Canon has announced the EOS C100 Mark II cinema camera with 1080/60p recording, several design enhancements and standard Dual Pixel CMOS AF.
The new camera gets a redesigned detachable eye-cup to make viewing the EVF an easier task. Also, the external display has been redesigned with a hinged 3.5-inch 1.23 megapixel OLED display panel that delivers 100 percent field-of-view coverage, wide color range support, and improved viewing even in bright sunshine.
The new hinge design — which folds the panel shut when stowed, protecting the OLED surface — opens 180 degrees to reveal function keys and a joystick. The panel can open even further to 270 degrees to deploy against the side of the camera to provide monitoring for directors and other production personnel. Additional design improvements on the camera body include 17 assignable recessed function buttons, dual SD card slots with a transparent cover, and a simplified battery insertion and removal release. -Canon PR
The C100 Mark II gets 1080p at 60fps support for either AVCHD or MP4 formats. It should deliver better image quality thanks to the new DIGIC DV4 image processor, which separates the RGB output from the 8.3MP CMOS sensor into three individual 8MP signals (as opposed to 2MP in the original C100). The new debayering algorithm helps minimize moire and reduce noise throughout the sensitivity range from ISO 320-80,000.
Canon EOS C100 Mark II Key Features
- Super 35mm 8.3MP CMOS Sensor + EF Mount
- 1920×1080 60/50i, 24/25p, PF30, PF23.98
- Built-In Dual Pixel CMOS AF Hardware
- AVCHD + MP4 Recording
- Dual SDHC/SDXC Media Card Slots
- HDMI Output with Timecode & Canon Log
- ISO 320 to 80,000
- Canon Log and Wide DR Gamma
- Two XLR Audio Connectors
- Built-In 2.4 GHz & 5 GHz WiFi Capability
The C100 Mark II offers Canon Log Gamma and Wide DR Gamma as a recording profile and now has built-in LUTs for the ability to preview BT.709 or other color spaces on the monitor. It can also output a clean 4:2:2 signal over HDMI with embedded time code.
Canon Log records an image with subdued contrast and sharpness, which preserves a high dynamic range and presupposes color grading in post production. Canon Log Gamma emphasizes rich gradients from mid-range to highlights, resulting in 12-stops of dynamic range. At ISO 850 and above, Canon Log Gamma enables 5.3 stops of latitude above optimal exposure (and 6.7 stops below), broadening the available dynamic range in color grading.
Wide DR Gamma yields wide dynamic range by suppressing brightness while maintaining gradations, but is designed to produce finished-looking images without requiring any color grading in post-production. -B&H Photo
Finally, the C100 Mark II features built-in WiFi at 5GHz or 2.4GHz for video file transfers and remote control via smartphones.
The Canon EOS C100 Mark II retails for $5499 and should be available in December 2014. Check it out here at B&H Photo.
Brian says
Just received press release… Never expected Canon to actually release a pro video product before NAB. While these improvements look like nice steps, it’s missing one big thing. With Sony’s new 4k knocking on the door, guess they decided to go with what could be done at this time?