, recording to CFAST Cards and the real disappointment to me, $17k introductory price. Both of my sources are pretty connected in the industry, not shooters, people in the manufacturing part of it. Both are pretty trusted sources, not Canon rumor kind of people."

and on March 23rd:

"Heard another couple of tidbits from source one, Canon Log 2 and 15 stops DR and more new features...Did not hear anything about C500 or the shoulder mount configuration.
I agree, from a marketing standpoint, this leaves them without a direct competitor to the FS7 and personally I think they are leaving money on the table, jumping from $5k to $17k for the C100 MKII and the C300 MKII, respectively. But we all know that Canon had zero trouble selling the C300 MKI so what do we know?"

1. 4k - check
2. 10 and 12 bit codec options - check
3. Recording to C-Fast cards - check
4. $17k intro price - Not sure yet, I have read $20k, $17k and $15,999, but I am going to give my source a check, $17k was probably where they were in March
5. Canon Log 2 - check
6. 15 stops of claimed DR - check
7. Nothing heard about shoulder mount configuration - check

I am going to say that my source was pretty damn accurate.

 

[Doug_EX]

Yes it's a star limitation, but the end results won't change...you will be able to record no more than 30p with the Star.

Turns out that the C00 MKII can conform in camera..wasn't aware of this. So, it's possible to conform from 60p to 24p in camera ad record the 24p (slowed down) to the Star. Good to know.

 

[Matt Gottshalk]

I wrote on March 21st:

"Make what you will of this but spoke with two different sources this week who have seen specs or prototypes of the C300 MKII. Definitely 4k (as if we thought it wouldn't be), supposedly 10 bit and 12 bit codec options, recording to CFAST Cards and the real disappointment to me, $17k introductory price. Both of my sources are pretty connected in the industry, not shooters, people in the manufacturing part of it. Both are pretty trusted sources, not Canon rumor kind of people."

and on March 23rd:

"Heard another couple of tidbits from source one, Canon Log 2 and 15 stops DR and more new features...Did not hear anything about C500 or the shoulder mount configuration.
I agree, from a marketing standpoint, this leaves them without a direct competitor to the FS7 and personally I think they are leaving money on the table, jumping from $5k to $17k for the C100 MKII and the C300 MKII, respectively. But we all know that Canon had zero trouble selling the C300 MKI so what do we know?"

1. 4k - check
2. 10 and 12 bit codec options - check
3. Recording to C-Fast cards - check
4. $17k intro price - Not sure yet, I have read $20k, $17k and $15,999, but I am going to give my source a check, $17k was probably where they were in March
5. Canon Log 2 - check
6. 15 stops of claimed DR - check
7. Nothing heard about shoulder mount configuration - check

I am going to say that my source was pretty damn accurate.

Yup he was spot on.

this will sell well I believe.

 

[kylemorgan8]

"Heard another couple of tidbits from source one, Canon Log 2 and 15 stops DR and more new features...Did not hear anything about C500 or the shoulder mount configuration.
I agree, from a marketing standpoint, this leaves them without a direct competitor to the FS7 and personally I think they are leaving money on the table, jumping from $5k to $17k for the C100 MKII and the C300 MKII, respectively. But we all know that Canon had zero trouble selling the C300 MKI so what do we know?".

Perhaps Canon is planning a paid firmware upgrade to the C100 Mark II to fill in some of the gap? As a C100 Mark II owner I would gladly pay $1,000 to upgrade the focusing system allowing for selective focus and I would pay $2,000 for internal 4k recording and 10 bit 2k recording.

 

[TheDingo]

As a C100 Mark II owner I would gladly pay $1,000 to upgrade the focusing system allowing for selective focus and I would pay $2,000 for internal 4k recording and 10 bit 2k recording.

Canon won't do anything that will interfere with C300 Mk2 sales, so it will probably be a cold day in hell before any C100 Mk2 upgrades appear. ( bug fixes : yes, feature upgrades : nope )

 

[kylemorgan8]

Canon won't do anything that will interfere with C300 Mk2 sales, so it will probably be a cold day in hell before any C100 Mk2 upgrades appear. ( bug fixes : yes, feature upgrades : nope )

I don't think upgrading the focusing system on the C100 Mark II is going to interfere with C300 mk2 sales. Even with the improved focusing ability, the two cameras are light years apart.

And don't forget, Canon made the dual pixel AF upgrade available to C100 owners 6 months prior to allowing the same technology into the C300.

 

[puredrifting]

Perhaps Canon is planning a paid firmware upgrade to the C100 Mark II to fill in some of the gap? As a C100 Mark II owner I would gladly pay $1,000 to upgrade the focusing system allowing for selective focus and I would pay $2,000 for internal 4k recording and 10 bit 2k recording.

It will be interesting to see. I would love to be a fly on the wall of the marketing war room where they decide this stuff at Canon. It is a contradictory yet proven marketing strategy that have executed so far with the EOS C line.