Canon EOS C80: Full Frame Cinema

[@leeellerker1855]

Brilliant review, thanks

[@mattgray9297]

Thank you for this very thorough and well thought out review! Liked and subbed.

[@grotynski_dop]

I'm really curious about the C80's performance in low light/shadows compared to C70, noise quantity and "quality" any input on that? Do you miss DGO? I'm considering either a second hand C70 or a new C80 so i'd like to be well informed, my use is not commercial so resolution isn't a priority. Great video, thanks!

[@SamA-kl6pi]

They should be available for rent in most rental shops now. Perfect way to get all your questions answered.

[@atticuslake]

Thank you, glad it helped! As for DGO, the C80 has triple base ISO. As I understand it, multi-base ISO is better than multi-gain output. This video explains it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHu8i5mIm9mUjs0 I didn't test the C70 against the C80 specifically, but based on the tests I did, I'd say the C80 is a step up. I think both cameras are very good in low light, but I'd say the C80 has an edge.

[@barrysword]

No viewfinder? 😑

[@atticuslake]

No, there is no built-in EVF. Same as the C70, C400, RED cameras, ... many other cinema cameras. Of course you can always add one via HDMI or SDI.

[@SoundOfYourDestiny]

It's not that compact, especially when you add the (necessary) viewfinder. It was bulky enough, and hobbled enough in terms of video quality and frame rates, that I returned it. Holding this thing with one hand while trying to focus with the other is a losing proposition. Especially if you're using autofocus and need to select focus targets with the touchscreen while moving around.

[@atticuslake]

It's really going to depend on your expectations. If you're coming from mirrorless cameras, then yes, it is quite bulky and heavy. (I said this specifically in my C70 review -- would have repeated it in the C80, but I was cutting hard for time.) But if you're coming from more serious cinema cameras, like the C500, or FX9, or even FX6, or Red cameras, or Kinefinity, which I think is a more realistic comparison, then I do think it's fair to describe it as light and compact. Describing a built-in EVF as "necessary" also really depends on your point of view. From a mirrorless perspective, where the cameras are small enough to hold in front of your face, then yes, a built-in EVF makes a lot of sense. But for cameras designed to go on your shoulder, a built-in EVF would be farcical. (Unless your eyeballs are on stalks or something.) The C80 kind of falls between these camps, so it's certainly not going to be right for everyone. As for video quality -- you don't say what you mean, but again, it depends on your expectations, I think. Certainly for me the video quality looks great. Frame rate? 120 FPS in 4k with decent resolution looks pretty good to me. But if you need a specialist high-speed camera, then the C80 isn't it. Bottom line, if it wasn't working for you, then you were certainly right to return it.

[@SoundOfYourDestiny]

@@atticuslake I didn't say a built-in EVF was necessary. I said an EVF is necessary. Also 120 FPS in 4K is only achievable on the C80 in a highly compressed codec. The R1's recording modes (codecs and frame rates) are objectively better than those of the C80 or even C400. As you point out, the C80 falls between truly compact and large... making it awkward pretty much all the time. It's too shallow to be balanced on your shoulder without having batteries or something way behind you on rails, and too heavy to hold out in front of you. Anyway, not ragging on anyone who finds that it suits their needs. I just wish SOMEONE would test the R1. The radio silence on this thing is baffling.

[@atticuslake]

​ @SoundOfYourDestiny OK, I didn't know where you were coming from. I've been using the C70 for 4 years without an EVF, and I'm going to use the C80 the same way, so I don't find it necessary. But if you need one, then you should certainly factor in the cost of adding one, and I guess you did, and found it not worth it, which is exactly the right approach. As for slow-mo, the C80 records at 651 Mb/s in HEVC 4k at 120 FPS. Is that highly compressed? It depends what you need. But my resolution tests show that it performs pretty well -- particularly relative to the C70, my previous camera. Bear in mind that *all* codecs are compressed to some degree, including RAW. Anyhow, all the best finding the camera that does meet your needs. If I had an R1, I would certainly review it... though personally, for video, I like having built-in ND filters. I *almost* bought the A7SIII (or FX3) instead of the C70, but I was swayed by that.