Canon's newest D-SLR, the EOS-1D C, is clearly targeted at professional cinematographers. The $15,000 camera looks just like the EOS-1D X from the outside, but it's what's under the hood that matters.
The 1D C sports an 18-megapixel, full frame image sensor and is capable of recording 8-bit 4K video in Motion JPEG format with a 4:2:2 sampling rate at 24 frames per second. The camera can also record 1080p video at selectable frame rates, varying from 24 through 60 frames per second.
When recording 4K footage, the camera only uses a portion of its image sensor, resulting in a 1.33x focal length multiplication factor. This is not the case with 1080p video—footage is captured from the full 36mm width of the sensor in that mode. There is also a Super 35 crop setting, which mimics the field of view of the cinematographic standard.
The camera is compatible with the full range of Canon EF and EF Cinema Lenses, which are readily available for purchase and rental. The camera can also capture stills at up to 12 frames per second thanks to dual Canon Digic 5+ image processors. It also has a JPEG shooting mode that can capture shots at 14 frames per second—in this mode, the mirror remains locked up during shooting. The ISO can go as high as 25600 when shooting video and 51200 when capturing stills. The EOS-1D C will be available this year.
Canon first previewed the EOS-1D C in November. At that time it announced the inaugural camera in the Cinema EOS line, the C300. The company is following up that camera with a new model, the EOS C500. Like the C300 it will be available in two versions—one with an EF lens mount and one with a PL mount. The camera supports 10-bit uncompressed 4K video capture, and can also shoot at 2K and 1080p resolutions. When shooting at 2K the camera outputs a 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 signal at up to 120 frames per second; 4K footage is limited to 60 frames per second. The C500 is expected to sell for $30,000 and should launch later this year.
The company also announced two new EF Cinema Zoom lenses, each available in either an EF or PL mount. The CN-E 15.5-47mm T2.8 L covers an ultra wide angle to normal field of view, while the CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L is a wide angle to short telephoto lens. The company rounded out its new video slate with two Digisuper HD lenses, intended for use in broadcast environments. No pricing or availability information is available for the new lens lineup.
