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Highlights of the EOS C500/C500 PL

The Canon Digital Cinema Camera EOS C500/C500 PL has been designed with the discerning professional in 
mind. It is truly a cinematographer’s camera. The following are just some of the many features that will help turn 
your creative vision into reality.

4K Recording System with Cinema Quality 

Advanced 4K-compatible Super 35mm CMOS 
sensor 

The camera is equipped with a Super 35mm CMOS 
sensor that captures video at an effective pixel count 
of 8.85 megapixels (4096x2160) and offers a center 
resolution of 1,800 TV lines

1

. Furthermore, thanks to 

Canon’s high-sensitivity and low-noise technology, 
the camera can record at an ISO level of 20,000

2

 - a 

level of sensitivity that must be seen to be believed!

1

Varies depending on the lens used. 

2

You can extend the ISO level to 80,000.

Interchangeable lenses

Enjoy the freedom of using interchangeable lenses 
to achieve exactly the look you want. The EOS C500 
features an EF lens mount allowing you to use over 
60 high-quality lenses from the Canon Cine Lens 
series and EF Lens series. The EOS C500 PL 
features a PL lens mount, allowing you to use a vast 
array of cinematography lenses compatible with a 
Canon PL lens mount and other lenses commonly 
used in motion picture production.

4K, 2K and MXF modes

In 4K and 2K modes, the camera outputs image 
data for recording with an external recorder. In 4K 
mode, the camera outputs Canon RAW image data, 
which is free of compression noise. In 2K mode, the 
camera outputs up to an RGB 4:4:4 12-bit signal. In 
MXF mode, the camera records HD audio and video 
to CompactFlash (CF) cards. HD recordings are 
saved as Material eXchange Format (MXF) files and 
are compatible with major non-linear editing (NLE) 
software. For example, you can use these MXF files 
as proxy video for your NLE software. Furthermore, 
even in 4K and 2K modes, the camera can record 
MXF files on a CF card.

Multitude of recording options

The camera offers you numerous options when it 
comes to the video configuration of your recordings. 
When recording in 4K or 2K mode, you can select 
the recording mode (RAW, HRAW, 4K1K RAW, RGB 
4:4:4 12-bit, RGB 4:4:4 10-bit or YCC 4:2:2 10-bit), 
system frequency (59.94 Hz, 50.00 Hz, 24.00 Hz), 
resolution (various settings from 1920x1080 to 
4096x2160) and frame rate (various settings from 
23.98P up to 59.94P). This allows you to select a 
video configuration to suit your needs from a total of 

46 different combinations. When recording in MXF 
mode, you can select the system frequency, bit rate, 
resolution and frame rate of your recordings. These 
options allow you to choose from a total of 27 
different combinations.

Recording media

Because there are two CF card slots, when one CF 
card slot becomes full, the recording will 
automatically continue on the other one without 
interruption when you use relay recording (

A

46). In 

addition, using double slot recording (

A

46) lets 

you record the same clip simultaneously to both CF 
cards.

3G-SDI and MON. terminals 

The camera features dual 3G-SDI terminals (

A

41) 

that can output 4K or 2K image data to an external 
recorder. The dual MON. terminals (

A

41) are 

HD-SDI terminals that can output YCC 4:2:2 10-bit 
2K or full HD video, allowing external live monitoring 
during shoots. You can even apply a LUT and use it 
for on-set color grading (

A

22). Of course, both 

sets of terminals also output audio, SMPTE time 
code (LTC) and user bit signals. In addition, you can 
output the signal from the 3G-SDI terminal with an 
extended color space (

A

 142).

Canon Log gamma for spectacular dynamic range

The Canon Log gamma (

A

58) makes full use of 

the sensor to give your recordings amazing dynamic 
range. In 4K and 2K modes, the camera will always 
use Canon Log gamma. In MXF mode, you may 
want to use CINEMA preset (

A

58) to set the 

camera easily and quickly for shooting with Canon 
Log gamma.

Operability and Adaptability

Freely customizable compact design

The modular components, including the supplied 
handle unit and monitor unit will let you expand and 
adapt the configuration to match your shooting 
conditions (

A

32). The articulated monitor unit can 

be rotated 270° for maximum convenience. The 
10.1-cm (4-in.) LCD screen with 100% coverage 
ensures that you can compose your shots with 
ease.

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