Canon EOS C100

dustylense said:
+1 on the c300. It's hard to even rent. If you haven't shot with it, shut up. Look at the screen and not numbers in the specs.
Click to expand...

It's a beautifully designed camera with a wonderful image.
But I think people are talking past each other here.
I'm making one simple point that I think is pretty valid.
Canon revolutionized much of what we've been doing as film makers and commercial producers 4 years ago.

My shop was literally the first to shoot commercially with the P&S mini 35 and Nikon AIS lenses in the US when the first version as developed.
One of those rigs cost as much as a C300 before we ever put it on a camera.
We've got a fairly reasonable perspective on this evolution, and I've been a bit frustrated by Canon's inability to bring it all together with IQ and at least fixed 24p, 30p and 60p frame rates.

It's still early , but the BM looks likes it's proven how intentionally hobbled some of the new Canon offerings are VS where they could be at this point.
It looks like the new Sony full frame rumor, if it's true, captures the essence of where a lot of us who've forged new ground in that revolution, thought/hoped Canon would go.

Again, I love the C300 image and would buy one tomorrow if it had 60p.
 
jimagine said:
It's a beautifully designed camera with a wonderful image.
But I think people are talking past each other here.
I'm making one simple point that I think is pretty valid.
Canon revolutionized much of what we've been doing as film makers and commercial producers 4 years ago.

My shop was literally the first to shoot commercially with the P&S mini 35 and Nikon AIS lenses in the US when the first version as developed.
One of those rigs cost as much as a C300 before we ever put it on a camera.
We've got a fairly reasonable perspective on this evolution, and I've been a bit frustrated by Canon's inability to bring it all together with IQ and at least fixed 24p, 30p and 60p frame rates.

It's still early , but the BM looks likes it's proven how intentionally hobbled some of the new Canon offerings are VS where they could be at this point.
It looks like the new Sony full frame rumor, if it's true, captures the essence of where a lot of us who've forged new ground in that revolution, thought/hoped Canon would go.

Again, I love the C300 image and would buy one tomorrow if it had 60p.
Click to expand...
DUDE! Canon XF digic DV III processors CAN'T deliver 1080/60p. They will need to develop a new processor for that. DC Digic IV or something. THe BM Hobbles the C300? Smaller than m4/3's sensor 30/p max with a built in recorder. No Nd's, no XLR, No waveforms, weird ergonomics, poor monitor, NO removable batteries! Other than RAW DNG and prores (the built in recorder) how is it hobbled the Canon C series? (I'm still buying one by the way). Why people are comparing the BMDC to Canon C's is beyond me. Totally different tools!

The C100 is just the AVCHD version of the C300. Like the FS/100 is the baby F3. Be glad they made it. If it nears the $5000 mark, I will buy that too because I have glass to go with it now. Just to make little ol corporate vids and such.
 
dcloud said:
c100 would be good if priced at $5k
Click to expand...

It will get there.

It looks like $6,700 in the UK.

The 5D3 was $3,500 in the US at start. There have been a couple of sales with stacked deals at $3,000, even $2,700 net of selling extras thrown in - 24-105, grip, 600RT.

Plus the normal price decay as bodies age. That looks like a fantastic sensor! Good times for new equipment, either soon or a bit later. Two years from now we are really blessed.

Too bad the Yen is so strong. US dollar lost a lot of buying power since 2008 with the economy. Yen from 120 to 80, so a $2,000 body in 2008 is $3,000 today. That is our real problem!

I NEED a 5D3 for my still work, I just had to buy one recently after trying to get by with a T4i. But either the C100 or a 5D-C would be a great addition or alternative, respectfully!

Cheers.
Michael
 
Last edited:
Jim Martin said:
the HDMI out is the HDMI standard 8 bit 4-2-2 color and the timecode is NOT superimposed on the screen, it's in the metadata were it should be...
Click to expand...

Thanks Jim! Good news on the HDMI. It sounds like other were talking to the CSR's, who only read from the page in front of them.

As far as the timecode: It can be either metadata, OR an overlay if required for legal purposes like depositions (according to Canon web.)

But there definitely is the clean, uncompressed HDMI out option.

Michael
 
dustylense said:
Why people are comparing the BMDC to Canon C's is beyond me. Totally different tools!
Click to expand...

I think it's more consideration than comparison. The C100, FS700, and BMCC are the new kids on the block and they're all worthy of consideration, you have to compare them and determine which is right for your needs. If the C100 does have an uncompressed 4:2:2 output then I would consider coupling it with a ninja if I could pick one up for $5000. But even then that's twice the cost of the BMCC.
 
squig said:
I think it's more consideration than comparison. The C100, FS700, and BMCC are the new kids on the block and they're all worthy of consideration, you have to compare them and determine which is right for your needs. If the C100 does have an uncompressed 4:2:2 output then I would consider coupling it with a ninja if I could pick one up for $5000. But even then that's twice the cost of the BMCC.
Click to expand...
I'm starting to think all these companies are gouging us. Not by the price of any certain camera. But by releasing something then 7 months later release something that "seems" better and we all go out and buy that for that extra 50 lines of res or better lowlight. They got us brainwashed!

I will say this. Next month I fly to South America for a decent sized corporate job where LOTS of remote location footage will be shot. IF I had the choice between the BMDC and the C100, I would EASILY pick the C100. Battery solution, check. Built in ND, Check. XLR sound, check. Run and gun shots, Check. STOAGE Requirements, CHECK CHECK CHECK. Camera serviceability, Check. How fun is it going to be doing any hand held work with the BMDC? C100 ergonomics, check.

That is why I baffle at comparing the two cameras. People keep talking about the BMDC at a $3000 purchase. Add your battery solution. Add your rigging. For any type of DOC work or run and gun, how about your audio solution? Then comes the media, not only in the field, but at home base. With the BMDC, you will need countless media storage for the camera itself and to even more dump it. How much is that gonna run you? C100, couple inexpensive cards and a TB mobile drive that fits in your laptop bag, CHECK. How about low light? How about final workflow? Oh, but the BMDC records prores, right. So will the C100.

I keep saying it.. there is a camera for anything, but there is no camera for everything. Add up all that cost to function the BMDC like the storage and it's not a $3000 camera anymore. So cost shouldn't be the factor if you are being paid to do a project.
 
I think this is a very interesting position for Canon. I also remember a lot of these same worries when the c300 came out, but many people are extremely satisfied with it. If the price is indeed closer to 5k it will be a very tempting option. As far as comparing to BMC, I for one do not have the storage space for the massive 432gb an hour that the BMC calls for in 2k RAW. Back that up and you are looking at almost a TB of space per hour of footage. This is a very interesting time to be in the market for a camera, and I can only imagine it getting better. I personally can't wait until November.
 
I also subscribe to dustylense thoughts - that this camera is aimed at a different market to the BMC, the C100 will sell in droves as will the BMC but they're 2 different beasts. The camera hire place I use in London can't get enough C300 to stem the demand and I'm sure the C100 and BMC will be well sought as well.

Ok so I have a complete wildcard theory (so don't flame me) as to why the BMC might be so competitive with pricing, which is probably the main reason why the C100 has annoyed so many people by charging lots of money for limited features.

Have Blackmagic seen a loophole in the tax system (the one that puts movie cameras into a higher taxation bracket if they can record over 30mins of video) by claiming that the BMC shoots RAW stills..and due to the high storage required is limited to recording less than 30mins?

I know the ProRes ability flies in the face of this, but could this be how the camera has come in so cheap therefore disrupting other camera announcements?
 
Spot on, dustylense. Your lenses may be dusty, but your logic is crystal clear.

My type of one-man band shooting calls for a camera like the C100. I already own an FS100, and have had many successful shoots with it. But the C100 appeals to me. I held a C300 and I loved the form factor and all around solid build. Its images were incredible! But the price kept me away.
If the C100 can fit within my budget, I will consider moving to it. I like the ND filters, the downward-tilting monitor (I'm short, the FS100 monitor can be a pain on a tall tripod), the dual SD card slots, the LOG gamma mode. I'm happy with AVCHD, as are my clients. The C100 doesn't look much bigger than a 5D. I think it only weighs about a half-pound more. For hand-held shooting, this camera should be a breeze.

But I'll wait and see. We'll be getting field reports from some lucky individuals who'll get to beta test the camera. Until then, I'll keep shooting with my Sony.
 
Code:
I dont mind the c100 but its 2k above what i would pay :) not trying to offend as i do believe it would produce very wonderful imagery. Think 5k + atomos ninja = awesome.

Rumors have it at 7k
 
price only matters if you are an owner operator

to most film productions any camera that costs under 30k is in the same price bracket
 
vanvideo said:
Spot on, dustylense. Your lenses may be dusty, but your logic is crystal clear.

My type of one-man band shooting calls for a camera like the C100. I already own an FS100, and have had many successful shoots with it. But the C100 appeals to me. I held a C300 and I loved the form factor and all around solid build. Its images were incredible! But the price kept me away.
If the C100 can fit within my budget, I will consider moving to it. I like the ND filters, the downward-tilting monitor (I'm short, the FS100 monitor can be a pain on a tall tripod), the dual SD card slots, the LOG gamma mode. I'm happy with AVCHD, as are my clients. The C100 doesn't look much bigger than a 5D. I think it only weighs about a half-pound more. For hand-held shooting, this camera should be a breeze.

But I'll wait and see. We'll be getting field reports from some lucky individuals who'll get to beta test the camera. Until then, I'll keep shooting with my Sony.
Click to expand...

Look at the ergonomics of the C100. It is way above the C300 and miles ahead of the Sony FS series. Near perfect for solo doc run and gun shooters, or a team of mobile solo shooters that covers events. YES I have shot with the C300 and loved the images that were far far better than I expected from the specs. Our team's editor loved them so much that she basically said to forget anything lesser, like our FS100s. But we missed shots due to the C300 being a cine camera not able to respond quickly to rapidly changing and unpredictable events; all this is solved in the C100. We would love a C200 with C100 ergonomics and 4:2:2 without an external recorder.

Still concerned about the AVCHD codec since Canon support insists it is a consumer grade implementation of AVCHD. Not good if true, but the same polite reps (two of them) also insisted that the HDMI output was only 4:2:0. Jim Martin at Film Tools found out that it was not true, itis4:2:2,by calling the engineering team, he is THE MAN for for salesperson suport on Canon pro grade equipment.

The same reps that misinformed me about the HDMI output also said that the C100s AVCHD was consumer grade, their words not mine, and the same codec as on the XA10. Having been surprised by how much better the C300 image was than I would predict from the specs, one of our team members is ordering one unit. With video samples or more confidence from tech support it would have been several units. Hated the sound of "consumer grade codec" on a $8k list camera body. Perhaps Jim Martin can get this issue resolved and shown to be still another failure from Canon Support. I hope our experience will be like the C300, much much better than you would predict from the specs.

BUT SPECS ARE NOT EVERYTHING. The C100 is for our docs, feature work will be on something else. With high volume shooting needed on docs we have a different set of concerns than on feature work; great images are no good if you missed the one moment in ten hours. Image is important but being able to work quickly, with high volume, with small sized teams (even solo), and with minimal support equipment such as lights, is vital to our continued success. Looks like the C100 does that. Look at the small things Canon did to make it easier for solo shooters to work quickly, like single button reset of focus and exposure. Sure it takes only five to ten seconds to reset manually but in that time will we miss the moment we have been waiting for? It has happened many times and then one day's work is lost.

The C100's workflow and ergonomics are perfect for our work. I can't wait for the physical sensation of finally having a large sensor low light, camera with decent solo shooter run and gun ergonomics. Now if I can only tear it away from the rest of the team.
 
Last edited:
My CP-16R kills all these cameras.

Seriously, at 5k, the C100 looks like a good deal. If it produces an image like the C300, it's a no brainer.
 
Will be interesting to see what Bloom says about this after the review samples are sent out. He seems to really like the c300.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top