Canon Announces New Cinema EOS Cameras and Lenses

Canon has expanded its lineup of Cinema EOS products, announcing the upcoming launch of new camera bodies and six new lenses.

At the top of the range are two new flagship camera models the EOS C500 and EOS C500 PL. Capable of shooting 4K-resolution video (4096 x 2160 pixels), the new models are the same except for the fact that the C500 which supports Canon’s line-up of interchangeable EF lenses and EF Cinema Lenses, while the EOS C500 PL is compatible with  PL lenses.

Video from the new models can be output in uncompressed RAW format (60p,10-bit) for external recording, making them well suited to high-level film applications. The cameras use an industry-standard Super 35 mm equivalent CMOS sensor (approximately 8.85 effective megapixels) thatallows a maximum ISO setting of 20,000. Two 3G-SDI connectors for 4K RAW data output and two MON connectors for connection to an external monitor.

Marker, zebra and 4K-compatible peaking signals are available on MON. 1 output. The cameras go on sale in Australia in November 2012.


Canon Cinema EOS C500.

Also new is the smaller Cinema EOS C100 digital video camera. Aimed at film schools and documentary makers the C100 has been designed to be operated by a single user. The camera uses a Super 35 mm-equivalent CMOS sensor (approximately 8.29 million effective pixels), featuring a large pixel-surface-area for high sensitivity and reduced noise for natural low-light shooting.

The CMOS sensor reads Full HD (1920 x 1080 pixels) video signals for each of the three RGB primary colours, decreasing the incidence of moiré while realising 1,000 horizontal TV line resolution. Additionally, supported by a heightened signal read-out speed, the CMOS sensor reduces rolling shutter skews, a phenomenon prevalent with other types of CMOS sensors in which fast-moving subjects may appear diagonally distorted. The C100 is expected to go on sale in Australia in December 2012.


Canon Cinema EOS C100.

Canon has also announced four new EF Cinema zoom lenses for use with 4K cameras: the CN-E15.5-47mm T2.8 L S (for EF mounts) and CN-E15.5-47mm T2.8 L SP (for PL mounts) wide-angle cinema zoom lenses, and the CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L S (for EF mounts) and CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L SP (for PL mounts). The 30-105mm lenses will be available from late October, while the 15.5-47mm lenses will be available late December 2012.

Two single-focal-length models are also in development – a 14mm T3.1 wide-angle lens and a 135mm T2.2 telephoto lens. The new models, which are due in the first half of 2013, are compatible with Cinema EOS, 35 mm full-frame, APS-H-size and APS-C-size cameras.

Canon no longer releases pricing for any of its products, stating only that, "pricing is set at dealer discretion".