Canon Unveils 3rd Gen C300 and 25-250mm Cine Zoom

While Canon continues to offer ever more capable hybrid photo/video cameras, its Cinema EOS range is specifically targeted at pro-level video makers and cinematographers. The latest addition to the Cinema EOS camera body line-up is the C300 Mark III and it’s accompanied by a new 25-250mm cine zoom with a built-in 1.5x teleconverter, giving a maximum focal length of 375mm.

The third-generation EOS C300 (the Mark II model was launched in 2015) has a more modular design similar to that of the C500 Mark II with interchangeable viewfinders, handgrips/handles and expansion modules. It uses a completely new Super 35mm format CMOS sensor with Dual Gain Output (DGO) circuitry and a claimed dynamic range “exceeding 16 stops” to give superior

HDR capture.

Super 35mm is actually similar to APS-C in format size and so has a crop factor of 1.46x. Each pixel on the DGO sensor is read out with two different amplification levels – one high and one low – which are then combined to make a single image. The higher amplification read-out ensures enhanced detailing in the darker areas, while the lower amplification read-out does the same thing in brighter areas. The new sensor also incorporates Dual Pixel CMOS AF phasedifference detection autofocusing pixels.

The effective pixel count is 8.85 million. Data processing is via the latest DiG!C DV7 engine.

The C300 III records 4K video internally in Cinema RAW Light – which enables more manageable file sizes than Cinema RAW – and in Canon XF- AVC at 4K DCI and UHD with 10- bit 4: 2: 2 colour. Both can be in frame rates of up to 100/ 120fps for slow- mo effects. With XF- AVC recording there’s the choice of ALL- I or Long GOP compression. Both 2K or Full HD recording use the full width of the Super 35mm at 4K with no cropping, which is then downsampled for better image quality and maintain the lens focal length and angleof- view. 2K video recording is possible at up to 180fps, but with a Super 16mm crop factor. The lens mount is Canon’s EF fitting, but can be swapped by the user to EF Cinema Lock or PL. Additionally, a pair of expansion units is available for additional connections such as XLR audio and 24 volts DC out. Other key features of the C300 III include dual memory card slots for CFexpress and one for SD UHS- II, fiveaxis electronic image stabilisation, support for Canon Log 2 and 3 profiles, a built- in ND filter system of up to ten stops, support for anamorphic lenses ( with a de- squeeze for 1.3x and 2.3x), Diffraction Correction and face- detection AF ( up to 60fps).

The new 25-250mm zoom – designated CN10X25 IAS S Cine-Servo – has a maximum aperture of T2.95-3.95 and features a detachable drive unit for powered zooming and iris control. The optical construction includes both large-diameter aspherical elements and the use of anomalous dispersion glass, providing sufficient resolution for both 4K and 8K video over the full focal range. Canon claims, “Many kinds of aberrations are corrected to the fullest extent possible, achieving high quality from the centre of the screen to the outer edges”.

The Canon EOS C300 Mark III will be available in Australia from June and the CN10X25 IAS S Cine-Servo 10x zoom lens from July.

For more information visit www.canon.com.au