Canon C80/C400: Dynamic range in 6K RAW vs 4K RAW?

[Meruem]

Hello everyone,

I’m a filmmaker based in France for over six years, mainly working on interviews and short films.

I recently acquired a Canon C80 and C400, and I’m currently shooting in 6K RAW LT with C-Log2.

I’d like to switch to 4K Super 35, but I’m wondering if I’ll lose any dynamic range in the process.

If so, how much? Are there any tests or measurements available on this?

Thanks in advance for your insights !

[shadowsports · Accepted solution]

Greetings,

Interesting question. I did some research.

The C80 and C400 both share a 6K BSI sensor.  (Up to 16 stops of DR is claimed). Dynamic range can be maintained when shooting super 35 on a 6K full frame sensor due to down sampling.  DR preservation also depends on the camera’s image sensor and how it processes data.

Two popular standards for measuring DR are Imatest and ARRI DRTC-1.  I haven't used and I'm not familiar with either tool.  You can also use DaVinci Resolve Studio to visually evaluate dynamic range (tonal value, highlight and shadows) during color grading.  Interpretation can also be affected by the LOG profile used.  Based on my research, you're going to get up to 16 stops of DR whether you're shooting in full frame or super 35 on the C80 or C400 due to their down sampling capability and the way their sensors process data.

[Meruem]

Hi Rick,

Thank you for taking the time to look into this and for sharing your knowledge! I really appreciate it.

I'll run some tests on my end as well to see how it holds up in different scenarios.

Thanks again!