Selecting the right filmmaking kit is a challenge, especially considering the huge variety of options available. You may have a dream camera in mind, but in reality, you'll need to choose your gear based on the size of your production and budget.
While monetary outlay is a key factor, there is a lot more to consider when deciding on cameras and lenses, including size, weight and versatility – and frequently how that kit can be customised and integrated into larger or smaller productions. Your professional video solutions must provide high production standards at all levels and be reliable and future-proof to protect your initial investment.
Here, we look at the range of filmmaking kit available for a number of budget levels, with comments from experienced cinematographers and Canon Ambassadors Elisa Iannacone and Martin Christ, plus technical insights from Canon Europe Product Specialist, Aron Randhawa.
KIT
The best kit for filmmaking
Smaller budgets
If you're a solo shooter then budgets are often tight, and you'll want kit that both does the job well and allows you to be as flexible as possible.
The Canon EOS R5 C is a full-frame mirrorless camera that's a great entry-point option for content creators who capture both stills and video. Aron describes it as a powerful hybrid camera with the added benefits of being compact and lightweight. "What makes it unique is that it provides highly professional output for both photo and video," he says.
"You get most of the same features as the Canon EOS R5, such as the 45MP full-frame sensor, the 20fps burst and the RF mount," Aron continues. "Then, on the video side, it has a lot of the same features as our Cinema EOS range, such as recording in 12-bit Cinema RAW Light, 4:2:2 10-bit XF-AVC and having a timecode terminal."
Another great option for lower budgets is the larger Canon EOS C70, which features a Super 35mm DGO sensor and shoots 4K up to 120p. It will suit those who are more familiar with Canon's Cinema EOS range of cameras, making it a popular choice for smaller professional outfits who shoot corporate productions, more intimate events, short films or music videos.
"The EOS C70 is built for solo filmmaking specifically and offers cinematic performance in an ultra-compact design – and also shares the same sensor as the EOS C300 Mark III," explains Aron. "You're getting the very best imaging sensor that Canon can deliver for filmmaking, which provides over 16-stops of dynamic range. It has many of the fundamental qualities that you'd expect from a film camera, despite its small size, including built-in ND filters and XLR terminals."
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Documentary filmmaker Elisa Iannacone, who has produced work for organisations including National Geographic and Newsweek, utilises the quality and flexibility of the Canon EOS C70 when shooting in remote locations where larger kit isn't suitable. "Working with smaller cameras enables you to be a bit more nimble," she says. "I might be taking the EOS C70 into a conflict area, a humanitarian crisis, or somewhere where I want to be inconspicuous and versatile. With a bigger camera like the EOS C300 Mark III, people can get intimidated."
Both the Canon EOS R5 C and the EOS C70 feature Canon's groundbreaking RF mount and are compatible with the full range of Canon's existing EF lenses when used with adapters such as the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R and the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R 0.71x.
If you're just starting out, a zoom lens is a great option for your system, offering plenty of flexibility. The Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM would be a perfect first choice for everything from filming wide establishing shots to talking-head-style interviews. As your budgets and requirements grow, the RF 70-200mm F4L IS USM offers greater creative freedom and options. These two lenses offer individual filmmakers high-quality optics with plenty of versatility, covering a huge focal range.
Mid-range budgets
If you've moved past solo shooting and into bigger budget productions – but aren't quite at a prestige studio budget yet – then you'll find you need to be using industry standard kit that can be adapted to suit a variety of shooting scenarios. The Canon EOS C300 Mark III is the next step up in production size, with the larger, modular body giving access to plenty of direct control and advanced connectivity. The camera features a Super 35mm 4K DGO sensor with greater flexibility than the Canon EOS C70.
The EOS C300 Mark III is also more attuned to professional production workflows and has various file formats, colour depths and codecs to choose from. This includes 12-bit Cinema RAW Light recording up to 1Gbps, which provides high fidelity capture and more flexibility in post-production, making it an ideal solution for short films.
In addition, the EOS C300 Mark III adds greater workflow customisation, necessary for working with larger crews. This includes support for electronic viewfinders, simultaneous SDI/HDMI outputs, custom User LUTs and industry-standard V-mount battery solutions. In addition, the camera features an interchangeable lens mount, allowing either EF or PL mount lenses to be used for even further flexibility.
"The EOS C300 Mark III is rugged and easy to carry around; you can build it up and strip it down," says Elisa. "You can do perfect cinema work if you pair it with compatible lenses and you can also do broadcast work. It's a camera that has become an industry standard in my mind."
At this stage in your career, you'll probably already have a selection of lenses you've invested in. When you do need to expand your kitbag, you'll be looking for lenses that offer good compatibility with industry standards. The EOS C300 Mark III is well-complemented by the Canon CN-E18-80mm T4.4 L IS KAS S and the CN-E70-200mm T4.4 L IS, Compact Cine Servo lenses designed for 4K Super 35mm cameras and with built-in servo control. Together, they offer a flexible range of focal length, and their size and weight mean they're ideal for fast-paced shooting environments such as news gathering and documentary.
Monitoring on the EOS C300 Mark III also takes a step up, with a 12G-SDI terminal enabling 4K 60p playback through a single cable. In addition, the support for Canon's optional EVF-V50 or EVF-V70 viewfinders allows operators to closely monitor the image in a range of challenging lighting conditions. The camera's modular design also means it can be built up or down according to the specific needs of a production.
Canon's cinema lens range explained
Higher budgets
High-end users shooting festival-standard films or commercials for prestige brands demand a camera that's versatile enough to see them through a whole range of filmmaking projects and one that delivers truly stunning visuals. The Canon EOS C500 Mark II features a full-frame 5.9K sensor, full customisation and professional recording standards that enable it to integrate seamlessly with large-scale productions, making it an ideal solution for professional, large-scale film.
"The EOS C500 Mark II is Canon's flagship full-frame production camera," explains Aron. "Its 17:9 DCI sensor is designed specifically for filmmaking and it features 15-stops of dynamic range. Otherwise, it is exactly the same form factor as the EOS C300 Mark III, so all of the benefits, such as the modular accessories, advanced connectivity and recording formats, are the same."
Filmmaker Martin Christ, whose work has included high-end TV commercials and behind-the-scenes documentaries, is a regular user of the EOS C500 Mark II. He says the camera's full-frame sensor was one of the main attractions. "I like to shoot wide angle, 24mm or 35mm," he says, "and I find the shallow depth of field you get with full-frame makes for a classy cinematic look."
Martin also likes the flexibility of the modular system, which enables you to attach optional accessories according to the demands of the production. "I'm shooting a series for Amazon right now, where I need the big 'establisher' shots on dolly and crane, but I also sometimes need to shoot handheld with a small camera," he continues.
If you're working with a higher budget, prime lenses may be paramount in your decision-making in order for you to capture the look you want. For a truly cinematic feel, pairing the Canon EOS C500 Mark II with Sumire Prime lenses lenses will give you a vintage, full-frame look with a touch of softness, delicate skin tones and silky bokeh.
Canon's Flex Zoom lenses also offer outstanding optical performance and full-frame support, while maintaining a constant T2.4 iris across the entire focal range. These are a perfect companion for the EOS C500 Mark II when the flexibility of zoom lenses is required.
Another key part of the workflow at the top-end level of film production is a high-quality 4K monitor. Canon offers a range of options, including the Canon DP-V3120, a 31-inch 4K professional display that provides industry-leading 2,000 nits of full-screen brightness and 2,000,000:1 contrast ratio with exceptional accuracy and consistency, ideal for post-production and colour grading. The more compact 18-inch DP-V1830 provides outstanding HDR performance for on-set monitoring.
All Canon Cinema EOS cameras provide various high quality recording formats including Cinema RAW Light and XF-AVC, alongside consistent colour science and log gamma enabling you to mix and match footage seamlessly. Whether you're a filmmaker at the start of your professional journey or an accomplished DoP working on high-end productions, there is a camera in the Canon range that can help you realise your creative vision.
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