Canon USA announces the C500 Mark II, which features a full-frame sensor with a resolution of 6062×3432 and a native ISO of 160 to 25600. The Canon Cinema EOS C500 Mark II is scheduled to be available in December 2019 for an estimated retail price of $15,999.00.
The new camera isn’t as much a replacement to the current C500 as it is to the failed C700, Canon’s attempt at making an “Alexa-Esque” cinema camera which came in Super 35 with an upgrade path to a full-frame sensor. Despite all the fanfare that Canon could muster, the camera failed to compete with Alexa, Red, Varicam, Venice or even the Ursa Mini Pro for that matter. The goal of the camera according to a Canon employee was to propel Canon into an Oscar or Emmy winning production. This never happened or hasn’t happened to date. Maybe the cost, $33K, maybe it was the standard “Locking EF”mount instead of a PL mount or lack of Prores or RAW recording. For whatever the reason, the C700 failed to fly so instead of selling it at a discount, we have the C500 Mark II.
Of course the new model out specs its predecessor with its full-frame sensor, but even more importantly it matches or out specs the C700 which costs twice as much.
Here’s a comparison of the C500 Mark II and the C700:
Clean Output?
What you won’t get with the C500 Mark II that the C700 has is external recording assumingly because it records RAW internally. However, if you wanted to use an external digital recorder let’s say for back up or proxy or to take advantage of inexpensive SSDs, it’s unclear if there will be clean signal out.
Goodbye Cfast 2.0
New to Canon is the use of the all-new CFExpress Media which currently sells for $600 bucks for 512GB. These are not available yet, but you can preorder them. It’s not clear whether they will be available at the time the C500 Mark II is scheduled to ship in December. There are two CFExpress slots and one SD Card slot. So if you want this camera and you’re sitting on CFast 2.0 cards, might be time to start unloading them.
Welcome to the Party Pal!
Canon finally enters the race of changeable mounts which other manufacturers have offered now for years. With the C500 Mark II, users are able to change the lens mount themselves without the assistance from a Canon service center. Customers can purchase the EOS C500 Mark II with a standard EF mount and then have the option to purchase either EF-lock or PL mounts.
The good news is if you were wanting to get into a high-end cinema camera, but didn’t want to mortgage your home, you can now do it with the Canon C500 Mark II. The drawback is expensive experimental, nonexistent media and no way to record externally at the present. This, of course, is bad news for the few C700 users who just lost fifty percent of the resale value of their C700. If you want one and you’re good with a second-hand model, you’ll probably be able to pick them up cheap very soon.
Pricing and Availability
The Canon Cinema EOS C500 Mark II is scheduled to be available in December 2019 for an estimated retail price of $15,999.00*. For more information, including accessory prices and availability, please visit, cinemaeos.usa.canon.com.
The Press Release from Canon USA:
Own, Operate, Dominate: EOS C500 Mark II 5.9K Full- Frame Cinema Camera Delivers Versatile, Affordable Solutions New Cinema EOS Camera Features a User-Changeable Mount, Internal Cinema RAW Light Recording and the Newly Developed DIGIC DV 7 Image Processor
MELVILLE, NY, September 5, 2019 – Contrary to popular belief, sometimes a sequel is better than the original. That is the case with the all-new Canon EOS C500 Mark II cinema camera today announced by Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions. With its modular design, competitive price point and new features such as a 5.9K Full Frame CMOS sensor, user-changeable lens mounts, electronic image stabilization, internal cinema RAW light recording and the new DIGIC DV 7 Image Processor, the EOS C500 Mark II represents a bold leap forward for Canon’s Cinema EOS system line. The variety of assembly and lensing options help to make this camera ideal for a broad range of applications, from run-and-gun documentary shooting to live television broadcasts and big-budget films.
“As Canon’s position in the production industry has grown, we have sought to deliver new solutions that can perform at an elite level, while also maintaining competitive pricing to help continue to remove the barriers of great content creation,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “The EOS C500 Mark II encompasses the latest Canon technologies and, when teamed with the recently announced Sumire Prime Cinema Lenses and DP-V3120 4K Reference Display, forms an incredible input-to-output solution.”
The EOS C500 Mark II features a 5.9K full-frame sensor with 60p recording 5.9K and 4K (2K recording at 120p) and 15 stops of dynamic range. In addition, the newly introduced DIGIC DV 7 image processor allows for more fluid and efficient recording of 4K and HDR. Cinema Raw Light, first introduced in the popular EOS C200 cinema camera, helps to cut data size to about one-third to one-fifth of a Cinema RAW file, without losing grading flexibility.
For the first time ever with a Canon camera, users are able to change the lens mount themselves without the assistance from a Canon service center. Customers can purchase the EOS C500 Mark II with a standard EF mount and then have the option to purchase either EF-lock or PL mounts. This feature provides users with the creative freedom to pair the camera with the lenses that will provide the desired look for each project they work on.
In addition to the changeable mounts, the new camera’s body is quite modular. Included are 13 accessories, such as a 4.3-inch LCD monitor and the GR-V1 grip, and users can choose from a wide range of additional accessories that allow them to configure the EOS C500 Mark II to their preferences. Optional accessories include the EVF-V70 electronic viewfinder, SU-15 shoulder support unit and EU-V1 and EU-V2 expansion units. The EU-V1 expansion unit allows for gen-lock, sync out, remote use and ethernet connection, while EU-V2 expansion unit features those functions plus a V-mount battery connection, two analog XLR audio ports and 24v DC Out.
Additional features of the Canon EOS C500 Mark II include:
4K and 2K 4:2:2 10-bit XF-AVC recording and 5.9k oversampling for 4K
2 CFexpress media card slots
Compatibility with EF and PL lenses as well as anamorphic and spherical lenses
Dual Pixel CMOS AF with the ability for Touch and Face detection AF
First Canon cinema camera with 5-axis electronic image stabilization, which can be utilized even without the use of lens with IS functionally
Support for Canon Log 2 and 3 Gamma
4 channel recording that supports 4 XLR inputs with the use of the EU-V2 expansion unit
User LUT allowing users to upload and apply custom LUTs
Pricing and Availability
The Canon Cinema EOS C500 Mark II is scheduled to be available in December 2019 for an estimated retail price of $15,999.00*. For more information, including accessory prices and availability, please visit, cinemaeos.usa.canon.com.
About Canon U.S.A., Inc.
Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $36 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2018† and was named one of Fortune Magazine’s World’s Most Admired Companies in 2019. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company’s RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA.
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† Based on weekly patent counts issued by United States Patent and Trademark Office.
* Specifications, availability and prices are subject to change without notice. Actual prices are set by individual dealers and may vary.
