The Canon EOS C100 Mark II was recently announced with a rather modest, yet still effective, set of feature upgrades. Notably missing from the feature set was the ability to record 4K video. The second generation of the C300 line, however, is rumored to make the move to 4K capture.
Canon has been painfully slow to adopt 4K video capture in all but its high-end cameras. Meanwhile, Sony and Panasonic have been deliver 4K cameras in droves at affordable prices, including the latest pocket camera, the LX100 from Panasonic, that delivers 4K for $899.
Of course, the EOS C300 is a mid-range professional cinema camera with a price currently floating around $12k but still doesn’t offer 4K video capture. Sony recently released the FS7, which has acquired the reputation thus far as a C300 killer, given the FS7’s $8k price and on-board 4K video capture and slow motion HD capture at 180fps. At a 50% premium over the FS7, the Canon C300 just doesn’t deliver a compelling reason to purchase it.
What is clear now is that Sony is aggressively attacking both pro and consumer video and photo markets. Will Canon respond with equipment that matches or exceeds what its competition is delivering? The C300 Mark II will likely be the next indication of Canon’s position in the market going forward.
According the Canon Rumors, the C300 Mark II will feature 4K and a “bunch of other improvements.” We should know early next year in the lead up to NAB 2015 whether those “other improvements” will put Canon ahead of the curve in the cinema camera market.
