It’s been a while since Canon had a product release that excited filmmakers. Well, I think the just-announced Canon C200 cinema camera will stir up a lot of interest in the filmmaking community. So, here are the things to take note of:

• comes in two versions: C200 and C200B
• The main C200 version includes: a side handgrip (with camera controls), top handle, electronic viewfinder, and a removable 4″ touch screen (allows touch focusing)
• The C200B is a stripped-down version (no viewfinder, top handle, side grip or LCD monitor) that is meant to be used on gimbals and various stabilizers. But you can still build it up to get the same functionality as the main version, except for the EFV (you will have to use a monitor)
• priced competitively to the BlackMagic URSA Mini 4.6K, that is C200 (no lens) for $7499 and C200B (also, no lens) for $5,999 (i.e. the same as the URSA Mink 4.6K Pro)
• 15-stop Super 35mm CMOS Sensor
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF Technology
• records to SD (two slots) and/or CFast 2.0 (one slot)
• on CFast 2.0, it records in Canon’s Cinema RAW Lite: 20%-33% smaller file sizes than RAW
• in Cinema RAW Lite: DCI 4K (4096 x 2160) 60 fps with 10bit color; or DCI 4K 30 fps with 12bit color
• can automatically create 2K proxies (on SD cards) when filming 4K in RAW Lite (on CFast)
• when recording to SD cards, it uses MP4; XF-AVC will be supported in the future
• in MP4: 4K UHD up to 60fps; Full HD up to 120 fps; 8-bit, 4:2:0 color sampling
• also records in 24 fps and 25 fps
• in Cinema RAW Lite, 15 stops of dynamic range – need to use Canon’s Cinema RAW Development software to generate C-Log 2
• Wide DR Gamma, C-Log and C-Log 3 (13 stops of dynamic range) also supported
• ISO range of 160 to 25,600; expanded: 100 to 102,400
• built-in ND filter: 2, 4, 6 stops; also stacks to create 8 and 10 stops
• comes only in EF mount

So, certainly based on specs and the performance of Canon’s other cinema cameras, the C200 appears to be a great camera. Of course, the issue with the C-line cameras has been their cost – they have offered less value than competition. So, it’s great to see that Canon has decided to price the C200 close to the BlackMagic URSA Mini 4.6K.

Thank you for creating competition, BlackMagic! Without the URSA Mini, I don’t think we would have seen Canon price their 4K cinema camera at this level.

Here is Tom’s video comparing the Canon C200 to the URSA Mini 4.6K

Also, here is Tom’s review of the URSA Mini 4.6K.

If you are already excited enough about the C200, you can pre-order it here:

Canon EOS C200 EF Cinema Camera on BH Photo, Adorama, Henry’s