Canon Cinema EOS 1D C
Friday, April 13, 2012 at 1:59PM 
With an 18.1-megapixel full-frame 24mm x 36mm Canon CMOS sensor, the camera records 8-bit 4:2:2 Motion JPEG 4K video to the camera’s CF memory card at 24 frames-per-second.
Well that’s one way to create a sharp 1080p image.
Note this bit:
4K video is captured by an approximately APS-H-sized portion of the full image sensor, while [1080p] video can be captured in the user’s choice of two different imaging formats… …the full 36mm width of the CMOS sensor… [or] An optional Super 35 crop.
More confusing, imperfect, and expensive options for making beautiful images. With the odd trade-offs in functionality between cinema offerings from two different internal divisions, Canon is starting to remind me of that scene in Bridesmaides where Kristen Wiig and Rose Byrne keep grabbing the microphone from each other.
Reader Comments (17)
i'm trying to figure out why they'd make this camera. it's $5000 cheaper and has better specs than the c300. does this make sense to you?
No. Especially because it has some better specs than the C300, but some not. There's no focus assist, or built-in ND filters, or XLR inputs.
It looks like Canon has entered that phase where they're officially just a little too worried about products cannibalizing each other. I'm holding out hope for a 7Dmk2 (although you could argue that the 5dmk3 is basically a full frame sequel to the 7D) or the mythical C100. I'm happy for now with my 7D - this Azden on-camera mixer sorted out most of my audio concerns. And much like 3D televisions, I think early adoption isn't the smartest choice on this round of gear. Looks like things are going to be moving very fast from here on out.
What I don´t understand is why the hell it can´t capture 4k from the hole full frame? Why the it crops? Obviously this camera has the power to capture 24fps 4k, so why super 35 is only 1080p? this camera only produces a lot of questions.
I imagine they're pulling the 4K frame 1:1 from the center of the 5184x3456 sensor.
Yeah, that´s what they are actually doing. But if this new "DSLR" is made for cinema in mind why not instead make a native 4k sensor(4096 × 2304/or something). Don´t get me wrong, I´m not a gh2 lover I own a 5d2, I love the concept of this camera but there are really weird things going on.
And then there's the digital cinema camera from Blackmagic. They say this new camera has 13 stops of latitude and a 2.5K sensor resolution. (Sensor size is on the specs page but it isn't loading right now.) Best part is the price: $3K. Should ship in July.
(Very slow loading web site. Maybe they're slammed.)
I bet this camera is worth it's money. I notice that people start whining when they can't afford a camera. Shane Hurlbut shot a short with it and is blown away by it.
The specs on the Blackmagic are amazing but it's scary to buy a camera from a company that never built one before.
I'm going for the Sony FS 700. That's my favorite this year.
Anyway, let's tell good stories.
I hope I'm not violating any rules posting this here, but I just saw the Hurlbut short as well and I think it looks pretty great-and it's on topic. Obviously, it was produced in conjunction with Canon, so I wouldn't exactly expect Shane's remarks to be disparaging, but he has been very critical of the C300, so I assume his enthusiasm for this camera is legit. See for yourself at http://www.hurlbutvisuals.com/blog/2012/04/the-next-gen-in-digital-film-capture-canons-4k-1dc/
has anyone got one of those blackmagics?
my wallet almost jumped out of my pocket when i read their web page.....i am struggling to formulate a good argument for not buying it right now
Adam, how about a maximum 30 fps frame rate? That's what gave me pause. But it might not for everyone, given how much other goodness Blackmagic is promising.
I'm an After Effects guy, not a shooter, so the idea of a camera made by the guys that make acquisition hardware has me excited: latitude, bit depth, raw workflow, etc. Great stuff.
But i don't know if it's a Rebel camera, if you take my meaning. A Rebel needs cheaper acquisition media than SSD, needs the option to shoot at least 48fps, and maybe needs autofocus.
Still, $3,000 for a camera that'll (hopefully) give me super-clean greenscreen footage, or lovely color depth to play with when shooting products? It could make my day job a lot easier. I think the BlackMagic is going to be a great, great studio camera for small shops, the kind we have a lot of here in the Bay Area.
Dan. I personally have never felt the need to shoot at faster frame rates. faster shutter speeds yes.
and as you say, green screen. SSD is cheap enough and fast enough if you have two to dump whilst you shoot.
for me, i am still exploring the possibilities of 25fps and lighting, the only technical ceiling i regularly hit is bit depth.
i think me and the blackmagic could be very happy together....want to touch it first though, go on a couple of dates
Hmmm, Canon, $15,000, 4K with 4:2:2 Motion JPEG or Blackmagic, $3,000, 2.5K 12-bit log...
For FX shooting, bit-depth trumps number of pixels by a long shot. Would love to see some real-world examples.
The Blackmagic is ~S16, not FX.
But still, you could get a Blackmagic, a lens adapter, and a whole new set of lenses, and, you know, a small Caribbean island, for the price of a 1D C.
I meant VFX shoots (greenscreen, etc)
exactly Stu, the 4K mode is a 1:1 sensor crop so is not full frame. Camera at NAB seemed to definately crop in about 10% in 4K mode
Can you review the new Black Magic Cinema Camera? Please and thank you.