Canon’s Compact EOS C80 Cinema Camera Boasts a Full Frame 6K Sensor

The Canon EOS C80 Cinema Camera is an exciting step forward for the Cinema EOS line, combining flagship features of the powerful C400 cinema camera with the smaller, lighter form factor of the popular C70.

In place of the C70’s 4K Super35-sized sensor, the C80 sports a stunning 6K full-frame back-illuminated stacked CMOS sensor that we saw for the first time back in June with the announcement of the C400. Many of the other major draws of the C400 have also been brought to the C80, namely Triple Base ISOs of 800, 3200, 12,800 when shooting in Log/RAW, plus upgraded Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus II and a 12G-SDI video output. By bringing these features into a body that’s much closer to the slim size and weight of the C70, the C80 should prove extremely popular for run-and-gun filmmakers, as well as high-end content creators and educators.

Body and Build

The C80 retains the dual Mini-XLR ports and SD card slots from the C70, alongside a stronger and brighter fold-out LCD screen with a panel locking mechanism. Canon shooters will be very happy to hear that the hinge mechanism that holds the touchscreen LCD in place has been reinforced on the C80, making the body more rugged and ready for outdoor shooting than its predecessor. The LCD has built-in focus peaking, false color, zebras, waveforms, vectorscopes, and more for accurate monitoring.

The C80 weighs about 2.9 lb—just a hair more than the C70—and the overall form factor will be extremely familiar to users of that camera, with the C80 still being easily mountable on gimbals, cranes, drones, car rigs, and other set-ups where every ounce counts. The body of the C80 also includes an upgraded on-camera joystick similar to the one found on Canon’s new photo flagship, the R1.

The C70’s full-size HDMI output and timecode terminal make a return, but the real star of the show is a new locking 12G-SDI port capable of outputting 4K at up to 60fps. You can send out video through the HDMI and SDI simultaneously, which will be incredibly useful for stacking accessories like wireless transmitters, external monitors, EVFs, and more. A USB-C port also enables UVC, a wired smartphone connection, or the use of a Canon GP-E2 GPS Receiver.

Users can expect the same high-quality 10-stop motorized internal ND filter system from the C70, plus compatibility for a wide range of RF mount adapters. The C80 packs a host of ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity options for networking and multi-camera control using Canon’s XC Protocol or their Remote Control Camera Application (RCCA). Users can even adjust settings via the Canon Multi-Camera Control App for iPhone.

As with the C400, the C80 can use older BP-A batteries, but they will not provide power to the Multi-Accessory Shoe. To get power to that, shooters need to use the updated BP-A30N or BP-A60N batteries announced earlier this year. One BP-A30N battery is included with the camera, alongside a battery charger and power adapter. A DC 24V input on the camera will come in handy for extended recording.

Recording Formats and Autofocus

So what C400 features are we losing with the C80’s slimmed down design? First and foremost, a CFexpress Type B slot, resulting in a cap on the C80’s raw capture abilities. The C80 can record in Canon Cinema RAW Light, but the format will max out at 6K 30p, versus the 6K 60p seen on the C400.

Additionally, you can only use the smaller LT flavor in 6K, not the larger ST and HQ varietals found on the C400. Cinema RAW Light LT is still an extremely powerful codec and should be more than sufficient for most shooting scenarios. Put the C80 in cropped Super35 mode to unlock RAW ST up to 30p, as well as RAW LT up to 60p.

The C80 can record up to 4K 120p and 2K 180p in XF-HEVC S, XF-AVC S, and XF-AVC recording codecs. These compressed codecs are oversampled from the 6K sensor to maximize detail and dynamic range, and all feature 4:2:2 10-bit color. Like the C70, the C80’s dual SD card slots are capable of simultaneous, relay, or proxy recording. Basic JPEG photo capturing features are included.

The C80’s new Dual Pixel CMOS AF II uses an algorithm Canon’s calling EOS Intelligent Tracking and Recognition (iTR AF X) for improved follow abilities, and the focus area now covers nearly 100% of the sensor, up from around 80% on the C70. Canon’s autofocus system has made huge strides in recent years, and the people and animal tracking on the C80 will be a massive boon for documentary and event work.

Dual Pixel AF II will be supported with the higher frame rates in Slow & Fast mode and should provide extremely accurate subject detection up to 120fps. High frame rate AF support is coming to the C400 as well via a firmware update.

Accessories and Analysis

While some shooters may keep their C80 stripped down for maximum mobility, others will want to build it out for demanding productions. Wooden Camera and Zacuto have both announced C80 accessory systems that will be available at launch, with cages, baseplates, breakout boxes, external V-Mount and Gold Mount battery plates, and a whole lot more. These battery plates will be an especially popular option for users on long shoots who chew through BP-style batteries.

So why is the C80 coming so hot on the heels of the C400, a majorly anticipated Cinema EOS product that isn’t even widely available yet? Think of it as Canon solidifying a product lineup that can serve every end user. The C400 is a fantastic camera, but it’s overkill for many videographers, with a plethora of recording formats and capabilities that might go unused unless you’re in high-end live event, studio, and production scenarios. The C400’s genlock and return video DIN connectors, XLR 4-Pin power input, 12-pin lens port, and second SDI output are essential for a lot of broadcast work, but less so for single shooters and in-the-field docs.

By taking the sensor and flagship features of the C400 and cutting away anything extraneous, the C80 can act as a capable A-camera for smaller crews and solo filmmakers, as well as a dependable B-camera for the C400. Many Canon video shooters paired their C300 or C500 with the smaller C70, and will be excited to now build out a full frame RF mount set-up with the C400 and C80. Having another full frame RF mount cinema camera on the market also means that extraordinary lenses like the Canon RF 24-105mm f/2.8 might be showing up on a whole lot more productions in the near future.

For more information about the new Canon EOS C80 Cinema Camera, including additional features, specs, and highlights, be sure to check out the detailed product page. Or drop us a line below, and we’ll do our best to answer all your comments and questions.