Canon has announced the latest camera in its cinema EOS range. The Canon EOS C400 is also the company’s first high-end cinema EOS camera to feature an RF lens mount. For users with other lenses, Canon is releasing a new PL-RF mount adaptor alongside its existing EF-EOS R adapter.
6K full-frame sensor
The EOS C400 has a 6K full-frame backside-illuminated, stacked CMOS sensor. Canon says it delivers up to 16 stops of dynamic range. The new chip is also the first to feature Canon’s triple base ISO technology. This means that the C400 has base ISO levels of 800, 3,20 and 12,800 when shooting in Canon Log 2 or 3. In addition, there is an automatic switching mode that detects the ambient lighting and adjusts the base ISO level accordingly.
Dual Pixel CMOS AF II
With the EOS C400, Canon is also introducing its Dual Pixel CMOS AF II to its cinema EOS range. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF II has comprehensive 100% coverage across the sensor plane to deliver quick and accurate autofocus. It also delivers features such as face, eye and body tracking as well as animal detection and tracking.
Recording formats
The EOS C400 records in 6K full-frame up to 60p in Canon’s 12-bit Cinema RAW Light. You can also shoot in 4K RAW up to 120 fps and 2K RAW up to 180 fps in Cinema RAW Light. Alternatively, you can choose the 10-bit 4:2:2 XF-AVC codec with oversampling from the 6K sensor at up to 120p. In addition, Canon is introducing two new recording codecs into the EOS C400 camera: XF-AVC S and XF-HEVC S. These formats record in the familiar MP4 format and preserve metadata.
Inputs and outputs
The EOS C400 features all the connections you need in a cinema camera. These include 2G-SDI and 3G-SDI monitor outputs, a full-size HDMI output and mini-XLR audio inputs. There are also DIN connectors for time code, genlock and return video and a dedicated 12-pin lens terminal for broadcast and cine-servo lenses. In addition, the EOS C400 features SRT protocol for IP streaming of video and audio alongside built-in Wi-Fi connectivity and Ethernet. The camera can also provide frame-by-frame metadata in real-time and post-production to support virtual production workflows.
Compact design
The EOS C400 has a compact cube-shaped body. The standard camera body kit comes with a sturdy top handle with three mounting screws for extra security. You also get a camera grip handle, microphone holder and an LCD monitor which attaches via standard rods. In addition, there is a battery, battery charger and a separate mains power adaptor. The EOS C400 has both CFexpress Type B and SD memory card slots. This gives you the option to record RAW footage to the CFexpress card and proxy footage to the SD card.
What we think
The Canon EOS C400 has a very impressive specification. With 16 stops of dynamic range, the new 6K sensor should deliver fabulous images. The triple base ISO is also a useful feature, as often the jump from 800 to 12800 on Sony’s cameras can be a little too great at times. With the EOS C400, the ISO 3200 option provides a good mid-point between the highest and lowest base ISOs. The Canon EOS C400 is going to provide stiff competition for Sony’s FX6 and might even impact on sales of the much more expensive Sony Burano.
Pricing and availability
The Canon Cinema EOS C400 is scheduled to be available in September 2024 and will retail at $7,999. The PL to RF mount adaptor will launch at the same time for $1,599.
