Canon's Super-35mm cinema camera featuring Dual Pixel CMOS AF — compact, lightweight, and proven on documentary and indie productions.
Technical Details
The APS-C sensor (22.3 × 11.9 mm) operates with a native ISO sensitivity of 850 and reaches a maximum of ISO 20,000. The camera features two CompactFlash memory card slots for continuous recording and offers 12 frame rates from 23.98p to 59.94p. The integrated ND filter wheel includes three stops (2, 4, 6 stops). The 8.8cm LCD monitor can be unfolded and rotated. Audio is recorded via two XLR inputs with phantom power. The EF mount system allows the use of the entire Canon lens range.
History & Development
Canon introduced the C300 in November 2011 as the first camera in the Cinema EOS series, simultaneously with the C300 PL (PL mount version). It was developed in response to the DSLR filmmaking trend and Sony's FS100. In 2014, the C300 Mark II followed with 4K recording and improved Dual Pixel CMOS AF. The original C300 was discontinued in 2018, after serving as an industry standard for over seven years.
Practical Use in Film
Documentary filmmakers appreciated the C300 for its compact form factor and excellent low-light performance. Steven Soderbergh used it for "Side Effects" (2013), proving its cinematic capability. The BBC regularly employed it for nature documentaries. Typical workflows include ProRes proxies for editing and the native MPEG-2 footage for final post-production. Dual-slot recording enables simultaneous backup creation or different codecs in parallel.
Comparison & Alternatives
Against the Sony FS700, the C300 scored with better ergonomics and color science, but lost in slow-motion capabilities. The Panasonic AF100 offered similar features, but with a smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor. Modern successors include the Canon C70 and C300 Mark III with 4K/120p capabilities. For a limited budget, the Canon R5C or Sony FX6 today offer comparable image quality with enhanced features at a lower cost.