Canon has done it again. They’ve set themselves apart from any and all competitors. They’ve released another camera in their cinema line–the C100. Placed below the 4K, $30K C500 and 1080p $15k C300, this video recording device will be priced at approx $7K. Which is half the price of the C300 but 4 grand above the uber popular 5D mark III–all cameras capable of producing 1080p video. The difference will be in the codec and handling.

While the body is closer to the C300, it isn’t what you’d consider a traditional video vessel. Still, it looks more professional than the 5d mark III, which would certainly help set you apart in the business realm when you’re up against guys shooting with HDSLRs. Aside from handling, it does have other pluses over the mark III, namely clean HDMI out, AVCHD codec, dual SD card slots (SD would save on space but SD sucks imo), iso 320- 20,000 (!), 2 XLR inputs (for power or pro-audio), smaller form factor than C300 but same well built magnesium body.

All in all, something for the indie-filmmaker to strive for. My hat’s off to you Canon for this one. Of course, Vincent LaForet thinks that this may be the beginning of the end for Canon’s other offerings like the 1Dx.

Oh and to get shooters to salivate even further, Canon releases 2 new cinema zoom lens– 15.5-47mm and 30-105mm. Both lenses will be t2.8 and $24k each.

Canon’s C100 is supposedly coming out in November.

Specifications

Standard Definition or High Definition
High Definition

Power Supply (rated)
7.4 V DC (battery pack: BP-955), 8.4 V DC (DC IN)

Recording/Codec
Signal System: NTSC and PAL
Compression: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264
Color Space: 4:2:2
Maximum Bit Rate: 24Mbps
Canon Log Gamma: Available
File Format: AVCHD

Recording Options:

Mode	Resolution	Frame Rate
24 Mbps LPCM	1920 x1080	60i/PF30/PF24/24p 50i/PF25
24 Mbps	1920 x1080	60i/PF30/PF24/24p 50i/PF25
17 Mbps	1920 x1080	60i/PF30/PF24/24p 50i/PF25
7 Mbps	1440 x1080	60i/PF30/PF24/24p 50i/PF25

 

Audio
24 Mbps Mode: Linear PCM; 2-Channel; 16-Bit; 48 kHz

All Other Modes: Dolby Digital AC3

Built-in Microphone: L/R

External Audio Inputs: 2 – XLR inputs (Auto and Manual level settings)

External microphone terminal: (3.5 mm diameter)

Recording Channel Selection:

This is used to set the allocation of the audio channels:

CH1/CH2: The CH1 signals are allocated to the L output channel, and the CH2 signals are allocated to the R output channel.

CH1/CH1: The CH1 signals are allocated to the L output channel, and the CH1 signals are allocated to the R output channel.

CH2/CH2: The CH2 signals are allocated to the L output channel, and the CH2 signals are allocated to the R output channel.

ALL CH/ALL CH: Signals obtained by mixing the CH1 and CH2 signals are allocated to the L and R output channels.

XLR Mic Trimming: Available; -12dB, -6 dB, 0dB, +6dB or +12 dB

Recording Level Adjustment Range: – Infinity to +18dB

Phantom Power: Available; +48V

Headphone Adjustment: 16 Settings; Volume is muted at lowest setting

1KHz Tone: Available: Available; -12, -18, or -20 dB

Image Sensor 
Sensor Type: CMOS sensor (single-panel) equivalent to Super 35mm

Sensor Size: 24.6 x 13.8 (28.2 mm diagonal); 6.4 ?m cell pitch

Scanning System: Progressive

Number of Sensors: 1

Filter: RGB Primary Color Filter (Bayer Array)

Imaging Processor: DIGIC DV III

Effective Pixels
Approx. 8.29 megapixels (3840 x 2160)

Total Pixels
Approx. 9.84 megapixels (4206 x 2340)

Max. Movie Recording Time 
(1) Recording media: SD/SDHC/SDXC card
(2) Number of slots: 2
Note: Movie and photo recording is enabled. Also, custom pictures (20 files) and settings of data such as menus can be recorded.
Recording media operation results: A list of cards that can be used for recording will be provided separately.
Clips of 59.94 Hz and 50.00 Hz modes cannot be stored together on a single media device.
The maximum continuous recording time is 12 hours. When this time has elapsed, recording will stop automatically. When continuous recording is performed, data is divided up in 2 GB files. When 50 files are recorded for 1 clip, recording will stop automatically.

 

	Recording bit rate (Variable Bit Rate)
	1920 x 1080 recording		1440 x 1080 recording
Memory capacity	24 Mbps (*1)	17 Mbps	7 Mbps
2GB	10 minutes	15 minutes	35 minutes
4GB	20 minutes	30 minutes	1 hour 10 minutes
6GB	30 minutes	45 minutes	1 hour 45 minutes
8GB	40 minutes	1 hour 00 minutes	2 hours 20 minutes
12GB	1 hour 5 minutes	1 hour 30 minutes	3 hours 35 minutes
16GB	1 hour 25 minutes	2 hours 05 minutes	4 hours 45 minutes
32GB	2 hours 55 minutes	4 hours 10 minutes	9 hours 35 minutes
64GB	5 hours 55 minutes	8 hours 20 minutes	19 hours 10 minutes
(*1) Same for 24 Mbps LPCM recording. Note: If recording is performed continuously for 12 hours, recording will stop automatically. The recording will not be started automatically.

Lens
Interchangeable: EF mount for compatibility EF, EF-S and EOS Cinema lens systems (non-PL).

Focusing System 
Manual; One-Shot AF
Autofocus system is available; AF is dependent on interchangeable lenses

Max. Shutter Speed 
1/2000 sec.

ISO Range 
3200 to 20,000 in 1-step and 1/3-step increments

ND Filter Settings 
Mechanical ND filter system with option of clear, 2, 4, and 6 stops

White Balance 
AWB, Kelvin setting (setting range: 2000K to 15000K), daylight, tungsten, set A, set B

Frame Rate 
NTSC: 60i, 30p, 24p
PAL: 50i, 25p

Minimum Illumination 
59.94 Hz: 0.3 lux
50 Hz: 0.25 lux

Illumination Correction
Available

Genlock Terminal
N/A

HD/SD-SDI Terminal
N/A

Timecode Terminals
N/A

Viewfinder
0.24-inch (0.61 cm diagonal) color wide-screen LCD with 16:9 aspect ratio
Equivalent to approx. 1.555 million dots (960 x RGB x 540), 100% field of view ratio

LCD Screen (Monitor Unit) 
3.5-inch (8.8 cm diagonal) color wide-screen LCD with 16:9 aspect ratio
Equivalent to approx. 922,000 dots (640 x RGB x 480), 100% field of view ratio

Microphone
Stereo (electret condenser microphone)

Recording Media 
SD Card x2 (Video, Still Images (JPEG), Custom Picture Data*, Clip

Metadata, and menu settings); SD/SDHC/SDXC Supported; MMC Cards are not supported

*Custom Picture Data and settings is not compatible with data from others Canon models

USB Terminal 
mini-B, Hi-Speed USB

Video Terminal 
3.5 mm 4-pole mini jack out only

Audio Terminal 
2 – Balanced 3-pin XLR (Mic Level, Mic Level with phantom power and Line Level) in Handle unit

HDMI Terminal 
Yes (Type A) Time code can be superimposed

AV Mini-terminal/Headphone Terminal
3.5mm stereo mini-jack

WFT Terminal
N/A

Operating Temperature Range
Performance requirements: 0°C to 40°C, 85% (relative humidity)
Operating requirements: 0°C to 45°C, 60% (relative humidity)

Dimensions (W x H x D)
C100 (Body plus Thumb Rest):
Approx. 5.3 x 6.7 x 5.1 in (135 x 170 x 129 mm)

C100 (Body plus Grip):
Approx. 7.2 x 6.7 x 5.1 in (182 x 170 x 129 mm)

C100 (Body plus Thumb Rest plus handle):
Approx. 5.6 x 11.1 x 9.3 in (142 x 281 x 236 mm)

C100 (Body plus Grip plus handle):
Approx. 7.2 x 11.1 x 9.3 in (182 x 281 x 236 mm)

Weight (not including lens)
Main Unit:
C100 Body: Approx. TBA lb. / TBA g

Grip: Approx. 8.1 oz. / 230 g
Handle Unit: Approx. TBA oz. / TBA g
BP-955 Battery: 7.8 oz / 220g