C300: Most requested Cameras by clients - 2019-2020

J

jramos

Active member
Hello fellow filmmakers.

I was wondering what cameras clients request the most for commercial, documentary and corporate in 2019-2020.
$1000 to 10.000 budget.

I own a Red camera, Few BMPCC 4k and few GH5.

I'm looking to get a new Run-and-Gun camera for documentary and corporate.

I'm really thinking about the Canon C300 MKII.

I really like the colors of the EVA-1, but I'm not sure if clients will say not to that camera.

The Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Pro 4.6K is an potion but no autofocus.

I don't think I would go with the c200 or c70.

Thanks for the help!
 
I don’t really have a percentage break-down, but my last 12 months have consisted of F55(mine), C300(mine), P2 VariCam(mine), C300/II(clients) and Amira(clients).
 
I didn’t really think much of the 300/II when it came out, but the more I use them(clients), the more I (generally) really like the image. I say generally, because a few weeks ago, we did a production shoot with a pair and ran into the well documented issue of how the camera sometimes has issues with how it renders blue.
 
Thank you very much of the help!

It is interesting to see what clients request on projects.

I didn't think about the F55, that is a sweet camera.

I really think the C300 MKII is a very good camera, I also like the FS7MKII but is more expensive.

I can get a C300MKII new for 6k and the FS7MKII for 10K new...big price difference.

I hope more filmmakers post the info about the most requested cameras!

Thanks again.
 
I sorta feel like the C300mk3 is the way to go if you can afford it. The FS7 version 1 is super cheap on the used market right now and still in demand. C300mk2 priced between the 2 but no 4k60p
 
Thanks RUN&GUN, I did not know about the blue color problem.

The new FX9 has a magenta color cast on all the images. I seen the problem on some finished color projects.


Run&Gun said:
I didn’t really think much of the 300/II when it came out, but the more I use them(clients), the more I (generally) really like the image. I say generally, because a few weeks ago, we did a production shoot with a pair and ran into the well documented issue of how the camera sometimes has issues with how it renders blue.
Click to expand...
 
If I were in the low to midrange commercial/industrial markets the C300II would rank among my first choice options. Decent all around reliable performance, robust editable codecs, good color science, and an incredibly broad selection of native lens options. All at reasonable overall system cost for a small job shop. What's not to like?
 
The C300mk2 is fantastic all around as long as you don't want to push in on the 4k image. It does not hold up in terms of detail the way you would expect from a 4k capture once you start cropping.
 
being my own producer client's don't care about the camera as long it looks good and I don't charge ARRI rates for a GH5. I dumped the FS7 for the EVA1 and that paid off very soon because the image is nicer and way faster to achieve. The C300iii gives me more options when shooting, I track people and subjects all the time :) Sorry, that wasn't probably helpful.
 
Thanks Clermond,

Yes, if clients did not care, I would get the Eva-1. But some clients have requirements. Some are happy with a DSLR and some want the RED look.
How do you like the EVA-1? I think the images form the EVA-1 are very pretty.


Clermond said:
being my own producer client's don't care about the camera as long it looks good and I don't charge ARRI rates for a GH5. I dumped the FS7 for the EVA1 and that paid off very soon because the image is nicer and way faster to achieve. The C300iii gives me more options when shooting, I track people and subjects all the time :) Sorry, that wasn't probably helpful.
Click to expand...
 
I considered the EVA-1 but none of my clients who care about cameras were interested when I name-dropped it. But I've heard it's popular in Europe.

What I started doing a few years back is I'll tell a client or prospective client that I own the camera I'm considering buying. If that helps land a couple gigs and I rent it a few times, I'll buy it. If not, I won't. The approach saved me from buying an EVA-1 and an Ursa Mini pro while leading me to a C300 and later an FS7. Not all my clients care about what specific camera I have, but it pays to cover the needs of those who do.

There's also an argument for buying the cheapest thing that covers your needs most of the time and then renting the higher-end thing you need on special occasions, especially since no camera will be demanded for every occasion so you'll need to rent intermittently anyway.
 
jramos said:
Thank you very much of the help!

It is interesting to see what clients request on projects.

I didn't think about the F55, that is a sweet camera.

I really think the C300 MKII is a very good camera, I also like the FS7MKII but is more expensive.

I can get a C300MKII new for 6k and the FS7MKII for 10K new...big price difference.

I hope more filmmakers post the info about the most requested cameras!

Thanks again.
Click to expand...

There's an F55 on eBay right now for ~$6400 and others around ~$11K to ~$15K. I picked mine up used from a client/friend of one of my friends/sales reps for $20K back in '15. For ~$6400, I'd take the F55 over the C300/II without even thinking about it.
 
IMHO you need to poll your own client base.
See if they are happy with your current offerings, or if they prefer camera X.

It really doesn't matter what what cameras are being requested, unless they are being requested by your clients.
 
David W. Jones said:
IMHO you need to poll your own client base.
See if they are happy with your current offerings, or if they prefer camera X.

It really doesn't matter what what cameras are being requested, unless they are being requested by your clients.
Click to expand...

This.

When I was shooting Betacam, well that was your only real choice for real work in the world I was it at the that time. When I bought my VariCam, a huge client came to me and basically told me to buy it. When I bought my P2 Vari, I knew they were migrating to that. When I bought my C300, that's what everyone was buying to do "feature work"/interviews and it was a no-brainer. And the same thing with the F55. It was in demand and in-demand with clients of mine, as-well.

Yes, while I did want to buy all of these cameras, I wasn't just going to buy them without the work being there for them.
 
Thanks!

I went to ebay right after you mention F55, PL lenses...


Run&Gun said:
There's an F55 on eBay right now for ~$6400 and others around ~$11K to ~$15K. I picked mine up used from a client/friend of one of my friends/sales reps for $20K back in '15. For ~$6400, I'd take the F55 over the C300/II without even thinking about it.
Click to expand...
 
Yes, my clients are happy with RED and BMMPCC 4k, but I'm trying to find new clients.
Focusing with the 50mm on a BMPCC is not easy, I need to find a run and gun camera.
Sometimes the nd's, fallow focus, power and monitor can get on the way.

I know you can't use autofocus and zoom lenses all the time but it helps!

Thank you!


David W. Jones said:
IMHO you need to poll your own client base.
See if they are happy with your current offerings, or if they prefer camera X.

It really doesn't matter what what cameras are being requested, unless they are being requested by your clients.
Click to expand...
 
jramos said:
Thanks Clermond,

Yes, if clients did not care, I would get the Eva-1. But some clients have requirements. Some are happy with a DSLR and some want the RED look.
How do you like the EVA-1? I think the images form the EVA-1 are very pretty.
Click to expand...

The image of the EVA1 is superb but it’s not bad of the C300iii either - 4K/120 and internal RAW is great but the AF is priceless for me
 
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