Canon Cinema EOS C400 - stabilised sensor, autofocus and full-frame format for 8,599 euros
[21:00 Wed,5.June 2024 by Rudi Schmidts]
The new Canon Cinema EOS C400 has a new yet familiar design, which at 1550 grams is not only lighter than the C500 (at 1750 grams), but is also somewhat more compact. Nevertheless, the new full-frame camera hardly lacks any of the features of the previous Cinema EOS top model. Perhaps the most remarkable feature is the price of 8,599 euros incl. VAT. For a model that sits between the C300 and C500 in Canon&s cine camera hierarchy, this is surprisingly affordable.
Ergonomic innovations include a 3-axis 360-degree display mount, an extended carrying handle with multifunction accessory shoe, as well as a new handle with 3 customisable buttons, which can also be ‘detached’ from the camera using a USB-C extension (e.g. for shoulder operation).
Canon Cinema EOS C400
As you would expect, the camera naturally uses the RF mount as its native lens mount, although Canon will also be launching a dedicated PL-RF adapter at the same time in order to offer a suitable connection for the PL lenses commonly used in the cine sector.
The sensor is a newly developed back-side-illuminated (BSI) model, which has been significantly upgraded compared to previous sensors. The new sensor should be able to deliver around 16 f-stops of dynamic range and be read out much faster - which indicates very short rolling shutter times. The new Triple Base ISO, which provides three different BASE ISO levels in RAW and Log (800, 3200, 12,800), also sounds interesting. The last ISO level in particular could indicate that the camera is exceptionally sensitive to light. Three different base ISOs will also be possible in other image profiles.
The sensor has a native 6K Bayer pattern, which promises particularly clean 4K debayering thanks to oversampling. It is flexibly mounted and can also be operated in combination with a stabilised lens to achieve particularly effective stabilisation. It also features Dual Pixel CMOS AF II, which covers the entire sensor area and can reliably track the eye, face, body and other objects.
Canon Cinema EOS C400
The camera offers two card slots. XF-AVC, XF-HEVC/AVC and proxy recordings can be stored on a card in the SD UHS-II slot. Only a CFexpress card in the second Type-B slot can record Cinema RAW Light files in three flavours (RAW HQ, ST and LT). Even with internal 6K RAW recording, simultaneous recording in another format is possible in the SD card slot. Canon specifies frame rates of 6K up to 60p, 4K up to 120p and 2K up to 180p.
There is hardly anything missing in terms of connections either: 2 x XLR, HDMI/SDI-Out (12G), Timecode, G-Lock and Sync are just some of the features. Interestingly, as with Blackmagic now also seems to be establishing itself as a universal accessory interface ‘out there’. The C400 has at least three USB-C ports, which can also be used as a video-out or for the handle.
The camera has network access both via WLAN and wired via Ethernet, whereby the new camera has also been adapted even more clearly for studio/multicam use. There is also a return input and a telly lamp. Direct IP streaming works with SRT and RTSP, and the XC protocol is also directly supported.
Canon Cinema EOS C400
It looks like Canon is bringing an interesting new camera into the cine game with the C400, which may also put some pressure on the competition in terms of price. However, interested buyers will have to be patient, as the camera is not expected to be available until September 2024 for 8,599 euros (RRP incl. VAT).
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