Kimmy - 1DX mark II 4K video

The camera was announced in April 2012 so I guess it feels like 3 years. Many people in the industry had it way before March 2013.
 
Here is a BTS video of the Mo Ming motorcycle short I posted above. If you skip to 2:00, you will see another amazing video feature on the 1DX II, one that was not even advertised all that much: live video feed and touch AF control from your iPad through the optional WiFi unit that attaches to the side.

Mo Ming BTS 3.jpg

Mo Ming BTS 1.jpgMo Ming BTS 2.jpg

Now the demonstrated range here is small, as the camera is on the gimbal just ahead of him. However, its overall range is 328 feet. The WiFi attachment is a little pricey at $600, but definitely adds a useful remote capability to the camera without any visible delay in the video feed itself (the AF touch response is somewhat slow but still works perfectly fine).
 
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I wish Canon would have also included the Super 35 video recording mode on the 1DX II that the 1DC has. This is one of my favorite features of the 1DC (besides Canon Log). The omission of the Super 35 mode will probably prevent me from buying a 1DX II. I also own a C300, so the Super 35 mode is very beneficial for using the 1DC as a B-Camera to my C300.
 
I wish Canon would have also included the Super 35 video recording mode on the 1DX II that the 1DC has. This is one of my favorite features of the 1DC (besides Canon Log). The omission of the Super 35 mode will probably prevent me from buying a 1DX II. I also own a C300, so the Super 35 mode is very beneficial for using the 1DC as a B-Camera to my C300.


Not to mention those that own really fantastic APS-C glass. Its a shame the Sigma 1.8 ART zooms will not cover it. This was actually the first time I heard that the 1dXII did not have this feature. I was considering it. The lack of this feature has definitely pushed this purchase away. Bummer.
 
Not to worry. The price range that is going to be vacated by the 1DC in the Cinema EOS line will soon be occupied by a new camera priced halfway between the current C100 II and C300 II. At that point, you will have 4K Super 35mm in a proper cinema camera body. As Canon phases out the 1DC concept, it opens up a new space for a 4K camera priced between $8-12K. It's completely logical and just another reason why there will be no "1DC II," as much as we are all dreaming of one. If you haven't noticed, Canon likes to crush our dreams through their super rational market segmentation. The 1DC was a great experimental camera but far too radical to carry forward if you look at Canon's established product lines.

Moreover, Canon needs a cinema camera that takes on the Sony FS7 price point and features. Currently, it does not have such a camera in its lineup and has lost significant market share to Sony because of that.

Anyway, the moment the 1DC drops below $8K, I might buy one instead of the 1DX II as it's the last of its kind and I prefer the 1DC footage to pretty much everything else that is cheaper than a Sony F5 ($16K) with 16 bit RAW. Although, I do suppose that the F5's little brother, the FS7, produces beautiful results as well, for someone who wants to carry around such a heavy camera.
 
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The body of the FS7 is 4.4 lbs...it's just about additional accessories. If you were to attach everything that comes in the box with the FS7 and a 1lb lens, the total would be 11lbs. The 1DX body and a 1lb lens would be approximately 4.5lbs. Many cinematographers rig up their DSLRs and mirrorless cameras as well. I'm all about portability, but I don't consider the FS7 a heavy camera. For me, anything over 20-25lbs starts getting heavy (for a camera). For other guys, it may be over 50lbs.
 
I'm already at about 8-10 lbs with my BMPC-4K rig with the Tilta V-lock plate, 130wh battery, rail cage, and rails. That's not even accounting for the EVF/monitor solution that I had planned on adding as it's impossible to see with the BMPC-4K screen in the California sun. And none of this includes the sound setup!

I consider a 10 lbs camera to be "heavy," especially when I have to hike several miles to get to my location and I'm also carrying a tripod, a slider and other equipment. As it is, I'm already exceeding the limit of the slider and the stabilizer, so I'd like to downsize while retaining 4K cinema quality.

My preferred plan is to go lighter and smaller with the 1DC/1DX II. A 3 lbs camera and a few prime lenses, along with a light tripod or slider, is really nothing compared with everything that I already carry with me.

My other option, which I have already put a deposit on while I decide on these cameras, is a Raven, which weighs about 3.5 lbs (5-6 lbs with a battery and monitor). That's a fantastic weight for a baby Dragon sensor!

I suppose I could use the FS7 stripped down to its body at 4.5 lbs, but it would still need a monitoring solution as it lacks a built-in EVF like the FS5.

At least, we are spoiled for choices these days. It wasn't like this when I started shooting on 16mm over 20 years ago . . .
 
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The 1DC, is a classic in some ways. A really nice image. One of my favorites of any camera or price range, but it was a bit (no pun intended) held back in the HD bit rate. CLog really needed a few more bits to smooth things out. The 4k was gorgeous, just a little none standard, but i liked that. I loved the big low compression and the slightly wider frame, but the jello was an issue on the rare occasion. Over all, it was a great camera that was good for hobbyist but at a pro price range. It could have easily been more. Even just addin 10bit to the HD would have made it a success i don't doubt, but that business sensibility hindered the "sales", not the camera itself, but rather the Canon business model hindered it.
 
i bought this for wildlife shooting only. The extra video portion is considering as extra feature. Extremely happy with the AF when pair up with my 600mm mkii.

1dx.jpg
 
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i bought this for wildlife shooting only. The extra video portion in consider as extra. Extremely happy with the AF when pair up with my 600mm mkii

1dx.jpg
That is rad! Thanks for sharing some personal experience, this camera seems like a gorgeous beast.
 
Whether you like to photograph birds or film explosions, this camera can do it all:


It's like the Swiss army knife of cameras.
 
Whether you like to photograph birds or film explosions, this camera can do it all:


It's like the Swiss army knife of cameras.

NOPE. Everything except C-Log and and True APS-C mode.

I know this point has been beaten into the group....but I think we all need to point it out as much as possible so Canon might have a chance to listen to the video customers.

I would jump on this camera in a second if C-Log was added.
 
I have to agree. The addition of a LOG mode would really elevate the image possibilities. No doubt this is quite a machine but in all reality, the still capabilities are really designed for pro sports photography. Often way overkill for normal camera use. Maybe Canon will play ball on the video side but I hate being on the side of hoping for features from Canon.
 
Even though I called for the C-Log petition for the 1DX II, I'm pretty sure they would never do it. It's just wishful thinking on my part really. I would say we have a less than 1% chance of convincing Canon on this issue.

C-Log is after all exclusive to the Cinema EOS line. Aside from the XC10, which does not pose a threat to any of the cinema cameras, we haven't seen it anywhere else. Moreover, we will never see it in the 1DX line as long as there is a 1DC sitting on the shelves or plans for a future Cinema EOS camera in that price range of $8-12K (i.e., 1DC II, C100 III).

I also don't remember the last time that Canon added anything like that in a firmware. It goes against everything we know about Canon.

Personally, I am fine with waiting a few months to see if there really is going to be a 1DC II, even though the 1DX II is supposed to be the convergence of the two 1D lines. I've been reading through the 1DX II's manual recently and I cannot believe how many video features have been included such as audio functions like "line-in" that were not even on the 1DC when it was released. It's really suggestive of a Cinema EOS treatment in the works with C-Log and Super 35mm as key features that are deliberately absent from what is otherwise an amazing video camera.

Canon will also wait until they have sold thousands of these things. Then they will turn around and announce the 1DC II and have another go at our wallets just like last time. Sony did the same thing with the A7RII and A7S II. They offer incremental but crucial improvements that make you want to spend obscene amounts of money just to have that little feature that the last one was missing. To me, this incremental product advancement is the essence of a Japanese electronics conglomerate like Canon or Sony.
 
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I wrote this back in mid-March...

Been browsing through the hefty manual a bit...lots of little notes but some points that I came across:

- 120p is for 29.97p or 25p playback (same as XC10)
- Has LINE level audio
- No 4K recording via HDMI
- 2 hours and 20 minutes recording time for 1080/30p (IPB) with Movie Servo Auto-Focus DISABLED...doesn't mention 1080/60P, or any 4K times. I hope it's then not like 30 minutes per battery for 4K/60P with Movie Servo AF ENABLED, ha.
- 4K internal temperature warnings are mentioned (will be interesting to see if overheating issues exist)
- Color sampling for 4K: YCbCr 4:2:2 (8-bit), Full HD: YCbCr4:2:0 (8-bit)
- Color matrix for 4K: Rec. ITU-R BT.601, Full HD: Rec. ITU-R BT.709
- "If you shoot something that has fine detail, moire or false colors may result."
- Can't magnify image when recording
 
Too bad on the 8bit 4:2:0 HD and I thought Rec 601 was for standard definition? Anyway, this is how it happens with Canon cameras. Little by little one realizes what the cameras can't do.
 
I wrote this back in mid-March...

Been browsing through the hefty manual a bit...lots of little notes but some points that I came across:

- 120p is for 29.97p or 25p playback (same as XC10)
- Has LINE level audio
- No 4K recording via HDMI
- 2 hours and 20 minutes recording time for 1080/30p (IPB) with Movie Servo Auto-Focus DISABLED...doesn't mention 1080/60P, or any 4K times. I hope it's then not like 30 minutes per battery for 4K/60P with Movie Servo AF ENABLED, ha.
- 4K internal temperature warnings are mentioned (will be interesting to see if overheating issues exist)
- Color sampling for 4K: YCbCr 4:2:2 (8-bit), Full HD: YCbCr4:2:0 (8-bit)
- Color matrix for 4K: Rec. ITU-R BT.601, Full HD: Rec. ITU-R BT.709
- "If you shoot something that has fine detail, moire or false colors may result."
- Can't magnify image when recording

I saw the moiré warning as well, but haven't seen any on the posted 1DX II footage, especially where one would expect to see it. I've also never seen it on 1DC footage, which resolves the most amazing level of detail that one can imagine for 4K. I think this is just Canon covering itself for past problems on the 5DII and has nothing to do with current performance issues on these sensors. Recall how the 1DC manual had warnings of "vertical stripes" or FPN in shadow areas that most people have never seen.

Unfortunately, the same cannot be said of cinema cameras by Blackmagic and RED, which have far more problems in these areas than the Canon 1D series.

Anyway, the above points should include the following:

-timecode options of "record run" and "free run"
-manual real-time control over audio gain as well as auto mode
-exFAT formatting on CF 2.0 cards exceeding 128GB and all CFast cards formatted in camera (camera will record movies as singles files, even when they are larger than 4GB)
-electronic level
-white balance: ambiance priority vs. white priority; numerical color temperature control
-highlight tone priority (for protecting highlights)
-chromatic aberration correction (unlike distortion correction, which is just for photos, this seems like it works for movies too)
-GPS (geotags for precise field location) & universal time (useful for multi-cam productions)

The list goes on and on . . . until you realize that they have created a beast of a video camera that is lacking just two features they could have added without a fuss: C-Log and Super 35mm HD!

Now they do have highlight tone priority and the new Canon picture style called "fine detail." People will just have to experiment a little until they get that soft roll-off characteristic of the 1DC Log footage.

Otherwise, it is possible that in about a year we are going to get our hands on a slim "1DC II Manual" just like last time with the 1DC. It will add C-Log, Super 35mm HD and one new feature such as an uncompressed 4K output through the HDMI. They could sell that one for about $1000-2000 more than the 1DX II, which is already overloaded with video features. If they add C-Log3 and 10-bit processing to 4K, they could raise the 1DC II price back to the $8-12K range, one notch below the C300 II. But I think the latter scenario is not too likely given the overall poor sales of the 1DC.
 
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