Canon unveils a new line of 4K PTZ cameras with premium performance and a premium price
(Image credit: Canon)
Canon has announced a trio of high-end 4K PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) cameras, including a monster outdoor broadcast camera that carries a $22,000 price tag.
The PTZ market has absolutely exploded during the pandemic, with the live streaming industry seeing an astonishing 45% growth in just a single month between March and April last year (when the first lockdown hit in full force).
Accordingly, Canon has bolstered its PTZ offerings with three new models to meet the growing demands of remote and live production. The CR-N500 and CR-N300 indoor cameras both feature IP streaming and operation, with image stabilization and recording up to 4K 30p.
The top-dollar CR-X500 is built for the outdoors with IP55 Water and Dust proof rating, an inbuilt wiper to deal with wet conditions, and 4K 60p video with 15x optical zoom or 1080p with 30x advanced zoom.
Canon is also launching a joystick & touchscreen controller for use with these PTZ cameras - the Canon RC-IP100.
• 4K 30p (4:2:2 10-bit) max resolution
• 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor
• Hybrid AF
• Digic DV6 processor
• 20x optical zoom
• USB support for webcam use
All three cameras will be available from spring 2021, with the Canon CR-N500 retailing for $5,399 / £5,399.99 (approximately AU$9,715), the Canon CR-N300 for $2,699/£2,699.99 ($AU$4,858) and the Canon CR-X500 for $22,000 / £23,750.00 (AU$42,735).
The Canon RC-IP100 controller will retail for $1,199 / £2,051.
The editor of Digital Camera World, James has 21 years experience as a journalist and started working in the photographic industry in 2014 (as an assistant to Damian McGillicuddy, who succeeded David Bailey as Principal Photographer for Olympus). In this time he shot for clients like Aston Martin Racing, Elinchrom and L'Oréal, in addition to shooting campaigns and product testing for Olympus, and providing training for professionals. This has led him to being a go-to expert for camera and lens reviews, photo and lighting tutorials, as well as industry news, rumors and analysis for publications like Digital Camera Magazine, PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine, N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine, Digital Photographer and Professional Imagemaker, as well as hosting workshops and talks at The Photography Show. He also serves as a judge for the Red Bull Illume Photo Contest. An Olympus and Canon shooter, he has a wealth of knowledge on cameras of all makes – and a fondness for vintage lenses and instant cameras.
