The Canon EOS C500 Mark II is a professional cinema camera that utilizes the most recent technology from Canon’s EOS R series of mirrorless cameras. This technology is integrated into a modular design that allows the camera to accommodate a wide variety of applications. You may take it apart and put it on a gimbal, or you can build it up and use it to make movies that are good enough for Hollywood.
Because it has a 5.9K full-frame 35mm sensor, it is able to record to memory cards in exceptionally high-quality 12-bit Cinema Raw Light or 4K 10-bit 4:2:2 XF-AVC. Both of these formats are supported. It has an outstanding in-body image stabilization system as well as a Dual Pixel CMOS focusing system. However, the IBIS does not function while recording in Raw, and the fastest frame rate that can be achieved is 120 fps with a significant cut, thus it is not an ideal camera for filming action sports.
If, on the other hand, you are already a generalist professional filmmaker or aspire to become one, the Canon Cinema EOS C500 Mark II provides all that you could possibly require from a modern cinema camera. However, because the body-alone cost is $15,999/£16,999, only the most serious filmmakers or pros should consider purchasing it.
The Canon C500 Mark II employs the same 5.9K full-frame sensor as the Cinema EOS C700FF flagship camera, which sells for around twice as much as the Canon C500 Mark II does, thus some people may consider it to be a good deal for the amount that it’s being asked. Because of this, it is the first full-frame cinema camera that is affordable to independent filmmakers that is capable of recording cinema Raw.
On the other hand, you could consider it to be an extremely pricey camera given that it does not even support 8K recording, unlike Canon’s flagship mirrorless EOS R5 camera, which costs around one-quarter as much as this one does.
In contrast, a compact mirrorless camera will never be able to compete with the Canon Cinema EOS C500 Mark II when it comes to the overall usefulness of the camera in the context of shooting video in the real world. For example, there are no issues with the device overheating.
The Canon EOS C500 Mark II brings together the best features of high-end cinema cameras and mirrorless technology in a modular body that can be stripped down for use with drones or gimbals, dressed up for movies with external monitors and other such accessories, or fitted with accessory backs to allow for full TV broadcasting.
You do not have to permanently attach the essential components, such as ND filters, big battery packs, or an external recording monitor, in order to get the best possible quality. It’s all a part of the package.
