The challenge
The challenge is between the recently introduced Cinema C300 developed by Canon and the latest from RED, the Scarlet-X. Canon has been a dominating brand when it comes to cameras and definitely one of the most famous among the general audience. RED’s Scarlet-X took a long time to enter the production as it was first envisioned to be a much cheaper video gear and was targeted to be for aspiring film makers but it turned out to be a splendid camera which can support a no of lenses. RED has gathered a lot of appreciation, especially when it comes to professional video cameras with the RED EPIC. The new Scarlet-X has been developed following the blueprints of their earlier success through EPIC. One side RED wants to dominate in the sector of professional video cameras and on the other side Canon wants to compete with its best.
Software
The Canon C300 has a super 35mm image sensor. The Canon C300 gives 1080p video output, but it’s a bit more complicated than that and if you actually calculate the camera captures a total of 3840×2160 pixels with the help of its 4.2.2 sampling. The Scarlet-X boasts on its 4K video shooting and 5K still image capturing just like its ancestor the RED EPIC. The raw 4K output generated by the Scarlet-X can be processed easily in the RED’s free software. Another difference between the Scarlet-X and Canon C300 is that the RED Scarlet-X provides a modular system that allows you to upgrade its capacity in the coming years. Working with Scarlet-X, you can swap the PL and Canon mounts but if we talk about the C300, this is not possible. Scarlet X at 5K resolution shoots at 6 fps which is appropriate for high quality still photography. At 4K resolution, the camera shoots at 1 to 24 fps which is suitable for film making. The Canon C300 gives a full HD final video output at 1080p. One significant quality that the Canon C300 has is that it has dual CF card slots that can be used as back-up in the real time scenarios which is missing in the Scarlet-X. The competition is close but there has to be someone leading
Winner: RED Scarlet-X
Price
Canon’s C300 has the advantage of a well set market, a charming brand value and a whole lot of loyal customers. The only thing that this camera has to deliver is good quality picture which it definitely does. On the other hand, the RED Scarlet-X lacks the extra support. The professionals know what the company is offering but the mass audience is unaware and they would want to stick to their trusted brands. The Canon C300 is offered at a price of $20,000 and the lenses and other accessories are to be brought additional. The Scarlet-X has a starting price of $9,750 plus you would need a kit with battery, LCD and controller that will cost you around $14,000. The price difference between the cameras is marginal. While the RED Scarlet-X is trying to deliver professional video recording at a very affordable price, the Canon C300 is delivering quality and trust at a higher price.
Winner: RED Scarlet-X
Target audience
The Canon C300 has a neck to neck competition with the RED Scarlet-X when it comes to target audience. Both the cameras are designed to please the budding photographers and cinematographers so that they have the right equipment to start with in an affordable price range. Canon’s C300 giving a full HD output of 1080p is developed to support motion picture cinematography and the Scarlet-X with its 4K resolution video output and 5K still image capture is developed for professional cinematographers and photographers. Canon is a very old and trusted brand and has an already built market value and customer loyalty. Though RED is known for its professional quality equipment, the Scarlet-X providing excellent quality features at a lower price would still have to fight for dominance.
The verdict
The Canon C300 is offering excellent quality equipment, something that you would expect from a brand like this but RED Scarlet-X has an edge when it comes to features and also the price difference between the two is enough for a budding cinematographer or even professionals to opt for a cheaper and a more equipped camera. Though Canon has a huge market demand when it comes to cameras, in this category RED is likely to be preferred. The Scarlet-X with better output and a lower price tag wins this one by a considerable margin.
