New EOS C500/EOS C500 PL enables stunning 4K-resolution video shooting 

SYDNEY, 29 August, 2012: Canon Australia today announces the launch of the highly anticipated EOS C500, the flagship of the company’s Cinema EOS System line-up of professional digital cinematography products. Capable of shooting stunning 4K-resolution video, the new addition comes in two models: the EOS C500, which supports Canon’s diverse line-up of interchangeable EF lenses and EF Cinema Lenses; and the EOS C500 PL, compatible with industry-standard PL lenses.

“The plethora of features included in the C500, all designed to meet the ever increasing demands of the cinematic industry, makes this the ideal camera for shooting features and high-end productions,” said Charles Montesin, Brand Manager – Professional Video, Canon Australia. “I am confident that we will be seeing great works being shot on this camera.”

The EOS C500/PL features an industry-standard Super 35 mm equivalent CMOS sensor (approximately 8.85 million effective pixels) that, in addition to delivering a high pixel count, realises high-sensitivity performance to a maximum ISO setting of 20,000 and low noise due to its large pixel surface area. Furthermore, Canon Log Gamma enables high-resolution 4K video capture with a high dynamic range that can be output as Canon’s proprietary uncompressed Cinema RAW data (60p, 10-bit) with no image degradation.

Through its 3G-SDI interface, the EOS C500/PL is capable of outputting 4K 10-bit Bayer RAW data directly from the CMOS image sensor into an external recorder, providing maximum flexibility and image quality through the post-production process to meet the needs of the most demanding cinematic productions. The camera employs a 10/12-bit RGB 4:4:4 signal format during 2K (2048 x 1080) and Full-HD output, achieving rich colour reproduction while supporting efficient post-production editing, chroma key compositing and other image processing tasks.

The C500/PL boasts a maximum speed of 60fps in 4K RAW (4096×2160) full resolution mode. In 4K HRAW (4096×2160) and 2K (2048×1080) YCC 4:2:2 modes the C500/PL captures images at an impressive 120 fps.

Shooting Modes

Featuring a vertically oriented ‘mobile core’ body design with surprisingly small width and depth dimensions, the EOS C500/PL facilitates high-impact cinematic perspectives by enabling shooting from vantage points inaccessible to large cinema cameras, such as close to the ground and alongside walls. Despite its high-performance features, the camera realises the same approximate body dimensions as the EOS C300/PL (released in January 2012).

In addition to a highly mobile body, the EOS C500/PL includes a range of new features that contribute to enhanced operating ease. Providing advanced compatibility with 4K motion-picture production workflows, the camera offers 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.

Additionally, the EF lens-mount-model EOS C500, which accommodates new and existing Canon EF lenses, newly incorporates Cinema Lock. This lens locking function allows lens replacement with the same level of ease as PL lenses, even when attaching heavy lenses while the camera is mounted on a rig.

The EOS C500 joins the Cinema EOS System alongside the EOS C300 digital cinema camera, which has established itself firmly in the Australian motion-picture production market based on its exceptional video-quality performance and mobility, durability and expandability. The popularity of the C300 is evident from the outstanding uptake since its launch in January, which has seen more than 100 cameras already sold.

The new Canon EOS C500 and EOS C500 PL will go on sale in Australia in November 2012 with pricing set at dealer discretion.