Nice C300 peice by Jonathan Yi

Tim Polster · December 5th, 2011, 03:48 PM

The video is well done, and 20,000 ISO is an accomplishment but I think it still looks too noisy for much use. The scene of the girl on the bench which starts at ISO 1250 is touching the limit for me at 1250. The rest just look, well noisy with deeper DOF.

Chris Hurd · December 6th, 2011, 09:42 AM

Great interview with Jonathan Yi about the making of this piece (thanks to J. P. A.):

JONATHAN YI TALKS ABOUT THE CANON C300 | The Filmmaker Magazine Blog

Bob Willis · December 6th, 2011, 10:31 AM

It is a nice interview from Jonathan. It helped fill in some information on his tests. Now to wait until Canon comes out with a price and to actually get a camera in my hands. The remaining concerns for me would be how well the viewfinder works on this camera. If you don't have to add a viewfinder that would make the camera more cost effective and easier to use for documentaries.

The problem is that being use to broadcast cameras with high resolution viewfinders I don't know if it will meet my needs. The other concern is how quickly you can white balance and adjust ISO and Gain since there are no dedicated switches. The other big concern is how to solve focusing manually with these small Canon still lenses. Not nearly as easy as manually focusing on a big broadcast lens. Plus you have to be able to make a few lens changes very quickly. Never did have a perfect solution with the DSLR's.

Chris Hurd · December 6th, 2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Willis

white balance and adjust ISO and Gain since there are no dedicated switches.

You can set two of the fifteen user-assignable buttons, one to FUNC. WB and the other to FUNC. ISO,
to enter the direct setting modes for white balance and gain (see page 100 of the C300 operator's manual).

Kawika Ohumukini · December 6th, 2011, 11:57 AM

Can't please everyone all the time I guess. The review was enough information to consider the camera and more than enough to rent one to try it out. Better than nothing or guessing. Cheers

Bob Willis · December 6th, 2011, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Hurd

You can set two of the fifteen user-assignable buttons, one to FUNC. WB and the other to FUNC. ISO,
to enter the direct setting modes for white balance and gain (see page 100 of the C300 operator's manual).

True, and this may work fine. Just have to see how it works actually using the camera. I would not want to have to make 3 steps when I can just make one like I can now with the XDCAM.

Alister Chapman · December 6th, 2011, 01:20 PM

The rear viewfinder is quite nice and I think very useable. Not quite the same as a broadcast camera where the VF screen is typically 1.5" or 2" across the diagonal, but still useable IMHO never the less.

Chris Hurd · December 6th, 2011, 02:11 PM

The rear EVF is the same unit as the XF305/300, if that helps.

Bob Willis · December 6th, 2011, 05:38 PM

Thank you both for the feedback. Good to hear that the viewfinder seems very useable. But if it is the same viewfinder from the XF305 then it is listed as a 1/2" viewfinder. Guess I will have to see for myself.

The C300 seems to take a lot from the XF 305/300 camera which is not necessarily a bad thing, but at over twice the price we would be paying quite a bit for just the large sensor. And the XF 305 comes with a lens.

Brian Drysdale · December 7th, 2011, 02:19 AM

There's probably a larger market for XF 305, so keeping the unit costs down and the perceived value is another factor in pricing products.

Alister Chapman · December 7th, 2011, 05:36 AM

I felt the build quality of the C300 was far superior to the XF305. The quality and feel of the plastics was really good, plus the base and mount is a very solid lump of metal. I was not so happy with the LCD on the handle, this looks like an afterthought. But without the extra top handle the C300 really feels like a workhorse camera, much like a 5D Mk2 or 7D.

Don Miller · December 7th, 2011, 08:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Drysdale

There's probably a larger market for XF 305, so keeping the unit costs down and the perceived value is another factor in pricing products.

I wonder if that's true. There's so many cameras in that niche. I really have no feeling for unit sales. But the whole DSLR video thing showed a huge unmet demand. Everyone's a Holllywood director.
I would hate to be the guy who had to forcast C300 sales. I'm surprised that F3 sales haven't been better, or perhaps Sony overestimated demand.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Polster

The video is well done, and 20,000 ISO is an accomplishment but I think it still looks too noisy for much use. The scene of the girl on the bench which starts at ISO 1250 is touching the limit for me at 1250. The rest just look, well noisy with deeper DOF.

I thought it was fine up to ISO 10,000. There's worse noise/grain regularly in some feature films.

Brian Drysdale · December 7th, 2011, 08:41 AM

The XF 300 series is the only 1/3" camera that is accepted as full HD for the major broadcasters, it's a rather different market to the DSLRs.

December 5th, 2011, 03:48 PM	#31
Tim Polster Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 2,231	Re: Nice C300 peice by Jonathan Yi The video is well done, and 20,000 ISO is an accomplishment but I think it still looks too noisy for much use. The scene of the girl on the bench which starts at ISO 1250 is touching the limit for me at 1250. The rest just look, well noisy with deeper DOF.

December 6th, 2011, 09:42 AM	#32
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Re: Nice C300 peice by Jonathan Yi Great interview with Jonathan Yi about the making of this piece (thanks to J. P. A.): JONATHAN YI TALKS ABOUT THE CANON C300 \| The Filmmaker Magazine Blog __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

December 6th, 2011, 10:31 AM	#33
Bob Willis Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 292	Re: Nice C300 peice by Jonathan Yi It is a nice interview from Jonathan. It helped fill in some information on his tests. Now to wait until Canon comes out with a price and to actually get a camera in my hands. The remaining concerns for me would be how well the viewfinder works on this camera. If you don't have to add a viewfinder that would make the camera more cost effective and easier to use for documentaries. The problem is that being use to broadcast cameras with high resolution viewfinders I don't know if it will meet my needs. The other concern is how quickly you can white balance and adjust ISO and Gain since there are no dedicated switches. The other big concern is how to solve focusing manually with these small Canon still lenses. Not nearly as easy as manually focusing on a big broadcast lens. Plus you have to be able to make a few lens changes very quickly. Never did have a perfect solution with the DSLR's.

December 6th, 2011, 11:57 AM	#35
Kawika Ohumukini Regular Crew Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 185	Re: Nice C300 peice by Jonathan Yi Can't please everyone all the time I guess. The review was enough information to consider the camera and more than enough to rent one to try it out. Better than nothing or guessing. Cheers

December 6th, 2011, 01:20 PM	#37
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: Nice C300 peice by Jonathan Yi The rear viewfinder is quite nice and I think very useable. Not quite the same as a broadcast camera where the VF screen is typically 1.5" or 2" across the diagonal, but still useable IMHO never the less. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

December 6th, 2011, 02:11 PM	#38
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,366 Images: 513	Re: Nice C300 peice by Jonathan Yi The rear EVF is the same unit as the XF305/300, if that helps. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

December 6th, 2011, 05:38 PM	#39
Bob Willis Major Player Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 292	Re: Nice C300 peice by Jonathan Yi Thank you both for the feedback. Good to hear that the viewfinder seems very useable. But if it is the same viewfinder from the XF305 then it is listed as a 1/2" viewfinder. Guess I will have to see for myself. The C300 seems to take a lot from the XF 305/300 camera which is not necessarily a bad thing, but at over twice the price we would be paying quite a bit for just the large sensor. And the XF 305 comes with a lens.

December 7th, 2011, 02:19 AM	#40
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,143	Re: Nice C300 peice by Jonathan Yi There's probably a larger market for XF 305, so keeping the unit costs down and the perceived value is another factor in pricing products.

December 7th, 2011, 05:36 AM	#41
Alister Chapman Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Bracknell, Berkshire, UK Posts: 4,957	Re: Nice C300 peice by Jonathan Yi I felt the build quality of the C300 was far superior to the XF305. The quality and feel of the plastics was really good, plus the base and mount is a very solid lump of metal. I was not so happy with the LCD on the handle, this looks like an afterthought. But without the extra top handle the C300 really feels like a workhorse camera, much like a 5D Mk2 or 7D. __________________ Alister Chapman, Film-Maker/Stormchaser http://www.xdcam-user.com/alisters-blog/ My XDCAM site and blog. http://www.hurricane-rig.com

December 7th, 2011, 08:41 AM	#43
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,143	Re: Nice C300 peice by Jonathan Yi The XF 300 series is the only 1/3" camera that is accepted as full HD for the major broadcasters, it's a rather different market to the DSLRs. Last edited by Brian Drysdale; December 7th, 2011 at 10:50 AM.