CANON EOS C80 AND C400 GEAR TEST
READY TO RIG As full-frame RF mount models, the C80 (above) and C400 (right) are versatile options for cine shooters
BIT-RATE BONANZA Where the C80 tops out at 576Mbps when shooting in Cinema Raw Light files, the C400 is capable of up to a 2.1Gbps bit rate thanks to its additional high-quality (HQ) setting to squeeze every bit of data from the sensor. While the C80 maxes out at 30fps when shooting in 6K Raw, the C400 goes to 60p, for example. In 4K, the C400 reaches 120p – although it uses a Super 35 crop if shooting Raw – while the C80 struggles to go above 60p. You can shoot 4K/120p on the C80, but only in a more compressed codec. Both come with a massive spreadsheet of codecs and all crops, frame rates and bit rates. Add full-time AF not working in all high frame rates and it gets complicated.
boost that you’ll notice not just on the spec sheets, but also in use. For Canon users wanting to upgrade, the choice now is whether to go with the C80 or C400, as they are each aimed at different users. The C80 is ideal for small production companies or filmmakers wanting to move up from a full-frame mirrorless to a real cinema camera experience, complete with traditional audio controls and in-depth menus, big cine-style batteries and built-in ND filters. It has many of the rear controls like those on the EOS-1D X pro DSLR or EOS R series, complete with a rear joystick, but there’s no viewfinder. It’s also cheaper than the EOS R1 mirrorless, and a better machine for shooting video.
It’s a great camera for solo shooters and small crews making cinematic films and documentaries, or even for streaming and experimenting with Canon’s VR technology. It records to a pair of SD memory cards which are plentiful and cheap. In comparison, the C400 is a bigger and heavier beast. It adds higher frame rates and bit rates for even better quality than the C80 – as well as functions to make it not only great for cinematic shooting or ENG, but also for virtual production and live broadcast, thanks to genlock and the addition of a 12-pin port to power broadcast lenses. This is a camera that really can do it all, with no compromises whatsoever.
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