There’s talk around the interwebs that Canon is looking to develop a C70 Style Cinema Camera with a smaller, mini-like modular form factor.
Designed around the same Super 35 mm sized image sensor, this “C70 Mini” camera could be announced as early as the first half of 2024.
New designs for Canon’s dominant Cinema EOS line have been few and far between for the last few years, with the C70 being one of the most recent offerings designed to cater to those looking to make the transition from DSLR or Mirrorless platforms, to a more cost-effective entry into the world of cinema cameras.
Image Credit: Canon
With a Super 35mm dual gain image sensor, the C70 is capable of capturing 4K video at up to 120 frames per second with image stabilization and a new Nano ultrasonic motor autofocus.
The camera has been a popular choice for content creators wanting to achieve more cinematic results, but even with its compact form factor and high-end cinematic features, the C70 is limited in some applications like mounting to drones or handheld gimbals. This is where a C70 Mini would come in handy.
“I’m so eager for a baby c70 for a perfect match between (the C70 and the R5C)! DGO sensor, C-log2, built-in NDs, 4k 120, and raw are a must in 2024!” – Canon Rumors Forums
With a smaller form factor, a C70 Mini would be more attractive to mobile filmmakers who capture video either through an action camera like the GoPro Hero 12 or the Insta 360 Go, or even their smartphones, and move to a more cinema-based platform for a more professional look and performance.
Many are saying that it could be a fusion of the Canon R5C and the C70, with the addition of an electronic viewfinder, Bluetooth, and USB-C connections.
Users would also welcome in-body image stabilization or IBIS since Sony has added that feature to the new Burano Cinema Camera. “If Canon wants to compete with the likes of the FX3,” says one reader on the Canon Rumor’s forum, “they need to step up their small cine body game.”
Conversely, other creators would prefer Canon go the other direction and develop a C70 with the option of a full-frame image sensor and an EVF, something that the C70 is currently missing. They would also prefer an update to allow the C70 to record to an external SSD.
Another question will be pricing. With a Canon C70 selling for around $5,300, a mini C70 certainly would have to come in at a lower price point, which would also come with fewer features. So that means adding an EVF or pull-out LCD screen may not be practical for the money.
The addition of an EVF or LCD would also run counter to the Mini vibe, and since Canon has yet to make a smaller form factor version of any of their previous camera models, this talk would seem unlikely to be anything but blue sky speculation.
But you never know.
[source: Canon Rumors]
Order Links:
Canon C70 Cinema Camera (B&H)
Canon R5C Mirrorless Camera (B&H)
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