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Canon EOS C50: two-minute review
Throughout its four years on the market Sony’s FX3 has sat largely unchallenged in the compact cinema camera space, but that’s changed with the arrival of the new Canon EOS C50.
For the money, you’ll struggle to find a more complete cinema camera than the EOS C50. It boasts 7K open gate internal Raw video recording (and simultaneous proxy recording), dual base ISO for clean clips day or night, Super 35 and Super 16 crop modes, Canon Log color profiles with more than 15EV dynamic range, slow-motion recording, reliable autofocus… the list goes on, and I haven’t even touched on the camera’s photo capabilities or its video-first design.
For photographers, the 32MP full-frame sensor can shoot in RAW+JPEG with subject-tracking autofocus at burst speeds up to 40fps, with the option for pre-burst capture – not bad for a cinema camera. Handily, the EOS C50 features a dual menu system, making it quicker to navigate the menus than if photography and video were combined under a single menu.
The EOS C50 sits closest to the Canon EOS R5C, a version of the EOS R5 with active cooling for unlimited 8K record times where the latter overheated, but which still had a photo-centric design; in fact it’s perhaps a little too close for that camera’s comfort, because I see the new model easily being the more compelling choice of the two.
After all, it’s very much designed for video, packing four 1/4-inch mounting points for accessories, three record buttons, and coming bundled with a top handle which features XLR inputs for pro-level 4-channel 24-bit audio recording.
It’s also Canon’s smallest and lightest cinema camera, weighing just 23.6oz / 670g. That means it sits below the bulkier EOS C70, in terms of price too, yet in many ways exceeds the capabilities of that camera, as it does those of the Sony FX3, all in a smaller and lighter package.
It also helps that Canon is busy releasing new hybrid lenses, meaning ones design for both photography and video users. In fact, it launched the RF 85mm F1.4L VCM on the same day as the EOS C50 (they’re pictured together above) – it’s the seventh in a range of VCM lenses with aperture ring, suppressed focus breathing and a quick and silent autofocus motor.
Canon is increasingly stepping into the low-budget video production space currently dominated by Sony, creating a complete system for run-and-gun filmmakers, and the EOS C50 is for me the most compelling camera in the range.
I’ll be looking to get hold of the EOS C50 for a longer testing period to really see what it’s made of. But, having used the FX3 for numerous video shoots down the years, I can already see the C50’s potential – and it could well become the premium pick in our best video cameras guide.
Canon EOS C50: price and release date
- Costs £3,299.99 (US and Australia pricing TBC)
- It comes with the (pictured) top handle
- Goes on sale in November
The Canon EOS C50’s list price is effectively the same as the EOS R5C’s – which means it undercuts the rival Sony FX3 and sits below the larger EOS C70.
The hop handle accessory (see below) is included – that type of accessory would typically cost around $500 / £400 / AU$750 separately. It also comes with an LP6P battery, which is interchangeable with the LP6 type used by the EOS R5 series of cameras.
We don’t have an exact launch date yet, but Canon says it will go on sale at some point during of November this year.
Canon EOS C50: specs
|
Video |
7K up to 60fps, Raw internal |
|
Photo |
32MP full-frame |
|
Lens mount |
Canon RF |
|
Autofocus |
Dual Pixel CMOS AF II |
|
Dimensions |
142 x 88 x 95mm |
|
Weight |
23.6oz / 670g |
|
Battery |
LP6P |
Canon EOS C50: Design
- The smallest and lightest EOS cinema camera
- Comes with a top handle, no viewfinder
- 14 assignable custom buttons
- 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen
In terms of size and weight, the EOS C50 is similar to the EOS R5C; it’s just 10g lighter at 670g. Unlike the EOS R5C, however, the EOS C50 is a proper cinema camera – that means it loses out on a viewfinder, but gains a mod-friendly design.
There are four 1/4-inch mounting points to rig the camera up or attach accessories, including Canon’s top handle, which is bundled with the camera.
The top handle is useful for run-and-gun filmmaking, and especially for shooting comfortably from low angles – and for such scenarios it certainly helps that the LCD touchscreen is fully articulating and can flip out from the body.
Personally, I’d prefer the touchscreen to be a little larger. The modest 3-inch display will prompt many users to attach an external monitor for clear viewing instead, such as a 5-inch Atomos Ninja, and it feels a little counter-intuitive to bulk out such a compact design with accessories too much.
A 4-inch display, like you get with some Blackmagic cameras – and the Blackmagic Cinema Camera 6K has a 5-inch LCD – would avoid the need for an external monitor.
The EOS C50’s body is adorned with 14 custom buttons, which combined can be assigned any one of 100 functions for quick access to regularly used settings.
You’ll also notice a photo / video switch on the camera’s top, and I’m a big fan of the dual menu system linked to this switch – you select photo for the photo-centered UI, or video for the video menu, which streamlines the process of making changes to settings.
You’ll also notice from the top view of the camera that the active cooling design of the EOS C50 is a little bulky – the vented section where the LCD sits protrudes from the camera’s rear. It’s hardly attractive, but it does enable extended video record times without the risk of overheating.
There’s also pro-level connectivity for video, including timecode terminal and full-size HDMI, plus features such as XC support and IP protocol for livestreaming capabilities.
The EOS C50 is powered by an LP6P battery that’s interchangeable with the LP6 units used by all EOS R5 cameras. At the time of writing, Canon hasn’t provided me with expected shoot times from a fully charged battery.
Canon EOS C50: Performance
- 32MP stills at up to 40fps (using electronic shutter)
- Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with subject-detection autofocus
- 4K (oversampled from 7K) up to 120fps, 2K up to 180fps
I’ll touch on the EOS C50’s photo features before digging into video-making skills; after all, this is a capable camera for photography, even if it is designed for video first.
The first thing to note is the new 32MP full-frame sensor, which is the regular CMOS kind, not the speedier stacked type we’ve seen in recent pro models, such as Canon’s own EOS R5 Mark II.
Another thing about the sensor – it isn’t stabilized, which impacts the photography and video experience. You’ll need to be conservative with shutter speeds for sharp photos, while you’ll want a gimbal for smooth handheld video footage.
It’s possible to shoot 32MP stills in RAW, JPEG and HEIF format at up to 40fps with the electronic shutter, with the option for pre-burst shooting, meaning the camera can get going from a half-press of the shutter before fully pressing it down to take pictures.
Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus is on board, complete with subject-tracking autofocus for both photo and video. I rate Canon’s autofocus as up there with the very best, and the same is true for the EOS C50.
As for video, there are too many features to list here, but the highlights are 7K Raw (internal) video recording, with up to 15EV dynamic range using Canon’s Log-2 color profile. It’s possible to shoot up to 60fps in 7K, or 4K up to 120fps and 2K up to 180fps.
There are a couple of crop modes too: Super 35 (APS-C) up to 5K 60fps, or Super 16 at 2.5K up to 150fps, both in RAW.
The EOS C50 is the first Canon camera with open gate video – which means you’re shooting with the full height and width of the 3:2 aspect sensor, rather than being limited to the traditional 16:9 video crop.
When shooting in RAW format, the cleanest image quality can be achieved with the dual base ISO settings: 800 or 6400, covering daylight and lowlight scenarios, through which you’ll get that maximum dynamic range and best grading potential.
Overall, it’s a really impressive feature set for a cinema camera at this price point.
Canon EOS C50: also consider
How I tested the Canon EOS C50
- I only had two hours with the EOS C50
- I paired it with multiple Canon lenses, including the 85mm F1.4L VCM
- I shot video portraits and landscapes outdoors on a cloudy day
This hands-on review is purely my first impressions of the EOS C50, which I only got to use for a couple of hours. I got a feel for how the camera handles during this time, and a glimpse of how it performs in short bursts for video recording and photography.
I paired the EOS C50 with a couple of Canon VCM hybrid lenses, and used it handheld with and without the top handle, but not a cage.
I’ve shot a few clips at various resolutions, but not in enough scenarios to draw any definitive conclusions regarding image quality.
I’m able to bring plenty of experience to this short hands-on, having used the Sony FX3 for multiple shoots, and having also shot with the Canon EOS C70. Being so familiar with portable cinema cameras means I can quickly form opinions about the EOS C50. That said, these are tools that users need to rely on, and so you’ll want to wait for our full long-term review that.
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