Canon C500 Mark II - Test Footage & Hands-on

The C500 Mark II is the latest Cinema EOS camera from Canon and looks to be positioning itself as a very versatile and capable camera! It has a full-frame 6K sensor, internal Cinema RAW Light recording up to 6K60p, XF-AVC 4K 4:2:2, image stabilisation, a new modular system and so much more. Let us know what you think of the new camera and the footage in the comments below. Pre-order links below!

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[theseventh]

I watched RED Gemini 5K footages just after watching this piece (which looks like it was actually shot on a EOS R-video-ish-like sensor) . I want to believe that the C500II is THE GAME but there’s just something special about RED footages. Hopefully future tests will prove that Canon has done a miracle with this one. The main reasons for me to buy the C500II over RED are :
- the autofocus (I own mostly Canon EF lenses)
- the reliabilty (some RED cameras are known to shut off in the middle of a shoot)
- ergonomics (+ XLRs, IBIS, ND filters and Battery life)
- Canon color science (tho RED is on point too)
- and of course the price.

The thing is...I would love to buy the C500ll because of its image quality, not because it is cheaper...Can’t wait to see some test footages of the IBIS, Slowmo and Low light capabilities. Next time, how about some downloadable 5.9K C-Log RAW samples please guys ? Thank you for that first test 💯💪

[carlosq]

I'm impressed at how much you were able to get done with your setups in that amount of time. I don't believe I could have moved that fast shooting on my RED.

[danielbrockett]

CVP, in your opinion, is this test footage any different than what you would have captured with the C200 Cinema RAW Light?

[definitionxmk]

Couldn't decide between this or the FX9... so I just bought both lol. Hopefully the rental market does well for me. I really wanted to just stick with the C500mk2 but after seeing the footage out of the FX9, I was blown away. Not saying the C500mk2 is a slouch, I'm just saying that I was super impressed with the FX9.

[elitefamilyparkour]

Looking forward to see this camera in the hands of talented filmmakers to see its full potential, specs look promissing.

[steve_seguin]

I'm pretty fascinated by the world of Canon C500/C200 users. I'm trying to understand it all better.

I work for a small tech company that creates software for amateur live streamers; Facebook, Youtube, etc. While you can go pretty far with our iPhone app version these days, many still prefer to use the desktop software version with just a webcam -- Logitech C920 is pretty classic there. For me though, I feel pretty advanced using HDMI capture from a mirrorless camera -- 1080p video is enough to saturate the upload bandwidth of most users. Considering the live nature of this type of content, post processing and LOG profiles offer very little benefit. While I can implement real-time color correction, it comes off as just experimental. After Youtube/Facebook gets ahold of the video, adding compression, the shadows and highlight details I thought I captured are largely lost. I picked up a GH5s, for its low light performance and affordable lens options, and I use that for my live streaming videos -- the small sensor and decent low light lets me get up pretty close to a subject, while still managing to keep multiple talking heads in focus. Line-in audio works too, and it has timecode sync if needed, but usually those features are not needed.

Where I generally struggle with, lets say MFT cameras, is autofocus. Cinematic cameras, like the Pocket 4K, don't even have auto focus really though, so it doesn't seem to matter always. People who are trying to do live streaming generally want to keep things simple; fewer people and less setup the better I'd say. Often, like myself, I do it all alone. Perhaps using a phone-based app to make adjusts in real-time via the live view MJPG stream. There are still some mirrorless cameras for under $1000 that offer phase-detect autofocus and HDMI out; they also have IBIS and weigh just a pound or two. The justification need to jump up to something like a C500 blows my mind. If you really do have an eye and a professional need for the very best image quality, I get it, but doesn't all that weight and rigging wear the camera operator down? Another justification I heard is that appearances matter; when doing a video shoot, looking expensive and impressive is more important than just getting the job done. I've seen iPhone footage pop up in music videos because the camera operator just needed to take a break from lifting the heavier beast, and no one would have known if he didn't point it out.

Regarding cinematic look, I get that too I guess, but it does seem like you can do a lot in software these days to get that cinematic look without expensive gear. You might not be able to shoot a cinematic blockbuster with an iPhone, but how long will it be before you can? Anyways, this ramble was me just explaining how naive I feel; does a live video stream for example, even if for commericial purposes, need something like a C500? Or will a $500 DSLR do?

[ClaireMcHardy]

A bit worried about the green box in that colour chart.

[diminishedreturn]

I love when people look at a few fast clips from a camera, shot on an overcast day with a Rec. 709 LUT and then feel it doesn't look "cinematic".... Maybe 'YouTube University—film major' isn't all it's cracked up to be, after all?

[tomistenqvist]

Wow those skin colors are truly next level.

[misterdeity]

We are truly at the point of diminishing returns. It reminds me of Adobe publishing software ten or fifteen years ago. The new features were no longer enough to warrant the upgrade (which is probably why they switched to a subscription model). I don’t see anything in this image that would get me to sell my five year old FS7 with my PL speedbooster, ProRes RAW, and CP2s. Same with the FX9. But I did add a Pocket 4K and will probably buy a Pocket 6K too. And almost no one will be able to tell the difference between that image and an image made by a camera costing 10, 20, 30 times more. Other than the pixel peeping camera nerds (of which I count myself).

[angryrabbitproductions]

It might be too early to make this call, but from the little footage I have seen to date, it appears that with the release of the new Sony FX9, Canon are now playing second fiddle to Sony in the color science department. The new FX9's S-Cinetone profile yields better skin-tones, and overall more pleasing colors.

[PraveshVyas]

Wish to see a comparison video with RED Dragon X 6K
Searched everywhere but haven’t found any specific. I’m sure you can help.

[PatMcGowansChannel]

Good introductory video! Everything looks positive except the noise in higher ISO ranges. That’s unfortunate. Having owned C300s, C500s and C300 MKii cams I’ll probably dive in just because I love the colour science and form factor of Canon C series cams.

[AR_FILMS]

prodotto molto valido, anche se la polita prezzi di canon non è molto comprensibile, ma questa camera finalmente fa tornare Canon a livelli alti, mandamene una la voglio provare.

[ianzhao]

How do you compare the C500 mk ii vs Red Komodo in terms of image quality? Thanks

[CoolhandLukeSkywalkr]

Cheapest, smallest of all the quality large format sensor cinema cameras. But I am waiting for Canon to release the 8k RF cinema cameras. If the first RF cinema camera is announced soon, sales for this model will be hobbled, even if their first RF model is only Super 35, it won't matter. We want the smaller from factor with the RF system.

[CoolhandLukeSkywalkr]

I thought the Atlas anamorphic lens was meant for Super 35 sensor and you need a add-on lens to make it compatible with large format sensors. Is the sensor much smaller than Arri large format sensor? I'm confused.

[williammcgough]

Given the larger sensor+higher resolution, not surprised to hear that the battery life is less than the C200/300 in the 6K FF mode you were using. However, I would be curious to see how the battery life stacks up in the S35 crop mode, i.e. C200 CRM DCI4K vs C500 ii CRM DCI4K runtimes.

[edshotsdotcodotuk]

what's up with that green square in the ISO tests? I've not noticed that difference in noise in any other camera test before. is it normal? thought blue was the noisiest colour channel. does this rule the camera out when using it for green screen? not like I'm ever going to be able to afford it but that amount of dancing noise was quite incredible.

[CaseyPreston]

I see the 50mm Sumire has the same CA as Canon's other 50mm. I'm assuming all of the footage is in CRL for this video? I would be interested in seeing if the C500 II can compensate for the CA and high iso noise when shooting XF-AVC.