Archive for: cinema eos

Canon Announces New Firmware Updates for Cinema Cameras & Camcorders

Canon Announces New Firmware Updates for Cinema Cameras and Camcorders Along with Optional Cinema EOS C300 Camera Dual Pixel AF Upgrade

Announcements Include a New Canon RC-V100 Remote Control and Firmware Updates for Peripheral Illumination Correction Support and Continuous Recording for EOS C100 Video Camera

MELVILLE, N.Y., February 24, 2014 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, has announced a variety of performance updates for cameras in its Cinema EOS and XF professional camcorder line. Announced today is a new optional feature upgrade for the EOS C300 Cinema camera which will support Canon’s innovative Dual Pixel CMOS autofocus (AF) technology and enable continuous autofocusing with the entire line of Canon EF lenses and optimized for Canon’s stepping motor (STM) line of lenses when used with the EOS C300 camera. This optional feature upgrade is expected to be available in May 2014 for a cost of $500.00 and will require the EOS C300 camera body to be shipped to an authorized Canon service center for installation.

In addition to the optional feature upgrade for the EOS C300 camera, Canon has also announced the new RC-V100 remote control for Cinema EOS cameras and the XF Series professional HD camcorders; a firmware update that allows for Peripheral Illumination Correction when using the Canon CN-E35mm T1.5 L F Cinema prime lens or the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM telephoto zoom lens with the EOS C500, EOS C300, or EOS C100 cameras and a Continuous Recording function for the EOS C100 Digital Video Camera to help ensure capture of crucial shots in unpredictable situations, such as wedding/event videography, documentary, news, or wildlife production.

“We continue to strive to demonstrate our support of filmmaking and television production professionals through innovative new updates and equipment upgrades that allow our products to better serve these visual storytellers,” stated Yuichi Ishizuka, executive vice president and general manager, Imaging Technologies & Communications Group, Canon U.S.A. “By listening to our customers and responding to the various ways our equipment is used in the marketplace, we look to continually advance the capabilities and features inherent in our cameras, lenses, and accessories.”

Originally introduced in the Canon EOS 70D Digital SLR camera, Canon Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology is designed to provide continuous autofocus when shooting in single operator, or run-and-gun set-ups like documentaries, weddings, events, or electronic news gathering (ENG). When used in combination with an STM lens, this technology allows for the capture of high quality video without the interruption of noise by the focusing motor.

Dual Pixel CMOS AF is an innovative image-plane phase-detection AF technology that employs a CMOS sensor on which all of the effective pixels are able to perform both imaging and phase-detection AF simultaneously. Although camera operators can still focus manually, this new optional feature upgrade can enable smooth continuous AF with phase detection, a particularly useful feature when shooting with a small crew or single-operator run-and-gun filming and cinéma vérité style shoots.

The optional Dual Pixel CMOS AF feature upgrade for the EOS C300 Cinema camera supports continuous AF with all compatible Canon EF series lenses when shooting subjects positioned in the center of the imaging area. The technology involves complementary use of a contrast signal to achieve advanced autofocus stability that helps reduce the occurrence of loss of focus on a subject. Also included is an AF Lock which allows users to lock a focus point once AF is achieved and recompose the shot. Canon Dual Pixel CMOS AF also nearly doubles the speed of the EOS C300 Cinema camera’s One-Shot AF function, which enables a DP to focus on a subject located at the center of the screen with the push of a button, a feature that is currently supported on 104 Canon EF lens modelsi.

The Dual Pixel CMOS AF feature upgrade for the EOS C300 Cinema camera will be made available to users through an authorized Canon service center. For more information please visit the Canon U.S.A. website athttp://pro.usa.canon.com/EOSC300FeatureUpgrade.

The Canon RC-V100 Remote Control is designed to respond to a diverse array of production needs requiring remote camera operation. The RC-V100 Remote Control enables users to remotely control main camera functions and is compatible with the XF Series professional HD camcorders and Canon’s Cinema EOS C500, Cinema EOS C300 and Cinema EOS C100 cameras. It allows users to remotely control a wide variety of functions built into the cameras, as well as adjust and set various controls, such as exposure and white balance.

The RC-V100 Remote Control is expected to be available in June 2014 at a suggested retail price of $2,999.

This firmware performance update adds two additional Canon lenses to the list of lens models that maintain even illumination across an image plane, and virtually eliminates vignetting when used in combination with the EOS C500 and EOS C300 Cinema cameras, and the EOS C100 Digital Video Camera. This latest update adds the CN-E35mm T1.5 L F Cinema prime lens and the EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM telephoto zoom lens to the seven other Canon CN-E Series Cinema Lenses that share this performance advantage, including the CN-E15.5-47mm and CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L S compact Cinema zooms, and the 14mm, 24mm, 50mm, 85mm, and 135mm Canon CN-E Cinema prime lenses. Fourteen other Canon EF-Series photographic lenses also deliver Peripheral Illumination Correction in combination with these cameras.

The EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM telephoto zoom lens offers high magnification in a compact and lightweight telephoto zoom lens with an Optical Image Stabilizer for up to 3.5* equivalent stops for shake correction. The lens’ ultra-quiet stepping motor and focus mechanism support the Canon Dual Pixel CMOS AF autofocus optional upgrade for the Cinema EOS C300 and EOS C100 cameras, providing smooth, continuous autofocusing during video shooting on upgraded models.

Designed for the capture of crucial, unpredictable scenes during wedding/event, documentary, news, or wildlife filming, the Continuous Recording Function firmware update for the EOS C100 Digital Video Camera enables videographers to insert metadata markers identifying crucial scenes and moments in their footage while continuously recording to the memory capacity. These markers — for both “in” and “out” points — can be set with the press of a button without interrupting the recording process. These markers are identified in metadata as separate “shots,” and are simultaneously recorded to both SD card slots of the EOS C100 camera.

A recap and availability timeline of the feature upgrades and firmware updates detailed in this release can be found in the grid below. For more information, please visit the Canon U.S.A. website athttp://usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/standard_display/cinema-firmware.

Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions. With approximately $36 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents registered in 2013† and is one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2013. In 2013, Canon U.S.A. has received the PCMag.com Readers’ Choice Award for Service and Reliability in the digital camera and printer categories for the tenth consecutive year, and for camcorders for the past three years. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based consumer service and support for all of the products it distributes. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.

For media inquiries, please contact pr@cusa.canon.com.

What’s Next from Canon?

The latest announcements from Canon aren’t exactly receiving a lot of positive feedback in my inbox. The G1 X with an EVF for $1000 seems to be irking a lot of people. For that price, the camera needs to be the absolute best in the segment, and I think that’s going to be a hard thing to achieve.

To a lot of people, the resources put into the G1 X II would have probably been better served by moving the EOS M into the mainstream. The M2 isn’t coming to North America, and I highly doubt a lot of G1 X II cameras are going to sell at the introduction price of $799. When the camera is $499, things will probably be different.

We’re told between March and August that Canon will start to announce products that make sense and will be popular.

The EOS 7D Mark II will finally be unveiled and should be in your eager hands by the fall of 2014. It will set a new benchmark in the APS-C segment.

A lot of new lenses are coming, the biggest being a replacement of the EF 100-400 f/4.5-5.6L IS. We’re told that could be announced as early as March, but availability will not be immediate.

A third DSLR will be announced in 2014, though we’re not sure what that will be.

The Cinema EOS line will see a new camera or two for NAB in April, we’re told a lower cost 4K camera will be the star of the show.

There will also be another few PowerShot cameras announced sometime between now and May. Included in that will be the replacement to the SX50 IS.

Things haven’t been too exciting for Canon since the introduction of the very good EOS 6D, but even that started with a whimper. We’re told to expect a lot of exciting products throughout 2014 and that the Canon customer will be happy with the direction of the company.

More to come….

cr

Canon DLC posts EOS Cinema White Papers

The Canon Digital Learning Centre has published a new batch of white papers on their EOS Cinema system including:

NEW: Personality of the Canon Cinema EOS Lens: Design Strategies
The newer generation of Cinema EOS lenses came from multiple optical design resources within Canon, such as ourEF Lens and Broadcast Lens designs.

NEW: Personality of the Canon Cinema EOS Lens: Image Sharpness
A design goal with the Cinema zoom lenses was to achieve an overall optical performance that would equate with the best of contemporary prime lenses over their respective focal lengths.

NEW: Personality of the Canon Cinema EOS Lens: Color Reproduction
The new generation of Canon Cinema lenses paid high attention to optimizing color reproduction of the lens-camera system, such as how it reproduces skin tones of various ethnicities.

NEW: Personality of the Canon Cinema EOS Lens: Contrast
Achieving a high contrast ratio is universally sought by cinematographers and is always a central design goal for the optical designers.

cr

Via [CW]

Is ARRI Canon’s Biggest Obstacle in Professional Cinema?

Was there any doubt? :)

Setlife Magazine has posted a couple of graphics showing the technical specifications of cameras and lenses used in the making of the cinematography & best picture nominees.

EOSHD points out a very interesting observation. There isn’t a single RED camera on the list. It’s almost a clean sweep by ARRI.

Although, Canon should be happy with the C300′s and C500′s that have shown up in a few films. I think it’s good news for Canon since Cinema EOS is still pretty infant, and as EOSHD points out, they’re under-specced compared to their competition.

Something to build on for Canon.

SetLife Magazine on Facebook | Read Full EOSHD Article

cr

Canon EOS-A1 with Hybrid EVF? [CR1]

Hybrid EVF Coming to EOS?
There is a new rumor floating around about the next high end, and high megapixel camera from Canon. Apparently this camera will have a hybrid EVF, optical for stills and electronic for video purposes. Megapixel count is said to be 35mp or higher, though the exact number isn’t known.

The moniker for the camera? The EOS-A1, though it’s unknown if that’s just the prototype name.

CR’s Take
I’m sure there will be a time when Canon starts to experiment with different solutions for the viewfinder in cameras. If the above technology is an actual thing Canon is testing, I’d expect to see it in a Cinema EOS DSLR first. Perhaps such a feature that could differentiate it from its standard EOS cousin? Speaking of which, we have been told to expect a new Cinema EOS DSLR in 2014, and most likely at NAB in “development” form.

A grain of salt on this one, this is a rumor from another web site.

Source: [CW]

cr

Canon EOS C500 Cinema Camera Firmware v1.0.4.1.00 Now Available

Canon has released a firmware update for the EOS C500/C500 PL Cinema EOS Cameras.

EOS C500 Cinema EOS Camera & EOS C500PL Cinema EOS Camera

1. When using the Magnify focus assist function, the ability to move the magnified viewing area around the LCD has been added.
2. Maximum ISO setting has been increased to ISO 80,000.
3. Cinema Gamut mode and DCI-P3+ mode have been added to provide expanded color gamut options in RAW capture.
4. 4096×1080-pixel RAW format resolution has been added.
5. A Key Lock menu setting has been added which now makes it possible to lock all operations, including the START/STOP button.
6. Using the optional Canon WFT-E6 Wireless File Transmitter, the camera’s remote-control application allows up to two users to access the same unit via a Wi-Fi link providing simultaneous and independent control of camera operation and metadata input.
7. Canon Log LUT support has been made possible for HD/SD SDI terminal output.
8. ACESproxy output from monitor terminal has been added.
9. [ND]/[ND-] have been added as functions that can be allocated to any assignable button.

EOS C500 Digital Cinema Camera only

1. Ability to assign the two control dials (body and grip) to operate either Iris or ISO sensitivity independently has been added.
2. Peripheral Illumination Correction Data has been added for seven (7) Canon Cinema lenses (EF mount) and eleven (11) Canon EF Lenses.

Cinema lenses (EF-mount) and Canon EF Lenses which benefit from the new firmware update:

The seven (7) supported Canon Cinema Lenses (EF-mount) are:

• CN-E15.5-47mm T2.8 L S
• CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L S
• CN-E14mm T3.1 L F
• CN-E24mm T1.5 L F
• CN-E50mm T1.3 L F
• CN-E85mm T1.3 L F
• CN-E135mm T2.2 L F

Please note this firmware version does not include the CN-E35mm T1.5 L F.

The eleven (11) supported Canon EF Lenses are:

• EF-S18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
• EF500mm f/4L IS II USM
• EF600mm f/4L IS II USM
• EF28mm f/2.8 IS USM
• EF24mm f/2.8 IS USM
• EF40mm f/2.8 STM
• EF24-70mm f/4L IS USM
• EF35mm f/2 IS USM
• EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM
• EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
• EF200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x

Firmware Version 1.0.4.1.00 is for Cinema EOS C500 and EOS C500 PL cameras with Firmware Version 1.0.0.1.00 through 1.0.3.100. If your camera’s firmware is already Version 1.0.4.1.00, it is not necessary to update the firmware. Once the camera is updated to the latest firmware version, it cannot be restored to a previous version.

Download:
Download Firmware Version 1.0.4.1.00 for EOS C500.
Download Firmware Version 1.0.4.1.00 for EOS C500 PL.

The Instruction Manual provides more information on the new features and benefits available in this firmware update.
Download the new version of the Instruction Manual for the EOS C500.
Download the new version of the Instruction Manual for the EOS C500 PL.

Two Lenses Coming for CP+? [CR2]

CP+ 2014 Camera & Photo Imaging Show
We’re told that Canon could possibly announce and show two new lenses at the CP+ 2014 show in Tokyo, Japan. The show runs from February 13, 2014 until February 16, 2014.

They will not be Cinema EOS lenses. New lenses for videographers will be held for NAB 2014 in Las Vegas, along with some new Cinema EOS camera(s).

It’s speculated that one lens will be an “L” and the other a consumer non-L prime. As with all lens announcements, things are very loose and rarely have a media event attached to them.

There is also a possibility of a development announcement on a camera body we’re told.

Hope to hear more soon…

cr

Thinking Out Loud: EOS 7D Mark II Thoughts

A pro APS-C camera possible?
Earlier today we posted that there would be no Canon EOS 7D Mark II, we also have noticed this has appeared in a few other places on the web.

This got me thinking today whether or not it was possible that Canon would abandon this segment of the APS-C camera lineup. I came to the conclusion that they will not. It would simple not be a smart decision, however there could still be some truth to the “no 7D Mark II” statements passed around today.

What I do think is a possibility is that the camera will not be called the 7D Mark II, and be called something else. We have previously been told that a successor would have new and innovative video features. Perhaps we’re going to see something along the lines of an EOS 7D C? Canon is fully behind Cinema EOS and will continue to develop that product line.

The other possibility is perhaps Canon just doesn’t like the “7D” name and will simply rename it.

I, and others think Nikon will be releasing a replacement to the D300s and it only makes sense that Canon would do the same and replace the 7D. It’s possible that Canon is waiting for Nikon to play their hand first.

I’m looking forward to finding out what Canon has planned in 2014…..

cr

Canon’s Cinema EOS System Captures Comet ISON from Space

TOKYO, Japan, December 2, 2013—Canon Inc. announced today that an ultra-high-sensitivity 4K camera was used to successfully capture video of the comet ISON from the International Space Station at approximately 7:08 p.m. JST on November 23, 2013. Canon technology contributed to this world’s-first achievement as video production equipment from Canon’s Cinema EOS System was used to record the astronomical phenomenon.

Discovered in September 2012, ISON was unique in that, among the many large comets that have passed through the solar system in recent years, none had traveled so close to the sun. Accordingly, expectations were high that the “sungrazing” ISON would provide earthbound stargazers with a rare performance that would not likely be repeated anytime soon. After the video was shot, however, the comet is believed to have largely broken up and evaporated, meaning that it will no longer be visible in the night sky.

The footage of the comet ISON was shot from the vantage point of outer space, which is not subject to atmospheric fluctuation, enabling the capture of clear video images that would not have been possible if shot from Earth. As a result, the video will likely prove of high value to the scientific community.

The Canon video production equipment taken on the mission, all from the company’s Cinema EOS System lineup of professional digital cinematography products, comprised the EOS C500 PL professional cinema camera (launched in October 2012) and two EF Cinema Lenses: the CN-E15.5-47mm T2.8 L SP (launched in December 2012) and the CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L SP (launched in October 2012). All three support 4K image resolution and the EOS C500 PL makes possible exceptional high-sensitivity imaging performance that facilitates the capture of usable footage even in low-light conditions.

The actual EOS C500 PL used on board the International Space Station underwent special modifications to further boost sensitivity and to enable the camera to withstand the rigors of shooting in space.

Just Touching the Surface of Dual Pixel Technology? [CR1]

Dual Pixel technology more than just AF?
NL reports that they’ve been told to expect even more new features from Canon’s Dual Pixel technology other than autofocus. Currently the tech appears in the EOS 70D and will also appear in an upgraded EOS C100. Will the C300 get a similar upgrade?

Apparently dual pixel design will need the latest generation of processing (DIGIC 6/7?) technology to realize its full potential. The benefits of this alongside new CODECS will be seen in the next Cinema EOS cameras and possibly in new high end DSLRs.

The video and stills segments of the professional lineup will get upgrades in 2014. Cinema EOS will get it first, and possibly be shown in April at NAB 2014 in Las Vegas. DSLRs will get it in the second half of the year and will most likely be shown at Photokina 2014 in Cologne, Germany.

Source: [NL]

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