Canon has announced an exciting firmware update for its flagship EOS C500 Mark II cinema camera, set to roll out on March 21, 2024.
Previously, the EOS C500 Mark II could shoot 12-bit RAW video at up to 30 frames per second, with 10-bit available at higher frame rates. However, Canon is now expanding the camera’s capabilities by adding three new Cinema RAW Light formats, offering 12-bit recording at all frame rates.
The new recording options—Cinema RAW Light LT (light recording), ST (standard quality), and HQ (high quality)—bring the total number of RAW recording choices for the EOS C500 Mark II to four, a first in the Cinema EOS lineup. While 10-bit recordings offer a palette of over one billion colors, 12-bit recording expands this range to over 68 billion colors. This distinction can deliver exceptional image quality while reducing file size, ensuring ample room for grading and VFX compositing process.
Compatible with all four current Cinema EOS models, Cinema RAW Light empowers filmmakers to unlock the full dynamic range of the camera’s sensor in a file that’s approximately a third to a fifth of the size of a standard Cinema RAW file.
With this new firmware upgrade, EOS C500 Mark II further solidify its position as a preferred choice for professionals in the filmmaking industry.
