Hey Filmmakers Chung Dha here, looking into Canon’s more recent patents, found something which might be the Canon XC20 camera. In 2021 Canon filed and granted an improvement to the original patent design from 2017, which also was granted in 2021. So it is likely they could still release this camera.
Overall camera design is just the XC15 but with an interchangeable lens mount and likely be an EF mount and not the RF mount, as there is a lot of space needed for a built-in focal reducer in the camera itself.
The reason for this is that the original Canon XC15 got a 1 inch sensor with 12megapixels, which is about a 3.07x cropfactor. It is also likely for them making a 1inch cinema camera would be able to keep the cost low, but also push the sensor abilities, as smaller sensors are easier to keep cool. But also benefit of a focal reducer is gaining more light and less high iso values be needed filming in the dark.
So in the patent I can also find the strength of the focal reducer which is 0.65x and specifically made for 1 inch sensor, so the final crop factor is 2x instead of 3.07x. Making the XC20 have a crop factor of m4/3, but using a Canon EF mount.
The latest patent improvement is to defocus the focal reducer when a lens is detached, the reason for this is they are afraid that when there is no lens attached that light shining onto the focal reducer could burn the sensor. Though I do have to say I never encountered this issue, it is interesting they found this a big enough issue to invent a solution for it.
But also likely the reason for Canon to still want to make this camera is that they might have a lot of backlog of parts from the Canon XC15 as it was never really a camera that sold well, as many complained it didn’t have an interchangeable lens mount and had an awful build in lens. And this way they can easily try to get rid of this backlog and sell a new budget cinema camera.
The patent does not really include any talks about the rest of the camera, but likely just be the same as XC15 specs being 4K but maybe update it to film in 10bit 422 internally with some newer codecs.
It feels like this camera could have been great if it was released 5 years ago, but nowadays the tech seems outdated.
With it being an EF mount with a 2x crop, it is quite an odd option for many filmmakers to choose this over an actual m4/3 cinema camera like the Blackmagic Pocket 4k which you can put a 0.64x focal reducer on and get a much smaller crop of 1.22x. Plus able to record in BRAW internally and cost at a very competitive price. The XC15 still cost around 2200 usd, but you can pick up a pocket 4k for 1300 usd and get a metabones XL for 650usd and still have money left.
In my opinion if Canon still wants to make the XC20 an interesting camera, they should just make it, with a MFT sensor with either a MFT mount or RF mount. As Canon already has a focal reducer for the RF mount. But it depends if Canon still has a large batch of 1 inch 12 megapixel sensors they need to get rid off, it is unlikely they would purchase or produce an MFT sensor.
So what is your opinion on the Canon XC20 being a 2x crop with an EF mount? Would you still buy it or if not what kind of specs would it need to make you interested?
