Canon rolls out Cinema EOS C300 Mark III Camera

Canon launched its new Cinema EOS C300 Mark III, an addition to the video production Cinema EOS System. The EOS C300 Mark III comes with a high dynamic range by adopting a newly developed Dual Gain Output (DGO) sensor. In addition to this it also supports 4K/120p high frame rate recording.

The new model is the successor to the EOS C300 Mark II (released in September 2015), that has been well received in various shooting fields such as video production and broadcast content production. The C300 Mark III primarily targets serious video production professionals across Mainstream Cinema, OTT Platforms, Broadcasting and TV Station Studios as well as Documentary Filmmakers. The C300 Mark III utilises a modular design like the EOS C500 Mark II (released in December 2019), allowing users to customise the camera to their shooting environment, thus catering to a large variety of production scenarios.

Expressing views on the launch, Mr. Kazutada Kobayashi, President & CEO, Canon India said, “As the photography and filming industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds in India, the professionals are constantly on the lookout for innovative and powerful filming solutions. Moreover, with the enormous growth in the production of web-based content in India, there is a significant demand for superior and innovative products for the Cinema industry. Furthermore, the unceasing presence of news channels and documentary filmmakers is also fuelling the demand for such products. Realizing the potential need of the market and with innovation deeply ingrained in our DNA, we are delighted to launch Cinema EOS C300 Mark III, the latest entrant to our Cinema EOS portfolio. With this launch, we are certain that this product is aptly armed to cater to the evolving needs of the cinema professionals in the country, thereby delivering a seamless filming experience. we are also launching the new EF cinema lenses CN10x25 IAS S/E1 (EF mount) and the CN10x25 IAS S/P1 (PL mount). The lenses will offer exemplary features and performance for high-end cinema and broadcast content creation.”

Commenting on the product, Mr. C Sukumaran, Director, Consumer System Products & Imaging Communication Products said, “With the colossal proliferation of web-based content in India, the cinema industry has observed a noteworthy growth in the recent years. While the mainstream and reginal cinema industry continue to evolve and grow, the advent of OTT led content has immensely contributed to the overall growth of the filming industry. Given the increasing demand of more content from the viewers, we have seen an enormous spike in the production of content across the industry, thereby leading to a massive demand for innovative and cutting edge products that can cater to the futuristic requirements of the filming professionals. Therefore, with the launch of EOS C300 Mark III Cinema Camera and the new cine servo lens(CN10x25 IAS S/E1 and IAS P/E1), we aim to offer a top-notch filming experience and we are hopeful that its excellent performance coupled with high quality output, will be well received by our customers. After extensive research, we have developed this camera which promises to deliver excellent performance featuring 4K Super 35 mm CMOS DGO Sensor and can be adapted to any of the production scenario”.

Performance and superlative high-quality output 

The C300 Mark III features a 4K Super 35mm CMOS Dual Gain Output sensor (DGO sensor), courtesy of which it is able to shoot 4K/60p footage with extremely high dynamic range and low noise in DGO Mode.

The Canon C300 Mark III is equipped with the DIGIC DV 7 video processing platform, allowing it to support 4K/120p high frame rate recording. Dual Pixel CMOS AF also allows for high precision focusing accuracy which is critical during 4K recordings.

Excellent versatility that can handle a variety of shooting scenarios

The modular design allows users to customise the camera according to their shooting environment. By attaching various accessories and extension units (sold separately), the C300 Mark III can be adapted to fit into any production scenario. Amongst these accessories are the mount kits (sold separately), which allow users to change the native EF Mount of the camera to PL or EF Cinema Lock mounts, enhancing the camera’s versatility by allowing the use of a large variety of lenses.

Two Video Formats for Recording Flexibility & onboard recording

The C300 Mark III adopts Cinema Raw Light and XF-AVC video recording formats, giving users have the freedom to choose the format most suited for their productions. Cinema Raw Light emphasises on the best possible image quality with manageable data rates, while XF-AVC (Intra Frame) is ideal for broadcast content and other quick turnaround projects which require faster workflows while maintaining high image quality. Both Cinema RAW Light and XF-AVC can be recorded to the onboard CFexpress Type B Cards.

The Canon Cinema EOS C300 MK III is expected to go on sale July 2020.

Canon also announced the CN10x25 IAS S/E1 (EF mount) and the CN10x25 IAS S/P1 (PL mount) CINE-SERVO lenses as new EF cinema lenses. The lenses will go on sale in July 2020.

The new models are CINE-SERVO lenses offer exemplary features and performance for high-end cinema and content creation platforms.

• Super high resolution 8K optical performance: Canon’s unique optical design technology optimizes the placement of each element. Combined with Ultra low dispersion glass and a large diameter aspherical element, colour fringing and chromatic aberration are successfully corrected in the lens
• A high-magnification optical zoom with a 1.5x extender in-built: It features a 10x zoom that covers a focal length of 25-250mm. When using the built in-extender, the zoom range can be switched to a more tele-centric 37.5-375mm. With the built in-extender engaged, the lens’ image circle will also cover 35mm full-frame sensors, increasing the lens’ versatility
• Removable Drive Unit: a removable drive unit with the same operability as a broadcast lens is equipped as standard, in response to a wide range of needs from broadcast content production to video production. In addition to this, the CN10x25 IAS S/E1 (EF mount) can be paired with a Cinema EOS system digital cinema camera to utilize Dual Pixel CMOS AF which will achieve smooth AF operation and high subject tracking performance which is suitable for film and video production.