C100: Is the c100 still relevant? Or is the lack of 4k a dealbreaker?

J

jrm27

Active member
Hello all,

For the past couple years I've been shooting all types of different media... interviews, travel docs, identity pieces, etc... For a long time I was using DSLR (5dmkII > 6d > 5dmkiii) but in the past year I started shooting on c200s, and I really fell in love with shooting with that format. I'd love to build up my own similarly flexible rig, but a c200 setup is outside my budget. I'll still be using my DSLR rigs as a B cam setup so I'd like to stay with the Canon format. I've got a good experience of using them together.

That being said, I'm entertaining the option of finding a used c100. Whats the thought on the relevancy of this camera still? Is it getting too long in the tooth to age well? Is the lack of 4k a dealbreaker? Most of my content is viewed on a computer screen or even just on general 1080 screens. Isn't having 4k a dealbreaker for you? I LOVE the resolution of the 4k and the RAW codec of the c200, but considering most of my footage isn't viewed in 4k and I use the RAW sparingly, I can probably get away without it. Thoughts on the c100? Is it still the great workhouse that it has been?

-jon
 
Well, I've been shooting on a C100mkii and it hasn't let me down yet! I got it because I have a bunch of L glass and have been shooting vid on Canon DSLR's and really needed something better. Yeah, it's a workhorse and even though its a bit bigger than a DSLR it's still pretty discreet. I wondered about all the 4K stuff, but the reality seems to be 4K gets cameras sold; but projects get done in 1080. I'll take a kick-ass 1080 that uses available and inexpensive media, and an almost "universal" codec, over some 4K external recorder, transcode & grade, raw monster. Each has it's place, don't get me wrong, there are time I NEED to deploy my 4K stuff. But for the vast majority of shooting I do, 1080 and my C100mkii gets the job done. I haven't used a C100 (vs. the mkii that I have) but you may want to also consider a Mkii as its feature set is a bit stronger than the Mki.
 
I shoot mainly documentaries as a solo crew, and I'm in no hurry whatsoever to upgrade from my C100 Mark II. For the few times where a client has specified 4K, I've rented a C200, but 95% of my clients are still fine with HD capture and finish. I use Canon DSLRs as 2nd and 3rd cams, and I've been able to match them fairly well to the C100 Mark II in color correct.
 
When I look at my demo some of the best shots are from the C100 which I no longer own, it's shortcomings are mainly in the LCD monitor being no where close to the actual footage and lack of 1080 60p. I would often not like what I was seeing on the LCD monitor and when I would get to post production I was always blown away with the footage, it's what got me into Canon's color science. I ended up buying a dirt cheap C300 mk1 this year because I do a lot of shoot and release projects and wanted to deliver footage that looked great right out of the camera, and the Wide DR profile does it very nicely. In addition with the right lenses it can shoot in any lighting condition. My C300 also has the Dual Pixel AF upgrade which grabs focus much faster than anything I've used since DVCAM days.
 
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FWIW, I sold my C100 MKI to buy my C200. I can honestly say, overall, I liked my C100 as much as I like my C200. C100 was/is a great camera and you can find them dirt cheap used and clean. I bought the C200 to shoot two documentaries where we thought 4K would be more appealing for selling the films but other than that, most of our clients who were mentioning 4K still specifiy 1080 delivery a LOT of the time so buying 4K for clients has been a very occasional thing over the past year. If you don't have clients who are ASKING for and WILLING TO PAY a premium for 4K or greater footage, I say get a C100 or a C300 MKI. I had both and both were GREAT cameras.

I love my C200 because of the RAW, better DPAF and touchscreen as well as the XLRs on the body but sometimes I miss the tiny size and weight of my C100 MKI. I teamed it with my Atomos Ninja Blade and shot two films, one, "Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes" opened at SXSW in May and was bought by HBO and will be on HBO in 2019. I also shot a feature documentary about the life of Sergio Mendes that will hopefully wrap up this year and will be in theaters next year. Both in 1080 and both shot on the C100 MKI so yes, it is a VERY capable camera if you know what you're doing. That's why I LAUGH at all of the obsession with 10-bit and 4:2:2 color space. It's just not that important in the grand scheme of things. Detail, color accuracy and pleasing color science are more important than 10-bit. Much more important. Sure, it's nice to have 4:2:2 10-bit or greater but in the big picture, skills are so much more important than specs. And the C100 can shine with good lighting.
 
Red Giant instant 4k could be a possibility for the odd job if you have the time to render it out... my c100 is still going strong, I’ve only missed one job for not having 4k but they wanted Sony anyway a c300mk2 would not have helped even..
 
miko meloni said:
Try to upscale, watch it on a big screen.
You will be surprise..
Click to expand...

In a good way or bad way? Our current 4K documentary, I will be using a lot of 1080 b-roll I shot with my C100 MKI and C300 MKI before I bought my C200. Best method for upscaling it to UHD?
 
puredrifting said:
..... C100 MKI so yes, it is a VERY capable camera if you know what you're doing. That's why I LAUGH at all of the obsession with 10-bit and 4:2:2 color space. It's just not that important in the grand scheme of things. Detail, color accuracy and pleasing color science are more important than 10-bit. Much more important. Sure, it's nice to have 4:2:2 10-bit or greater but in the big picture, skills are so much more important than specs. And the C100 can shine with good lighting.
Click to expand...

I agree! I sold my C100 and then bought anther one! I've used the XC15, C300 mkii, and other 4K cameras but the fact I can grab a "nearly" final grade-looking image from a $20 SD card on my C100 mki and still have clients say it looks better than other projects blows my mind. I know there is waaaay more to it, but it's like buy an expensive 4K CFAST2.0 camera, expensive media, a proper machine to grade RAW, more HD to archive project and camera files, only to finally get the image back to what the C100 spits out right from the box (and on 1080 delivery looks as good as 4k-sourced anyway..at least for most non-pixel peepers). I'm not a pro colorist, but I sometimes feel like the color science folks at Canon know how to better harvest a pleasing image from raw sensor info than I do (or have time to if trying to earn money).

I look at GH4 and GH5 footage I've shot (owned and sold) and even though they give you thicker codecs to work with, you'll need it to dial in the colors to what a C100 does. I know skill with GH series can overcome that, but on a shoot with a million moving pieces already it's nice to have the camera not be a time vampire..again, GH can look great though.

One can always rent a 4K camera when the deliverables call for it, but keep a C100 to start with to build out your Cinema Series kit.

edit: last thought, the nice thing about buying a used C100 is that you can immediately sell it for what you paid for and not take a hit other than eBay/Amazon fees. If you have a shoot that needs 3 cameras, well, $4500 gets you 3 C100s and then you sell them off once done the project. 3 C200s would cost the same as a new entry level Toyota Camry!
 
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I don't think they will lose relevancy until a company comes out with an affordable cinema camera that does 4k (that isn't ****)
 
It sounds like you have a good plan. Rent the 4K camera as long as most of your work is HD. I don’t own one but I’ve worked with crews and footage from the C100. It’s still very relevant.
 
Still relevant. Among other things, the 4K sensor and Canon color science is IMO what makes the C100 shine. I look at the skin tones on Sony and some other cameras and I'm not impressed. 4K would be nice for the flexibility of zooming in on 1080 deliverables. 4k at some point, but for now the c100 is holding its own...
 
In a good way. I just use C100 material with some other 4k without problems.
Obviously, it depends on your mix with lenses and light, but I had very good results with, in a unscientific way of work.
The balance between the color science and the resolution it's very pleasant.

puredrifting said:
In a good way or bad way? Our current 4K documentary, I will be using a lot of 1080 b-roll I shot with my C100 MKI and C300 MKI before I bought my C200. Best method for upscaling it to UHD?
Click to expand...
 
Keep in mind the C100mkI/II use a 4K UHD resolution sensor, but you can only record in 1080p HD. So you're still getting all that goodness from a higher resolution sensor downsampled to HD. If you're delivering in 1080p anyway, the only thing you're really missing is the ability to crop in post. That said, I've pushed in 125% on C100 footage in post when in a pinch and it's worked just fine.

I love the C100mkII, but I know how you feel. There is always that lingering thought "do I really want to spend all this money on an older 1080p camera when so many cheaper 4K options exist?"
That's why I can't wait for Canon to get their butt in gear and release a 4K recording C100mkIII. But even then, it will be years before the price drops to something reasonable, new or used. So if you like that look and especially those features and ergonomics, go for it. Personally I think it's still worth it.
 
I still use and love my C100ii. I export my C100ii footage out in 4k (being the C100ii has a 4K sensor) and I will stand my 4k exported footage up against anyone's footage that was shot in 4k. None of my clients have ever complained, and if they request 4k, I'll deliver 4k with the C100ii. Here's a short I just recently shot on the C100ii and exported in 4k. I actually had to add some softening to some shots as the image was too sharp! Vimeo and youtube link below.

https://vimeo.com/285624190

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfaQFnMckTo&t=266s
 
1. Put C100 footage on a 4K timeline and scale it.
2. Add some 4K (or higher) film grain.
3. Export at 4k and upload to YouTube.
4. Watch, and achieve happiness.
 
Still shooting on two C100 Mark I cameras here. Not one client of mine has ever complained about the image. Pin sharp, great colors, solid & reliable camera body that records to SD cards.

The only thing I wish it had is touchscreen face-tracking autofocus. Other than that, it's a fantastic camera.
 
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