Hi Carl here from ProAV TV, now the Canon C100 MK II isn’t the newest camera on the
market, with the MK II being released in 2014 and the original C100 being released in 2012.
But even by 2018’s standards, we believe its still relevant. So here are 5 reasons
that the C100 MK II is still relevant.
1. Image Quality
So first up, is possibly the most important aspect of any camera. Image quality. The image
from the C100 MK II is great. Its super 35mm sensor delivers great full HD images, even
in its 8bit 4:2:0 AVCHD internal codec. Now if this is isn’t high enough quality for
you, then the camera offers uncompressed video via the HDMI port, allowing you to pair the
camera with an external recorder, and effectively making it broadcast quality. You also get
C-Log, wide DR and standard gamma profiles to choose from. There’s no 4K here, but
you do get very sharp and practical 1080p which is more than good enough for most work.
2 Professional Audio Controls
Unlike DSLRS and mirrorless cameras the C100 MK II has XLR inputs built into the camera.
The two XLR inputs are built into the cameras top handle, along with the easy to use audio
controls. There is also a hot shoe and microphone cradle, on the top handle, allowing you to
easily attach microphones for an interview or a run and gun style setup. The built in
microphone on the top handle isn’t too bad either, its great for scratch audio but also
it can save you in a pinch if your sound equipment fails.
3 Ergonomics
Canons C line of cameras have always been brilliantly designed, the design and build
quality has of course improved with their newer cameras, but it all is an evolution
of the design of the C100. In fact I often hear customers reference the C100 as the camera
they have enjoyed shooting with the most. Theres something about the size and design
of this camera that just really works. The side handle is very useful, with a joystick
for access to settings, a record button and an assignable button, it gives you much more
control over the camera when using it handheld. The top handle means you can grab whenever
you need easily. The EVF is adjustable and means you can see your image when its too
bright outside to see the LCD screen, and that LCD screen is easily adjustable to allow
you to view it from any angle.
4 Built in ND & Exposure tools
Now lots of cameras have built in ND’s, but is such a useful thing to have. When shooting
outside on a bright day, being able to quickly drop in an ND filter to control your exposure
and keep some shallow depth of field is so useful. Yes you can use ND filters that screw
onto the front of your lens, but they just aren’t as convenient as having them built
in.
You also get a whole host of exposure tools, waveform, peaking, zebras etc. Now these are
quite common in many newer cameras, but are still incredibly useful features. Being able
to easily toggle each of them on and off through one of the buttons on the side is extremely
useful, and lets you quickly check your focus or exposure. The tool i’m definitely most
pleased to have here is the Waveform. Most lower end cameras don’t include a waveform
and in my opinion its by far the best way to judge exposure. For me, waveforms are an
invaluable feature for a video camera.
5 Price
And of course, the last big reason people might still be interested in a C100 in 2018
is the price. At just over two and a half thousand ex VAT, the C100 is one of the cheapest
large sensor video cameras we sell. At this price point, most people would be looking
at a mirrorless camera, or a camcorder. Really the only other large cameras which are designed
for video use like this in the price bracket are the JVC LS300 and Blackmagic Ursa mini
4k, so the one with the older sensor design.
So there we have it. If you dont need 4K, and want a solid workhorse video camera, the
Canon C100 mkII could still be a really sensible choice. Thanks for watching, and I’ll see
you in the next one.