C400 focus peaking noise all over image

[Adtasa]

I got my C400 a while ago, it’s great so far but I’ve found a big issue with the focus peaking.

When you activate it it gives the entire image on the lcd a red cast or whatever color you chose in the menu. So not only does it make things in focus red but also all the noise present in the image. As soon as you turn it on the image gets noisier on the screen also. White is the only one you can use but it washes out the image and introduces a lot of grain to it.

Video of the issue: https://youtube.com/shorts/9JAD6tzAV1E?si=Zgovy4i9V6k2jwdB

Either I am missing something basic or there is an issue/bug with the camera/software. I have tried with different settings, but no matter what I do I always have this issue to a degree. it gets way worse if I crank up the peaking strength in the menu.

The C200, FX9 and FX6 I used to shoot with worked as it should with peaking, no issues there ever. This function on the C400 is almost unusable.

Anyone ever seen anything like this? Monitor LUT’s on/off makes no difference. Different gammas makes it either a bit better or worse.

This issue is not as visible in broad daylight on the monitor, but as soon as you have darker parts of on the screen the peaking color shows all over the place.

[Adtasa]

Here’s an update from Canon:

They’ve said that this is the exact same way peaking works across the entire Cinema EOS range, no difference.
This have not as issue reported by any other customers and due to that it’s not something they would look to address in a future firmware update.

From past experience manufacturers will only look to amend or update firmware based on public feedback and demand. And if only one person is reporting something then it will fall on deaf ears..

I’m urging other Canon EOS users such as C400, C80 and C70 to contact Canon and complain about this in order for them to fix it. If we don’t unite and contact them this will remain a broken feature in the camera.

[AtticusLake]

I'm sorry to hear about your problem.  I'm a C80 user myself, and I'm certainly not going to complain to Canon about this issue, because I've never seen it.  Peaking works great for me -- I use it all the time.

Peaking keys on all sharp changes in contrast in your image -- so yes, it will highlight noise.  I notice that you're shooting in dark conditions at ISO 3200 -- I'm pretty sure that's the problem.  I get the same issue at that ISO.  Reducing the ISO to 1600 clears it up.  Peaking is just not a good tool in that situation.

[AtticusLake]

BTW, you could try playing around with the frequency in the peaking settings; it might help a bit.

[Adtasa]

Hi, thanks for your reply. The image gets tinted because of peaking even if you shoot a bit dimmer scenes at higher ISOs or even at ISO 800. But it gets way worse the higher ISO you choose. The C200´s peaking did not do this at all in any way no matter what ISO you had. Also, Sony cameras does not have this issue either, this is the first time ever I experience anything like this. The peaking can´t be used in dimmer places, and that´s where you need it to know where the focus is.

I had an interview the other day, I was at ISO 1600 and the scene was not dark at all. But she had a black shirt on, so the peaking picked the noise in the black material up and tinted it, even when I tried to focus on the background. 

I have tried adjust the settings in every way possible, nothing helps. Canon brags with the ISO 12800 for shooting at night but with the peaking turned on it ruins most of the image on the LCD.

I´ve read the exatctly same thing on Reddit regarding C70 where the peaking causes the same issues:
https://www.reddit.com/r/cinematography/comments/u2lswe/red_tint_on_canon_c70_with_the_focus_peaking...

[Adtasa]

Hi again,

Here´s another test, as you may see the focus is at the door and that´s where the red marking is from the peaking.

But you can clearly see how the black parts of the screen gets a red tint as soon as you turn on the focus peaking:
https://youtube.com/shorts/H6aGf0yGXg0?si=PnAvxl1QRIqRS0S4

This is not a normal behaviour and should not be accepted as such.

[Adtasa]

I was right all along, Canon has acknowledged the issues I’ve been talking about and will fix it with a firmware update. As I said all along this is not a normal behavior, I’ve been working in cinema- and video production for 15 years and the current state of focus peaking is unacceptable.

I’m glad to see that all my efforts finally paid off.

[Tobias]

I am also an owner of a C400.
I'm also not at all happy with the peaking on the C400. As you describe, a film covers the entire screen when you turn on peaking. Especially in dark scenes.
Normally, peaking only affects the area that is in focus.
I also don't understand why it's so difficult to create nice peaking.
An improvement with an update would be desirable.

I would also like to see a proper viewfinder.
Otherwise, I think the images from the C400 are great.

[Adtasa]

Glad to hear that I´m not the only one. I came from Sony FS7 and FX9 as my main cameras for many years and the peaking was perfect, it did exactly what it should do, and that is to show me only the part that is in focus. Simple as that. What really frustrated me was that people all over the internet told me that this is how it should work and that nothing is wrong. The level of incompetence regarding this was baffling to me as I know that I was right.
Before I got my C400 I shot a big project on C200, and the funny thing is that the C200 peaking worked great no matter what ISO I shot on. So something happened along the way where Canon messed up big time.

If you´ve missed it an update will be released probably this month where Canon clearly states that they will fix this issue. I have emailed, called and commented on all their social media regarding this like a maniac for an entire year. At the end it must have reached the right person. 

These issues have been known since the C70 and was never fixed, that shows you the level of wrong information spreading around that "it should work like this" and that Canon really didn´t care.

[Tobias]

I've also been using Sony for years. IMX, PDW700, FX3, FX9, etc. The peaking has always been great. I switched to Canon because I like the look of the image much better.

But the peaking is disappointing. I think those who consider this normal don't know what real peaking is.

Unfortunately, I'm not familiar with Canon's smaller cameras, but I believe that even the C300 and C500 had better peaking. But that was a long time ago.