Canon CR-N500
A world leader in cameras and optics for decades, Canon recently entered the 4K PTZ market with a trio of cameras and associated remote controller. These three cameras are aimed at houses of worship, corporate video and security, offering Canon CMOS sensors, Digic DV 6 image processing and ultra-smooth PTZ control.
Canon claims the CR-N500 can capture usable video at light levels as low as 1.5 lux...
The Canon CR-N500 ($5,399) is the flagship camera of the line, boasting a 1" CMOS sensor. The all-weather CR-X500 ($22,000) is meant for outdoor use, and has the same sensor and similar electronics as the CR-N500. Larger sensors capture more light for better low-light performance, not unlike a larger solar panel capturing more sunlight. Coupled with up to 33 dB of electronic gain and Digic DV 6 image processing, Canon claims the CR-N500 can capture usable video at light levels as low as 1.5 lux (3.0 lux for the CR-X500). No industry standard controls how such numbers are achieved, so we look forward to testing these cameras' real-world low-light performance.
A flattering bokeh has largely remained a hallmark of expensive production cameras with large lenses.
Coupled with the right optics, a larger sensor also narrows depth of field to throw the background out of focus. Known as "bokeh", film and video producers go to great lengths to achieve a creamy, film-style background look. Canon has even thrown some R&D effort towards creating this effect, resulting in the CR-N500 and CR-X500's nine-bladed iris and neutral-density (ND) filter. More blades in the iris create more-desirable circular bokeh patterns. ND filters reduce light hitting the lens, forcing the iris open for a shallower depth of field. With your subject in the foreground, does it really matter how your background looks? Yes, and flattering bokeh has largely remained a hallmark of expensive production cameras with large lenses. We're eager to see if these two cameras can bring this look down to a more reasonable price range.
The CR-N300 ($2,699) has similar features to that of the CR-N500, but at a lower price point. This camera's CMOS sensor is just under 1/2" in size. The CR-N300 also has a smaller lens assembly with eight-bladed iris, which should translate to less-flattering bokeh. We look forward to seeing how the image quality of the CR-N300 compares to those with the 1" sensor.
Canon's new PTZ system offers 170 degree of pan and around 120 degrees of tilt...
Both the CR-N500 and CR-N300 have an HDMI output with full 4K video resolutions at high-quality 4:2:2 10-bit color resolution. Both cameras also have SDI and ethernet video outputs, though not at the highest color resolution (these instead carry 4:2:0 8-bit color). The SDI and ethernet outputs should work fine for most applications; only folks doing lots of post-production (i.e. color grading or chromakeying) will need the higher color resolution of the HDMI output. The CR-X500 camera has a single SDI output, offering 4K video resolutions and the higher 4:2:2 10-bit color resolution.
The CR-N500 and CR-X500 offer f/2.8-4.5 15x optical zoom lenses, with a 35mm equivalent zoom range of 26-380mm. The CR-N300 offers an even faster f/1.8-2.8 lens for low-light performance and a 20x zoom range (35mm equivalent 30-600mm). To keep this glass pointed in the right direction, Canon's PTZ system offers 170 degree of pan and around 120 degrees of tilt in the CR-N500 and CR-N300 (80 degrees of tilt with the CR-X500). The range of pan and tilt speeds of the CR-N500 and CR-N300 is impressive, from a barely perceptible 0.1 degrees per second (CR-X500) to a blistering 300 degrees per second (CR-N300). All three cameras offer optically stabilized lenses.
To control the cameras, Canon has also introduced the RC-100P remote camera controller ($1,999). The RC-100P will control up to 100 Canon cameras over ethernet, and includes a 7" touch screen and pan, tilt, zoom joystick. Whereas most PTZ cameras are moved only when a different camera is live, Canon claims its new joystick control system is smooth enough for "on-air" movements. We plan to put this claim to the test.
