Canon’s latest innovation in the realm of cinema cameras, the EOS C400, is an impressive addition to their RF mount lineup. The EOS C400 comes with a multitude of advanced features: a 6K Full Frame image sensor capable of recording in Cinema RAW Light up to 6K/60P on CFexpress memory cards, a new 3.5″ full touchscreen LCD monitor, HDMI and SDI output ports, and much more. A detailed overview follows:
An Overview of the EOS C400
The EOS C400 has enhanced the key features of its predecessor, the Canon EOS C70 introduced back in September 2020, responding to the needs of EOS C70 users. The EOS C400 adapts the RF-mount EOS C500 Mark II’s box-style design into a compact form, boasting dimensions of 5.6 x 5.3 x 5.3 inches and a weight of 3.5 lbs.
The compact EOS C400 is a great fit for small gimbals like the DJI RS 3/RS 4/RS 4 Pro, thanks to its RF mount and compact size. The front of the camera houses an RF mount with four mounting screws for securing lens mount adapters, a built-in Mono microphone, two function buttons, and a lens power terminal to power lenses such as the Canon RF24-105mm f/2.8 L IS USM Z with its power zoom adapter.
Top Handle, Multi-function Shoe, and More
The top handle of the EOS C400 is removable and mounts via three thumbscrews. It also hosts a Multi-function shoe for attaching accessories. Six 1/4″ mounting points and a Multi-function shoe lie on top of the camera, the latter supplying power to external accessories directly from the camera. TASCAM CA-XLR-2d-C audio adapter and the Canon DM-E1D microphone are just a few examples of compatible accessories.
Controls and Connectivity
The camera’s left side houses all of the control buttons that glow in low light, audio level dials, the CFexpress Type-B and SD card slots, and the old-school power switch with a special button to toggle between the camera and playback modes. The button layout will be seamless for Canon EOS C500 Mark II/C300 Mark III users.
Defining Power
The EOS C400 operates on the new Canon BP-A30N/60N batteries. You can also use the existing BP-A30 and BP-A60 batteries shared by Canon Cinema Cameras since the EOS C200. But note, that non-N batteries will not power the lens terminal and multi-function shoe.
To top it all, the back of the EOS C400 hosts four M4 screw holes like the ones on the EOS C500 Mark II. While Canon doesn’t offer any accessories for these at the moment, expect third-party accessory manufacturers to soon release V-Mount/Gold Mount battery plates and more expansion modules.
LCD Monitor and 6K Sensor Technology
One notable feature of the EOS C400 is the 3.5″ touchscreen full LCD monitor with a joystick and four function buttons for easy navigation inside the menu. Besides, the monitor attaches to the camera’s top handle via a 15mm rod. Another sought-after feature is the new 6K Full Frame back-illuminated stacked CMOS image sensor, which offers high dynamic range, along with a DIGIC DV7 image processor making the EOS C400 a potent tool for filmmakers.
Enhanced Auto-focus Capabilities and Improved Audio Inputs
The EOS C400 has an upgraded Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system covering 100% of the frame with the ability to detect people and animals. They have also introduced new autofocus frame size options. Audio features include two Mini-XLR audio input ports, and a total of four 24-bit linear PCM audio tracks can be recorded.
Superior Networking Capabilities
Offering a seamless wired and wireless connectivity control, the EOS C400 can be connected to controllers or consist of camera arrays with the help of the Remote Camera Controller app. The Canon Multi-Camera Control smartphone app enables wireless control of up to four cameras. Also, EOS C400 supports real-time CG compositing via Canon plugins to the Unreal Engine and Adobe After Effects for virtual production workflows.
Pricing and Availability
Canon EOS C400 will launch in September 2024 and retails for $7,999. The package includes a top handle, LCD monitor, monitor cable, attachment unit, microphone holder, screws, camera grip, a Canon BP-A60N battery, a CG-A20 battery charger, the CA-CP300B power adapter, a tape measurement tool, hook, and wrench.
