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Canon today announced the C50, a new compact full-frame cinema camera. It's a newly developed 7K CMOS DPAF sensor cinema camera with all the related bells and whistles expected of Canon's cinema cameras.
Canon appears to be adjusting its positioning of the cinema cameras, having now released the C70 in 2020, R5 C(2022), C80 (2024), and now the C50. With the C80 and C50 now the latest generation, we can see that Canon has updated the ergonomics and layout of its cinema cameras between the two models. Personally, I think that Canon is thinking that there are dramatically different use cases for the cameras, and that the industry seems to have adopted the smaller brick format as a valid layout for a cinema camera. Gone are the days when they were the big, hulking square camera systems. If I were a betting man, I would assume that we'll see three sets of ergonomics and form factors in Canon's cinema line: The C400, the C80/70 with built-in EVF, and then the “small brick” format of the C50.
Preorder Canon Cinema EOS C50
We will continue to update this article as new information becomes available, so please check back regularly.
That's not all the C50 can do, it's a pretty capable stills camera as well. The C50 can shoot RAW images at up to 40fps, has a pre-burst capture mode, and even supports registered person priority for autofocus, which is an autofocus feature found on Canon's professional stills cameras. However, since this is primarily a video camera, it does not have a mechanical shutter – so depending on the readout speed of the sensor, it may determine its usefulness as a still camera. But to be honest, i don't think anyone would pruchase this as a primary stills camera – but it's nice that the oiption is there.
There isn't a direct camera that this seems to replace, but it may have replaced the concept that started with the R5 C with its completely hybrid approach to operation.
As far as the C50 itself, it sports a brand new 32MP CMOS sensor. The sensor includes dual gain with 800 and 6400 as the gain steps, and it's fast enough to support up to 7k60p RAW recording and 4K120p high-speed frame rate recording. The CMOS sensor also features Dual Pixel Autofocus (DPAF) II, utilizing Canon's latest autofocus technology. The cinema camera supports a variety of recording modes, including a simultaneous 2K crop recording mode.
The surprise, I think, with this release is the price, as it comes in as Canon's least expensive cinema camera upon release at $ 3,899. This is less than the Super 35 C70 and the whole frame 6K C80, which are now on sale with discounts $3999 and $5499, respectively. I think it's a safe assumption that Canon will sell out of these, just as it does with most products, so if you are interested in this camera, I recommend preordering as soon as possible.
Canon Cinema EOS C50 Features
- 32MP full-frame CMOS sensor
- 7K recording up to 60p (Canon Cinema Raw Lite)
- Oversampled 4K <30p
- 4K 120p
- 3:2 Open Gate recording up to 30p
- ‘Dual Pixel CMOS AF II' with human and animal recognition
- Dual gain steps
- CLog 2/ CLog 3
- Included top-handle with 2 XLR inputs
- 3″ display
Camera Construction
The C50 is a standard brick cinema format with a compact video camera with active cooling. While my knowledge of cinema cameras is limited, this is one of Canon's most compact, lightweight, and portable full-fledged cinema cameras.
Still, it does not feature an XLR port built into the camera, but does have a USB-C, full-size HDMI, 3.5mm microphone in and 3.5mm headphone out, an E3 remote control terminal, and a DIN timecode jack. So while it does not have the range of ports that the C70 and C80 have, it's also a much smaller camera and still carries a great deal of options for users. But a smaller size needs some compromises. Canon enhances the video camera by adding two XLR ports via an attachable handle.
Press Release
Canon U.S.A. Announces New EOS C50 7K Full-Frame CMOS Sensor Cinema Camera and RF-Mount RF85mm F1.4 L VCM Hybrid Lens
Firmware updates for select Canon Cinema EOS cameras and new PowerShot ELPH 360 HS A camera also available
MELVILLE, NY, September 9, 2025 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is excited to introduce the new EOS C50 cinema camera, the newest addition to Canon’s cinema EOS system. The EOS C50 is a compact, full-frame cinema camera featuring a brand new 7K full-frame CMOS sensor, 7K 60P internal RAW recording and 32 megapixel still photo capture, making it a true hybrid camera. Weighing approximately one and a half pounds, the EOS C50 is Canon’s smallest and lightest cinema camera ever, making it ideal for handheld and verité shooting.
The lightweight design and hyper-mobile form factor the EOS C50 camera meets growing demands from shooters who are increasingly looking for compact, ergonomic cinema cameras for a variety of settings and shooting styles. Excellent for large and small scale productions, documentary shooting in the field, social media video creation, sports, and more, the EOS C50 camera features a detachable top handle which adds two full-size XLR audio inputs, a start-stop button, and a zoom rocker for unbeatable agility. It also features an RF-mount, lending it native compatibility with a wide variety of Canon lenses, such as the new RF85mm F1.4 L VCM Hybrid Lens.
EOS C50 Camera Recording Options
At the heart of the EOS C50 camera is the 7K full-frame CMOS sensor, which is capable of a Dual Base ISO of 800 and 6400 in Canon Log 2, and 12-bit Cinema RAW Light recording at up to 7K 60P. This powerful sensor is coupled with a DIGIC DV7 processor. The EOS C50 is the first camera in the Cinema EOS lineup to feature the full frame 3:2 open gate recording. In addition to Cinema RAW Light and the standard XF-AVC, the EOS C50 camera also features XF- AVC S and XF-HEVC S recording codecs, proving an easy-to-manage naming system and folder structure, all while preserving metadata and recording in the familiar MP4 format.
Social media shooters will enjoy that the EOS C50 camera is capable of simultaneous crop recording when shooting in 4K DCI or UHD, allowing you to record at a chosen aspect ratio while also recording a cropped portion of the frame in 2K. When shooting in simultaneous crop mode, the three format options include: 9:17, 9:16, or 1:1.
For those looking for camera connectivity, the EOS C50 camera supports XC protocol which allows for remote control over IP via Wi-Fi® or a compatible third-party USB-C ethernet adapter. The EOS C50 camera is also compatible with the Multi Camera Control App and features native integration of frame.io camera to cloud.
New RF-Mount RF85mm F1.4 L VCM Hybrid Lens
The new RF-Mount RF85mm F1.4 L VCM Hybrid lens is the latest addition to Canon’s line of VCM lenses, designed for shooters who increasingly are seeking powerful options whether shooting stills or video content. The RF85mm F1.4 L VCM has a focal length of 85mm, making it perfect for portrait-style shooting. The lens provides beautiful background blurring, as well as a F1.4 Maximum aperture, and well-controlled focus breathing.
Firmware Updates for EOS C400, C80, C70, and R5C Cameras
A new firmware update for select Canon Cinema EOS cameras bring in a few of these bleeding-edge features, available later this year. New firmware updates will enable full frame 3:2 open gate recording (EOS C400), view assist in media mode, quality improvement of focus peaking, improved assign buttons, improved Joy-Stick operability (EOS C80 and EOS C400), and more.
Originally released in 2016, the PowerShot ELPH 360 HS still remains a popular compact camera. Appealing to fans of pocketable point and shoot style cameras, the newly updated PowerShot ELPH 360 HS A camera’s memory card slot will be changed from SD to microSD to help meet emerging needs in the compact camera market. The PowerShot ELPH 360 HS A camera will be available in two colors, black and silver.
Pricing and Availability
The Canon EOS C50 camera is currently scheduled to ship towards the end of Q4 of 2025 for an estimated retail price of $3,899.00*. The firmware updates for EOS C400, C80, C70, and the R5C cameras are currently scheduled to be available in Q4 of 2025.
Specifications
| Lens Mount | Canon RF |
| Image Sensor | Full-Frame CMOS |
| Sensor Resolution | Effective: 34 Megapixel (7144 x 4790) |
| Image Stabilization | No |
| ISO/Gain Sensitivity | Dual Base: 800 Native in Auto Mode: 800 to 6400 Native in Auto Mode: 400 to 3200 Native in Auto Mode: 160 to 1250Show More |
| Internal Recording | Raw 12-Bit 6960 x 4640 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97 fps 6960 x 3672 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps Raw 12-Bit 5036 x 2656 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 2524 x 1332 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps *Sensor Crops Video H.264/MPEG-4/XF-AVC S 4:2:2 10-Bit 4096 x 2160 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 3840 x 2160 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps H.264/MPEG-4/XF-AVC S 4:2:0 8-Bit 4096 x 2160 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 3840 x 2160 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 2048 x 1080 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 1920 x 1080 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps XF-AVC 4:2:2 10-Bit 4096 x 2160 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 3840 x 2160 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 2048 x 1080 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 1920 x 1080 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps XF-HEVC S 4:2:2 10-Bit 6912 x 4608 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97 fps 4096 x 2160 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 3840 x 2160 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 2048 x 1080 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 1920 x 1080 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps XF-HEVC S 4:2:0 10-Bit 6912 x 4608 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97 fps 4096 x 2160 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 3840 x 2160 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 2048 x 1080 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fps 1920 x 1080 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97/50/59.94 fpsShow More |
| Media/Memory Card Slot | Slot 1: SD/SDHC/SDXC Slot 2: CFexpress Type B (CFast 2.0) [VPG-400 or Faster Recommended] |
| Video I/O | 1x HDMI Output |
| Mobile App Compatible | Yes: Android & iOS App Name: Canon App |
| Battery Type | Canon LP-E6, Canon LP-E6NH |
Gallery
Preorder Canon Cinema EOS C50
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*Midwest Photo Preorder Bonus – Free ProGrade 512GB CFexpress Card
Offer Expires: 09/19/2025
Plus a EVF and mechanical shutter of course. It will be absolute Sony A7IV killer.
I think that's a safe bet. Though, one day the mechanical shutter will go away.
3.799,- € for Canon C50 (incl. VAT)
1.749,- € for RF 85mm f/1,4 L VCM (incl. VAT)
We'll have to see. It should be below the C80 and C400 all things considered. This isn't going to be the only camera this new sensor appears in.
I'm pretty confident it's going to have a much faster readout speed than the R5 C. It should be faster than the R5 Mark II too. It won't be R1 speed, unless Canon truly loves us.
Even with the benefit of fewer lines to read, it seems difficult to overtake the speed of the R5M2's fully stacked sensor. Upcoming CineD reviews promise to be interesting.
Fair point
Speaking with someone at Canon (they don't all hate me). Canon is moving on from the "true hybrid”. They have probably spent a ton of money on market research to learn what the majority of consumers are looking for.
We have heard for years from photographers (which is what we know best) that they don't care about or want the video features. They feel they're paying for things they don't want, which takes the feelings of value for dollars down. The same may be true of videographers. So embrace each segment and bring those customers customer segments the product they want at the price they feel they're getting value.
Take an up market wedding. There's a photographer or two and a videographer. Neither of them are going to be overlapping on content. Sure there will be times the photographer or videographer wants to capture something cool on the opposite medium, but that will be at fleeting moments.
For the one person show, a pro stills camera and the second camera being something like this makes sense. Though the R52 does a great job of covering both in this scenario.
I haven't shot one video on my R1, and probably never will. That's just me though, I don't represent anyone else.