Best Practices Guide COMMON STEPS TO PREP THE EOS C300 FOR SHOOTING For more info: cinemaeos.usa.canon.
EOS C300 controls referenced in this guide: Left side view Power switch Select dial SET button ND Filter “+” button ND Filter “-” button Control dial Status button Custom Picture button Custom White Balance button Cooling intake vents Rear view Eye-level viewfinder Rear LCD panel Function button Start-Stop button Joystick / SET button Card slot A and release switch Card slot B and release switch Slot Select button Menu button SD card slot (on right side) Battery door and latch
EOS C300 Best Practices Guide Best Practices for preparing the C300 for shooting For the complete instruction book, please go to: http://usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/products/professional_cameras/ cinema_eos_cameras/eos_c300 - BrochuresAndManuals NOTE: The instruction book should be taken as the final authority on the operation of the C300. Please read the instruction manual. 1. Firmware: Check to see that the camera has the latest firmware: http://usa.canon.
EOS C300 Best Practices Guide 4. 3 Cooling System: There are cooling holes on both the left and right sides of the camera body (fresh air intake), as well as at the top (warm air exhaust). It is vital that these be open at all times, and not blocked with tape or covered by various accessories fitted to the camera. Operators must be aware of the location of these cooling vents, and insure that the cooling system is not blocked in any way. 5.
EOS C300 Best Practices Guide 7. 4 Reset the camera: For setting up for a new shoot, do a full reset on the camera. This clears any previous settings, and returns the camera to a known, factory-default state. This is especially important if the camera has been rented, and you’re not certain of all settings from its most recent use. For the following days, as long as no one has touched the camera a full reset is not necessary. MENU > Be sure to select OK to complete the process. 8. 9.
EOS C300 Best Practices Guide 10. 5 Setting up the LCD and EVF: The camera can be operated with or without the Canon-supplied LCD monitor connected. Caution about the EVF: Allowing direct sun or to strong light sources into the electronic viewfinder may cause damage to internal components.
EOS C300 Best Practices Guide 6 Setting ISO or Gain (continued): To select ISO or Gain as your preferred method of controlling sensor sensitivity: MENU > To actually set or change ISO or Gain: 1. Press the FUNCTION button (on rear of camera) repeatedly, until ISO or Gain is highlighted on camera’s viewfinder/LCD monitor display 2. Turn SELECT Dial (larger of two dials on left side of camera), until desired setting appears on-screen (page 61 of the instruction manual) 13.
EOS C300 Best Practices Guide 15. 7 Interval recording, and Slow/Fast frame rates The C300 is also capable of interval recording, as well as slow and fast frame rates: • Interval Recording: intervals from 1 sec.
EOS C300 Best Practices Guide 8 Shutter Control (continued): To set or change the actual shutter speed, angle, etc — 1. Press FUNCTION button (rear of camera) repeatedly, until shutter value is highlighted in viewfinder or on LCD monitor display 2. Rotate SELECT Dial (larger dial on left side of camera) until desired value appears on display 3. Press SET. 17. Canon Log shooting The EOS C300 and C300PL can record video files using “Canon Log” Gamma.
EOS C300 Best Practices Guide 19. 9 Setting up Time Code: The EOS C300 uses SMPTE standard Time code. • Preset options include Rec Run, and Free Run. • The Regen option reads any recorded time code on the selected memory card, and will continue from the last recorded time code. (Time Code only runs while recording when Regen is active, so consecutively recorded clips will have continuous time code.) MENU > (page 73 of the instruction manual) 20.
EOS C300 Best Practices Guide 22. 10 To take a Custom WB reading: • Aim camera at white or neutral gray test object. Be sure it fills entire picture area. • Press CustomWB button on left side of camera; “A” or “B” icon will blink rapidly — hold camera so test object fills screen until icon stops blinking. When blinking stops, procedure is completed. Setting will be retained, even if camera is shut off. (page 66 of the instruction manual) Black balance See item 9 on page 3 of this document.
EOS C300 Best Practices Guide 26. 27. 11 Audio reference signals: A 1 kHz audio reference signal can be output with the color bars on the EOS C300. Levels can be user-set at -12 dB, -18 dB, and -20 dB. To activate an audio reference signal... MENU > Setting up assignable Buttons: There are 15 assignable buttons on the C300. Each assignable button on the camera is numbered, making them easy to identify. These can be assigned to various functions to make it easier to operate the camera.
EOS C300 Best Practices Guide 12 Recording to a single card slot: To select one CF card slot for active recording, press the Slot Select button on the left side of the camera. The card access LED lamp adjacent to slot A or B will glow green to indicate which is active, and a triangle icon will appear next to “A” or “B” on the smaller rear LCD info panel.
EOS C300 Best Practices Guide 31. 13 Saving camera settings to SDHC card: EOS C300 camera settings can be saved onto an SD memory card, and then applied to other C300 cameras — allowing for easier, and identical set up of multiple cameras. MENU > • Menu: saves menu settings to the SD card • Menu + CP: Saves menu settings plus any Custom Picture settings to SD card • Be sure to highlight and select OK, and then press the SET button (page 111 of the instruction manual) 32.
