A Canon video camera for the rest of us outside Hollywood

[gene_can_sing]

I'm with Chad on that one. I just wanted 1080 Full frame with maybe a crop mode at good res. I'm not too concerned about super high speed, just wanted an reasonably priced Full Frame DSLR that was video friendly. If Canon did that, they would have had my $8K that I have budgeted.

I went to the camera store today and checked out the FS-100. I was surprised by how light and hand holdable it was. After DSLRs, I was thinking I was going to hate it, but it's not that bad.

Now, I might just get the FS-700 even though it's a couple grand more than I wanted to spend, but Canon just does not deserve my money with their ridiculous offerings.

Maybe pick up a cheapo Rebel when the new one comes out as a B-Cam to the FS-700

[nightvision]

What is so darn difficult about a small stealthy dual use stills/ video cam with true 1080P, 4:2:2 and no digital artefacts? I don't expect that much given the fact the technology is there. I saved 13 thousand Euro for a full package with lenses and waited a very long and painful one and a half year for the Mark 3 to come out finally. Now they crippled that thing only to present a 15K cam which is basically only a video fixed 1DX (and a big brick). And I still can't buy what I want. I don't need 4K, a red dot and Hollywood Celebrity diners! Just give me my small cam - something like NEX7 with the video quality of FS-100

[TC]

[quote author=nightvision link=topic=579.msg3952#msg3952 date=1334396082]
What is so darn difficult about a small stealthy dual use stills/ video cam with true 1080P, 4:2:2 and no digital artefacts? I don't expect that much given the fact the technology is there.
[/quote]

The 5D mark III is more than capable of giving us that from a hardware point of view.  That's the frustrating thing - the camera we all want is on the market right now.  But the functionality has not been unlocked because Canon wants to protect a few thousand sales of 1D C cameras to Hollywood. 

I wonder if the Magic Lantern project could go even further?  Instead of hacking the existing firmware and adding features, changing a few parameters in Canon's code, would it be possible just to re-write the firmware from scratch? 

[cameraboy]

re-write the firmware from scratch is almost impossible task without sdk ...
but even if they gives as functional  hdmi and sharp 1080p is enough...
but who knows canon probably encrypt firmware ...

[TC]

[quote author=cameraboy link=topic=579.msg3954#msg3954 date=1334403545]
re-write the firmware from scratch is almost impossible task without sdk ...
[/quote]

Yeah, I suspect as much myself.  Well, we can but hope. 

[jtography]

[quote author=Andrew Reid - EOSHD link=topic=579.msg3903#msg3903 date=1334328315]
<p><img class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-7920\" title=\"Canon C100\" src=\"http://www.eoshd.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/canon-c100.jpg\" alt=\"Canon C100\" width=\"660\" height=\"361\" /></p>
<p>Do you work for Paramount Studios? If the answer is no then Canon do not any more have an appealing interchangeable lens video camera for you (or even the consumer market) under $15,000.</p>
<p>Forget Ron Howard. This needs fixing first.</p>
<p><a href=\"http://www.eoshd.com/content/7919/a-canon-video-camera-for-the-rest-of-us-outside-hollywood/\"><strong>Read full article</strong></a></p>

[/quote]

Can I ask what may seem to be a silly question? Why is there no mention of Nikon in this article? Some background: my studio has been stills only, on canon, for years. Now we are 50% video and we produce great work in the Caribbean for serious people like Red Bull in extreme locations, underwater etc. I think that the DSLR revolution was for guys like me. We can't lug a lot of gear, certainly not two formats. But we need great options in both fields video and stills.

So recently I got frustrated with canons lack of headphones and clean hdmi out, and when nikon announced the d800 I literally SWITCHED OUR ENTIRE SETUP. Drastic I know. FYI for our commercial work in more manageable situations we do use the sony fs100 and plan to also stock the fs700. But they won't help me take a great still photo hanging from the edge of a waterfall just before switching to video. This is us: www.jtography.com

So... Yes I think canon have completely lost sight of WHY the 5Dmkii was so awesome in the first place. Of all the brands you mentioned they have another market segment to protect (except red and arri) so I really see Nikon (who have finally caught up) as being the one best positioned to advance the dslr format. 4k has no place I. A dslr form factor, just like large xlr connectors. Canon is making cameras that should stay as great "concepts". Their range has become so disparate and seemingly specialized.

Anyway, I know no brand has really nailed - as you point out in your excellent article - but I was wondering where the d800 and the d4 fall in your analysis. Cheers!

[Simco123]

His reviews about the 5DIII and now the Canon 4k he seems to be having a go at someone. Any clue who he meant ;)

[url=http://philipbloom.net/2012/04/13/nab2012a/]http://philipbloom.net/2012/04/13/nab2012a/[/url]

[MatthewP]

[quote author=jtography link=topic=579.msg3959#msg3959 date=1334411457]Of all the brands you mentioned they have another market segment to protect (except red and arri) so I really see Nikon (who have finally caught up) as being the one best positioned to advance the dslr format. [/quote]

My thoughts exactly.

[Tzedekh]

Well, you can forget Panasonic. They rehashed AVC-Ultra, showed a new $16K 2/3-inch 1080p camera, and announced they will be charging $250 for a minor AF100 firmware upgrade. Although they showed a 4K Varicam mockup, it won't be available until sometime next year. Maybe their worst showing in years.

[hmcindie]

What about the Canon 1dx? What is the quality on that thing compared to 5d mark iii on video side??

[jaybirch]

[quote author=Tzedekh link=topic=579.msg3986#msg3986 date=1334522708]
Well, you can forget Panasonic. They rehashed AVC-Ultra, showed a new $16K 2/3-inch 1080p camera, and announced they will be charging $250 for a minor AF100 firmware upgrade. Although they showed a 4K Varicam mockup, it won't be available until sometime next year. Maybe their worst showing in years.
[/quote]

Actually, the combo of AVC-Ultra and Micro P2 cards could well be some of the best news EVER for the budget indie guy.

Panasonic often give away more than they should at consumer level... It would not shock me one bit to see the GH3 launch with the above combo. You could be looking at the birth of 10bit 4:2:2 recording on consumer products.

[mike_tee_vee]

[quote author=Tzedekh link=topic=579.msg3986#msg3986 date=1334522708]
Well, you can forget Panasonic. They rehashed AVC-Ultra, showed a new $16K 2/3-inch 1080p camera, and announced they will be charging $250 for a minor AF100 firmware upgrade. Although they showed a 4K Varicam mockup, it won't be available until sometime next year. Maybe their worst showing in years.
[/quote]

My thoughts exactly.  Instead of coming up with a large chip camcorder, they are milking the old GH1 sensor.  You'd think they could at least introduce something comparable to the GH2's sensor.  Who knows, maybe they're throwing in the towel on micro 4/3s at the pro level.

[Tzedekh]

[quote author=jaybirch link=topic=579.msg3995#msg3995 date=1334579679]
Actually, the combo of AVC-Ultra and Micro P2 cards could well be some of the best news EVER for the budget indie guy.

Panasonic often give away more than they should at consumer level... It would not shock me one bit to see the GH3 launch with the above combo. You could be looking at the birth of 10bit 4:2:2 recording on consumer products.
[/quote]
The GH3 is expected this fall, and AVC-Ultra video products are not scheduled to ship until 2013, so I seriously doubt you'll see 10-bit 4:2:2 on a still camera before Panasonic releases professional video cameras with it. Further, the Micro P2 format actually limits the data rate to 50 Mbps. That would preclude the higher-rate GH2 hacks like Driftwood, which tops out at something like 176 Mbps. So, if implemented on any forthcoming GH2 successor, that could be a way for Panasonic to hobble it and protect their video products.

[Tzedekh]

[quote author=mike_tee_vee link=topic=579.msg3996#msg3996 date=1334582466]
Who knows, maybe they're throwing in the towel on micro 4/3s at the pro level.
[/quote]
You may be on to something. At the press conference, they didn't say what size sensor will be used in the 4K Varicam. Moving to S35 would enable them to achieve better dynamic range without having to develop radical new materials or designs for their m4/3 sensors. Plus they wouldn't need to develop a line of professional m4/3 video lenses that only their camera (and it's really just one camera) uses.

[mike_tee_vee]

It's looking more like the GH2's success as a video tool was an accident.  There's no mention of 12-35 or 35-100 prototypes at NAB, or even any rough specs.  Also, 1080 60p didn't seem to be the biggest omission from the original AF100.  You'd think that punching in for focus confirmation would rank higher on firmware upgrades.

The Sony FS100 is becoming the only reasonable option in the $5,000 price bracket, and it's only by default.  People were hesitant at first (i.e. Andrew) but now willing to work with the quirky controls, lack of ND filters, and no HD-SDI, simply because there's no new competition.

[HurtinMinorKey]

Do you thin there will be a 5D-C, like the 1D-C? With a digi5 it should be able to achieve at least twice the current bit-rate of the mkiii.

It'd be a crime if they left this camera out of the cinema lineup. After all, the mkii started it all.

[yohh770]

canon is a bully that needs to go home.
its time to let other company's to come up with new ideas and technologies that will benefit the peoples.
canon repair centers across the USA is a total rip off even for their members.
All the new lines of camera will be  for  ?????
the future belongs to company's that have software and hardware combine in one.