Pro Moviemaker March/April 2023 - Web

CANON EOS C500 MARK II

SPECIFICATIONS Price: £10,543/$10,999 Sensor: 20.8-megapixel full- frame CMOS, Digic DV7 Format: Cinema Raw Light 12- bit 2.1Gbps, XF-AVC 4:2:2 10- bit 810Mbps; 5952x3149 5.9K, 4096x2160 C4K, 3840x2160 4K, 2048x1080 2K, 1920x1080 FHD Frame rates: 59.94/50/29.97/25/24/23.98p Fast frame rates: 60fps Cinema Raw Light and XF-AVC full- frame, 120fps in 2K ISO range: 160-25,600, expandable 100-102,400 Dynamic range: 15+ stops C-Log2 Autofocus: Dual Pixel CMOS AF; one shot, continuous, face priority Lens mount: EF (User changeable to PL) Filters: Up to 10-stop ND built-in Screen: 109mm/4.3in LCD touchscreen, 2.76 million dots Viewfinder: Add-on LM-V2 Audio: 2x XLR inputs Output: HDMI, 12G-SDI, Mini-B USB Storage: 2x CFexpress, SD/SDHC slot Dimensions (wxhxd):

“For high-frame- rate recording, there is 50/60p in the full 5.9K with Cinema Raw Light”

MASTER OF ALL TRADES Attach an AF telezoom and the C500 Mark II excels for fast- moving subjects, but it also works with primes as a cinema camera

For high-frame-rate recording, there is 50/60p in the full 5.9K with Cinema Raw Light, which goes up to 120fps in 2K or HD – but there’s a crop and it’s manual focus only. The heart of the camera is that 5.9K sensor, and thanks to the Digic DV7 processor, you can record 5.9K Cinema Raw Light 12-bit or DCI 4K XF-AVC 10-bit 4:2:2. Using the camera in 4K XF-AVC, the sensor oversamples from the 5.9K signal, suppressing moiré and reducing noise for extremely high quality. It’s a time-proven codec that manages to create all the same characteristics of other famed Canon cinema cameras and produces simply incredible footage.

The EOS C500 Mark II supports five-axis IBIS with a fixed sensor and advanced digital system. When a suitable lens is attached, focal length data is received and the IS system matched to the lens, which is then cleverly countered automatically in post. There is a slight crop of the image, though. However, the IBIS only works on XF-AVC and not when shooting Raw, because it’s a digital system rather than a stabilised sensor. With a tall body that echoes the rest of the Canon Cinema range that sits below it, the C500 Mark II is a well-sorted machine offering built- in ND filters from two to ten stops, professional audio controls and a battery that works for a long time. All the functions can be accessed via a new on-screen display with all the complexities of a professional machine. You can change settings via a large thumb wheel on the left of the camera body or the joystick on the monitor – and it’s possible to alter certain controls through customisable buttons. There are waveforms, zebras and false colour warnings. For HDR shooting, it records in PQ/HLG, and to maximise dynamic range for grading afterwards, you can select Canon Log 2 and 3.

153x148x168mm/ 6.03x5.83x6.61in Weight: 1.75kg/3.9lb

THE VERDICT

Canon’s EOS C500 Mark II is an incredibly impressive camera that might not be brand new, but still uses the latest technology, has a modular style and that impressive 5.9K full-frame 35mm sensor. It records 12-bit Cinema Raw Light or 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 XF-AVC to memory cards, boasts autofocus you can trust and in-body image stabilisation. It’s an all-time classic. It’s not perfect though, as the menus could be simplified, the IBIS doesn’t work

when shooting Raw and fastest frame rates are limited to 120fps with a sizeable crop. Unless you only shoot action sports, none of this is likely to be a deal-breaker. Now it’s more affordable than ever, the C500 Mark II is good enough to shoot everything from corporate videos to films for the big streaming services.

More information

canon.co.uk

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