4K Fixed Lens Camcorder Coming? [CR2]

[Canon Rumors]

<p>We’re told that a 4K fixed lens camcorder is coming in the early part of 2015. Such a product would probably fit in with CES as a consumer product announcement. We’re told the camera is called the XC10, and it will have similar ergonomics to the EOS C100, but it will have a fixed lens.</p>
<p>It’s possible this could come at NAB, but we expect the 4K Cinema EOS C300 Mark II & an new flagship Cinema EOS product to be the star of that show in April.</p>
<p><em>More to come…</em></p>
<p><em>Photo Credit: Matt Buchanan // <a href="http://gizmodo.com/5628823/canons-4k-camera-concept-please-be-real-one-day" target="_blank">Gizmodo.com</a></em></p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #ff0000;">c</span>r</strong></p>

 

[WorkonSunday]

[joke mode] mirrorless indeed [/ joke mode]


sorry, had to be done. ;D

 

[dgatwood]

On the one hand, I'd like to see this—ideally coupled with a 20x zoom lens. With that said, I'd much rather have them stick those guts inside something the size and shape of the XH-A1, rather than something as short from front to back as the C100 appears to be (I've never seen one in the flesh).

(Or even better, put it inside something the size of Panasonic's AG‑AC8PJ.)

 

[andrewflo]

Fixed lens in the form factor of the C100. Sounds like an interesting camera. Personally, I don't think it'd be for me but I'm excited that Canon is finally making more steps into 4K.

If they get more 4K into their cinema cameras, maybe they can get sharp 1080p into their DSLRs. That'd make me a happy camper.

 

[Etienne]

This could be awesome. I think a 28- 600 FF eq is out of the question due to size and weight. But they could do a 24-135 f/4 or a 28-200 3.5-5.6 FF equiv, and include a really well-implemented digital zoom.
I am really curious about this one!

 

[dgatwood]

This could be awesome. I think a 28- 600 FF eq is out of the question due to size and weight.

Not sure why it would be out of the question. 20x zoom ranges aren't at all atypical in camcorders. Yeah, that's a bit on the wide side—most camcorders I've used start at more like 40mm and approach 800mm on the long end—but I doubt the slight increase in front element size resulting from going a little wider would make it all that unwieldy.

 

[mdsilverman22]

The XC10 looks like it could be a very useful camera for a lot of people. I wouldn't be surprised if it resembles and competes with the Sony PXW-X70 in many ways. It would be great if Canon gave it a sensor that's around 1", but even if they don't I still think it will be a very nice camera to own. It sounds like it will be more of a prosumer camera since they might release it at CES, but the fact that it could resemble the C100's form factor suggests room for lots of buttons and dials which would be great when using manual controls.

I wouldn't be surprised if the C300 Mk II records 4K internally and then Canon ends up offering an update/upgrade to the C100 Mk II to record 4K externally via HDMI (kind of like the Sony A7S). This would make sense to me because the C300 would still have a huge advantage over the C100 so they wouldn't compete as much, and it would allow C100 owners to have the ability to shoot in 4K so that the camera doesn't become obsolete as quickly.

 

[Etienne]

This could be awesome. I think a 28- 600 FF eq is out of the question due to size and weight.

Not sure why it would be out of the question. 20x zoom ranges aren't at all atypical in camcorders. Yeah, that's a bit on the wide side—most camcorders I've used start at more like 40mm and approach 800mm on the long end—but I doubt the slight increase in front element size resulting from going a little wider would make it all that unwieldy.

20x zooms are only on small sensor camcorders, 1/4", 1/3". The C100 is an APS-C sensor, and the comparable lens would be enormous.

 

[Tugela]

Fixed lens in the form factor of the C100. Sounds like an interesting camera. Personally, I don't think it'd be for me but I'm excited that Canon is finally making more steps into 4K.

If they get more 4K into their cinema cameras, maybe they can get sharp 1080p into their DSLRs. That'd make me a happy camper.

Knowing Canon, it would have "4K" output, but the real resolution would be 700-800 lines.

 

[Tugela]

This could be awesome. I think a 28- 600 FF eq is out of the question due to size and weight.

Not sure why it would be out of the question. 20x zoom ranges aren't at all atypical in camcorders. Yeah, that's a bit on the wide side—most camcorders I've used start at more like 40mm and approach 800mm on the long end—but I doubt the slight increase in front element size resulting from going a little wider would make it all that unwieldy.

That is on tiny sensors though. If you had a FF or crop sensor the lens would have to be huge.

 

[mdsilverman22]

20x zooms are only on small sensor camcorders, 1/4", 1/3". The C100 is an APS-C sensor, and the comparable lens would be enormous.

Of course we're all speculating to some degree, but from reading the description given here, it sounds like it will be a relatively small sensor camera (1" or less) because it will have a fixed lens and will also possibly be announced at CES so more of a prosumer/consumer camera. I took the statement "it will have similar ergonomics to the EOS C100" as meaning the body will look similar to the C100 along with a similar button layout and a top handle with XLRs. I think it would be awesome if it has a sensor that's as large as the C100's and hopefully it will, but to me it sounds like it will have a similar shape to the C100 but not necessarily similar sensor.

 

[Etienne]

20x zooms are only on small sensor camcorders, 1/4", 1/3". The C100 is an APS-C sensor, and the comparable lens would be enormous.

Of course we're all speculating to some degree, but from reading the description given here, it sounds like it will be a relatively small sensor camera (1" or less) because it will have a fixed lens and will also possibly be announced at CES so more of a prosumer/consumer camera. I took the statement "it will have similar ergonomics to the EOS C100" as meaning the body will look similar to the C100 along with a similar button layout and a top handle with XLRs. I think it would be awesome if it has a sensor that's as large as the C100's and hopefully it will, but to me it sounds like it will have a similar shape to the C100 but not necessarily similar sensor.

When I saw "C100 body style" I assumed APS-C sensor, which could easily be wrong, wishful thinking. I really want it to be APS-C, but if it's 1" or less, then a 20x zoom is not going to be a huge challenge.

BTW ... I have the Sony PXW-X70 and the lens is 30-350 mm (FF equiv) or 12x. With the really well-implemented digital zoom it does about 600mm just fine. But I wish the lens was 1.8-2.8 instead of 2.8-4.5, even though the camera would be bigger and heavier. I'd rather have the brighter lens than the longer zoom on that camera.

 

[dgatwood]

This could be awesome. I think a 28- 600 FF eq is out of the question due to size and weight.

Not sure why it would be out of the question. 20x zoom ranges aren't at all atypical in camcorders. Yeah, that's a bit on the wide side—most camcorders I've used start at more like 40mm and approach 800mm on the long end—but I doubt the slight increase in front element size resulting from going a little wider would make it all that unwieldy.

20x zooms are only on small sensor camcorders, 1/4", 1/3". The C100 is an APS-C sensor, and the comparable lens would be enormous.

I was assuming a small sensor, given that we're probably talking about a $1,500–$2,000 camcorder (including the lens), not a multi-thousand-dollar cinema camera (plus the lens). That's probably a pretty safe assumption.

With that said, Sony built a 30:1 zoom on a camera whose sensor is just under half an inch. So although 20:1 on APS-C would probably be unworkable (the current Canon APS-C superzoom is only 14:1), it is definitely possible to do 20:1 on something way bigger than a quarter inch sensor—maybe even something as large as micro-four-thirds.

 

[preppyak]

Of course we're all speculating to some degree, but from reading the description given here, it sounds like it will be a relatively small sensor camera (1" or less) because it will have a fixed lens and will also possibly be announced at CES so more of a prosumer/consumer camera. I took the statement "it will have similar ergonomics to the EOS C100" as meaning the body will look similar to the C100 along with a similar button layout and a top handle with XLRs. I think it would be awesome if it has a sensor that's as large as the C100's and hopefully it will, but to me it sounds like it will have a similar shape to the C100 but not necessarily similar sensor.

To me the biggest giveaway is the name. XC10 sounds like its basically the in-between line of the XA series (XA10, 15, etc) and the C-line. So, maybe it'll have a slightly larger sensor (maybe 1" to the XA's 1/2.84") but a lesser zoom range. Which actually would make for a great event/interview camera for my work.

I love the XA line, so, anything they can do to improve that is a win in my book

 

[Etienne]

Of course we're all speculating to some degree, but from reading the description given here, it sounds like it will be a relatively small sensor camera (1" or less) because it will have a fixed lens and will also possibly be announced at CES so more of a prosumer/consumer camera. I took the statement "it will have similar ergonomics to the EOS C100" as meaning the body will look similar to the C100 along with a similar button layout and a top handle with XLRs. I think it would be awesome if it has a sensor that's as large as the C100's and hopefully it will, but to me it sounds like it will have a similar shape to the C100 but not necessarily similar sensor.

To me the biggest giveaway is the name. XC10 sounds like its basically the in-between line of the XA series (XA10, 15, etc) and the C-line. So, maybe it'll have a slightly larger sensor (maybe 1" to the XA's 1/2.84") but a lesser zoom range. Which actually would make for a great event/interview camera for my work.

I love the XA line, so, anything they can do to improve that is a win in my book

The "C" implies Cinema line of cameras, so I hope they go all-in and us an APS-C sensor. Maybe the'll have a 1.4x converter built into the lens!

 

[Tugela]

Of course we're all speculating to some degree, but from reading the description given here, it sounds like it will be a relatively small sensor camera (1" or less) because it will have a fixed lens and will also possibly be announced at CES so more of a prosumer/consumer camera. I took the statement "it will have similar ergonomics to the EOS C100" as meaning the body will look similar to the C100 along with a similar button layout and a top handle with XLRs. I think it would be awesome if it has a sensor that's as large as the C100's and hopefully it will, but to me it sounds like it will have a similar shape to the C100 but not necessarily similar sensor.

To me the biggest giveaway is the name. XC10 sounds like its basically the in-between line of the XA series (XA10, 15, etc) and the C-line. So, maybe it'll have a slightly larger sensor (maybe 1" to the XA's 1/2.84") but a lesser zoom range. Which actually would make for a great event/interview camera for my work.

I love the XA line, so, anything they can do to improve that is a win in my book

I wouldn't assume too much from the name. After all, the G cameras are essentially the same as the XA line, as are the XF200/205.

 

[StenR]

The name XC10 suggest to me that it will simply be a 4K version of the XA10 series of prosumer camcorders in a slightly enhanced consumer body. Using the C100 form factor would be too expensive and needs redesign to fit a smaller crop sensor.