The Canon EOS C500 4K Cinema Camera (PL Lens Mount)represents Canon's first foray into the world of 4K digital cinema production. Sharing a sensor with the earlier EOS C300 PL camera, the EOS C500 PL fulfills the potential of the large (Super 35mm-size), high-resolution (8.8 Mp effective) CMOS imager by offering full 4K RAW output via 3G-SDI.
The C500 PL also has a body type in common with the C300 PL. Featuring large, accessible buttons with ridges dividing them, the EOS C500 PL has been designed expressly for the craft of digital cinema. Its signal output is similarly appropriate: At rates up to 60 frames per second, the 10-bit 4K RAW data stream output can be recorded to an approved external device (sold separately) at full resolution. Using a format called 4K half RAW, which halves the horizontal resolution, you can capture up to 120 fps to the external recorder by using both of the C500 PL's 3G-SDI outputs.
The Canon EOS C500 PL integrates with time-tested feature film production workflows. As 4K RAW data is being recorded externally, you can record proxy files at 50 Mb/s to the camera's internal CF card so rough-cut or dailies editing can begin immediately after a scene is complete. For the widest latitude for color correction in post-production, the camera offers Canon's Log gamma mode, which results in excellent tonal reproduction in the highlight and lowlight regions of an image, and a greatly expanded dynamic range.
As its name suggests, the EOS C500 PL features a PL mount for compatibility not only with a broad range of compatible cine lenses from manufacturers like Angenieux and Zeiss, but also with Canon's burgeoning line of Cinema EOS lenses for PL mount. These lenses are designed to match up perfectly with the 3-perf Super 35mm-size CMOS sensor of this camera. Like the camcorder, these lenses (sold separately) were developed specifically for digital cinema, with engraved markings on angled surfaces in meters and feet and uniform front diameters for easy lens switching without having to reconfigure a matte box or follow focus gearing.
Image Sensor | 1x CMOS sensor, equivalent to 3-perf Super 35mm |
Effective Pixels | Approx. 8.85 Mp (4096 x 2160) |
Filter | RGB primary color filter (Bayer array) |
Lens Mount | PL |
Output Formats | 4K: 10-bit RGB RAW at up to 60 fps 4K: 10-bit RGB Half RAW at up to 120 fps 2K: 12-bit RGB 4:4:4 at up to 60 fps 2K: 10-bit YCrCb 4:2:2 at up to 120 fps QFHD: 1920 x 1080 RGB 4:4:4 12-bit or 10-bit at up 60 fps QFHD: 1920 x 1080 YCrCb 4:2:2 10-bit at up to 120 fps QFHD: 3840 x 2160 RGB RAW 10-bit at up to 60 fps QFHD: 3840 x 1080 RGB Half RAW 10-bit at up to 120 fps |
Proxy Video | 8-bit MPEG-2 Long GOP (Canon XF codec) 4:2:2 at 50 Mb/s recording to CF card |
Video Outputs | 3G-SDI: 2x BNC |