Canon launches EOS C300 MARK II digital cinema camera

Mumbai: Canon unveiled the EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema camera at Broadcast India Show in Mumbai. The evolutionary second generation Cinema EOS 4K camera system for cinema, documentary, event and commercial videography packs in a wide range of new and improved features including 4K/2K/Full HD internal and external recording (including 4K RAW output) and a new 10-bit Canon Log 2 Gamma.

This powerful new camera also features an expanded dynamic range of 15 stops, improved Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus, innovative focus assist engineering and CFast recording technology. The EOS C300 Mark II is redesigned with the help of user input, and helps to deliver more creative flexibility for professional studio motion picture production applications, as well as independent productions, TV dramas, commercials, news features, sports and more.

Its advanced imaging engine with dual DIGIC DV5 processors, new professional codecs and outstanding dynamic range, makes it the most capable, flexible and accessible Cinema EOS video camera to date.

Andrew Koh, Vice President of Consumer Imaging and Information Center, Canon India said, “As a technology innovator, it is important for Canon to add valuable assets to the portfolio and create an industry benchmark. After extensive research and user inputs, we developed the EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera that promises to deliver improved image-expression capabilities as well as operability, ruggedness and expandability. Moreover, the improved features including 4K/2K/Full HD internal and external recording (including 4K RAW output) and a new 10-bit Canon Log 2 Gamma add to the uniqueness of the product.  We are happy to launch it in this esteemed show that allows our audience a hands-on experience of the product.

Key features to highlight

• Canon EF or PL Mount Verisons

The camera is available in Canon EF or PL mount versions, depending on your lens preference. The benefit of the EF-mount version is that you can take advantage of Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology, which supports a variety of autofocus modes, including continuous AF and Face Recognition when used with compatible Canon EF lenses.

• Canon Log Gamma 2

The EOS C300 Mark II features a new log gamma tone curve - Canon Log Gamma 2 - which was designed specifically to help maximize the recording capabilities of the camera. The log format files can be ideal for post-production allowing users to apply processes where corrections, color matching and grading are applied, providing users with a high level of creative freedom in post-production without substantially degrading the image quality.

• Canon 8.85 Megapixel Super 35mm CMOS Sensor

The EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera integrates an 8.85 Megapixel Super 35mm 16:9 CMOS sensor that supports 4K (DCI) recording with a maximum resolution of 4096 x 2160 pixels. The camera fully utilizes the image data delivered by this 4K CMOS sensor to also enable Over Sampling HD Processing for 2K (DCI) and Full HD1080/60p recording.

The EOS C300 Mark II enhances the sensitivity and also minimizes the noise and supports the ISO speeds of up to 102,400 for extreme low-light imaging. This sensor also reduces data-readout time to about half of its original EOS C300 Camera, which results in a significant reduction in rolling-shutter artifacts.

• Dual DiG!C DV 5 Image Processors

The EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera's re-designed imaging system includes dual DiG!C DV 5 image processors, which enable a wide variety of image quality and feature improvements. These include 15 stops of dynamic range, Canon Log 2 recording, Dual Pixel CMOS AF, simultaneous 4K and HD proxy recording, and 2K/Full HD frame rates of up to 120 fps.

• Internal CFast 4K Recording Technology

The EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera features two CFast card slots, each of which is protected by a convenient hinged cover. The camera also includes an SD card slot for HD and Proxy recording.

• Fully compatible with new and existing EF-mount lenses

The EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera is compatible with the full range of more than 100 Canon EF and EF-S photographic lenses (including specialty tilt-shift and fisheye models) and Canon’s 4K CN-E Cinema prime and zoom lenses (including the “ENG-style” Canon CINE-SERVO zooms). The improved EF lens communication capabilities of the camera provide the display of CN-E Cinema lens T-values, compatibility with Dual-Pixel CMOS AF, lens metadata acquisition, and chromatic aberration correction. It also has PL and Locking EF Mount Options, through which users can convert their EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera at a Canon Service Center.

• Canon XF-AVC Codec

The EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera incorporates the new Canon XF-AVC codec that allows 4K image data to be recorded internally onto CFast (2.0) cards. (The camera features two CFast card slots and an SD card slot.) This makes it easy for users to record high quality compressed 4K images in the camera body without the need for external recorders. If full uncompressed RAW recording is needed, the EOS C300 Mark II Digital Cinema Camera can output its signal through dual 3G-SDI outputs to an external recorder.

• ISO range

The camera also sees a boost in its ISO range, now boasting a range of 160 to 25600 ISO (100 to 102400 ISO when sensitivity is expanded).

The product will be available at a price of Rs 12,99,000.