Cinema EOS System expands

[Chris Dodkin]

Canon has expanded the Cinema EOS System with the official launch of the eagerly awaited EOS C500 4K cinema camera and two Compact Zoom lenses that extend the EF Cinema Lenses line-up.

Canon Professional Network - Canon strengthens the Cinema EOS System

Originally unveiled as a development announcement in April 2012, the EOS C500, the CN-E15.5-47mm T2.8L S/SP and the CN-E30-105mm T2.8L S/SP join the new EOS C100 and groundbreaking EOS C300 in creating Canon’s strongest-ever line-up, offering outstanding quality and performance in a range of different configurations.

Canon’s Cinema EOS System brings together unique expertise from the company’s DSLR, video, broadcast and lens divisions – offering exceptional quality and creative freedom to professionals of all kinds. With the new entry-level EOS C100 and the 4K EOS C500, the system has grown to meet a range of production requirements for users of all levels. Additionally Canon’s new cine zoom lenses provide excellent value and performance in EF and PL variants – offering compatibility with virtually any camera in production today. All new products will be showcased at IBC 2012, marking the first time the complete Cinema EOS System has been displayed in Europe.

 

[Larry Bolch]

Nice—only $30,000US. There are even a few 4K projectors as well—if you have to ask the price, you probably can't afford one. Now you can do movies of the toddler and the cat in astounding resolution.

Death to the visible pixel!

 

[Hamish Gill]

I don't understand what this kit does that makes it so expensive?
(intrigue not cynicism)

 

[Larry Bolch]

Video at 3840×2160—four times the data of HDTV. Capable of capturing and storing four times the information in real-time. Think of them as movie cameras, not camcorders. While lots of TV shows employ them, they are fully capable of shooting big screen theatrical-release productions. Not a whole lot of TV is shot on film anymore, and slowly the movie industry is converting to digital. Even movies shot on film, are edited digitally. I did the virtual set for a cable network science show for young people a couple of years back, and even with the low budget, we were working in 4k. (It was a bit of an adventure since the production staff had no idea what they wanted. We went through many revisions and ended up with the workshop of a rather mad scientist.) Zoomed in to 100%, the image is 4k UHDTV. There are a few other 4k formats as well.

A Virtual Set Created in Shade3D 10.5

Needless to say 4k cameras are not mass market items, so scale of production is quite small necessitating prices well above consumer equipment. By the time one of these gets to the set, fully rigged with lenses and accessories, they can well double in price. The Canon is pretty much entry-level compared to the competition. Just the monitor for editing 4k, can be equal in cost to the camera.

To put it in perspective, this equipment will not be in consumer's hands for a long time—if ever. It is rarely owned by production companies and is nearly always rented. On a major production, the rental cost is relatively pocket-change compared the cost of wages.

In 2010, actor Johnny Depp made $100 million, while Jimmy Cameron who did "Avatar", hauled in $257 million US. $4 million of that was royalties from previous work. Watch as the credits at the end of a film scroll by endlessly. Loads of people getting paid, and they get paid well.

 

[Hamish Gill]

So basically it's because it's 4k...

It still seems expensive ... I spotted some of the prices of the ziess movie lenses the other day. Tht was an eye popping experience too!
I guess to some extent it's like digital MF gear ... No part of it is consumer oriented so there is less of it made so it cost more money...

 

[Pete Askew]

Yep, the 'camera' is the cheap bit! Probably an attractive option for independent cameramen and small production companies who can sell into the 4K arena. Most of them will either be shooting on their own cheaper glass (eg Zeiss CPs, EOS lenses etc) or hiring for the specific job.

 

[Larry Bolch]

So basically it's because it's 4k...

It still seems expensive ... I spotted some of the prices of the ziess movie lenses the other day. Tht was an eye popping experience too!
I guess to some extent it's like digital MF gear ... No part of it is consumer oriented so there is less of it made so it cost more money...

Industrial-level photography and movie making is nowhere similar to enthusiast snapshooting, capturing the toddler's first lurches or the cat's disdain for anything optical.

Considering the value of the talent involved and its ability to put paying arses into seats, the cost of the tools is insignificant. While Jimmy Cameron's take is mind-boggling, it is actually rather minor as a percentage of the take the production scored—in the vicinity of $3 billion US. I would be truly p***ed if I only earned less than 1% after writing, producing and directing such a block-buster, including investing my own money in the production. Everything is relative and while Cameron is not hurting, those who gambled well over two million to make the picture are the ones who go to bed smiling.

The cost of production including the re-release was $246 million. Box office revenue was $2,749,064,328 (Initial theatrical run) and $2,782,275,172 (Re-release). That is a substantial return on investment. Of the initial cost of production, the rental cost of cameras was miniscule. In relation to what the picture earned, the cost of cameras is so small that it is almost too little to calculate.

Notice that all movie lenses are not f/xx but rather t/xx? Each lens serial number is individually calibrated. If a single take costs upwards of $50,000US, the difference between a mathematically calibrated aperture and the actual light transmission of the lens can be very expensive when a re-take is called for. Under or over exposure that we would accept, is not acceptable in the cinema. People moan about the cost of X-Pro1 lenses—$600US per. Movie and TV Fujinons start at $2,000US and range up to $160,000 and Canon makes one that goes for $222,109.95!

Pro Lenses | B&H Photo Video

 

[Elizabeth Smith]

Its really good option for small companies and they can buy this camera easily . Great features attractive any cameraman . Its first mirrorless EOS camera. Cinema companies have good choice for this and they can create many effective scenes with low price.

 

[Pete Askew]

Welcome to RPF Elizabeth. I'm sure you'll enjoy it here. Do you do both stills and video?

 

[Elizabeth Smith]

Digital photography has created a revolution in the field of photography. In olden days, photography was a very restricted profession. However, now these days a photographer who is interested to showcase his talent can go for online display of his or her talent too.

 

[Hamish Gill]

hmm ...
What is your purpose here Elizabeth?

 

[Brian Moore]

hmm ...
What is your purpose here Elizabeth?

I was wondering the same thing.