Canon Eos C300 Mark III

Description

The Canon EOS C300 Mark III builds on the successful Super 35mm formula that made the EOS C300 Mark II the 4K camera of choice for documentary filmmakers and the most demanding broadcast productions.

Below we look at the key features and functions of the EOS C300 Mark III, including a recent Canon sensor innovation, Dual Gain Output (DGO).

New 4K DGO Super 35mm CMOS sensor

A key innovation of this camera is the size of the sensor and the technology it incorporates.

The sensor shares the classic Super 35mm cinema format of its predecessor, but has been redesigned with an innovative feature called Dual Gain Output.

The DGO sensor is a newly developed imaging system that delivers exceptionally clean low-light image quality as well as excellent HDR acquisition capabilities.

In the DGO sensor, each pixel reads the image at two different magnification levels, one high and one low, which are then combined to create a single image. The higher magnification readout is optimized to capture clear details in darker areas, while the lower magnification readout is optimized to capture details in brighter areas. When combined, shadow and highlight detail are maintained and enhanced, allowing the camera to achieve an impressive superior dynamic range of up to more than 16 stops.

The new DGO sensor also supports Dual Pixel AF, giving users greater freedom to achieve the image they want.

Improved dynamic range of over 16 stops

The new DGO sensor technology means the EOS C300 Mark III can deliver over 16 stops of dynamic range when shooting in Canon Log 2 Gamma.

In addition to the new DGO sensor and Canon Log 2, it includes Canon Log 3 and Wide Dynamic Range options for log recording. It supports a high dynamic range (HDR) workflow, including direct recording in Dolby PQ and HLG.

Multiple recording formats

The Canon EOS C300 Mark III uses the same DIGIC DV 7 image processor as the EOS C500 Mark II, a step up from the dual DIGIC DV5 processors found in the EOS C300 Mark II.

Enhanced processing power brings a new level of performance to the Canon EOS C300 range, including high-bit rate 4K recording.

You can record 4K or 2K RAW in Cinema RAW Light, and you also have the option to record 4K/2K and Full HD in XF-AVC with ALL-Intra or Long GOP. ALL-Intra gives you lower compression and a higher data rate, so it's attractive for situations like drama productions that don't require a RAW workflow.

For recordings with tight turnaround times, such as news reports or interviews, you can use a lower data rate with Long GOP for more compression and a smaller file size. You then have the option of streaming to the newsroom via your preferred medium or faster download and input speeds.

Higher frame rates

The camera offers up to 120p recording in 4K Cinema RAW Light or XF-AVC without crop and up to 180 fps with the sensor mode set to Super 16mm/2K with crop. These frame rates are available at all camera frequency settings. Additionally, Dual Pixel CMOS AF is maintained when recording in this mode. Proxy files recorded to the SD card are also recorded at the same frame rate.

The EOS C300 Mark III inherits this feature and can do so in 4K and 2K RAW, as well as Full HD and XF-AVC 2K or 4K. If we go down to 2K Super 16mm with crop, 180 fps is possible.

If you are recording in RAW at 120 fps, proxy files are captured with the same settings as the main recording format at 4:2:0 8-bit.

4K videos with high bit rate

Thanks to the processing power of DIGIC 7, the Canon EOS C300 Mark III can record high-bitrate 4K video. When recording in Cinema RAW Light, you're capturing at 1Gbp. When recording in XF-AVC, the maximum data rate is 810Mbps with the ALL-I option.

Flexible modular system

It offers flexibility when it comes to supporting and shares accessories with its full-frame companion, the EOS C500 Mark II, making them the perfect match on set. If you're used to handling an EOS C500 Mark II, you'll find it very easy to incorporate an EOS C300 Mark III into your workflow.

In its essential form, you have a camera that can be easily used without a tripod or mounted very simply on a gimbal or drone. You can take full advantage of its features even in this smaller form factor, because its internal 4K recording means there's no need to attach additional accessories. But if, for example, you want to switch to IP streaming, you could simply add one of the extension units.

A Canon Extension Unit 2 (EU-V2) would provide maximum connectivity and also add independently controlled XLR inputs for a four-channel audio system.

"The modular design makes the EOS C300 Mark III a much more versatile camera," says Paul. "If you don't need any extras, you can enjoy its convenience and lightness; and if you need additional connections, you can turn it into a full-fledged production camera."