Imagine having complete command over your Canon cinema camera, right at your fingertips, without ever having to fumble through menus or break your focus. SmallHD just made that a reality! They've unveiled their much-anticipated Camera Control for Canon, and it's a game-changer for streamlining your workflow on set. This integration promises to save you precious time and keep you in the creative zone.
SmallHD's Camera Control software, built upon their acclaimed PageOS platform, essentially lets you adjust crucial camera settings directly from your SmallHD monitor. Think of it as having a remote control for your Canon, seamlessly integrated into your monitoring setup. No more running back and forth to the camera body! It's all about efficiency and maintaining that crucial creative flow.
So, what exactly can you control? Well, pretty much everything you need to fine-tune your image. You can adjust shutter speed, aperture, ISO, ND filters, and even select your desired codec. Plus, you can start and stop recording with a simple touch.
But here's where it gets controversial... Some filmmakers might argue that this level of control on a monitor could lead to over-reliance on technology, potentially sacrificing the hands-on feel and intuitive connection with the camera. What do you think? Does this enhance creativity or potentially hinder it?
And this is the part most people miss... It's not just about basic settings. The Camera Control software also unlocks touch-to-focus functionality, allowing you to precisely dial in your focus points directly on the monitor. Furthermore, you gain complete access to your Canon's entire menu system, eliminating the need to navigate those menus on the camera's smaller screen.
The real power comes from combining Canon Camera Control with SmallHD's other PageOS monitoring tools. You can create customized pages that display waveforms, vectorscopes, focus peaking, and now, your camera controls, all in one place. This provides a comprehensive overview of your image and camera settings, ensuring you're capturing the best possible footage.
Camera Control is currently compatible with a range of popular Canon cinema cameras, including:
- EOS C300 Mark III
- EOS C500 Mark II
- EOS C400
- EOS C70
- EOS C80
To take advantage of this new functionality, you'll need one of the following SmallHD monitors:
- Cine 5
- Ultra 5 / Ultra 5 RX / Ultra 5 TX
- Cine 7
- CINE7 500 RX / CINE7 500 TX / CINE7 SK RX
- Ultra 7 / Ultra 7 RX (750 & 1500) / Ultra 7 TX (750 & 1500)
- Ultra 10 / Ultra 10 RX
- Cine 13
- Cine 18
- Cine 24
- Vision 17
- Vision 24
- OLED 22
- OLED 27
- Quantum 27
- Quantum 32
According to Matt Eidenbock, Product Manager at SmallHD, their goal is to "give filmmakers complete control and flexibility on set." He believes that bringing Canon compatibility to their Camera Control lineup will lead to "more efficiency, less back and forth, and a more seamless monitoring experience."
Camera Control for Canon is available for purchase right now at www.smallhd.com.
This integration has the potential to significantly impact how filmmakers work with Canon cinema cameras on set. It promises to streamline workflows and provide greater control over the image. However, it also raises questions about the balance between technology and hands-on filmmaking.
What are your thoughts? Is this a welcome addition to the filmmaking toolkit, or do you see potential drawbacks? Share your opinions in the comments below!
