By technical editor Matt Allard:
The Canon C300 is probably the single most popular camera for mid level production right now. Broadcasters like the BBC and Al Jazeera use them for much of their factual programming – in large part due to their lighter weight, 50Mb/s internal recording and moderate price.
It is interesting therefore to see that B&H have just dropped the price of the C300 from $13,999 to $11,999 (via a $2000 instant saving at checkout) and applies to both EF and PL versions. Last year B+H made a similar reduction dropping the camera from $15,999 to $13,999. (Edit – other retailers like Abelcine also have the same price drop and so this is clearly driven by Canon)
The reason behind this latest drop is unclear but it also follows the price reduction of the 4K capable C500 and C100 earlier this year. The price does not include the recent Dual Pixel CMOS AF upgrade but you will soon be able to purchase this already upgraded for an additional $500 from B+H.
I think this is a good move by Canon. While sales of the C300 have remained strong, the competition from other manufacturers has intensified in recent months. Sony’s F5 has been gaining popularity by offering a much more comprehensive feature set for not much more money – albeit in a larger form factor. The price drop makes the Cinema EOS line more competitive again and extends the life of the C300 until a replacement is announced.
The clear winner here is the consumer – the barrier to owning a camera that is readily accepted by broadcasters and productions worldwide is lowered again.
