After years of the Cinema EOS camera lineup being pretty dormant, Canon launched the Cinema EOS C400 and Cinema EOS C80 in September of this year to a pretty positive reception. Both of those cameras have begun shipping, but are currently out of stocck for the moment. Both the Cinema EOS C80 and Cinema EOS C400 are currently in stock at Adorama.
I’m sure that you can all guess that one of the biggest questions we have received after both the launch of the EOS R5 Mark II and Cinema EOS C80 is if we’re going to see an EOS R5 C Mark II between those cameras?
We have been told in vague terms that there will be a camera not so much between them, but a form factor closer to the EOS R5 Mark II than the EOS C80, however it won’t be an EOS R5 C. With the EOS R5 Mark II being so capable with its video features, there’s probably no real business case for a C version. It sounds like it’ll be a one-off like the EOS-1D C was.
To temper the curiousity and or excitement, we were told that it’s not likely until late 2025 and there are obviously no specifications of any kind. If we had to guess, it won’t be a photography type of camera. While the EOS R5 C was capable in that regard, it wasn’t really the most ergonomically pleasing shooting experience for photographers.
The Cinema EOS lineup is obviously missing crowd favourites like EOS C100 and C200, it seems pretty apparent the C200 isn’t going to see a direct sequel.
As far as fitting between the R52 and C80, we don’t think it’ll be just based on price, but more on form factor. The size of the R5 C was definitely welcomed for a lot of shooters and another dedicated Cinema camera would do well in our opinion.
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With C400 sensor. 1 mini XLR, ND filters.
What makes sense from a business standpoint is a R5Cii with no built in ND's, triple base ISO, no SDI, full size HDMI, no xlr, built in cooling, no ibis and in a mirrorless style body.
For the higher end C***, i'll say it'll be a traditional box style body, slightly bigger than the C400, 8k Full Frame, built in ND's, triple base ISO, Full size HDMI, SDI, USB C monitor that can be relocated, smart extension/handle hot shoe, and pretty much everything that you won't be seeing in the R5Cii.
It's all about convenience for the shooter. R5Cii will need to be rigged out more as we've seen with the mark i. the higher end 8k full frame cinema camera (c***) will be more of a ready to shoot out of box for a production type of camera.
These are my thoughts alone, these are based on trends I've seen with previous cameras.
Another interesting thing is they will be coming out with a R3ii (After people thought that was dead)
And we'll be seeing a C70ii (People thought it was also dead)
Super35 isn't dead and has TONS of potential for high end sensors for it's size and requirements.
But again, this is just me :)
Personally, I think a 45mp sensor (like that in the R5/R5 II) is perfect for this type of camera since it is designed to be a hybrid camera and lower resolution sensors (like the 24mp sensor in the R1) are rather limited in their application for stills nowadays.
What I'd like to see in an R5 C successor (in priority order):
* I know that asking for an internal ND on such a camera seems fanciful, but it would truly make such a camera "the hybrid" with no peer in the industry. (And not just for video shooters: I'm sure photographers would find many creative ways to use ND if it was just a button-press away!)
Being able to walk around with just a body and one of new "Z" lenses and flip between photo & video with no need for extra rigging, fiddling with filters, etc, would be truly liberating. That's the dream.
All told, the above wishlist would certainly push such a camera into the price range of the R1. And I think it'd absolutely have a market at that price – after all, it would have no peers. And it would leave Canon's lineup topped by a pair of flagships (somewhat like what Sony has with the high-mp A1 and the low-mp A9); albeit, a much more interesting pair (imho).
Canon's investment into the hybrid "Z" lenses really gives me hope that Canon believes in properly developing the hybrid market ... boosting my hope that the (fantastic!) R5 C wasn't just a one off.
Well, this never prevented Sony to say their cameras are for photographers...
6K Full Frame with 24.1 MP and internal 12 bit RAW up to 60fps (or maybe even a slightly higher MP count to introduce a higher sampled 6K)
Dual Native ISO or even triple base
Internal cooling
No IBIS
possibly internal ND (doubt cause it'll cross into C80)
Timecode
All in a mirrorless body
i'm all for it!!!
Wishlist:
- Fullsize HDMI
- Second USB-C port for external power while being controlled via Ronin gimbal or recording to external SSD
- Barrel type terminal for external power supply as alternative (like on C70)
- Eye controlled AF
- Bluetooth start/stop and control available not only in stills mode but also video mode
Biggest drawbacks of C70 (own it) C80 and C400 are the lack of an EVF and the missing option to record to external SSD.
Other than that I love the hybrid nature, use the R5C for both stills and video almost 50/50.
I realize this isn't *most* shooters, but I imagine this set of priorities isn't all that rare, etiher.
For me, the R5 C is essential for when I need to travel very light (just what I can cary in my backpack) and need one body which can do both photos and video.
Previously, I was a bit torn because I always wanted to use me CN-E 18-80 with it for video, but not for stills (since it is a S35 lens) - so I ended up carrying one body but with 2 duplicate lenses for the normal range. However, now with the 24-105 2.8 "Z" (and hopefully soon more lenses from the same series) to pair with the R5 C, almost everything is perfectly shared from photo to video: the body, the lenses, etc. Only annoyances are having to twist on a front ND filter for video and having to battery strategy. I now have more capability in 1 backpack than I could have ever imagined 5 years back. Really hoping Canon continues to make this type of "true hybrid" in each generation ... and if they could squeeze in an internal ND system, that'd cement this as the world's best hybrid.