Canon C400 || The Best Documentary Camera for 2025??

In this video, I get my hands on the highly anticipated Canon C400, a competitive new release set to make waves in the world of filmmaking. I dive into its features, performance, and why I believe this camera is poised to become an industry staple for many filmmakers in the coming years.

I took the Canon C400 out on a real-world shoot to test its capabilities under genuine production conditions, showcasing both its strengths and weaknesses. You'll hear my thoughts on the camera's pros and cons, and how it stacks up against its biggest competitors—like the Sony FX6, Sony Burano, and Red Komodo.

In the second half of the video, I share my thoughts on whether the Canon C400 offers good value from an investment and career standpoint, highlighting the key factors you should consider when buying a new camera—beyond just the specs.

If you’re considering the Canon C400 or just curious about its performance in documentary and cinema-style shooting, this video will give you a comprehensive breakdown from a working filmmaker’s perspective.

Chapters:
0:00 - 1:20 - Intro/Test Footage
1:20 - 3:25 - Background/Gear Used in this video
3:25 - 7:16 - Unboxing - Setup and Run Through
7:17 - 9:18 - What I like about the design
9:18 - 11:00 - Initial thoughts
11:00 - 13:10 - Reviews from other Aus ACS DP's
13:11 - 14:42 - Codecs
14:42 - 16:27 - Auto Focus
16:27 - 20:17 - Comparison to other cameras
20:17 - 25:00 - How should you choose a camera??
25:00 - 27:07 - Final thoughts

#CanonC400 #DocumentaryFilmmaking #FilmmakerReview #CameraReview #Cinematography #CanonCinemaCamera #RedKomodo #SonyFX6 #FilmmakerTips #SonyBurano

[Ryan-Payne]

I'm most impressed that I can't hear the leaf blower at 00:30

[MartinLisius]

Thanks for posting, Caleb. I like hearing your business perspective vs just image quality. I have a Komodo and it’s great. Handles motion like nothing else other than film. But, it is not mainstream or practical like Canon and Sony. So, there’s art and there’s business. Sometimes they overlap

[MODESTYXO]

Would you choose an fx3 or Canon R52 for documentary, work interviews, travel and family vacation

[Shaiquille]

I like the look of canon it’s the system I started on. I currently have a Sony and that’s what’s big in my market so that’s what I’m going to invest in.

[DuffTV]

Thanks for the real down to earth video. Great listening to your thoughts

[pchuck]

I'm actually looking into a used C500M2. For 8k, I can get the camera, cards, extension unit, should mount and extra batteries. A C400 and the 24-105mm RF extra batteries and media would run close to 14k. So I'll wait a year or two when C400 gets popular and Productions ask for it. Unless Canon runs a 0% finance for 24 months. Then it would make sense to get it.

[ScottieVee]

Awesome. I mount my LCD screen on the other side of the 15mm so that the monitor is more over the lens. I like a centered set up if possible. I've had my C400 since October. Love it!

The AF is stunning. Especially with RF glass. Not sure what settings you used?

[moisesjimenez]

It's not just a documentary camera; it's basically a legit cinema camera. Stop putting gear in boxes, my lovely people!

[italogiardina]

Its a massive body if you're a solo documentary traveller and wanting to be discreet when traveling internationally, so I would go for the Panasonic LUMIX BS1H Full Frame.

[baekmedier]

compare the fx6 to the c80 and the c400 to the Burano is more accurate.
Thank you for a really good video with good points.. Komodo X is always better in colors with red R3D than most cameras

[sammorganmoore]

easy to engage crop mode? prerool kept when you exit sq or crop?

[vhauser]

If you're an owner op already in the Canon ecosystem, this is a very obvious upgrade at a stellar price point. Even as a Sony owner, I'm probably going to try and find a project this year to rent it out given the great feedback it's gotten. From a rental standpoint, given the form factor and feature set, it'll be interesting to see if it gets adopted into larger crewed shoots. I've used the Burano for both solo and with mid-sized crews, and for me it's the unsung hero of versatility, working it perfectly for both scenarios. It's completely replaced the FX9/6 for me, and save for the FX3 on a gimbal, I haven't touched another Sony camera in a while. Also, curious to see if this launch will affect Burano rental prices at all. Though I'm still not sold on this converting a lot of Sony & RED owner/ops, especially RED given how expensive and propriety the ecosystem is.

[nickdelatorre]

Hello,
Have you tried uploading a LUT to one of the user profiles?

[JesusPursuit]

not impressed with the image. Cool cam tho, wish it had the Komodo image but they are two different cameras...I get it

[frankfeng]

Sony's advantages are the electronic VND and a bunch of affordable power zoom lenses and third-party lenses.