Canon

Canon EOS C500 Mark II Review

Reviews
2
Score
82/100
From
$10,999
Released
December 2019

We've aggregated 2 high-signal reviews and 1 live retailer price below.

Canon EOS C500 Mark II
Available
Our take
Worth buyingPreliminary

Our editorial take on the Canon EOS C500 Mark II

The Canon EOS C500 Mark II is a modular full-frame cinema camera built for high-end production work. It shoots 5.9K Cinema RAW Light internally with up to 12-bit color depth and offers frame rates up to 60p in 4K and 120p in 1080p. The full-frame sensor delivers over 15 stops of dynamic range in Canon Log 2 at ISO 800, and the built-in five-stage ND filter (2 to 10 stops) makes it practical for run-and-gun and controlled lighting alike. The modular design allows for four expansion units, adapting the camera to different workflows, and Netflix approval signals its readiness for premium content pipelines.

Reviewers highlight the C500 Mark II's image quality and professional feature set. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF is praised for reliable tracking, and the internal Cinema RAW Light recording removes the need for external recorders in many scenarios. The interchangeable lens mount (EF, PL, or EF-C) and sensor crop options (full-frame, Super 35mm, Super 16mm) add flexibility for different lens ecosystems and production styles. At its launch price of around $11,000 and current MSRP of $16,000, it sits firmly in the professional cinema tier, competing with similar full-frame cameras from Sony and RED.

Best for: High-end filmmakers and production companies who need Netflix-approved, modular full-frame cinema image quality with internal RAW recording.
What's great
  • 5.9K Cinema RAW Light recording with 12-bit color depth internally
  • Built-in five-stage ND filter (2 to 10 stops)
  • Over 15 stops of dynamic range in Canon Log 2
  • Modular design with interchangeable lens mounts (EF, PL, EF-C)
  • Dual Pixel CMOS AF with reliable face detection
  • Netflix-approved for high-end production work
Watch outs
  • High price point at $15,999 MSRP
  • Requires CFexpress cards and high-bitrate storage infrastructure
  • Electronic stabilization only, no in-body mechanical stabilization

Synthesized by Geared editors from early expert reviews.

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Video reviews

Gerald Undone6y ago
484K subscribers
Canon C500 Mark II - The Best Camera I've Ever Used
154.5K views
B\u0026H Photo Video Pro Audio2y ago
1M subscribers
Canon EOS R5 C vs. EOS C500 Mark II: Which Cine Camera is Best?
15.3K views
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Overview

About this product

5.9K Cinema RAW Light; modular.

Specs

Body
Battery
BP-A60
Video
Bit Depth
12-bit (Cinema RAW Light), 10-bit (XF-AVC)
Raw Video
Internal Cinema RAW Light
Log Profiles
Canon Log 2, Canon Log 3
Internal Codecs
Cinema RAW Light (HQ, ST, LT), XF-AVC
Max Frame Rate 4k
4K 60p
Max Frame Rate Hd
1080/120p
Max Video Bitrate
2.12 Gbps
Max Video Resolution
5.9K (5952 x 3140)
Extras
Nd Filter
Internal, 5 density settings (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 stops)
Color Gamut
Beyond ITU-R BT.2020 and DCI-P3
Total Pixels
Approx. 20.8 MP (6062 x 3432)
Dynamic Range
15+ stops (Canon Log 2 at ISO 800)
Modular Design
4 available expansion units
Proxy Recording
Yes
Netflix Approved
Yes
Slow Fast Motion
15-120 fps depending on resolution
Signal To Noise Ratio
66 dB
Sensor
Sensor Size
Full-frame (38.1 x 20.1 mm), Super 35mm (crop), Super 16mm (crop)
Sensor Type
CMOS with Dual Pixel CMOS AF
Image Processor
DIGIC DV 7
Effective Megapixels
18.69 MP (5952 x 3140)
Release
Launch Price Usd
$10,999.00
Exposure
Dual Native Iso
No
Iso Range Video
ISO 100-102400 (extended), Native 800-25600
Shutter Speed Electronic
Speed, Angle, Clear Scan, Slow, or Off mode
Display Vf
Rear Screen
LM-V2 4.3 inch LCD Monitor
Lens Mount
Lens Mount
Canon EF (user-interchangeable, PL and EF-C available)
Crop Factor
1.0x (Full-frame), 1.5x (Super 35mm), 3.0x (Super 16mm)
Storage Io
Card Slots
2x CFexpress
Stabilization Af
Ibis
Electronic Image Stabilization
Af System
Dual Pixel CMOS AF
Subject Detection
Face Detection AF
Live prices

Where to buy

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  • B&H Photo
    new● In stockBest price
    $10,999
    Buy