Canon has entered the high-end film camera market with the Cinema EOS.
It follows the booming success of the company's EOS 5D Mark II digital SLR camera, which gained a market among cinematographers attracted by the small size and impressive depth of field produced by its HD video.
The 5D has been used to film parts of several Hollywood films such as Captain America: The First Avenger and TV series such as House.
Canon Inc chairman and chief executive Fujio Mitarai said: “Reflecting upon the achievements that Canon EOS Digital SLRs have had in the industry thus far, we are confident the new Cinema EOS series products will bring that success to a whole new level.”
Filmmakers such as Jon Favreau, Ron Howard and Martin Scorcese reportedly attended the Hollywood launch of the Cinema EOS.
The product launch included seven new 4K EF Cinema Lens models: four zoom lenses covering a wide zoom range from 14.5 mm to 300 mm (two models each for EF and PL lens mounts) and three single-focal-length lenses for EF mounts. All seven new lenses deliver 4K (4096 x 2160 pixels) optical performance and compatibility with Super 35 mm-equivalent sensors.
The camera will be vying with the RED EPIC and the ARRI ALEXA, which are both quickly becoming favoured choices among cinematographers. The EPIC is being used to shoot The Great Gatsby, while the ALEXA has been used on several local films including upcoming comedy A Few Best Men.