Canon EOS C700 Review

The EOS C700 FF is Canon’s very first cinema camera with a full-frame sensor. It has the same image circle size as the full-frame EOS 5D camera series since the EOS C700 FF is powered by a brand-new CMOS image sensor that was created by Canon. This sensor has a total of 5952 (H) x 3140 (V) photosites and a digital cinema 17:9 aspect ratio. July 2018 is when Canon plans to start selling the EOS C700 FF EF and EOS C700 FF PL at a retail price of approximately $33,000.00.

In addition, Canon has introduced the CN-E20mm T1.5 L F, a full-manual 20mm Cinema Prime Lens designed for cameras with an EF Mount, which is planned to begin arriving in the fall of 2018.

MELVILLE, N.Y., March 28, 2018 — Canon U.S.A. Inc., a pioneer in the development of digital imaging solutions, is thrilled to introduce the EOS C700 FF, the company’s first full-frame cinema camera. Full-frame digital cinema is quickly becoming a new creative reality, bringing with it all of the splendor and grandeur that the format is known for.

Canon has been a part of the full-frame video movement ever since the company released the EOS 5D Mark II DSLR camera in 2008. The release of the C700 FF has further solidified Canon’s commitment to this market.

It has the same image circle size as the full frame EOS 5D camera series since it is built on a new CMOS image sensor that was created by Canon. This sensor has a total of 5952 (H) x 3140 (V) photosites and a digital cinema 17:9 aspect ratio. This allows for a large variety of shooting options to be supported.

The EOS C700 FF offers users the same exceptional performance, operation, and modular design as its predecessor, the EOS C700, and is available with either a PL or an EF Mount (released in December 2016). The camera is being revealed to the general public for the first time at the NAB Show 2018 in Las Vegas from April 9-12. The event is being held at the Canon booth, which is located at C4325.

According to Yuichi Ishizuka, president, and chief operating officer of Canon U.S.A., Inc., “Since the launch of Canon’s Cinema EOS line of products in November 2011, the goal has been to one day develop a cinema camera worthy of being the ‘A’ camera on major Hollywood productions, and Canon met that goal with the introduction of the EOS C700.”

“After hearing feedback from our clients and keeping a close eye on the direction of the market, Canon decided to make the launch of a full-frame movie camera one of its top priorities. With this introduction, we are really happy to see industry pros shooting their most recent projects with the C700 FF, and we look forward to seeing it in their hands.

The fact that existing owners of Canon’s original EOS C700 cinema camera can have their Super 35mm sensor updated to the new Full-Frame sensor for a fee* will be exciting news for such owners.

Canon Burbank and other authorized Canon facilities are prepared to perform C700 upgrades as well as lens mount swaps. These facilities also offer equipment drop-off, on-site repairs, and upgrades, as well as equipment testing and demonstration.

The Sensing Unit

The newly designed sensor that is incorporated into the EOS C700 FF offers readout at full size in addition to Super 35mm, Super 16mm, and anamorphic modes. The active image area of this sensor measures 38.1 mm by 20.1 mm.

In addition to being able to be used with full-frame lenses, it can also be used with conventional Super 35mm lenses to originate 4K / UHD standardized production formats and with Super 16mm lenses (with the use of an adapter) to originate 2K / HD production formats in crop modes. Both of these capabilities are in addition to the fact that it can be used with full-frame lenses.

The sensor has a large color gamut that complies with ITU-R BT.2020 standards as well as a wide tonality range that is greater than 15 stops of dynamic range. This provides a large amount of creative freedom while grading, which results in exceptional efficiency in HDR video creation.

Recording

Canon XF-AVC and Apple ProRes are both high-performance codecs that may be used for onboard recording with the EOS C700 FF. You can choose either one. The EOS C700 FF, like other cameras in the 4K Cinema EOS series, records to CFast cards in order to capture either 4K/UHD or 2K/HD video.

The Oversampling 4K Processing function of the C700 FF is one of the most notable aspects of this camera. This function takes a 5.9K picture capture and converts it into a 4K (DCI or UHD) video with improved image clarity, less moire, and reduced noise visibility at higher ISO settings. This is very helpful for the capture of anamorphic images on board.

It is possible to record low-rate 2K or HD proxy data, complete with metadata, to SD cards; this is a perfect setup for offline editing. Additionally, the camera is capable of high-frame-rate recording at up to 168 frames per second in 2K crop and relay mode, as well as simultaneous recording onto both CFast cards.

In addition, the C700 FF is capable of shooting high-frame-rate video recording in Full HD at a maximum of 168 frames per second. Updates to the firmware in the near future will likely include support for additional formats.

In order to further complement the characteristics of the EOS C700 FF, Canon has turned to its reliable business partner Codex in order to provide an alternative for fully integrated (no connections required) recording as well as workflow.

The optional Codex CDX-36150 recorder may be attached to the back of the EOS C700 FF to enable recording of 5.9K RAW at 60 frames per second, 4K RAW at up to 72 frames per second (when shooting in 24p mode), 4K ProRes at up to 60 frames per second, and 2K ProRes at up to 168 frames per second (in Super 16mm mode).

Additionally, the C700 FF is compatible with the most recent release (1.0) of the ACESproxy color management transmission standard, which is maintained by the ACES (Academy Color Encoding System).

HDR

The EOS C700 FF is a fantastic solution for consumers who want to create High Dynamic Range (HDR) pictures since it offers 15 stops of latitude (only with Canon Log2), along with Canon’s proprietary Log Gammas (Canon Log3, Canon Log2, and Canon Log), and acclaimed color science.

When originating HDR photography that has both highlight features and deep shadow details, it is advised to use Canon Log2 as the photo format. When compared to Canon Log, the Canon Log3 format provides a greater dynamic range while maintaining performance in darker areas.

In addition, these cameras interact faultlessly with Canon’s most recent professional 4K UHD Reference Displays for on-set color management and review that is compliant with SMPTE ST 2084 HDR display standards.

The appearance of a cinematic production starts with the lens, and the EOS C700 FF gives users the option of using either PL or EF lens mounts. These mounts may be switched out at a Canon-approved repair center.

The version of the new EOS C700 FF that has an EF lens mount is compatible with Canon’s family of seven Cinema Prime lenses, including the recently announced CN-E20mm T1.5 L F lens, as well as the extensive collection of over 70 interchangeable EF lenses. This makes it possible to capture full-frame images with the camera. The EF mount is compatible with both the Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology and the Dual Pixel Focus Guide that Canon offers.

When adjusting the focus, the Focus Guide provides the operator with a precise visual cue that is displayed in the viewfinder. Alternately, the dependable capabilities of Dual Pixel CMOS AF may be utilized for very challenging shooting scenarios. The version of the EOS C700 with the FF PL mount is also compatible with the /i metadata communication technique developed by Cooke.

July 2018 is when Canon plans to start selling the EOS C700 FF EF and EOS C700 FF PL at a retail price of approximately $33,000.00. Please visit usa.canon.com/provideo if you are interested in learning more about the EOS C700 FF.

The EF Cinema Lens Lineup Gets an Expansion from Canon USA With the Release of a New 20mm Prime Lens for 4K Cameras

MELVILLE, N.Y., March 28, 2018 — The industry leader in digital imaging solutions, Canon U.S.A. Inc., has just announced the availability of a new addition to the Cinema EOS System. This new lens, the CN-E20mm T1.5 L F, is a full-manual 20mm Cinema Prime Lens for EF Mount cameras.

The 20mm lens provides great optical performance in a physical factor that is extremely compact. This focal length is quite popular. Canon’s EF Cinema Lens family has been further enhanced with the launch of this new lens to suit a varied range of requirements for filmmaking and video production. As a result, Canon has made another significant contribution to the field of cinematography.

“We are thrilled to introduce the CN-E20mm T1.5 L F lens, further expanding a robust lineup of Cinema Prime lenses,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president, and COO of Canon U.S.A., Inc. “As Canon continues to expand its reach in the cinema space, we are thrilled to introduce the CN-E20mm T1.5 L F lens,” Ishizuka continued.

“Users will have the option to choose between our 14mm and 24mm lenses thanks to this new lens, which will provide them greater freedom for the way they frame their scenes. Canon is looking forward to seeing the projects that our customers develop using this lens in combination with Canon Cinema cameras.

High image quality is provided for Canon cameras that include full-frame sensors, such as the recently released EOS C700 FF digital cinema camera, by the brand-new CN-E20mm T1.5 L F lens, which is capable of delivering 4K resolution from the image’s center to its outermost edges.

In addition, the lens is able to produce stunningly smooth bokeh as a result of its 11-blade aperture diaphragm in conjunction with a T number1 of 1.5. The CN-E20mm T1.5 L F lens, just like all other Canon Cinema Prime lenses, has tones that look natural and warm, a focus ring that can rotate 300 degrees, and focus breathing that is kept to a minimum.

Since the introduction of the Cinema EOS System and EF Cinema Lenses in November 2011, Canon has made significant strides in expanding the selection of EF Cinema Lenses available to consumers. The assortment of lenses, which consists of Prime, Zoom, Compact Zoom, CINE-SERVO, and COMPACT-SERVO series, has grown in popularity among a wide variety of users. Prime, Zoom, and Compact Zoom series of lenses are all included.

Now that the CN-E20mm T1.5 L F lens has been added to the roster, there are a total of 21 lens models available to choose from. This extensive array of lenses provides cinematographers with even more options to pick from, which can help the enhancement of content creation for a number of uses and shooting conditions.

Canon EOS C700 Specifications

Imaging

Lens Mount	Canon EF Cinema
Lens Communication	Yes
Sensor Resolution	Actual: 20.8 Megapixel (6062 x 3432) Effective: 18.69 Megapixel (5952 x 3140)
Sensor Type	38.1 x 20.1 mm (Full-Frame) CMOS
Built-In ND Filter	Mechanical Filter Wheel with 2 Stop (1/4), 4 Stop (1/16), 6 Stop (1/64) ND Filters
Capture Type	Stills & Video

Exposure Control

Shutter Type	Electronic Rolling Shutter
ISO Sensitivity	160 to 25,600 (Extended: 100 to 102,400)
Advertised Dynamic Range	15 Stops
External Recording Modes	Raw 12-Bit via Proprietary Module 5952 x 3140 5952 x 2532 4096 x 2160 Raw 10-Bit via Proprietary Module 5952 x 3140 5952 x 2532 4096 x 2160 2048 x 1080
Sensor Crop Modes	Super35 / APS-C
Variable Frame Rates	Up to 168 fps
Built-In Microphone Type	Mono
IP Streaming	MP4 720 x 480 to 1920 x 1080 at 29.97p, 59.94i (1.5 to 9.0 Mb/s)

Interface

Media/Memory Card Slot	Dual Slot: CFast (CFast 2.0) Single Slot: SD/SDHC/SDXC
Video I/O	2 x BNC Output 4 x BNC (Unspecified SDI) Output 1 x HDMI Output
Audio I/O	1 x 1/8″ / 3.5 mm TRS Stereo Microphone Input 2 x XLR 3-Pin Input
Power I/O	1 x XLR 4-Pin (12 VDC) Input 1 x D-Tap Output
Other I/O	1 x RJ45 (LAN)

Monitor

Secondary Display

Side: 3″ LCD Status Display

Viewfinder

Type	Optional, Not Included

Focus

Focus Type	Auto and Manual Focus
Focus Mode	Automatic, Manual Focus, Continuous-Servo AF

General

Battery Type	V-Mount
Netflix Approved	Yes
Dimensions (W x H x D)	6.6 x 6.1 x 12.9″ / 16.8 x 15.5 x 32.8 cm
Weight	7.6 lb / 3.45 kg

Packaging Info

Package Weight	15.9 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)	18.7 x 14.2 x 13.8″

Conclusion

The Canon C700 FF is an extremely powerful full-frame cinema camera with a primary emphasis on image quality and consistency. When combined with the docked Codex recorder, it is able to capture 5.9K raw images with the same range of frame rates that it can when recording in XF-AVC or ProRes, making it incredibly simple and straightforward to use. Additionally, the camera supports the S35mm and S16mm crop formats, both of which may provide native resolutions of either 2K or 4K.

You have the option of shooting in raw or log with the C700 FF, and it comes with a comprehensive set of built-in monitoring LUTs. For pictures that have a “baked-in” appearance, you also have the option to select from a number of different video gammas and make use of a complete set of video-style modifications.

Either XF-AVC Intra or ProRes can be used for recording in 4K/UHD or 2K/HD resolutions; both codecs record data in 10-bit 4:2:2 format regardless of frame size, and both record 12-bit 4:4:4 RGB choices in 2K/HD modes. You are able to sub-record XF-AVC Intra clips in 4K or 2K while recording raw, or you are able to sub-record XF-AVC Proxy clips while recording any main format.

The camera provides a good range of slow and fast frame rates; it may not have as wide a range as some other cameras, but its slow-motion and fast-motion images are always fully sampled without line skipping or pixel binning, and as a result, they maintain their full quality regardless of the frame rate.

It is true that noise increases with higher gains, but other than that, there is nothing that can stop you from splicing together photos taken at ISO 200 and ISO 6400. Image clarity and color reproduction are amazingly consistent across the possible range of ISO and gain settings.

The camera boasts Canon’s well-recognized colorimetry and can capture an impressive 15 stops of dynamic range when used properly.

Operations and menus are sensible straightforward and (mostly) without surprises; however, it is in your best interest to re-check system frequency, frame rate, and sub-recording settings whenever you change sensor modes or recording formats — just as it is in your best interest to do so with any other multi-format, multi-resolution camera. This is because changing any of these settings can cause unexpected results.

A high-quality full HD OLED electronic viewfinder (EVF) offers an unobstructed view of the image being captured by the camera as well as a set of controls that have been thoughtfully crafted. Dual monitoring outputs are able to transport the same data to separate monitors or EVFs that are manufactured by third parties. You are able to stay on top of exposure and focus concerns thanks to the image mag, peaking, zebra, and false color as well as waveform monitor functions.

The C700 FF can be controlled in the same manner as an Alexa, F55, or VariCam thanks to a six-button side panel that is industry-standard and is found on all of those cameras. The panel on the left-hand side of the camera can be replicated on the right-hand side of the camera using an optional remote control.

Additionally, video-style CCUs can be connected for remote shading, and the camera comes with both timecode and genlock/sync terminals, making it suitable for use in Multicam productions.

The version with an EF attachment provides access to all of Canon’s dual-pixel autofocus and manual focus capabilities, such as the capability to tap-to-focus using Browser Remote via wired or wireless networks.

Pros & Cons