Cinema Camera Canon EOS C200

So today I want to talk about my experience using the Canon EOS C200 and whether I think that this is a camera that is still worth it in 2021. I have a list of answers that you find with the camera and allow you to get the most out of the canon C200.

So this is my Canon C200 Review but I do have a list of things that I’m not too excited about using this camera and what are my thoughts and the soothing experience.

I’ve used to do every kind of shoot imaginable so I really want to show you the major features of the camera, the usability of this camera, and how it can fit into your workflow I’ve used to do every kind of shoot.

Also, I have compared Canon C200 vs Blackmagic Pocket 6K and Panasonic EVA1 vs Canon C200 you can read the differences between them.

Disclosure: Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, meaning that if you click on one of the links and purchase an item, I may receive a commission. All opinions however are my own.

Canon C200 Review

1. Performance

Canon EOS C200 can shoot up to 4k at 150 megabits per second 8-bit 4 to 0 at a max of 60 frames per second or you could swap over to the C fast card and record raw at 4k 12 bit with 15 stops of dynamic range this is amazing and has excellent image quality but it comes with the drawback of massive files with a 64 gig C fast card.

I’ve been shooting on Canon C200 for the last couple of years and I’ve put thousands of hours on it to test and compare the C200 and Canon C70 so I found that there’s a little bit more information in the highlights in the C70.

So they have so many things in common but after I test out some things like dynamic range, high ISO, slow motion, overexposure, underexposure recovery, and file size and playback.

I can obviously say the C200 is significantly noisier in the shadows than the Canon C70. But even though the C200 is a slightly older camera it does push a little bit more green, especially in the shadows than the other newer cameras that I just mentioned.

another thing that I like is the difference in the colors, all the camera settings matched the same and they shot on the same ones and they’re shot on tripods right next to each other with the same white balance.

the C200 always came in looking a little bit more green and the C70 came in looking a little bit more magenta, one thing I’ve noticed with all the canon cinema cameras, as well as the Canon 1dx Mark iii and the Canon R5, is they all sort of adhering to the same color science.

C200 has a few ways to acquire video on the body you’ll notice spots for two SD cards and one C fast 2.0 card recording to SD cards and the ability to write mp 4 files.

in the mp4 mode, C200 can shoot up to 4k UHD 60fps or 1080p at 120 fps in 8-bit 4200 coming in the new cinema raw Lite mode you can record up to DCI 4k 60fps in 10 bit raw light or 30fps and 12 bit raw.

the raw mode supports 2k proxies recorded simultaneously to the SD cards which maintain the DCI format meaning this camera gives you an immediate option for offline editing.

while still reaping the benefits of raw acquisition with mp4 recordings the camera supports C log and C log 3 which are intended to be easily and quickly gradable in post.

in C log 3 you can achieve 13 stops of the sensors dynamic range making this a very reliable format for faster-paced productions that still need good latitude.

if you want the full 15 stock range, you can generate Cielo 2 files in Canon’s raw development software from the raw files.

everything is annoying about the outside of the C 100 they have fixed it with the C200 and every single upgrade is awesome.

the side handle of the C200 is very similar to the C100 it feels very strong it’s very easy to work with, and the top handle is much more solid.

If you didn’t know C200 offers a new mp4 codec and the opportunity for proxy files to be named the same as the RAW files apparently which makes it a bit easier to marry them up in post.

it also supports lemo power and the same batteries as a C300 Mark II you also get streaming over Ethernet built-in Wi-Fi and compatibility with canons GPS accessory.

the C200 has a terminal for the RCD 100 remote controller with all of this it requires very little beyond the camera itself to get out there and start shooting.

  • The C200 is a really nice size I like the ergonomics of it it’s smaller than the C300.
  • if you ever want to control your camera settings remotely either from your phone tablet or even your computer you can use remote browsing.
  • C200 has an integrated EVF and a rotating four-inch LCD screen which you can use to do touch autofocus you can record internally in mp4 and 4208 bit in both HD and UHD.

If we compare C200 and the C100 Mark II and the C300 Mark II they all look fairly similar but Canon has integrated the audio into the actual camera body if you look at the 300 Mark II the audio is on the top.

the C200 can record in UHD and HD at frame rates up to 60 P, internally in canons cinema light raw in 4k DCI up to 60 P, in comparison with C300 Mark II the biggest advantage of the C300 Mark 2 over the C 200 is internal recording options there are 8 different ones that you can choose from.

You do everything from HD 2k DCI u HD and 4k DCI in for 2 to 10 bit is also an RGB for 4 for 12 bit and 10-bit option in HD and 2k DCI. The feature header marketer will also do 120 frames per second but only in a cropped recording mode, the other big advantage that the C300 Mark II has over the C200 is its range of external connectors.

It’s not just one thing here there are so many features that make this camera interesting and its combination of everything put together.

2. Dual Pixel Autofocus

Canon C200 features dual pixel autofocus and can record HD and UHD internally in 4 to 0, 8-bit at 35 megabits and 150 megabits per second. It has SDI HDMI and Ethernet connectors, 4K DCI internal roar recording in canons cinema raw light.

There is the monitor itself with the mounting system and also, and another feature is the ability to be able to record Full HD at 120 frames per second without cropping in on the sensor.

the autofocus which is like the C300 Mark II is probably one of the biggest selling points in my opinion when you switch it into autofocus a small box comes up on the screen you can move this box around using the little joystick on the handle.

There’s also the ability to track an object you put the object in front of your camera touch the screen on the object you want to track and no matter where you move in the scene will track that image.

the autofocus on Canon’s cameras is just really good Canon has really done well with the autofocus and the C200 is no exception.

The autofocus works really well and one thing that people really don’t realize is that even if you don’t use the autofocus, the focus guide is so handy it tells you if you’re in focus or not.

the autofocus on this camera is probably one of the biggest selling points when you switch it into autofocus a small box comes up on the screen and I was able to move this box around using the little joystick on the handle.

there’s also the ability to track an object you can put the object in front of your camera touch the screen on the object you want to track and no matter where you move in the scene it will track that image.

one of the main upgrades for the C 200 is the dual pixel autofocus now I know that the c100 mark II had dual pixel autofocus but it had like no options for it because the C200 has tons of options for autofocus and Canon has truly made me a believer in autofocus.

it is actually fantastic using the touchscreen you can now touch what you want to be in focus no more just trying to get everything in the middle of the box directly in the middle of the screen.

I was able to choose where I want to be a focus in our scene there’s also a new face-tracking feature which you can tell the camera to track a face and it actually does a really good job keeping it in focus and this would be a really great tool to have you’re using some sort of gimbal.

with it’s awesome usability and the autofocus and the ability to run in XLR inputs as well as the built-in NDS this camera becomes a very interesting option to ambitious filmmakers.

3. High ISO

so with the high iso testing, I noticed some interesting things the C70 is better but it wasn’t exactly what I expected the C70 produces an incredibly clean image and I actually find it cleaner than the C200 at its native iso of 800.

actually, I find it similar to C200 iso 400 it’s super clean I find this to be a total usable iso on the C200 it does have some noise but as soon as you put a lot on it kind of goes away and it becomes totally usable.

the C70 is exponentially cleaner than the C200 at 6400 ISO they get pretty close I’d still edge it out to the C70.

one of the things I haven’t mentioned in this test is the fact that you can put a speed booster on the C70 to give it a full-frame field of view.

so to wrap it up the C 200 is a production dream internal DCI 4k raw light 4k at 60fps up to 15 stops of dynamic range an extended ISO range of 100 to 102 thousand 400 P Q support over SDI and HDMI proxy format and mp4 delivery make this a powerful piece of kit.

4. ND Filters

built-in ND filters will improve your footage because more often than not you’ll be able to shoot with the correct settings with its awesome usability and the autofocus and the ability to run in XLR inputs as well as the built-in NDS this camera becomes a very interesting option to ambitious filmmakers.

these built-in ND filters are an absolute godsend when it comes to run and gun style filmmaking because you don’t have to screw on filters on the front of your lens you have the ND filters built into the camera so the ND filter really fits between the sensor and the rear element of the lens.

5. Image Quality

If I talk about the image of a camera, looking closely at the colors and dynamic range of the camera, this Canon EOS C200 Cinema Camera does really well in both of those.

For my videos, I was mostly recording in RAW and then I was converting into ProRes, and the footage is just really good it’s so nice to color grade, no issues at all color grading and working with it in post.

They just look really good straight out of the camera, which is really not a given for a lot of the cameras out there right now because a lot of them need a ton of work to get the skin tones really nice and natural-looking.

I’m still amazed that a camera of this size, and this price, can internally record such a high-quality RAW image it seems almost too good to be true so the image looks amazing, super impressed by it.

the C200 has a graceful edge to the image it looks more refined more cinematic and it’s probably due to the more natural gradation as it transitions between different tones in the frame and it doesn’t suffer from the unnaturally contrasting look as a result from digital sharpening.

the raw light out of this camera will allow you to shoot footage that looks as good as the Canon C300 Mark III and the Canon C500 Mark II those cameras obviously have features that this one doesn’t but for the amount, you’re paying for this camera to be able to shoot footage that puts you into that league is really invaluable.

in terms of image quality, I’d say the C70 is probably the winner and the C200 it’s still a really solid performer if I was looking to buy either one of these cameras I would probably go for the C70 personally.

but if you’re looking at the C200 one of the benefits is you can get them used for significantly cheaper I actually think the C200 is more worth it than almost ever I’d say these are both great cameras.

I’d say it’s a great camera and the image quality really holds up even to something like a C500 Mark II. Even the C500 mark II sensor is a full-frame and the raw is 6k instead of 4k but quality-wise they are both uncompressed cinema raw light that produces an extremely pleasing image in 12 bit.

the C200 raw was easier to work for me than the C500 Mark II raw you can produce a really great image with this camera I personally find it a lot more pleasing than the image coming off the Blackmagic pocket cinema camera.

Another thing I must say my friend compared with Red Comodo and the images both of them look really good and really similar. It doesn’t seem like one has a lot more dynamic range to each other doesn’t seem like the quality is way different I would say the Red Komodo image it just does come in more saturated and a tiny bit more contrasty.

  • in terms of noise performance, the C200 and the Red Komodo is looking pretty similar, the C200 gives you exposure and white balance which is really nice.

6. Slow motion

With slow-motion, you can do up to 60p in 4K and up to 120fps in full HD with no crop like the C300 Mark II has. You can also shoot continuous 120 frames per second with the full size of the sensor.

  • The 120fps is only in the MP4 mode, but interestingly you can do 4K 60p in raw.

You can get 120 frames per second at 1080 and the big disadvantage here is this does not crop in on the image you’re using the whole sensor for this and it’s solid.

Pros

  • audio inputs and controls on the body
  • XLR draping
  • audio selections and controls
  • dual SD card slots
  • dual pixel autofocus
  • rotating four-inch touch panel LCD monitor
  • built-in ND filters up to 10 stops
  • built-in EVF 2 XLR audio inputs
  • 1c fast card and
  • SDI HDMI and Ethernet connectors
  • viewfinder
  • shoot up to 4k at 150 megabits per second
  • 8-bit 4 to 0 at a max of 60 frames per second
  • 15 stops of dynamic range
  • 64 gig C fast card

Cons

  • there is no 10-bit internal codec out on the SDI
  • there is no 4k out on the SDI
  • RAW files big in size

Canon C200 Specs

  • Super 35mm CMOS Sensor
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF Technology
  • Canon Raw Light 4K 12bit Raw 13 Stops DR
  • Audio Recording 4-Channel 16-bit 48 KHZ
  • Build-In Dual XLR Inputs + 48V Phantom Power
  • Build-In ND Filters 10 Stops
  • Dual DIGIC DV6 Image Processor

7. Canon C200 Battery

Canon C200 also uses the same battery as the Canon C300 Mark 2, the battery life comes in two different sizes the bigger one is the BPA 60 that lasts about four hours, and then these small ones these last about two hours.

battery life is not as great as on the C70 or the C100 mark ii so battery life eats up on the canon C200 but C200 batteries do run fast especially when you shoot 4k 12 bit raw.

the battery on the back of the C200 which unfortunately doesn’t hold as much of a charge as the C100, battery with the C100 you can get about five hours of recording with one battery which is awesome but with the C200 the camera can run up to five hours which is pretty good.

the battery life is superb the BP 60 which is the bigger battery gives me about four hours of runtime and the BP 30 gives me about two hours the only reason is that they are expensive.

Maybe you are asking why and its because it’s a bigger camera with much more specs it takes you to know much more power to run it so, you’re not gonna be getting as much battery life but it’s just kind of annoying that you have to buy a good amount of batteries.

And also real quick I like that the batteries are the same as for the C300, so I don’t have to get any new batteries I can just use the same batteries, really handy, this camera has fantastic battery life it has air vents that are going to make it stays cool and I don’t have to worry about it overheating.

8. Camera Body

a huge upgrade for the C200 is that all the audio options and inputs are now on the camera body itself this way you don’t have to have the top handle attached to get great audio you can now put the camera on a glidecam or a gimbal and still have audio options without having to have that top handle attached.

The camera body is almost identical to the camera body of the C300 Mark II and the same as the C100 with a few major improvements. Canon Eos C200 is just an upgrade to the C100 mark II the audio inputs and controls are on the actual body this is a massive improvement because if you need to strip the body down into the perfect you aren’t losing your audio options anymore.

it has an all-in-one body that is a dedicated cinema camera and the form factors the size of it it’s not too much bigger than a C100 which is awesome.

But because of the v-mount battery in the back and the lens in the front with the Canon C200. It’s very front-heavy depending on whatever lens you have, love the pistol grip the weight isn’t too unbearable.

the layout of the buttons is relatively simple to find. First, the audio inputs and controls are located off the handle and on the actual body, so if you need to strip the body down into the perfect you aren’t losing your audio options anymore.

it makes cable management a lot better having XLR draping off the side handle of the C100 was always an annoyance. There are audio selections and controls right on the body with the input selections and the volume control in the back.

Canon C200 Body
Canon EOS C 200 Body

on the outside the C200 is a bit different from its predecessors there is an internal ten stop NDS on the side the top handle and a grip on the side with a rosette connector notable however for the first time is the redesigned touchscreen monitor this is a completely modular screen that unlike the C100 is removable but also unlike to C300 only requires one cable to carry video.

it has two buttons on the side to switch between the different densities it switches between 24 and 6 stops which is especially necessary on bright summer days for audio.

it has two XLR inputs other connections include a headphone jack SDI HDMI output and USB depending on which battery pack is being used.

the XLR connectors are integrated with the main body one on the side and one angle towards the operator the controls for the audio are located on the back panel making it much easier to adjust the audio settings.

There is one of the many assignable buttons joysticks and then the menu buttons, it has two SD slots with a much better design for the card doors, and next to that is the SDI headphones Ethernet and HDMI.

then around to the smart side of the camera, there is a very familiar layout with two large differences, the motorized control over the ND filters just like the C300 Mark II which is so much better than the toggle wheel.

then it has a slot for the C fast car only for shooting raw with Canon cinema Raw light but two of the biggest improvements that make me happy is the viewfinder which is really solid and the monitor’s great image.

the viewfinder for me is really solid it can be mounted onto the camera also what I like it can swivel in any direction needed and can be mounted in different places for plenty of options so it definitely is the best of the C line.

There is some control on the monitor to easily navigate the menu system which speaking of is kind of great it’s a bit more simplistic and intuitive compared to the others in this line.

the menu has also been much more simplified and it is much easier to navigate with tons of different options.

It makes cable management a lot better, there are audio selections and controls right on the body with our input selections and the volume control in the back, many assignable buttons joystick, and then the menu buttons.

There are two SD slots with a much better design for the card doors, SDI headphones Ethernet and HDMI, motorized control over the ND filters just like the C300 Mark II which is much better than the toggle wheel and slot for the C fast car.

9. Camera Monitor

Canon EOS C200 monitor
Photo by Saxon White on Unsplash

The first thing that I really like is the newly designed LCD screen I like that I can move it around to pretty much any position I want and the best part is I don’t have to loosen or tighten any screws.

10. Camera Sensor

the C200 features the same super 35 CMOS sensor as the Canon C700 with a pixel pitch of 3.2 micrometers. The camera can output four 4K RAW videos at 60 FPS to a Canon 8K conversion box which can then either combine the four video streams into a single 8K RAW video. And for good can record a full 4k in 60 P as well as 120 frames per second in HD.

The total 8K RAW video is 21.2 GigaBits per second which is four times better found in Canon C500 Mark II RAW output. C200 uses the Digic 10 or Digic X processor same processor being used in the Canon EOS 1DX Mark III the Canon R5, and the Canon R6.

the interesting thing about the C 200 is that in 120 frames per second mode it does not crop the sensor. The C200 can record 4k 60p internally onto CFR’s 2.0 cards using the brand new recording format.

Canon Cinema EOS C200 features a 15 stop super 35 millimeter CMOS sensor that used the same C300 mark II sensor, shoots up to 4k, its built-in ND filters.

The super 35mm 8.8 5 megapixel sensor has a baseline ISO of 800 and can achieve up to 15 stops of dynamic range.

it shoots 12 bit at 24 and 30 P and it shoots 10 bit raw at 60 P there is no 10-bit internal codec and there is no 4k out on the SDI, dual-pixel autofocus technology.

Canon EOS C 200 utilizes a 15 stop super 35 CMOS sensor to deliver stunning 4k images and continues the trend set by earlier cinema us cameras of providing everything you need in one device.

After I made a test in comparison with Alexa mini I found that the sensor size of both of these cameras are slightly different so this records in 2.8 or has a 2.8 K sensor that up skills to you HD resolution.

When you put these cameras side by side the field of view is different because of the type of sensor that both of these cameras have.

I would say the sensor on the C70 is really solid and it does a great job at pulling it back to me if I compare it with C200 they look pretty similar.

Storage

You can shoot 3840 by 2160 to the SD card and if you want 4k DCI you have to shoot rocks using c FS 2.0 cards why that’s silly me to shoot 4096 by 2160 to the SD cards.

on the Canon C200 you can not shoot raw and two cfast cards it only has one slot for cfast and that is an issue the C200 has a dual S or c fast card slot which the Canon R5 only gives you one c fast card.

Canon EOS C200 Price

When it comes to price Canon C200 is more expensive than the Canon C70, 1DX Mark III, and Canon C300 Mark II but cheaper than the Canon C300 Mark III.

the price is absolutely amazing for what it is number two this camera is so reliable in any weather any condition this camera will get the job done you don’t have to worry about its hutting down to spend the $5,500 for this camera.

Is the Canon C200 a perfect camera for you?

There are a few things C200 could do and it doesn’t do it could shoot in 4K/10 bit 4:2:2 which it can not do you could only shoot raw or 4k and 8-bit.

It only shoots raw in one C-fast card but you could shoot in proxies on a second SD card there is no double-slot raw shooting capability on the C200.

Canon C200 is built-in ND filters you can record in 4k 60 it also has the internal raw capability you don’t have to connect anything to shoot in raw you could do it on a cfast card, it has zebras focus peaking, waveforms, dual sd card slot a monitor screen that you can flip and tilt around.

You can just plug the microphone directly into the camera and also just the colors coming out of the c200 look amazing, the battery life will last a very long time you can shoot long format video on the C200 with no battery loss or any overheating issues.

Advantages

two of the biggest improvements that I like is the viewfinder which is really solid and the monitor that produces a great image maybe not be great in the sunlight but the viewfinder is really solid.

So one thing about the Canon EOS C200 EF mount that’s actually a very nice upgrade from the C100 is the buttons are much softer than the C100.

  • Better raw than the C100
  • heavier than C100 when shooting at the 1080p 8-bit
  • the 4k 8-bit image is nice to compare to the C100.
  • features a touch screen which can be used with the dual autofocus feature.
  • EF lens mount compatibility with its line of EF-mount zoom and can-e cinema prime lenses
  • The Sensor is combined with Canon’s Dual DIGIC DV 6 Image Processor allowing to record up to 4K DCI resolution
  • record Canon’s Cinema RAW Light internally via its single C Fast card slot
  • Features dual SD card slots for recording 4K UHD/HD MP4 video
  • Built-in EVF allows the camera to keep a small footprint when shooting.
  • The LCD screen makes this camera versatile for larger shoots
  • Integrated Ethernet connector provides input/output control

Disadvantages

So when we’re talking about the negatives there really aren’t that many for me probably the only things that I can complain about are that the RAW files are still fairly big in size and that’s just the nature of the beast when you’re recording in RAW even with this RAW light codec.


There is some reason I don’t like its canon C200 doesn’t have the image stabilizer built into the body but you could still take it in a post and add a stabilizer to kind of smooth out footage also there is no autofocus when you’re shooting 120 frames per second on a C200.

the C200 has a great build but also I don’t like is losing the little screws to all the components and all the accessories and another thing there’s no 10-bit internal codec. I don’t like the grip or the top handle I’m definitely disappointed with the monitor but this is just my opinion.

  • smaller photo-sites and a lower pixel pitch than the C300 mark 3
  • worse low light performance in comparison to the C300 mark 3

Wraping Up

so to wrap it up the C 200 is a production dream internal DCI 4k raw light 4k at 60fps up to 15 stops of dynamic range an extended ISO range of 100 to 102 thousand 400 P Q support over SDI and HDMI proxy format and mp4 delivery make this a powerful piece of kit.

C200 is probably one of the most interesting cameras that I’ve seen come into the market, in a long time, it’s very similar in size a little bit smaller than the C300 Mark II and a little bit bigger than the C100.

if you want to jump into the cinema line the C200 is an awesome option its ergonomically sound relatively lightweight and comfortable to use.

The dynamic range, the color science, the autofocus, slow motion, low light capabilities, all that stuff I can really say this is gonna be one of the best documentary cameras.

Conclusion

If you want to have everything all ready to go I would say the C200 is going to be a great fit for you it’s got xlr audio built-in, nd filters built-in, it’s got the side handle the top handle it’s got a tilting screen, it’s got a really nice lower end codec with the compressed 1080 or the compressed 4K. And it’s got a nice high-end codec with the raw stuff.

I think a C200 is a terrific camera its perfect it could really do with a 10-bit internal codec it has a 10-bit raw codec even a 12-bit raw codec but the file size is obtained and the workflow is also obtained.

I love using the C300 Mark II for YouTube filmmaking, a lot of people can’t afford it but the C200 will be a really good option for higher-end YouTube filmmakers, and it’s safe to say that I really like the Canon C200.

So to summarize I would say in terms of highlight recovery I would say the C70 and C200 are pretty similar and in terms of shadow recovery, I would say the C70 is significantly better.

Panasonic EVA1 vs Canon C200

$5,000
Release Date May 31, 2017
Sensor TypeSuper 35 CMOS
Sensor Size24.6 x 13.8 mm
Sensor Resolution4096 x 2160
Sensor Pixels9.84 Megapixel
Lens MountCanon EF
Lens CommunicationAutofocus Support
Shutter TypeElectronic Rolling Shutter
ISO 160 to 25,600
Extended 100 to 102,400
Screen TypeExternal Touchscreen LCD
Screen Size4.0″
Screen Resolution1,230,000 Dot
Viewfinder TypeElectronic
Viewfinder Size0.46″
Viewfinder Resolution1,770,000 Dot
Built-In ND FilterYes
Capture TypeStills & Video
Raw Recording10-bit
4096 x 2160 at 50/59.94 fps [1 Gb/s]
12-bit
4096 x 2160 at 23.98/24.00/25/29.97 fps [1 Gb/s]
Recording ModesMP4 4:2:0 8-Bit
3840 x 2160 at 24.00p/29.97p/59.94p [150 MB/s]
1920 x 1080 at 29.97p/59.94p/119.88p [35 MB/s]
Video I/O1 x BNC (Unspecified SDI) Output
1 x HDMI 2.0 Output
Audio I/O2 x XLR 3-Pin Microphone (+48 V Phantom Power) Input
1 x 1/8″ / 3.5 mm TRS Stereo Microphone Input
1 x 1/8″ / 3.5 mm TRS Stereo Headphone Output
Power I/O1 x LEMO 4-Pin Input
Other I/O1 x 2.5 mm Sub-Mini (LANC) Control Input
1 x RJ45 (LAN)
Battery TypeCanon BP-A Series
Weight 1.5 kg
Dimensions17.78 x 15.24 x 20.32 cm including grip
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