Canon has today announced that its Cinema EOS C300 camera "has met the standards the BBC requires from cameras tested to the EBU recommendation EBU R118."
The approval allows both internal and external BBC production teams to use the EOS C300 "for the production of a variety of programmes to be broadcast on the BBC's range of HD channels."
In a statement issued this morning, Kieran Magee, director of professional marketing at Canon Europe, says: "The EOS C300 has received a fantastic response since it launched in November last year, and we're delighted it's been approved for use by the BBC."
He adds: "By utilising the expertise in our video, broadcast, DSLR and lens groups, we've created a unique product that offers exceptional creative scope for videographers of all kinds. Its quality and versatility make it ideal for a number of different shooting purposes, and we're looking forward to seeing how the BBC puts it to use."
The EOS C300 features a newly developed sensor, dubbed Super 35mm, offering a resolution of 8.29 megapixels. However, Canon points out that the sensor has a pixel size "larger than that for conventional professional camcorders, enabling greater light-gathering capabilities for enhanced sensitivity and reduced noise". The camcorder can record Full HD video signals for each of the three RGB primary colours, which decreases the incidence of moiré. However, the camcorder cannot record footage at a 4K resolution.
The EOS C300 can record at frame rates of 59.41i, 50.00i, 29.97P, 25.00P, 23.98P, and 24.00p, which matches the 24 frame-per-second frame rate of film cameras "for high compatibility with common film-production workflows". It will be available in two models - the EOS C300 Digital Video Camcorder, equipped with an EF lens mount, and the EOS C300 PL Digital Video Camcorder, with a PL lens mount for use with industry-standard PL lenses.
