C100: Using a C100 mkII stripped down?

D

Dheorl

Member
I'm looking at investing in a new video camera soon, and although I'm planning on waiting until after NAB before making my final decision I figure there’s nothing wrong with doing a bit of research beforehand.
Image and usability wise the cameras which have caught my attention most have been the C-series. The C100 mkII is right at the top of my budget, but maybe just affordable.
I’ll be filming a fair amount in mountain environments though so will often want the smallest lightest kit I can get. I’m wondering what the C100 is like to use completely stripped down, i.e. No top handle or even side grip. Just the body, a small zoom or maybe even something like the 24mm pancake, and a 3.5mm mic if I want sound.
Is it ergonomically viable to use like this. When I shoot with my GH3 it is often cradled around chest height using the flip out screen. The record button on the front of the C100 along with either the swivel screen or even the viewfinder tilted up looks ideal for this type of shooting, but I was wondering if there was anyone who actually shot like this and what your experiences of it were.
Thanks
 
All the controls/features are available when it's stripped (except for audio xlrs of course). But it's not a pleasant experience, you can't ''grab'' the damn thing and buttons are all around. So I advise using the side grip, makes it so much better, does it really add so much worth giving up? weight, space? The C100 without top handle + small pancake is a very enjoyable and small package, don't lose the grip unless you really really, really cant handle the extra weight (like on a drone or something)

ohBr2kK.jpg


qIt8EjB.jpg


This is configuration I like to use mostly, like a small SLR stills camera, brilliant design compared all video cameras out there
 
I'll be lugging it up mountains whilst carrying group gear so every gram/cm does count, and I haven't seen anything I feel rivals the image of the C100 in a smaller package.

I take your point though, especially with a pancake it is essentially ball shaped. Do you know how much the handle weighs?
 
Last edited:
Dheorl said:
I'll be lugging it up mountains whilst carrying group gear so every gram/cm does count, and I haven't seen anything I feel rivals the image of the C100 in a smaller package.

I take your point though, especially with a pancake it is essentially ball shaped. Do you know how much the handle weighs?
Click to expand...


Having done plenty of those trips I can say you are correct, there is nothing else out there as compact and ergonomic with competitive image quality. With the exception of the 1DC(minus the ND's, that are super handy hanging off the side of a mountain). I would also suggest a wooden camera top plate, quick release top handle and a tethered camera strap. What they cost in weight they are make up for in usability :) Happy shooting!
 
I can't recall off-hand... but there are controls on the grip that you can't access anywhere else. I'm so used to using them now that I never run it without the side grip.
 
I often run without the side grip or top handle, and use the black rapid wrist strap when I'm doing something where I may drop the camera.

The only thing you need to do is reassign the back playback buttons to control the aperture. I usually set 4 and 5 as iris + and Minus, and then 6 as AF Lock.

When you are using the viewfinder, it's a great way to be compact.
 
Macaholic said:
I often run without the side grip or top handle, and use the black rapid wrist strap when I'm doing something where I may drop the camera.

The only thing you need to do is reassign the back playback buttons to control the aperture. I usually set 4 and 5 as iris + and Minus, and then 6 as AF Lock.

When you are using the viewfinder, it's a great way to be compact.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your thoughts. I was planning on having it on a neck strap most of the time.

Is it possible to use the hand strap for the grip on the camera body instead so you have a more secure hold on it?
 
Dheorl said:
I'll be lugging it up mountains whilst carrying group gear so every gram/cm does count, and I haven't seen anything I feel rivals the image of the C100 in a smaller package.

I take your point though, especially with a pancake it is essentially ball shaped. Do you know how much the handle weighs?
Click to expand...

Body only: approx. 2.2 lb (1.0 kg)
Grip: approx. 8.1 oz (230 g)
BP-955 Battery: 7.8 oz (220 g)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1086125-REG/canon_eos_c100_cinema_eos.html

I haven't put enough time in yet with the C100ii shooting handheld to say if you can get away without it.
 
Ryan Farnes said:
Body only: approx. 2.2 lb (1.0 kg)
Grip: approx. 8.1 oz (230 g)
BP-955 Battery: 7.8 oz (220 g)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1086125-REG/canon_eos_c100_cinema_eos.html

I haven't put enough time in yet with the C100ii shooting handheld to say if you can get away without it.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I haven't seen a breakdown like that on any of the British stores, didn't occur to me the American stores would have more info.
 
I took the top handle and the side grip off a C100ii body to try this out. Seems very workable for short stuff if you need to grab a shot. It may get tiresome to grip it like this for long takes, but you may run into similar fatigue with the grip on as well being handheld.

Took a few shots. Even though the left hand covers the side of the body with a lot of buttons, it's fairly easy to have the points of contact be above and below them without smashing into them. If you absolutely need to shed the weight, seems like it may be a workable solution.

1.jpg2.jpg3.jpg4.jpg5.jpg6.jpg
 
IronFilm said:
As low weight matters so much to you, because you are lugging it up a mountain, just get a Samsung NX1. It is a very nice (and getting better and better with every firmware release!):
http://www.eoshd.com/2015/02/samsung-nx1-vs-canon-c300/
http://www.eoshd.com/2014/11/samsung-nx1-review-glory-technology/

Or as you already have a GH3, why not just get a GH4??
Click to expand...

Because so far I'm simply yet to be as impressed by the images coming out of either of them as I have been out of the C100. I am also attracted to the NDs, waveforms, dual-pixel AF etc.

Thanks for the suggestions though.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top