EF Mount Video Camera [CR1]

[gene_can_sing]

Edwin, for many people, EF mount lenses are a GREAT solution for indie / art type projects. Why? Let me tell you why. A PL mount lens made by say... Cooke, costs about 50K per lens. A daily rental fee for a set of PL mount lenses is very expensive  by itself. It's nice to just own a set of EF lenses that allows you to shoot anytime without worry of renting or having the insurance required to rent.

There are a LOT of people who are making very cool videos just using EF lenses and Canon 7d and Panasonic GH2. Why? Because they don't let the equipment limit their imaginations.

Sure it would be great to use PL mount lenses or some type of alternative video lens that costs less. But PL lenses are too expensive and current video lenses have their own set of problems (like bad optical quality and slow aperture). Sure, there are breathing problems with the EFs and focus pulling could be easier, but many are just looking past that and making good work regardless.

You can hold your breath and wait for the perfect setup, but you'll be waiting a long time. Mean while, there will be many who embrace what they have to work with and will PASS you up in no time at all.

As for Canon releasing a interchangeable lens video camera in 2012, they are complete IDIOTS for taking that long. Canon is the slowest moving company and their management is inept and cannot seem to release anything anymore. They cannot release a new DSLR and they certainly cannot release a video camera. What is their problem? Their management is terrible. Canon is a company stuck in the past, and unfortunately, I'm stuck with them because of the lenses that I own.

If they release a new 5D or a large sensor, interchangeable lens video camera, I would be over joyed. But I don't think it will happen for a long time. Canon is a terrible company just out to milk their customers with old tech. They accidentally started the large sensor video revolution, only to let it slip away to Sony and Panasonic. Canon could have owned the market, but the management is inept and should be fired for letting the future slip away as they have.

[leGreve]

If they can do better than Sony who with the FS100 has managed to produce a real prosumer video cam with the form factor of a dsrl (or Hasselblad) then they have a chance... but here are the things they really need to be putting into this camera in order to have a small chance at winning terrain:

- 4:4:4 raw video out, preferably in both HDMI and SDI or atleast 4:2:2
- Atleast 2K
- bulid in ND filter
- the same light sensitivity as the FS100 or better ( it can literally see in the dark with minimal of noise )
- XLR input for mics.
- Form factor... really really think about this before you send it out.

The Sony FS100 will in some months time be able to take EF lenses through the aid of the Birger mount adapter system. You can already attach EF lenses to it with dumb adapters (no aperture control... but this is what var ND filters are for) and you can find additional adapters for all types of lenses even the good old ones.

IMO... Canon is too late here... just like they are with the D series. Most likely this will be something people dream about for a years time and then Sony and Pana are already ready with their next shining star, or wait... did I forget to mention Scarlet RED (good luck there Canon)?

I don't think they'll remain on top for much longer. To be honest that bugs me, since I've invested a lot in Canon gear. But the things I got can last a life time, so why bother buying more...

Fail Canon... fail.

[kode]

It's not that unlikely a product, even though an update to their XH or XL series of camcorders might be more likely.

The focus pulling problem could perhaps be solved by putting a focus ring customized for that on the video camera body somewhere and remote controlling it?

[NormanBates]

I subscribe everything gene_can_sing said up there
except unlike him I'm not heavily invested in the canon system: most of what I use is adapted vintage glass
which leads me to a big downsie of the PL mount: there's amazing glass for it, but the price is too high, and there's not much cheap glass that you can adapt to a PL mount (because of its long focal flange distance: 52mm, longer than that of leica R, nikon F, olympus OM, Y/C, M42, pentax K, and canon EF)

apart from this, and going back to the main topic: epic fail by canon, mid 2012 is 18 months too late; of course it could be an amazing camera and take the world over by storm, but really, couldn't they have offered a not-so-great big sensor camcorder in the meantime? considering how long it takes to develop a new sensor, maybe not, but probably only because they took ages to start the race, seen how both sony and panasonic beat them by over a year

[gene_can_sing]

http://philipbloom.net/2011/07/13/birger/

Read that article and it's really SAD. With the Berger mount, Canon's very own EF lenses will work BETTER on Panasonic video cameras when using the Berger mount. Why? Because with the Berger adapter, you can electronically do focus pulls with EF lenses, something you cannot do on Canon cameras with their very own lenses! WTF?!?!?!

Now that is how far behind Canon has fallen and how horrible the management is. When the lenses that your very own company makes, works better on competitor cameras, that is ultimate FAIL on Canon's part.

WTF is Canon's problem? Is there just a serious management problem going on? Canon is becoming / has become such a PATHETIC company. At least soon when I either buy a Sony or a Panny, my EF lenses will work better on their cameras.

That just sounds so strange and really sad. WAKE UP Canon. You guys are seriously blowing it.

All the lack of activity on the part of Canon (No new DSLR, no video pro video cameras) shows that they have completely abandoned the Pro Market. Sure they are the biggest seller of cameras in the world with the highest profits, but they are just pushing dated tech to Mothers and grandmothers.

[canon1969]

I'm always amused by the artistic purists that fail to understand that Canon is a business that supports our creativity.  The ability for Canon to market glass to photo & video means everyone gets better glass and we get better support from a leading brand.  Many of the technical issues can be satisfied for the majority of the market's needs -maybe not those here- but that IS a good thing for everyone... even the artistic purists.

Like many here, it's easy to see that Canon management needs to better collaborate within their product groups to ensure continued success.  I hope they get it together for everyone's sake!

[stopcrying]

http://philipbloom.net/2011/07/13/birger/

Read that article and it's really SAD. With the Berger mount, Canon's very own EF lenses will work BETTER on Panasonic video cameras when using the Berger mount. Why? Because with the Berger adapter, you can electronically do focus pulls with EF lenses, something you cannot do on Canon cameras with their very own lenses! WTF?!?!?!

Now that is how far behind Canon has fallen and how horrible the management is. When the lenses that your very own company makes, works better on competitor cameras, that is ultimate FAIL on Canon's part.

WTF is Canon's problem? Is there just a serious management problem going on? Canon is becoming / has become such a PATHETIC company. At least soon when I either buy a Sony or a Panny, my EF lenses will work better on their cameras.

That just sounds so strange and really sad. WAKE UP Canon. You guys are seriously blowing it.

All the lack of activity on the part of Canon (No new DSLR, no video pro video cameras) shows that they have completely abandoned the Pro Market. Sure they are the biggest seller of cameras in the world with the highest profits, but they are just pushing dated tech to Mothers and grandmothers.

I literally joined this forum to bring you a giant box of tissues.

There is a follow focus unit to pull focus ELECTRONICALLY on CANON cameras using CANON glass.

http://www.okii.net/

I don't get why people get so frantic about all of this. Have you forgotten that these STILL cameras with the ability to achieve awesome looking video were NOT intended for PROFESSIONAL use?

I mean Canon HAS NEVER MADE A CAMERA DESIGNED to shoot video with the EF MOUNT lenses, so why in the world do you expect the technology we have at hand to accomplish that?

You know exactly what you are getting into when you buy a DSLR for video. Now if Canon were to release a camera with the intention to be used for video on the prosumer/professional level WITH EF GLASS and they didn't utilize the technology these companies have introduced, then go ahead and cry me a river.

Do we all want a new camera to come out to bridge the gap from a hybrid still/video camera to a legit video camera, yes, we do but it's not out yet from Canon so stop wasting your breath.

[gene_can_sing]

I think most people, including myself, bought into the Canon video DSLR 3 years ago, thinking that Canon was going to innovate and push ahead because they had such a jump start over everyone else. We all knew that Canon DSLRs had problems with the video, but most just felt they were problems that were going to be fixed with the next iteration of the camera since the company knew of the problems.

Instead, in the past 3 years, Canon has addressed and fixed NONE of the problems (Moire, soft video, average codec), which leaves many people frustrated especially when they are issues that have been readily addressed by the competition (Sony and Panasonic).

You buy into a system with the expectation that the company that you've invested in will grow with you. Canon has not done that at all, and that is a huge let down for many of us who really believed in the system when it was revolutionary about 3 years back.

And now to hear that they don't plan on releasing a video camera until a year from now? That's just throwing acid onto the wounds.

[Mt Spokane Photography]

And now to hear that they don't plan on releasing a video camera until a year from now? That's just throwing acid onto the wounds.

A CR1 level (not likely to happen) rumor, and you actually believe it?

[Mt Spokane Photography]

In 1989, Canon released the "Canovision 8 A1" a new 8mm video standard, "Hi-8 format" camcorder that incorporated stereo sound. In 1990, the "UC-10," the smallest and lightest video camcorder in the world at the time was marketed.

Finally in 1991, Canon released the "LX-1," an 8mm video camcorder with interchangeable lenses, which was hailed as the product most deserving of the Canon's name. With the VL lens-mount standard, the "LX-1" made it possible to use interchangeable lens. Under the VL mount system, the lens data is transmitted to camera through the interchangeable lens with a built-in microcomputer and based on that information; the camera in turn sends a control command to the lens. The VL lens-mount system was standardized by Canon in cooperation with four other companies, however, Canon was the only company that actually marketed a camcorder using the system. The "LX-1" could use both the exclusive interchangeable lens and EF lenses designed for the EOS cameras. It was quite popular, especially in the United States

[leGreve]

Wauw.... I... really dont care. A companys survival is purely based on its current achievements, not past ones. What ever they have done and achieved in the past doens't give me proper updates and fixes for a system I paid a great deal for.

Canon has failed and probably because their native leaders are still stuck in that medieval mindset of pride and respect rather than actually achieving something and being innovative.

My next move would be, instead of waiting for the Birger mount, to start investing in old Nikon glass for my video system.

[ferdinandtiongson]

Wanted Canon to produce Video that can used EF lens.