Will Canon Release a New Full Frame RF mount Cinema Camera in 2024?

[DustinSchmidt]

I've been hearing rumors for nearly 2 years now that Canon will release new high end RF mount cinema cameras "soon". Is 2024 the year it finally happens?

Primarily I'm wondering if we will get a successor to the C500 mark II. I know we have the C70 and the R5C as our current RF mount "cinema" cameras. Those are very capable cameras (I own the R5C and use it daily) but I would be very interested in a "real" RF mount cinema camera.

Of course if they do release a C500 II successor it will probably be $20k. So maybe I'm not that excited to see it... But at least used C500 mark II's will go even further down in price.

Thoughts?

 

[NorBro]

The $10K+ camera selling business is difficult to predict.

Back-in-the-day, this would definitely be the year that we'd see some proper replacements since it's been a few years since the C500 II and C300 III, but these systems have become such a niche that it's tough to tell.

If they do, I think they would follow their traditional formula of announcing the 500's replacement first, naturally the more expensive one, and then a 300 replacement later down the road, 6-12 months (to maximize profits).

Canon would also usually release something to compete with the Burano, but I don't know if they are still interested in going that high as they once did like with the C700 and what not.

Finally, this is supposedly the year of the R5 II which will likely be a priority over everything else so that may push back the cinema cameras back a little.

All this to say...I don't know, lol.

 

[cpreston]

On Canon Rumors, the last thing I remember hearing was that Canon was working on a C700 replacement first that would be followed by a C500III and maybe a C200 II. Also, something about a smaller box camera. Everything would be an RF mount with attachments for EF and PL. Of course, that was all supposed to be announced as in development last year, so who knows what happened.

The RF 24-105 f/2.8L is an interesting development as it really sets up the RF mount and Canon cameras for lower end doc and corporate work. The lens has made me switch to the RF mount cameras and I am in the process of selling my C500 MKII's. The servo unit is set to release in March, so we will see if they also announce a full frame cinema camera and some more of these RF servo lenses at that time.

 

[Jim Feeley]

The RF 24-105 f/2.8L is an interesting development as it really sets up the RF mount and Canon cameras for lower end doc and corporate work.

I agree it's an interesting lens, especially for use with a full-frame sensor. But S35, for me, 24 isn't wide enough. I wish they'd make a 16-80 f2.8 (or so)....Or let Sigma make one...

Interesting that the rumor thinks a C700 with RF mount might be in the works. I can see RF up to the C500 line, but I'd think that if Canon releases a C700 replacement, that market would want a PL or LPL mount (and not just through an adapter). But what do I know?

I own a C70 and like a lot about it (and can tolerate or resignedly sigh and move on with the things I don't like). I could see myself buying a RF-mount C300 or C500, if Canon builds the right camera and brings out more RF lenses... If there's not clarity on all that by NAB in April, I'll be looking even closer at Sony.

 

[cpreston]

Interesting that the rumor thinks a C700 with RF mount might be in the works. I can see RF up to the C500 line, but I'd think that if Canon releases a C700 replacement, that market would want a PL or LPL mount (and not just through an adapter). But what do I know?

I think that idea would be that the RF mount and contacts would be the base mount of the camera, but that a hard mount ef mount or pl mount could be bolted over the top of the RF mount. That was the rumor for the newer, smaller bodies. The C700 would probably have something else since I think they would want it to work with the LPL mount and I don't think you can adapt an rf mount to lpl.

 

[DustinSchmidt]

I think that idea would be that the RF mount and contacts would be the base mount of the camera, but that a hard mount ef mount or pl mount could be bolted over the top of the RF mount. That was the rumor for the newer, smaller bodies. The C700 would probably have something else since I think they would want it to work with the LPL mount and I don't think you can adapt an rf mount to lpl.

If Canon could figure out a similar system to the Sony Burano, where Canon could theoretically have a native RF mount underneath a super solid PL mount that is easily taken on and off, then that would be amazing. I do really like how the Burano implements that for E mount.

 

[Eric Coughlin]

I hope Canon blows away the Burano. The Burano is nice is some ways but rather lacking in others, and I've always been more of a Canon person (now owning 11 Sony cameras but not liking them much compared to my 9 Canon cameras), so I'm hoping Canon could take away Sony's thunder. Burano is supposed to start shipping in March along with the Canon 24-105, so hopefully they'll announce their cameras around then or at NAB to not get behind Sony's sales.

I feel it's an odd time for cinema cameras at the moment.

You have the Alexa 35, which keeps going up in price, and now is about $110k for package, priced out of many owner/operator budgets. Then you have the rather old Alexa Mini and Amira, the Mini LF which is still pretty pricey in league with the Alexa 35 but lacking some features. The Venice used at $20k, the Venice 2 at around $70k or $50k used, and the Burano at $30k. Is the Venice 2 that popular? I often hear "Venice," but it's not always specified as the 2.

I feel like the choice used to be easier, get an Alexa Mini or Amira for $50K-$60K (with accessories) and then you've got the best, but now the best is twice the price at $110K, so the second best are old Arri cameras, an old Venice 1, or a somewhat crippled Burano.

But, Canon probably won't shake up this market that much, as I'm talking more higher end cameras, and the C700 was a failure. If they get lucky, they'll get something high end and appealing. I don't feel like the Burano is really that far fetched for Canon to compete with, but the Burano is also not a top tier camera, so it being more midrange falls within Canon's ability to compete since Canon has lived in the mid range.

The C700 was really just an oversized C500, and it failing perhaps was an indicator that people didn't want a larger body if they could get a smaller body with the same specs, which is what happened when the C500 Mark II came out and did almost everything the C700 could do, but in a smaller body.

 

[Zack Birlew]

I remember the cinema camera rumors and I just don't think they fit with the market anymore. For example, the Canon R5C is kicking a lot of butt being an affordable 8K cinema camera with Netflix approval so what would it do for Canon to release a specialized 4K or 6K model when the competition are already at 8K and 12K with the possibility of soon expanding to 16K+? Even a slightly updated R5C Mark II would be preferable to customers than an expensive $15,000+ 8K Canon C700 Mark II. So, another rumor of Canon returning to the drawing board makes sense but having the right camera for cinema RF going forward is going to be an interesting call when RED has RF well covered at this point at different price segments with the Komodo X and Rhino S35 filling the gaps.