Our Kit bag: Canon C70
The Canon C70 is a compact and versatile cinema camera that has a huge amount of features in a robust body, making it a popular choice for video production companies. Here's a breakdown of its key features and why it's so appealing:
Key Features:
Super 35mm DGO Sensor: This sensor offers excellent image quality with a wide dynamic range (16+ stops), capturing impressive detail even in challenging lighting conditions. This is crucial for professional productions needing flexibility in post-production.
RF Mount: This allows the C70 to use Canon's impressive RF lenses, known for their sharpness and image quality. It also maintains compatibility with EF lenses via an adapter, giving filmmakers a huge range of lens choices.
4K/120fps Recording: The C70 can shoot high-quality 4K footage at up to 120 frames per second, enabling smooth slow-motion effects.
Dual Pixel CMOS AF: Canon's renowned autofocus system provides fast and accurate focusing, even with moving subjects. This is a major advantage for documentary or event shooting where focus needs to be maintained reliably.
Compact and Lightweight: The C70 is significantly smaller and lighter than traditional cinema cameras, making it ideal for run-and-gun shooting and situations where portability is key.
Dual SD Card Slots: Allows for simultaneous or relay recording, providing redundancy and flexibility in workflow.
Built-in ND Filters: A convenient feature for controlling exposure in bright light, eliminating the need for external filters.
Professional I/O: The C70 includes essential connections like XLR audio inputs, HDMI output, and timecode for seamless integration into professional workflows.
Why it's good for video production companies:
Image Quality: The combination of the Super 35mm sensor, RF mount, and powerful processor ensures stunning image quality that meets professional standards.
Versatility: Its compact size and variety of recording options make it suitable for a wide range of productions, from documentaries and corporate videos to commercials and independent films.
Ease of Use: The C70's user-friendly interface and touchscreen controls make it easy to operate, even for solo shooters.
Cost-effective: The C70 offers a compelling balance of features and performance at a competitive price point, making it an attractive investment for production companies.
Future-proof: The RF mount ensures compatibility with Canon's latest and future lenses, making the C70 a camera that can grow with a company's needs.
Now for our opinion:
We love using the Canon C70 on our shoots, with the adapter we are able to use a huge variety of EF lens’ that we own. The picture quality is fantastic even in low light situations and we often use a variety of shutter speeds in order to get some amazing slow motion footage. This all helps us smooth out any bumps when filming handheld and captures a stylish elegance to the footage, we have used this whilst filming models on high-end resorts or chefs preparing food in a kitchen.
The body feels sturdy overall but some of the buttons and joystick are quite small, making flicking through the settings a little tricky, the built in touch screen monitor helps and it is easy to mount an additional monitor on top, however the camera does lack a viewfinder.
The camera packs down neatly into a box shape without lens’ and battery attached and is easily transported in cases (We use ThinkTank rolling bags) to be quickly transported, set up time is also very quick and start up is only a couple of seconds. The camera also has a built in fan to stop overheating.
The batteries we use are the large capacity Canon BP-A60’s and 1 will easily last a few hours of on and off use.
The audio controls are excellent with manual dials on the back and the addition of 2 mini XLR ports on the side.
In conclusion, the Canon C70 is a powerful and versatile cinema camera that offers exceptional image quality, professional features, and a compact form factor. Its combination of performance, usability, and affordability makes it an excellent choice for video production companies of all sizes.
