Canon USA drops new teaser (FX30 competitor?)

[Kino]

6 hours ago, Django said:

I'd say 60p video at 16:9 and the 40 fps max stills burst aren’t directly related. The camera drops to 7K 30 fps in 3:2, and stills use a separate pipeline with buffer/processing limits, so max burst is capped by the stills system, not video frame rate.

That said, the difference in DR between FF and S35 mode could also come from the readout: fewer pixels in S35 can reduce noise, though it’s also possible Canon is doing something in the background we don’t fully know. Either way, it’s a clever and welcome addition to the camera!

I was simply agreeing with ND64's statement that the C50 most likely has 12-bit video readout in standard FF 16x9. There is a connection between electronic shutter limitations and video readout speed, although the S35 sensor crop can allow for higher bit depth or higher readout speeds. Moreover, cropping into S35 will not reduce noise. It will have the oppositive effect. The sensor is also not dual gain like the one in the Panasonic S1II and doesn't offer any of those features. The only way you are getting more DR out of a sensor crop is to switch to a higher bit depth (13 or 14 bit). If you compare the C50 with the R5C, which has 12-bit video readout, you see almost identical latitude (4 stops over and 3 stops under) as demonstrated in the CVP review:

I will admit that the C50 has a beautifully sleek design, and may be worth picking up for the open-gate mode alone, but I don't see much in the way of image improvements over the R5C that I already own. I guess it is a camera made for those who don't have an R5C or those who may need another compact body. In that case, however, I would rather go with a camera that has IBIS, high ISO performance for low light, and greater DR in highlights and shadows. These are qualities I miss in the R5C and that have apparently not been addressed in the C50.

[Django]

41 minutes ago, Kino said:

I was simply agreeing with ND64's statement that the C50 most likely has 12-bit video readout in standard FF 16x9. There is a connection between electronic shutter limitations and video readout speed, although the S35 sensor crop can allow for higher bit depth or higher readout speeds. Moreover, cropping into S35 will not reduce noise. It will have the oppositive effect. The sensor is also not dual gain like the one in the Panasonic S1II and doesn't offer any of those features. The only way you are getting more DR out of a sensor crop is to switch to a higher bit depth (13 or 14 bit). If you compare the C50 with the R5C, which has 12-bit video readout, you see almost identical latitude (4 stops over and 3 stops under) as demonstrated in the CVP review:

I will admit that the C50 has a beautifully sleek design, and may be worth picking up for the open-gate mode alone, but I don't see much in the way of image improvements over the R5C that I already own. I guess it is a camera made for those who don't have an R5C or those who may need another compact body. In that case, however, I would rather go with a camera that has IBIS, high ISO performance for low light, and greater DR in highlights and shadows. These are qualities I miss in the R5C and that have apparently not been addressed in the C50.

Fair points, but I think you’re overstating the certainty here. None of us actually know if Canon is switching bit depth between FF and S35 on the C50. Canon hasn’t published that detail, so it’s speculation. What we do know is Canon are claiming higher DR in S35 mode, so whether that comes from pipeline tweaks, bit depth, or something else, the end result is what matters to shooters.

Also, the CVP review actually concludes the opposite of “no improvements”: they specifically say the C50 has better DR, better AF, C-Log2, the XLR top handle, and a range of new photo/video features the R5C doesn’t have.

For me, the 7K open gate, C-Log2, higher dual base ISO range, dual format recording, cine-oriented form factor, and XLR top handle are what seal the deal over the R5C. Neither are perfect cameras, but the C50 checks enough boxes for me to seriously consider it.