The jargon of “the XXX killer” and its variants has turn into synonymous with the clickbait titles and critiques of our time (historically on all caps with few exclamation marks on prime). It encapsulates the over-dramatization of delicate upgrades and the false sense of obsolescence – as in case your older digital camera will abruptly cease delivering the identical nice footage as soon as a more recent mannequin is introduced. However in the event you’ve seen Canon’s teaser from final week, you in all probability bought this very message – ‘We’re coming for the FX3’. Now that the digital camera has formally been introduced, we will see that Canon wasn’t solely going for the FX3, however for your complete line of compact FX cameras, making a compact beast of its personal.
The brand new Canon EOS C50 appears to mix some EOS C80 capabilities with the EOS R50 V design language. A more in-depth take a look at each design and options will present that in lots of circumstances, the brand new EOS C50 has upped its sport, surpassing each its stablemates. You possibly can learn or view our preliminary evaluation to dive into the nitty-gritty, however the headline options alone level to a really succesful digital camera throughout:
- 12-bit Cinema RAW recording at as much as 7K 60P
- 7K Open Gate 3:2 recording
- 120P on 4K, 180P on 2K
- Twin base ISO at 800/6400
- 15+ stops of dynamic vary (Canon’s numbers)
- Numerous recording codecs, together with XF-AVC S, XF-HEVC S
- Multifunctional shoe for numerous equipment
- Removable prime deal with with twin XLR inputs
- Simultaneous recording in a number of codecs
This checklist, plus the general design, factors out the principle goal of this digital camera: Overthrowing the FX3 and its little sisters, asserting reign over the favored compact cine digital camera section.
Dethroning a legend – what’s the Canon EOS 50C up towards?
The Sony FX sequence of compact cine cameras is without doubt one of the most distinguished available in the market, and could be one of many cornerstones in the way in which our area works at the moment. The corporate’s revolutionary FX3, introduced in February 2021, was a technological marvel, with a spec sheet that also holds its floor, over 4 years after its launch.
Greater than that, the digital camera options an revolutionary design, mixing stills and cine ergonomics in a single succesful, compact, and modular physique. As years glided by, Sony has added the S35 FX30 and only recently launched the FX2, introducing oversampling, S35 4K recording, and stills performance to the FX line. The digital camera bought its justifiable share of criticism for being a “microwaved a7IV”, a rehoused stills-hybrid digital camera, however it was greater than that, at the least for my part. The digital camera added a helpful piece within the compact FX puzzle, and it appears its introduction stems from Sony’s will to hear. Now that the Canon EOS C50 is right here, it appears as if somebody has rigorously listened; it simply wasn’t Sony…
Sony FX3 vs. Canon EOS C50
Made for the duty
With the EOS C50, Canon appears to handle each criticism, want, or fantasy expressed by FX3 customers. The brand new digital camera merges pace, decision, compactness, skilled I/O, Simultaneous recording for numerous quick-turnover media wants, and extra. Whereas it certain received’t make the present FX3 cease recording, it appears to be poised, designed, and bred for one goal: biting into Sony’s presence available in the market. And when pitting these cameras one towards the opposite, the victory is about as clear because it will get. (Now think about including an EVF and IBIS within the subsequent mannequin, hopefully)…
Will this be the top for the FX3?
Effectively, not so quick. Whereas the newer Canon EOS C50 is clearly the higher digital camera general (as you’d count on from a mannequin launched 4 years later), it hardly “kills” something. A greater digital camera won’t ever degrade your present one, and whereas the FX3 and its siblings might abruptly look fairly lengthy within the tooth, they’re nonetheless very succesful inventive instruments.
The FX3 nonetheless holds some benefits, like an IBIS (In Physique Picture Stabilization), which Canon persistently omits from their cine cameras. Its dual-media system is stronger in my opinion, and maybe most significantly, it’s extensively obtainable, making used our bodies, lenses, and adapters simpler to trace down. Moreover, “leaping ship” from one system to a different is a pricey endeavor, which can discourage a number of cinematographers. That stated, the brand new Canon EOS C50 is way more than an incremental improve in contrast with Sony’s compact cine roster. This needs to be, on the very least, a tough wake-up name for Sony to regulate and improve their lineup.
On the finish of the day, we have now what could also be the perfect compact cine instrument at the moment obtainable, and a slew of different nice cameras on the market from numerous producers. The following digital camera might be simply across the nook, be it tomorrow or on the subsequent commerce present. Just like the Canon EOS C50, it received’t kill something, simply provide higher/different choices for us filmmakers. On a private notice, that is the core of my dismay with all of the ‘killing’ jargon. It’s deceptive. A more recent digital camera could also be stronger, however it doesn’t erase what got here earlier than. Canon might win consideration at the moment with the EOS C50, however that received’t put FX3 house owners out of labor – simply as the subsequent Panasonic LUMIX or Nikon-RED launch received’t ‘kill’ the EOS C50.
Will you think about ditching your system for the brand new (and spectacular) Canon EOS C50? What are your causes? Tell us within the feedback.
