Image: Canon

Canon has announced the EOS C80, a dedicated cinema camera in a mirrorless-style body. It's built around a 26MP full-frame stacked CMOS sensor and uses the RF lens mount. According to Canon, the C80's internals closely resemble the Cinema EOS C400, its newest professional cinema camera, including an almost identical sensor, though it lacks some features found on the C400.

The C80 replaces the EOS C70, a camera that proved very popular with independent video producers and small production houses but which used a smaller Super 35mm sensor and included an EF-to-RF 0.71x optical adapter that essentially worked as a speed booster.

The EOS C80's stacked CMOS sensor can capture video up to 6K resolution and features a triple-base ISO design, with bases at ISO 800, 3200, and 12,800. Dual gain systems work by switching between two different readout paths with different levels of capacitance, giving a tradeoff between a mode that can accommodate a large signal (higher peak dynamic range) and one with less tolerance for light but lower readout noise, better suited to shooting in low light. The implication is that Canon has a third readout option that takes this trade-off further. We've contacted Canon for further technical details and will follow up as we learn more.

Image: Canon

In addition to triple-base ISO, the updated sensor supports the newest version of Canon's dual-pixel autofocus, Dual Pixel AF II. It significantly enlarges the area of the sensor that can be used for autofocus and includes the same AF zones found on the Cinema EOS C400. The new system supports people and animal tracking, and the faster readout speed of the sensor allows the AF system to be quicker and more responsive.

The AF system also introduces a new feature intended to make it easier to rack between subjects. If the AF system is tracking a person, using the manual focus ring on the lens will take over focus control; when the AF system detects that it's close to focusing on a different subject, it will identify and take over focus tracking on that new subject once the focus ring is released.

Other new features include 12G-SDI terminals to allow for output of uncompressed video signals, Canon's multi-function shoe, a new lightweight handle accessory for attaching multi-function accessories, a third 1/4"-20 tripod thread on the base of the camera and another on top, and an ethernet terminal. Connections include full-sized HDMI-out, two mini XLR audio inputs, a 3.5mm microphone jack, 4-channel audio support, and a Time Code terminal. There are 13 custom buttons.

Image: Canon

The camera includes the same ND filter system as the EOS C400, with five settings ranging from ND2 to ND10, and there's a helpful tape measure hook on the top of the camera for planning focus and focus pulls.

The C80 supports three sets of video codecs, notably, the same ones found on the Cinema EOS C400 and the recently announced EOS R1 and EOS R5 II. This common use of codecs across all EOS models, including mirrorless and cinema products, suggests Canon is trying to better align video capabilities across the entire EOS line.

The C80 can capture up to 6K/30p video using the width of its sensor or up to 4K/60p using a Super 35mm crop when using Canon's Cinema RAW LT ('light') codec. It doesn't support Canon's higher bit rate Cinema RAW formats, HQ and ST, which require write speeds beyond the ability of the C80's dual-SD (UHS-II) memory cards.

Image: Canon

The camera also supports compressed codecs, including Canon's XF-AVC, XF-HEVC S, and XF-AVC S codecs, all of which support video capture up to 4K/60p (downsampled from 6K) in 4:2:2 10-bit color, using either All-I or Long-GOP formats. There's also slow motion support for frame rates up to 4K/120p and 2K/180p, with autofocus support up to 120p. The camera includes both C-Log2 and C-Log3 gamma curves and supports proxy files.

In addition to standard video, the EOS C80 provides anamorphic lens support with 2.0x, 1.8x and 1.3x de-squeeze. A new vertical interface is available when shooting vertical video.

The C80 also supports two new batteries: the BP-A30N, which ships with the camera and provides up to 170 minutes of continuous recording, and the BP-A60N, which Canon says will provide up to 335 minutes of continuous recording. According to Canon, the previous non-N versions of these batteries will continue to work without any feature limitations but will provide shorter operating times.

Price and availability

The Canon EOS C80 has a suggested retail price of $5499. It will be available in November 2024.