Canon EOS C400 Brings Stacked CMOS to the Cine Line (2024)

Canon's latest gear announcement should appeal to drastically different audiences. The headliner is the EOS C400, an $8,000 camera that's all about video and has a strictly professional target market. It's coming along with a new version of the Cine-Servo 17-120mm zoom, a lens made just for video production.

At the same time, the RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM joins the system. This hybrid lens is meant for both cinema and photo use. It's the first 35mm F1.4 for the EOS R system and is likely to find its way into the gear bags of photo hobbyists, photojournalists, and event photographers. Canon is also adding an entry-level flash, the Speedlite EL-10, an accessory strictly for still imaging.

EOS C400: Just for the Pros

The EOS C400 is a new model in the cine line, positioned in between the EOS C300 Mark II and EOS C500 Mark II. Like those others, the C400 is built with a cinema-style body that puts a large panel of control buttons on its left side panel and relies entirely on a modular touch LCD for monitoring. Canon doesn't include or market an eye-level electronic for this camera. That's not a shock to cine users; LCD monitoring is par for the course in pro video.

EOS C400 (Credit: Canon)

The C400 includes a newly designed full-frame image sensor and is the first C camera with this body style to use the mirrorless RF lens system. The C300 II and C500 II take EF SLR lenses instead. If you're upgrading, you can continue to use EF glass via the existing EF-EOS R Mount Adapter, a $99 accessory that supports electronic iris control and autofocus with adapted glass. With this release, Canon adds another version of the adapter that works with the PL-mount lenses used for cinema, though its $1,599 price is higher than the adapter for Canon EF lenses.

The camera includes a brand-new full-frame image sensor with Stacked BSI CMOS architecture. This type of sensor reads out very quickly to better suppress rolling shutter distortion. It uses a Triple Base ISO to support videography in dim light and includes in-body ND filters for use in bright conditions. The on-sensor autofocus system is based on Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF II engine and can track both people and animals.

The C400 supports 12-bit Cinema Raw Light recording at up to 6K60 and pushes 4K120 at 10-bit with XF AVC or HEVC compression. There are two memory card slots, one CFe and one SDXC, if you want to take advantage of Raw capture you'll have to use CFe media, while compressed video works with SDXC cards.

Cine-Servo RF 17-120mm (Credit: Canon)

The camera has a host of pro inputs and outputs, including XLR for audio, Genlock for broadcast, and an Ethernet port for IP streaming.

Canon aims for a September in-store date for the C400 at $7,999. It's coming with a new standard zoom lens, the Cine-Servo RF 17-120mm, which covers a Super35mm image circle and will go on sale in October for $23,850.

RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM: Finally, a 35mm F1.4 for EOS R

Canon's other new lens, the RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM, has a broader appeal than a Cine-Servo zoom. It offers the benefits of full-frame coverage and features down-to-earth pricing at $1,499. The prime covers a moderate wide angle and is an anticipated optic for photogs using an EOS R5 or R6 Mark II camera body. The 35mm angle is a favorite among photojournalists and wedding and event photographers.

RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM (Credit: Canon)

Until now, creators looking at this angle in a prime lens have been left to use the RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM, a good lens but one that's decidedly entry-level in fit and finish. The RF 35mm F1.4 L works in more environments as it can gather more light than the F1.8 edition and includes dust and splash protection.

We also expect the RF 35mm F1.4 to focus faster than the 35mm F1.8. The F1.4 lens uses two focus motors, a linear Voice Coil Motor (VCM) and a Nano Ultra Sonic Motor (USM). Canon promises that the focus system isn't just fast but also quiet and capable of smooth transitions, good news for video use. Canon tells us that dual motors are necessary because the lens moves four separate elements to set focus, a design decision that should translate to minimal focus breathing in shots that rack focus from one subject to another.

Other features include a dual filter system, so you can opt to use rear-mounted gel filters or front 67mm threaded glass filters. The former is a good option for video use, as it allows cinematographers to use a matte box or other accessory on the front of the lens and place a creative filter at the rear.

A removable rear holder supports gel and polyester filters (Credit: Canon)

The RF 35mm F1.4 L includes an L-Fn button and a customizable control ring that can be set for EV, aperture, ISO, and other sundry functions via the camera body. There's also a discrete control ring to set the aperture, but as is the case with the RF 24-105mm F2.8, the control surface only works for video recording, at least with current camera bodies. We hope that Canon will change course and activate the aperture ring for stills as it provides an inconsistent ergonomic experience in its current state, especially since a representative from the company tells us to expect more lenses with aperture rings in the future.

Canon expects the RF 35mm F1.4 L VCM in stores in July for $1,499.

Speedlite EL-10: A More Affordable Flash

Canon finished off this spate of product announcements with a new Speedlite EL-10. It's an external flash that uses Canon's multi-function shoe interface, so it's only compatible with a half-dozen models (R3, R6 Mark II, R7, R8, R10, R50) at this time. The head supports bounce, swivel, and tilt, with a zooming mechanism to move between 24-105mm angles.

The EL-10 works with newer EOS R series cameras (Credit: Canon)

The EL-10 provides about half the power of the already-in-market EL-5 ($399.99) but is correspondingly smaller and lighter. The EL-10 runs off four AA batteries and is rated for 210 full power flashes per set, and supports variable power down to 1/1,024. It also includes a built-in radio trigger and can work as either a transmitter or receiver in multi-flash setups.

The Speedlite EL-10costs $249.99 and ships at the end of the month.