This year, more camera manufacturers than ever are choosing to release new cameras before the NAB Show, rather than at the show itself. The latest camera to fall into this category is the C300 Mark II, which was officially announced today and comes with some impressive (yet predictable) specs.
I’ll be sure to write more about this camera in the near future, but for now I wanted to quickly share some highlights and initial thoughts with you.
In short, the new C300 Mark II is a 4K version of its predecessor, with some much-needed features including: 15 stops of dynamic range, RAW capability (for external recorders), better codecs, 120fps slow-motion, and more. Retail price is $15,999.
Here are the specs:
- 10-bit 4:2:2 in 4K recording (UHD 3840 x 2160 and DCI video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
- Up to 410Mbps (4K format)
- 2K and Full HD 10/12 bit 4:4:4
- 4K resolution up to 30p, 2K/Full HD resolution up to 120p
- Save 4K RAW files to external burner
- Dual DIGIC DV5 processor
- Dual CFast 2.0 slots
- The new Canon Log2 has 15 stops of dynamic range
- Dual pixel CMOS autofocus
- New XF-AVC Intra, Long GOP and Proxy H.265 codecs in 4K, UHD, 2K and 1080p
- 4-channel audio at 16 or 24 bits and 48 kHz
- Sensor reading speed is 2 times faster than C300, with less rolling shutter
Overall, I think the specs look great on paper, but there aren’t too many surprises here. At around $16,000, you’d think the camera would be able to shoot 4K, have decent slow-motion capabilities, and have better codecs. If it doesn’t offer any of these features – no one will be happy. Thankfully, Canon has added some much-needed usability to its latest version of the C300, and for many users that’ll be enough.
Canon has lost many users over the past year or two. The GH4 and A7 are largely responsible for this, with many filmmakers even questioning Canon’s overall place in the independent film world. Despite this, many people still stick with the brand, and I do think Canon still has a chance to redeem itself and retain a large portion of its user base, mostly thanks to this camera. Many documentary filmmakers, TV shows, rental companies and owner/operators have sworn by the original C300 from the start, and I see many of the same types of users considering the C300 Mark II.
Are there any cameras with better specs and lower prices than the C300 MK II? Absolutely. But for the film/TV/digital industry who have loved C300 for many years, this does not matter. Specs aren’t the only thing to consider when buying a camera, and for a certain type of shooter, the Mark II is exactly what they want: a C300 by 2015 standards.
That’s it for now. I’ll definitely do a video review once I get a chance to shoot and test with the C300…
What are your thoughts on this announcement? Comment below!
