Best for hire - C100 Mk 2 or C300 mk 1

[Tim Sewell]

I've got around £5k to invest next year in starting (in a small way) a camera hire business and within my budget I could go for either a C100 mk 2 or a second hand C300 mk 1. I already have a reasonable amount of Canon glass, a BMD video assist and a Ninja 2. Which camera body do the denizens of EOSHD would yield me the better return in terms of hires?

 

Thanks for any help anyone can give me on this - I'm truly conflicted.

[BrorSvensson]

I woud personally go with the c300 because of the 50 mbit 4:2:2 codec over the c100 24mbit 4:2:0

[AaronChicago]

I hate to say it b/c I own a C100mII, but C300 carries a better name for camera hire. It's kind of stupid really that it comes down to that, and not talent. Reputation aside, I like the C100mkII better. The Dual Pixel AF is amazing. Also you get 60p @ 1080,

[Cassius McGowan]

I hate to say it b/c I own a C100mII, but C300 carries a better name for camera hire. It's kind of stupid really that it comes down to that, and not talent. Reputation aside, I like the C100mkII better. The Dual Pixel AF is amazing. Also you get 60p @ 1080,

It's sad that you can get a job just because you have a C300 and the C100 mii does the same thing. 

[Guest Ebrahim Saadawi]

The C300. 

Better rental reputation and carries a higher number, 300 vs 100. 

But not just that, many rent the C300 for broadcast, and the C300 is a must as it has that specific broadcast codec TV stations adore, while with a C100 he'd need to deal with recording externally and deal with ProRes. And also for broadcast, the HD-SDI outputs, Genlock and Timecode ports are a big benefit for the C300. The C300 has a better LCD screen at the top with higher flexibility, it can be positioned anywhere on the camera and has a dedicated panel. The C300 has a much better ND interface, it's electronic vs mechanical on the C100. You touch a button and it moves. 

The C100II upsides vs the C300 are numerous: Dual Pixel AF II, smaller size and weight with an integrated LCD, 1080p 60p, scratch mic without top handle, cheaper, smaller SD cards vs CF cards, red buttons :). 

Even if the C300 had zero advantages, for hiring out, I'd get the C300 just because of the reputation it carries in rentals. It's the most hired camera in Europe/USA for the past 2 years. 

[AaronChicago]

It's sad that you can get a job just because you have a C300 and the C100 mii does the same thing. 

If you A/B the C100mII and C300mI the image is better with the C100. Colors are much improved. Again, it's just a reputation that the C300 carries for being elite.

[Zach Ashcraft]

I'd got with the C1002 over the C300 any day of the week. Aside from the image, the layout and ergonomics have some nice improvements. Its a lot more compact and easier to use in the field. 

I'd definitely not pick up a C300 just to impress anyone.