In the past few years, Canon has been passively waiting while the whole industry shifted and moved, evolving from the good old days of DSLR video shooting to the new mirrorless hype. Meanwhile, the company has swiftly introduced themselves to a completely new niche – the cine cameras.
Thus the C-line was born, and with its latest addition, the EOS C500 Mark II, it is surely going to conquer its fair share in the market in 2020. But while we are speaking of the new cameras, we should not forget the one that is still leading Canon’s sales in the cine department, the Canon EOS C200. Filmmaker Tomas Villegas will give us a tour of his ideal setup of the Canon C200 with all the small useful pieces of gear he uses to get his rig going.
The list is long, and it comprehends a lot of must-have accessories, as well as some gear that may not be strictly necessary, but still useful down the line.
#1 Wooden Camera Push-Button ARRI Rosette (B&H, Amazon)
This particular piece of gear is extremely useful for all cameras that have an ARRI rosette handle. In the C200 case, it’s a lifesaver: the camera is heavy if used continuously handheld.
All in all, if you need to adjust the angle of the handle, you need to unscrew the main lock, set the handle and lock again. In the long run, no one can waste all that time on tweaking a handle, and that’s why this accessory by Wooden Camera is so precious.
#2 Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM Lens (B&H, Amazon)
This lens is a small jewel. It’s a lightweight zoom with a constant f2.8 aperture throughout the whole focal range. It’s also very cheap if compared to similar lenses in Canon’s lineup.
The optical quality of the Canon EF-S 17-55m is excellent, but most of all, it has Canon’s image stabilization. As most cinema cameras, the EOS C200 lacks in-body image stabilization. With a lens like this, you can easily overcome this limitation right off the bat.
#3 SmallRig 2085 Sun Hood (B&H, Amazon)
If you compare the monitor on the C200 to its sibling the C100, it seems like a serious upgrade. It’s detachable, flips out in all directions, but most of all, it allows for many different configurations.
If we have to point out something missing, that’s brightness. The LCD panel that Canon used is quite dim, and a hood like this one by SmallRig will change completely the quality of your work conditions while shooting.
#4 Top Plate, Handle and Adapter Combo
These are actually three separate pieces, but they make much more sense if purchased together. These are the top plate and the top handle by SmallRig plus the cold shoe adapter by ProMediaGear.
Why should you choose something like that on your rig? Well, having a plate on top is actually about choice and possibilities. You can set up your rig in many different configurations in conjunction with even more accessories when compared to using just the standard mounting hole.
The handle, on the other hand, speaks for itself. A simple NATO mount will make it super easy to detach the add-on if needed. In case of a low angle shot, or in simple handheld movements, it will be extremely useful too.
Literally, on top of that, you should consider placing a cold shoe adapter. You may find many different options, but ProMediaGear’s one has been tested and has a lot of positive reviews.
#6 Wooden Camera EVF Bracket Adapter for Canon C200 (B&H)
As we’ve said before, the monitor of the C200 is a little bit dim, but the structure it relies on is pretty handy. It allows it to flip and tilt in almost any direction, hence you should keep it as a monitoring solution. But in order to do so, you should consider the Wooden Camera EVF Bracket Adapter. Just mount it on the top plate and you’re good to go.
#7 Rode SM3-R Camera Shoe Shockmount and XLR cable (B&H, Amazon)
The disadvantage of leaving the manufacturer’s integrated solution is that you then have to replace everything. If you need to grab audio with a shotgun on your gigs, then you’ll need a mount for your mic.
Rode has this nice plate that can accommodate almost any shotgun mic with its nice antishock and vibration system, plus it goes easily on the cold shoe we’ve mentioned earlier. To send the signal from the mic to the camera, you can rely on the XLR cable made by LyxPro. What makes it worth it? Size first of all, then reliability, toughness, price point, and resistance.
#8 PortKeys Claymore Wireless Video System (Amazon)
Staying on the portable side of things, when going out shooting, it’s always useful to have a wireless transmission system for video.
It could be that you need to share the video feed with someone on your crew or it may be that the camera is placed in a hard to reach spot. Whatever may be the case, this piece of gear is a must-have. Last but not least, it accepts both SDI and HDMI, it’s extremely small and portable and runs on a USB input.
#9 RED SIDEWINDER Multi-Tool (B&H)
You probably did not expect an item made by RED on this list, but the Sidewinder is a pocket-sized multi-tool, complete with the full array of driver keys necessary to work on almost any camera. It’s cheap, it’s useful, and any professional working on a set should carry one in his pouch. Highly recommended!
#10 Global Dynamics United Lens Cap (B&H)
As promised, there’s an item on this list that’s completely unnecessary. There is no need whatsoever to have it, but it’s a cool add-on anyway. We’re talking of the Global Dynamics United Lens Cap. It’s just that, a sensor cover like those in plastic that cost less than ten bucks, but in this case, it will set you back around $40.
So, there you have it, a wishlist ready for your Canon C200, or for many other cameras to be honest. Did you find something useful for your setup? Let us know in the comments below.
[source: Tomas Villegas]
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