Canon announces C200 with 4Kp60 RAW, 14 stops dynamic range & $7500 price point

Canon has announced a gangbuster of a new cinema camera in their new C200 (and C200B), with impressive video specs that outpace much of what the C100 Mark II and C300 Mark II do at a price point that is sure to impress. With 14 stops of dynamic range, ISO from 100 to 102,400, two Canon Log profiles (original Log and Log II), 4Kp60 RAW video recording to CFast in 10 and 12 bit and 4Kp60 recording to SD in 8 bit, the C200 is absolutely packed with features that any Canon filmmaker has been dying to see in a cinema body... all for the extremely competitive price of $7500. If you are a Canon video shooter, the C200 offers a lot to get excited about. 

The C200 is the third generation of the Cinema EOS system, and Canon says it is designed to fit in between the C100 and C300. However, it offers many features that outpace both, and will entice all manner of video shooters. Firstly, let's go over the difference between the two models, the C200 and C200B. The C200 has a viewfinder while the C200B does not. The Canon EOS C200 Digital Cinema Camera is accompanied by an LCD Monitor, LCD Attachment, Camera Grip and Handle Unit. The camera also features a 1.77 million dot OLED Electronic View Finder (EVF). The Canon EOS C200B Digital Cinema Camera offers the same camera without those accessories and the EVF to optimize shooting using a gimbal, drone or a variety of other configurations. Compared below:

The only other difference is in price. The C200 will retail for $7500 while the C200B will retail for $6000. 

The Canon EOS C200 and Canon EOS C200B Digital Cinema Cameras use the same 8.85MP CMOS Super 35 sensor, that combines with a newly developed dual DIGIC DV6 image processing system to help process high-resolution image data and record video from Full HD (1920x1080) and 2K (2048x1080) to 4K UHD (3840x2160) and 4K DCI (4096x2160). This new processing platform offers wide-ranging expressive capabilities and improved operation when capturing HDR video.

The sensor's ISO range is the aforementioned 100-102,400, but expect it to be usable into about the 32,000 range. The C200 also comes with 10 stops of ND built-in, and will only ship with an EF mount (no PL mount). 

The combination of sensor and newly-developed processing system also allows for the support for two new 4K file formats designed to help optimize workflow and make 4K and HDR recording more accessible to filmmakers. Cinema RAW Light, available in 4K 60p/50p at 10 bit and 30p/25p/24p at 12 bit, allows recording of data internally to a CFast card by cutting data size to about one-third to one-fifth of a Cinema RAW file, without losing grading flexibility. Alongside recording to a CFast card, proxy data (MP4) can also be simultaneously recorded to an SD card for use in offline editing.

Additionally, you can shoot 4K in MP4 format onto SD cards in 420 8 bit at 60/50/30/25/24p. The C200 also offers Full HD recording support at up to 120fps slow motion.

The Canon EOS C200 and Canon EOS C200B Digital Cinema Cameras feature "Innovative Focus Control" that helps assist with 4K shooting (specifically, the precise focusing that is required at the high resolution). Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology helps to expand the distance of the subject area to enable faster focus during 4K video recording. This also allows for highly accurate continuous AF and face detection AF when using EF lenses. For 4K video opportunities that call for precise focus accuracy that can’t be checked on an HD monitor, you can use the LCD Monitor LM-V1 (supplied with the EOS C200 camera), which provides intuitive touch focusing support to help filmmakers achieve sophisticated focusing even as a single operator.

Canon supplied a bullet list of other features of the C200 worth noting: 

• Over Sampling HD Processing (not available with Cinema RAW Light recording or 120p/100p): enhances sensitivity and helps minimize noise
• Wide DR Gamma: helps reduce overexposure by retaining continuity with a gamma curve
• ISO 100-102400 and 54db gain: high quality in both low sensitivity and low-light environments
• In-Camera ND Filter: Internal ND unit allows cleaning of glass for easier maintenance
• ACESproxy Support: Delivers standardized color space in images, helping to improve efficiency
• Two SD card and one CFast card slots for internal recording
• Improved grip and Cinema EOS System compatible attachment method
• Support for Canon CINE-SERVO and EF Cinema Lenses

Taken directly from the Canon press release, regarding editing of the RAW video: "Editing and grading of Cinema RAW Light video format will be supported in DaVinci Resolve of Blackmagic Design. Editing will also be possible in Media Composer from Avid Technology, using Canon RAW Plugin for Avid Media Access. This format can also be processed using a Canon application, Cinema RAW Development. 

Furthermore, Premiere Pro CC of Adobe Systems will support this format until the end of 2017. Editing will also be possible in Final Cut Pro X from Apple, using Canon RAW Plugin for Final Cut Pro X after second half of this year."

The Canon EOS C200 and EOS C200B Digital Cinema Cameras are scheduled to be available in August 2017 for estimated retail prices of $7,499 and $5,999 respectively. The EOS C200 comes equipped with additional accessories including the LM-V1 LCD Monitor, LA-V1 LCD Attachment, GR-V1 Camera Grip and HDU-2 Handle Unit. These accessories will also be sold separately and available in September 2017.