There are a few rumors floating around the internet right now about the next iteration of the Canon Cinema C300 camera. Personally, I am really excited. I usually have to work with a really fast turnaround on almost everything I do, and Canon Cinema delivers. Here is a long list of thoughts I had about the new camera rumors and a couple thoughts about what I would like to see:
Some of the buzzwords
I think that the biggest news for most people is the possibility of 8K capture. Canon has been behind on the resolution game, but I don’t think it has been that much of a hinderance. More companies have started to use 4K, but 1080p is still fairly ubiquitous for online videos. While 8K could be nice for green screen and visual effects, I really don’t see much of a need for 8K for most applications. I am going to be releasing a video about this soon, so I’ll just leave it at that.
While I haven’t seen anything regarding high-speed, I hope that Canon will offer some more options in their new camera. I don’t think it needs to be anything crazy, but it would be nice to be able to overcrank beyond 29.97 in 4K. Also, one thing that Canon and Arri have over the Red cameras are that they don’t crop in on the sensor for all their higher frame rates. It would be great to have higher speeds on the camera and know that my 20mm lens still looks like a 20mm lens.
Firmware upgradeable!
I think what has me most excited is the possibility of a firmware upgrade! Personally, I would love to be able to significantly upgrade my camera a year after purchasing it. Buying a replacement camera is always a difficult process for a small studio. I want something that will allow me to stay competitive, both in what I can offer and my prices. If I can upgrade my camera system without having to buy an entirely new camera, I am totally onboard.
I’m not sure if Canon has considered this, but I would love to have the option to rent the firmware features. It would be great to get 8K only for the week I need it. Because of how infrequently I would need some of those features, it would really help me from a business sense if I can rent the upgrade.
Still a rumor . . .
While it is fun to dream of everything, eventually the camera will come out. And it never matches what everyone wants. That being said, it sounds like Canon is making additional efforts to stay competitive. That is a good thing for everyone. Canon cameras have never seemed to have been as good on paper as some of their competitors, and some of their cameras are starting to show their age.