Hi
I am thinking of upgrading from a canon xf 100 and dive into the world of Cinema Video.
I am a pro consumer. i shoot a lot of video of dogs sheep herding in Scotland.
Do you think the Canon c200 will have too much rolling shutter artifact for that type of shooting? I plan on doing a lot of handheld shooting. Would i be better off with a different camera. what is attractive is the advanced autofocus of the canon for run and gun shooting also considering the sony Alpha.
Also does anyone have an idea when the Canon will actually be available for purchase?
Would a Blackmagic be a better choice as it has a global shutter?

Would a Blackmagic be a better choice as it has a global shutter?

Blackmagic does not have a global shutter. You should stick with what you have, it makes little financial sense to purchase gear of this type when you won't be earning enough to pay it back.

i have to respectively disagree, not everyone produces art for money
I have great satisfaction creating movie's just for me

i have to respectively disagree, not everyone produces art for money. I have great satisfaction creating movie's just for me

That's not what I said at all. There's no reason for you to spend money to create your art for no money.

what i am looking for is a "more cinematic" appearance to my films, I can not achieve this with the lens on my xf100. I have lots of canon L lenses that I could use for the C200, which seems rather inexpensive for what you get. I have out grown the xf100. just looking o see what the next step up would be. I really don't think a decision on what gear you buy should just be related to the amount of money the gear generates.

Now that I have been advised on how to spend my money lets get back to questions regarding gear.

I was under the impression the black magic mini 4.6 URSA did have a global shutter?

Yes, Black magic has camera's with a global shutter but as far as I know BMD has not introduced a global shutter on their newest models, the older ones with a global shutter are this model: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/964119-REG/blackmagic_design_blackmagic_production_camera_4k.html and this one https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1044786-REG/blackmagic_design_cinecamursa4k_pl_ursa_4k_digital_cinema.html
They are difficult camera's to operate and to grade, especially if you are used to shooting with a xf100 and I wouldn't recommend them for your purpose, if you wouldn't like them and plan to sell you probably would find it difficult to get rid of them.

About rolling shutter, if you want a global shutter camera your options are quite limited, you have teh sony f55, canon c700 but those are very expensive and the Aja cion but that one is just like the black magic camera not exactly a run and gun camera. It's difficult to say how the rolling shutter is on the c200 without real world tests but it can't be that bad that it will ruin your shots unless you are covering a tennismatch from the publics point of view :)

If you want "cinematic" then my question would be what your definition of cinematic is?

If you have the budget for a c200 and if you already have a lot of canon lenses then I'd say, why not? Philip Bloom did sum up it up nicely in below video what you can expect, the c200 is a big step up from your xf100 but is one of the better run and gun camera's out there that is production ready right out of the box. It basically is a c100 on steroids but if you don't need 4K then the c100 mark II is also a very good and much cheaper option. https://youtu.be/2h-ylKyjhmY

I was just shooting with xf100 today the biggest short coming is the lack of depth of field.
I really think the key is having interchangeable lenses. It would nice to be able to use primes when I am not shooting action. It seems the c200 is very flexible.It can be used in a studio setting or for run and gun. I also find the xf100 difficult to manual focus

In that case the Super 35mm sensor will give you a much shallower dof then your xf100 ever can, manually focusiing should be easy enough if you use peaking and/or magnified focus (if that is available) but if you use fly by wire lenses that still might be a bit of a challenge. Canon has one of the best autofocussing systems so you could just tap the screen and let the camera do the work but don't expect it to be failsafe, if you can't repeat a shot then manual is often a better choice.

...i shoot a lot of video of dogs sheep herding in Scotland.
Do you think the Canon c200 will have too much rolling shutter artifact for that type of shooting? I plan on doing a lot of handheld shooting. Would i be better off with a different camera.... advanced autofocus... run and gun shooting... also considering the sony Alpha.
Also does anyone have an idea when the Canon will actually be available for purchase?
Would a Blackmagic be a better choice as it has a global shutter?

I support your desire to make the films you want with the tools you want. One of my gigs is teaching in a community organization that encourages and supports people in making personal films and documentaries. Some professionals worry about their business opportunities shrinking as the capabilities of relatively inexpensive gear continues to grow and grow. Not me. I think it's great that more people are making more films! If you've got money to spend on your personal projects more power to you!

I don't know much about Sony Alpha or Blackmagic, having never used them. A viewfinder is very helpful in shooting out of doors - you may not use it all the time, but certainly at least some. For run and gun shooting the ergonomics of the camera become very important. I've shot a few DSLRs, I much prefer handling a camcorder, with hardware buttons and dials for most-used controls. I don't think rolling shutter will be of concern with what you're shooting.

Having been raised on Sony Broadcast gear, I have become a Canon Cinema fanboy! I really like all their Super-35 C-series gear. The glass is great too. The uncorrected/ungraded in-camera color in 8-bit looks great when correctly exposed in standard or Wide DR profiles. Available CLog, when the scene or project calls for it.

In my opinion, autofocus has become a professional tool with Canon's DPAF tech. I'd recommend the C100 series to you, but, DPAF is up another notch with the C200, gaining touch-screen focus point selection and improved tracking. That's a great tool! I've used touch-screen DPAF on Canon DSLRs - the focus point selection and tracking is very helpful.

At least it is improved according to C200 reviews ;-) But, DPAF really is great, and improvements are meaningful.

I don't know how you shoot telephoto of dogs working with sheep without a good tripod and head. Image Stabilization helps up to a point, but won't you need to be shooting telephoto and maybe super-telephoto... a lot? Have you used a shoulder rig, a monopod, a tripod enough to understand what they do?

And, touch-screen really only works well when you have a hand free to use it. (Tripod!)

The C200 ships this month, supposedly. The usual retailers are accepting pre-orders.

However, for all my praises, it is a *lot* of camera! Do you feel you have the skills to put a cinema-style camera through it's paces, getting to the goodness it's capable of? Most people making the jump from a traditional camcorder to a camera like this are going to *really* miss the zoom rocker control! How much do you zoom during shots? There is the new Canon 18-80mm servo zoom lens that goes from reasonably wide to moderate telephoto for under $6,000...

I shoot with a tripod mostly , was thinking of getting a steady cam. I also have used a drone and even occasionally an iPhone 7 plus with an osmo. I realize the c200 is a lot more camera than i need. What i have found in the past is sometimes when you buy a tool that requires more knowledge and skill than you previously had. The device it self will inspire you to reach new levels. I would not buy the camera and let it go to waste. Just the opposite I was thinking in enrolling into some film classes to learn more about the art I can afford teh camera. Will just have to save up for teh battery charger which is not included ;)

i'm not that familiar with the Canon video cams, but the C200 looks like a big upgrade, it doesn't have global shutter but is a Super 35mm with a big feature set. Depending on what lens you have this could be very good for it's intended mission. The C100 Mark II is another choice, it has a 4K sensor but down-converts to 1080P output, 4K isn't everything! eh?

The Black Magic Mini 4.6 URSA does not have a Global Shutter, but I can understand how a person could get confused by that seeing they promised it would have it, at one point prior to its release.

I notice the other BM cams are not getting great reviews though!

Rolling Shutter Jello Effect has been addressed in a lot of new cameras, the bigger the sensor of course the more pronounced the effect may be. But theres also software to correct it these days, and of course stabilisation procedures to reduce it etc. so there are choices. All depends on other factors too - panning speed etc.

I presume you want to upgrade to take advantage in advanced AF technology that has been introduced since the XF 100 has been introduced. As for manual focusing it's something to learn, I've had so many things go wrong on me using AF that I rarely rely on it any more. It's hard to learn but practise makes it easier.

Not having Global Shutter isn't the end of the world.

Is the reach of the Canon XF 100 enough for what you intend shooting, the XF 200 would give you much more reach.

The Sony FS5 has a system where it can double the range of a lens attached, so for instance if you had something like a EF 300mm f/2.8L you could effectively, with an adapter use it as a 600mm lens.

I don't see any problem with someone upgrading, people do it all the time!

Course you might be suffering, like a lot of us do, from GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)

:-)

I don't see any problem with someone upgrading, people do it all the time! Course you might be suffering, like a lot of us do, from GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome)

Exactly. And, in this case, he's not using his gear to make money. One person at least needs to say, "Whoa, slow down, do you really need to spend it?"

Some people can make a fortune betting all they have on red in Vegas, however, it's irresponsible not to at least say they might be making a terrible decision.

Course you might be suffering, like a lot of us do, from GAS


I think most of us, incl me, suffer a bit from GAS but if you still have a xf100 which is a camera that was released in 2011 means you probably hold on to your camera a lot longer then most of us do. That's the opposite of GAS. :)

I realize the c200 is a lot more camera than i need. What i have found in the past is sometimes when you buy a tool that requires more knowledge and skill than you previously had. The device it self will inspire you to reach new levels. I would not buy the camera and let it go to waste. Just the opposite I was thinking in enrolling into some film classes to learn more about the art I can afford the camera.

If you really want to test your knowledge and skill then you need to get a Black Magic camera, I have their "pocket" cinema camera which is also a handful to handle, especially when you shoot raw. But like I said, I don't think black magic camera's are for you. You will find the c100/200 line of camera's are much more forgiving and easier to operate. Personally I'd get a c200 if I already had canon glass, if you use it for a few years and plan to sell it they probably will be waiting in line for it. :)

Geez, Gary. Let the poor guy have a new camera if he wants. The vast majority of all types of cameras in the world are bought, using money, by people who have no intention of making money with them.

I've been a full time professional photographer and video producer my entire adult life, and I've never bought a new camera because it would "make me money" (yet...they all a have). I've bought them because I wanted them, I bought them because I wanted what they offered me, not because some client would pay me. (most of my clients have no interest what I shoot with as long as I give them the quality they are used to from me).

And there are certainly a lot of people out there producing "art" for art itself, and they require the tools they require regardless of the judgment of others who have no idea what they need.

Getting to Richard's questions. The "rolling shutter" on the C200 and C300 II is among the best (fastest) in the business, in general use you won't see any objectionable artifacts from using it. Global shutters are rare, and used mostly for specialty needs (lightning effects for instance) because they typically limit dynamic range (noticeably, at least from what a sensor is capable of with a rolling shutter). It is highly unlikely that you would need or want a global shutter above what the capabilities of the C200 are.

Yes..generally, the C200 will have the potential to give a more cinematic look than your xf100, due to its increased dynamic range, raw capabilities and larger sensor.

Virtually all canon EF and EF-S lenses will work with the DPAF and face detection...some better than others. The newer STM lenses are smoother, quieter and slower...

Other cameras? To me the big questions regarding the C200 would be do you need 4k and specifically 4kp60, do you want to deal with RAW processing (although the 4:2:0 footage I've seen looks good and grades nicely). If you don't need those things you might want to look at a C100mark II, as it will still be a large step up from what you have. Sony, black magic, and now Panasonic make lower cost cinema cameras that will all be excellent choices.

One thing to think about will be that any of these large sensor cameras will be much harder to keep in focus than your xf100. The DPAF on the C200 seems to be the best implementation of that technology yet, but will likely occasionally or often struggle when following an erratically moving sheepdog. You might want to consider renting one first to make sure it will do what you want.

The C200 started shipping in the past couple of days, although there's probably something of a backorder wait for new orders.

So I guess the 8k red digital cinema camera would really be overkill ;)

How steep is the learning curve stepping up to Cine? On my XF100 I mostly shoot completely in manual.

I also have a lot of skill in photography as I come from the era of having my own color enlarger. I have experience editing with final cut pro . Not a lot of experience with color correction although would be willing to learn

Canon's Cinema series provides a *really* nice crossover from traditional video cameras into cinema! We're now into the 3rd or 4th gen of them, and Canon has mostly done very well with improvements over these models.

Color correction and grading isn't too mysterious with some guidance from classes, online resources, or online classes, depending on what best suits your learning style.

But, one of the things true Canon fanboys tend to value is that Canon's color science is really good when shooting the native 8-bit codecs (various AVC/h264/MP4 versions), and with good exposure doesn't need much if any CC.

Just dialing up the Wide DR preset will tame a lot of high-latitude scenes in-camera, and learning the built-in waveform monitor will help lots with choosing between a standard and WDR profile, still not needing much post CC.

But, also, room to grow with CLog, which will also almost always require CC.

If you've shot much DSLR raw and color corrected in Photoshop, Lightroom, or Aperture you may already have a good foundation in CC concepts.

How steep is the learning curve stepping up to Cine? On my XF100 I mostly shoot completely in manual.
I also have a lot of skill in photography as I come from the era of having my own color enlarger. I have experience editing with final cut pro . Not a lot of experience with color correction although would be willing to learn

Hello Richard,
I too have come from photography background. I feel you can make the transition from XF100 to C200 without too many hiccups. There are a few stuff to be kept in mind. That you can find from manuals and online. Let not other people decide what you are worth or whether a camera is too much for you.

These days we keep on buying and selling cameras. One can always sell a camera if there is buyers remorse. I am sure you won't have that issue. The most important thing is after a year or two you should not have regret that you didn't buy the C200 and given it a try. Life is too short to live with regrets. GEt the C200. Go and explore your potential.

Best,
Sabyasachi

Any recommendations of where to buy from?

I Have bought tons of photo equipment in the past form B&H.
Called them to ask about the C200 and spoke with someone in "pro video"
I asked the usual questions such as; when they thought they me be coming in, return policy etc.
I also asked if the unit comes with a battery charger as i have heard that it may not.
The rep said "all canon video cameras come with a charger. I asked to double check for this camera and he said that there was no need to he knows it will come with a charger.
I than asked if a deposit was needed for the wait list and he hung up on me.

I found the rep was arrogant and completely unknowledgeable about the camera.

So just checking if you guys have any recommendation where to buy this camera where the sales people are not &*$%#

is this true?


that they don't include a battery charger??

do they supply a battery?

thats really bad sales!!

I was just shooting with xf100 today the biggest short coming is the lack of depth of field.
I really think the key is having interchangeable lenses. It would nice to be able to use primes when I am not shooting action. It seems the c200 is very flexible.It can be used in a studio setting or for run and gun. I also find the xf100 difficult to manual focus

I think once you have a C200, you'll probably find the biggest difference vis-a-vis the XF100 is dynamic range. The XF with it's small sensor is not very forgiving - you really have to nail exposure or your highlights are blown out, and there's not a lot of room to move in post.

You'll really enjoy the dynamic range afforded by the large sensor, especially if you decide to shoot raw. Beyond that, your shots will resolve a lot more detail, you'll have a whole lot of new opportunities to shoot creatively in low light, and you'll be able to push the image around in post.

If you already have L glass (and money doesn't seem to be an issue) I don't think you have much to lose. I certainly have no regrets ditching my Xf300 for a C300mk2, even for the lousy art I do.

So just checking if you guys have any recommendation where to buy this camera where the sales people are not &*$%#

It was certainly very unprofessional of the salesperson to just hang up on you, especially when there is a potential sale for a c200 but I wouldn't judge the entire company based on the behavior of one person. I would call them back and if they treat you a second time like this then it might be time to shop somewhere else.

Update on B&H

So The department manager called me back today :)
What is great is they have all the conversations recorded!!!!
She told me she had listened to the conversation and apologized profusely on the behalf of B & H.
She also told me that sales rep would have to undergo additional training as they were responding inappropriately. These things happen maybe he was having a bad day.
She personally reached out to Canon and said the unit would come with a charger.
My faith is restored as I have been a customer of B&H since the 80's when I used to buy darkroom equipment from them in the days when people used chemicals , negatives and photographic paper.
I will be placing the order with them although there is a very long waiting list.

I told you not to judge a company one one salesperson only :) My wife used to work at a call center and all of their calls where recorded as well but not all checked so you probably got lucky that they randomly picked the right one but I"m sure if you would have send a mail stating your complaint they would have come back to you regardless.

I think the charger question is a valid one: the "In the Box" section on the B&H website does not list a charger, and at over $500 for the separate accessory, it would be a significant additional cost. Good to know it is indeed included.

If you want it, can afford it, and will enjoy it - get the camera. Go shoot some sheep dogs in 4K Canon RAW and post it here. Sounds like beautiful subject matter, and I for one, would love to see it.

And there are a lot of folks (some of whom, in addition to me, also shoot digital stills and video and post here!) that still have and use large format film cameras, chemicals, enlargers, all of that.

Go for it!!!!! Tell us how you like it.

(I've been happily shooting film since 1944)

And there are a lot of folks (some of whom, in addition to me, also shoot digital stills and video and post here!) that still have and use large format film cameras, chemicals, enlargers, all of that.

Go for it!!!!! Tell us how you like it.

(I've been happily shooting film since 1944)

I have one on order!! You have me beat, I developed my first roll of film in 1976. Don't miss the chemicals and having to wait if you got "the shot"

Just a quick note to say thank you to those folks who brought this thread to my attention.

A few posts have been edited or withdrawn from public view as they were not entirely helpful to this discussion.

I'll ask my contacts at B&H to update their C200 product page to reflect the fact that a battery charger is included with the camera.

glad all this was cleared up... i did see one of the accessories (battery charger) was really spendy!!

Richard... I hope you get really good use from this cam, it seems like a good camera, i'm looking forward to some films from this!!

:-)

R

Well, this went exactly like I predicted :) Also looking forward to hearing Richards thoughts after using the camera. (no unboxing video pls! :)

My C200 arrives today. Put $7,500.00 in unmarked bills in a brown paper bag in that third trash can, next to the bench in the park and I won't post an unboxing video.

A few more questions:
What do you guys think about Canon Raw light?
Do you think this will be a dead end or used in the future in all their Cine cameras?
Ok and another rookie question. I understand the color work flow with raw and plan on using
Da vimici resolve with my raw footage. what about the quality of the MP4 to sd card how usable is this video can it be shot flat so color grading can be applied in post?
what do you guys think of the new panasonic AU-EVA1?
It seems for my use mostly as a run and gun camera the Canon would be a better fit with its autofocus capability?

...what about the quality of the MP4 to sd card how usable is this video can it be shot flat so color grading can be applied in post?...
Yes. See my post above. Canon's 8-bit color is very good. For the 8-bit MP4 sd card recordings you can select Wide DR or a couple versions of Canon Log (CLog) to shoot with flatter profiles.

You do not need to do this to apply color grading in post. You can grade footage shot with a standard profile.

One would select a picture profile appropriate to the dynamic range / latitude of the scene. Almost always, use of CLog will *require* post color correction / grading.

A few more questions:
What do you guys think about Canon Raw light?
Do you think this will be a dead end or used in the future in all their Cine cameras?
Ok and another rookie question. I understand the color work flow with raw and plan on using
Da vimici resolve with my raw footage. what about the quality of the MP4 to sd card how usable is this video can it be shot flat so color grading can be applied in post?
what do you guys think of the new panasonic AU-EVA1?
It seems for my use mostly as a run and gun camera the Canon would be a better fit with its autofocus capability?

Hi Richard...there are some 4k Raw and MP4 clips that have been posted (you'll need to do some searching, I think I saw links over at DVXUSER), and I'd say generally the MP4 footage looks and grades just fine. You'll want to be spot on with your exposure, and not be trying to to "shoot high key and process low key" but otherwise it will probably work fine for the vast majority of things you might shoot. You have the CRL for when the MP4 isn't up to the task.

As for the Panasonic, there really isn't much to be said about it at this point...like many Panasonic announcements from the past...this one is vaporware until it isn't. The specs are fine, but to me it doesn't really offer much, at launch at least, to get excited about.

As I mentioned before, DPAF may be a great thing in your situation, or it may be disappointing in your situation. But DPAF in any situation is better than no DPAF, which is all the DPAF the Panasonic has. :-). If you've ordered a camera, you should have one very soon, and it would be great if you can let us know how it works. From all the footage I've seen, it appears to be a step up from the C300II.

Cinema Raw Light is a major initiative from Canon, in the direction of what RED, in a niche way, did 10 years ago. It's a forward thinking approach to video, and while today the data requirements seem like a lot...3 years from now, you won't even bat an eye. I see it as Canon's way of making RAW in video as commonplace as RAW is in still photography.

I hope that's helpful.

what do you guys think of the new panasonic AU-EVA1?
It seems for my use mostly as a run and gun camera the Canon would be a better fit with its autofocus capability?

The camera has not hit the streets yet, stick to your c200, I"m sure it will serve you just fine.

I actually just received my C200 2 days ago from Texas Media Systems - my go to place for getting 'early adopter' camera gear :). The C200 is mostly very back-ordered all over the country. Right now just the first units are shipping and it probably won't be shipping in quantity for a month or 2.

I have a slew of Sony and Canon gear, I had the original C100 and upgraded it to the C100 dual pixel. Amazing tech. Then Sony started coming out with some advanced 4K cameras. I got the original FS700, then the A7iir and A7rii and FS5, and I shoot all in 4K. The image and autofocus on the Sony A7rii is very good, but it's still an 8-bit 4:2:0 codec, you can get amazing stuff out of it but still in grading you have to be conservative.

The C200 fills a niche by being the first Canon camera with internal RAW recording. The internal MP4 recording is probably pretty good, but similar in gradability to the Sony FS5 and A7iis. It's fine for some purposes, but making it stretch to be a 'cinema grade' camera is difficult. However, the ability to record in RAW as an option in such a convenient form factor is incredible. I also have the BlackMagic 4K Ursa Mini (not the 4.6K which isn't global), I got it for the 'global shutter'. It is a beast of a camera and while the image quality is pretty good, I got it for the global shutter only for some special reasons. However, it's size, weight and other ergonomic issues make it a very specialty purchase for me. I got a demo unit so I paid about $2,100 for it. I wouldn't pay the $3K for it though.

One thing about the C200 is it is fairly large and not super light, when fully configured. You can make it smaller by removing the top handle and LCD flip out unit, but it's substantial. Maybe a bit smaller than the FS7, but certainly bigger than the FS5.

If you do decide to record RAW on the C200, expect to pay a lot for the media. You'll get about 30 minutes out of a 256GB card, which can cost $300-$700 depending on the brand of media. Then you have to offload that footage, and possibly transcode it to footage you can use on your NLE. All things to consider.

The other big factor is the amazing Autofocus with the C200. It is unique in this type of cinema camera. Professional hollywood crews are using the C300mkII for this reason on some rigs like gimbals that are hard to use a follow focus on.The same or better autofocus is in the C200, and the quality is going to be better using RAW lite recording than the C300mkii.

However Richard Kane I applaud your enthusiasm for wanting superlative quality, I think you'll get it with the C200 RAW, but it will be a lot of work. Go for it! I talk about the C200 and other cinematography issues in my podcast TechMove - TechMove is the Podcast all about Cinematography and Gear, Mac Computers, and iOS Devices from a Unique Perspective! -TechMove is the Podcast all about Cinematography and Gear, Mac Computers, and iOS Devices from a Unique Perspective! (http://www.techmovepodcast.com) Check it out.

Newsshooter posted some nice C200 UHD .MP4 in 4k here Canon C200 UHD internal MP4 4:2:0 8-bit example footage on Vimeo

Some converted C200 Cinema RAW Light in 4k here Canon C200 Cinema RAW Light example footage on Vimeo

And Matthew Allard's very comprehensive video review here In-depth Canon C200 Review on Vimeo

I've received the C200 Thursday and so far, it's exactly what I thought I was buying. a few quirks (only 120 FPS slow motion in 1080, I thought you would be able to select frame rates between 61 and 120 fps but not so much, you lose the grip joystick quick access function of the C100/MKII, the fan blows hot air into your ear when shoulder mounted and so far, the fan has not shut off once in two days, but it is Summer and hot here).

.MP4s look surprisingly good as long as you get your exposure and WB right, the 8-bit 4:2:0 issue isn't that big unless your clients require 10-bit 4:2:2. If they do, you have to bolt on an external recorder or shoot Cinema RAW Light. As soon as FCP X and Adobe Premiere CC have it integrated, it will become a lot easier to use.

DPAF is amazingly useful and adjustable. Doesn't replace a focus puller in narrative but for documentary, BTS and event shooters, a Godsend. Touchscreen is a bit awkward though, not a good place to fold it against the body without possibly getting gouged or scratched, I don't see putting this camera in a camera case without removing the touch screen or putting a cover on it.

This camera does more right than it does wrong, no camera is perfect and this one isn't but for how I shoot, it totally works.

Hi Dan,

Do you still have the EVA1 on pre-order or stick with the C200? Seems you're happy with it. Congrats.

Controversial point here, but all the samples I have seen from the C200 have not really impressed me at all. Which is odd as I often have liked Canon's image (if not their prices and holding back features). I can't really pin down what is wrong with the image. Maybe it's that the Canon look has become all to familiar and I find myself gravitating more to the Blackmagic look from their cameras. Maybe it's the grading of the RAW files...

I am looking to get a cinema camera of the C200 price range next year. However each model has its own strengths and weaknesses. Even the EVA-1 is somewhat limited in bitrate. Same as that seen on the GH5, which I accept because it's a 2k priced camera. For almost 4 times the cost, I'd expect more; though perhaps I'm just being greedy. :)

My perfect camera would take the look of the Blackmagic URSA 4.6 model and it's codecs, the Dual ISO of the Panasonic and the AF and RAW of the C200. What a camera that would be.

I've got to admit that I've seen a lot of grades from the C200 that worry me a little, although I've seen enough side by sides with the C300II that show the images are pretty similar (mr Allard's use of WB presets to compare the images in his review notwithstanding)....so I doubt there's anything more going on here than bad grading. I've had a go at a few clips published online, and I've been able to get them looking nice to my eye.

The only inkling I have is that, at least in Geoff Boyle's test on CML, the C200 does seem to lack saturation (something I've heard to be true about the BM 4.6 as well), and so perhaps it's not doing as well with the various LUT these reviewers are using to grade with.

Has anyone bought cine cameras from "professional video" a site sponsor and how was you experience?

Hi Dan,

Do you still have the EVA1 on pre-order or stick with the C200? Seems you're happy with it. Congrats.

Still on pre-order. The C200 is a nice camera but for what I do, the DPAF is almost a must. I end up shooting a lot of long lens interviews with hyperactive subjects (musicians lately, and writing staff for a popular animated series) who have tendency to squirm around a lot, constantly moving closer and farther from the lens. Face tracking takes what used to be a nightmare of riding focus and makes it effortless.I rarely have a 17" or larger production monitor to check focus and it can be very difficult to judge if something is really sharp on a 5" screen, take that up a notch when shooting 4K. I use focus magnify but with some faces and in certain lighting, it can still be tough to judge if an image is tack sharp.

I look forward to seeing the first EVA 1 footage that has been shooting recently in Iceland and possibly a few other places around the world. The proof is in the puddling.

Has anyone tried different cfast memory other than san disk?
I notice Amazon sell other brands much cheaper such as Delkin?

Has anyone bought cine cameras from "professional video" a site sponsor and how was you experience?
As I understand it, site sponsors are not just advertisers - Chris is working with them individually and does some screening.

That apart, Professional Video is a company local to me here in Portland, they are a long-time vendor with a good reputation that I've dealt wth occasionally over a period of decades. If you have concerns or questions don't hesitate to contact them.

These limited releases that Canon does in the first few weeks of a new product can be a little stressful, but, if a site sponsor commits a camera to you, that committment should be good!

Has anyone tried different cfast memory other than san disk?
I notice Amazon sell other brands much cheaper such as Delkin?

Cards have to meet the CFast Collective's VP-130 rating to record Cinema RAW Light

Sandisk Extreme Pro - Only VP-130 card approved and tested by Canon

Lexar 3500 only - the 3600s will not work, the 3500s, if you can find them still, will work but Lexar as a brand, has been shut down so little to no after purchase support

EgoDisk - These cards meet the VP-130 standard and are relatively inexpensive. I have two, so far, so good with the C200 and Cinema RAW Light, but I have barely used them as have others

KomputerBay - Meet the VP-130 standard and are only slightly more expensive than the EgoDisk

AngelBird - Meet the VP-130 standard and more expensive than the EgoDisk or KomputerBay

Transcend - I emailed Transcend USA customer service and tech support. No Transcend cards meet VP-130

Delkin - No Delkin cards meet VP-130

Hopefully the Egodisk cards will prove to be reliable with Cinema RAW Light because nobody wants to pay Sandisks exorbitant prices but if none of the low cost alternatives pan out long term, you won't have a choice if you want to shoot Cinema RAW Light.

The camera has arrived!!!!
So far only had time take a 30 second clip testing it with my 70-200 L canon IS lens
very easy to use :) I can't wait to dive deep!

A few quick questions.

Any case recommendations? I plan to take this the C 200 to Scotland.
Looking for a carry on case doesn't have to be a hard case. Preferably a case where i do not have
to disassemble the handle and screen.

Also looking into buying the t4.4 18-80, anyone with experience with this lens, Anyone use this lens hand held? If using hand hold what type of setup do you use? Grip on lens?

I was surprised how stable the 70-200 was on this camera with IS.

I have a great tripod but to heavy to bring along everywhere I go.

Got the camera from Professional video in Oregon they were amazing!!

Congratulations Richard, you're going to have a lot of fun with the camera. I received mine last week and did my first pro shoot with it yesterday, shooting boat racers on the beach and in the harbor down in Oceanside, Ca. coincidentally, with the CN-E 18-80 T4.4.

As far as a case, before you buy one, I strongly encourage you to take the time to read Slavik B's article on his website. I travel all over the world shooting, went to Scotland, about a decade ago to shoot a documentary for Paramount for the special edition of Braveheart, but since then I have done shoots in South Africa, Morocco, Brazil, etc. many times. Transporting your camera and all of the gear needed to make it work is different than working with your camera at home or locally. Using the method Slavik B lays out here, I reduced my cases from five to three when I travel and the whole amount of gear I bring went down in weight completely by over 100lbs. Read it carefully, especially toward the bottom of the page. The C200 body fits in to the Tom Bihn Brain Bag nicely. Video Production Equipment for Documentary Filmmaking - Gear Dads (http://www.geardads.com/video-production-equipment-documentary-filmmaking/)

The CN-E 18-80 worked great yesterday shooting interviews on the beach. It's a very nice lens. It is not great for low light, you may find yourself cranking your ISO to 2500 to 6400 indoors unless you are lighting, for documentary type shooting, it is a bit slow indoors. The good news is, the C200 image holds pretty well at ISO 2500, even up to 6400, although I prefer to not go above 3200. Make sure you get the ZSG-C10, you'll want and need it. For shoulder-mounted shooting, Eric Coughlin over on DVXUser recommends using dual handgrip extensions, the ZSG-C10 on the right and the Canon Grip on the left, which is a GREAT idea, that's how I will be using it handheld. Then you can use the servo with your right hand, without having to awkwardly place your hand up on the lens, which is tough when handheld.

The C200 and the 18-80 T4.4 are a great combo, made for each other. Perfect verite' setup.

Thanks for the continuing updates Dan.

Quick question: did you shoot raw and if not, have you graded any 8 bit yet?

thanks Dan!

I shot my first Raw yesterday,
Any tutorials around the web on how to use Canons Raw developer?
I inserted the clip and than exported it and it created numerous .DPX files.
isn't the developer program supposed to stitch those together into a single file?
It is only one short clip. Thanks