PR

Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today has introduced the Company’s first multi-purpose camera, the new ME20F-SH, which delivers exceptionally high sensitivity to capture Full HD video with a minimum subject illumination of less than 0.0005 lux1 (at maximum 75 dB gain setting, equivalent to an ISO sensitivity of over 4,000,000). Nighttime surveillance and security, cinematic production, reality television, and nature/wildlife documentaries are just some of the ME20F-SH’s many possible usage applications. With the ability to capture color video in extreme low-light conditions and its simplistic and versatile design, the ME-20F-SH Multi-purpose Camera can be easily incorporated into existing infrastructures and systems to provide high-quality video capture even where subjects might not be seen with the naked eye.

Canon’s new multi-purpose camera employs an enhanced version of the 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor for Full HD video use that was originally developed by the Company in 20132. Its compact, modular body design allows easy custom configurations for diverse usage scenarios. While capturing video in extreme low-light conditions often requires the use of infrared illumination (a technique that only yields video in black and white), the ME20F-SH camera achieves impressive high-sensitivity performance enabling the capture of color Full HD video with reduced noise in low-light conditions without the need for infrared illumination.

Ultra-High-Sensitivity CMOS Sensor Enables Color Video Capture in Extreme Low-Light Conditions

The ME20F-SH camera’s CMOS sensor has pixels measuring 19 μm square3, which is more than 5.5 times the surface area of the pixels on the CMOS sensor featured in select top-of-the-line interchangeable lens cameras4. Furthermore, the sensor’s pixels and readout circuitry make use of Canon proprietary technologies to achieve both reduced noise and exceptionally high sensitivity on subjects with a minimum illumination of less than 0.0005 lux. This multi-purpose camera allows users to discern subjects under even some of the dimmest lighting conditions, such as environments lit by artificial illumination or under a moonless night sky. Furthermore, similar to Canon’s Cinema EOS System of professional digital cinematography cameras, the ME20F-SH camera includes Canon Log and Wide DR, which make possible a wide dynamic range, delivering high-image-quality video results across a range of illumination environments, from low- to brightly lit conditions

Canon’s Diverse Interchangeable EF Lens Lineup Enables Wide Range of Imaging Possibilities

The new ME20F-SH employs the same EF mount (Cinema Lock type) as Canon’s SLR cameras and Cinema EOS System-series of professional digital cameras, allowing users to make use of the Company’s extensive lineup of interchangeable EF lenses5. By letting users select the ideal lens based on their shooting or application requirements, taking into consideration such factors as angle of view and level of brightness, this multi-purpose camera facilitates a wide spectrum of imaging possibilities.

Supports various standard video-recording interfaces

Employing output-only 3G/HD-SDI and HDMI terminals, Canon’s ME20F-SH camera enables users working on location to output video via a single cable to a variety of peripheral equipment, including external recorders and monitors. Equipped with a φ2.5mm stereo mini-jack and a round 8-pin jack for RS-422, the multipurpose camera is capable of connecting with Canon’s RC-V100 Remote Controller (released in June 2014; sold separately)6. By allowing users to operate the camera or change settings from a remote location, the camera facilitates video capture from inaccessible locations as well as fixed-point surveillance. Furthermore, a φ3.5mm stereo mini-jack allows the camera to connect with an external microphone, enabling users working on location to output audio and video signals to connected peripheral equipment.

The Canon ME20F-SH is expected to be available in December 2015 at a suggested retail price of $30,000.

That price better include a seriously hefty codec and high frames rates. Good Lord.

ISO 4,000,000 sounds like a lot, but that's really only about 3 1/2 stops faster than the top ISO on the A7s which costs about 1/15 the amount and doesn't need active cooling (I'm assuming there's a fan of some sort inside the camera based on the "exhaust vent" on the side)... it'll be interesting to see how the A7s Mark II compares with this ISO and price-wise.

http://www.dpreview.com/articles/7606750544/canon-develops-high-sensitivity-full-frame-cmos-sensor-for-videos

Sample video:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/video/hands-review/canon-me20f-sh-full-frame-video-camera-sees-dark

New firmware

Firmware Version 1.0.3.1.00 incorporates the following enhancements.

• The following features are enabled for the CN-E18-80mm and T4.4 L IS KAS S:
  • Saving and displaying metadata, such as the model name and the focal distance of the lens when attached.
  • Support for Peripheral Illumination Correction.
  • Manual Iris control via the camera’s joystick.
  • Control of focus, zoom and iris using the separately-sold Remote Controller RC-V100.
  • One shot autofocus.
  • Automatic aperture and push auto iris functions.
  • Operation of REC start/stop by the separately-sold ZSG-C10.
• Three camera modes have been added:
  • Tv: Shutter speed is selectable. Iris, Gain and ND Filter* are set automatically.
  • Av: Iris is selectable. Shutter speed, Gain and ND Filter* are set automatically.
  • AGC: Shutter speed and Iris are selectable. Gain and ND Filter* are set automatically.
• ND Filter can also be set manually.
• Adds Peripheral Illumination Correction for the following lenses:
  • EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
  • EF 35mm f/1.4L II USM
  • EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM
• Adds chroma-key correction function.
• Adds three white balance modes when the camera is set to Auto: custom White Balance Set, Preset and Color temperature.
• Adds 25PsF on output format.
• Adds [59.94P(i)]* and [50.00P(i)]* output setting for Monitor terminal.
• When the frame rate is set to 59.94P (NTSC) or 50.00P (PAL), the 3G/HD-SDI 1 / MONITOR terminal can be set to output interlaced signal.

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/cameras/multi-purpose-cameras/me20f-sh

New firmware

• Support for the color matrix function has been added.
• Support for the color correction function has been added.
• The following features are enabled for the CN-E18-80mm T4.4 L IS KAS S or CN-E70-200mm T4.4 L IS KAS S when “NU Protocol” is selected:
  • Focus position control
  • Zoom position control

https://www.usa.canon.com/internet/portal/us/home/support/details/cameras/cinema-eos/me20f-sh?subtab=downloads-firmware

Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced that its parent company Canon Inc. will be recognized at the 71st Annual Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards for the ME20F-SH Ultra-High Sensitivity Full-HD Camera. Presented by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS), the Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards honor development and innovation in broadcast technology and recognize companies, organizations and individuals for breakthroughs in technology that have a significant effect on television engineering. The Technology & Engineering Emmy® Awards will be presented on April 19th, 2020, during NAB 2020 in Las Vegas.

“We are grateful to receive this esteemed recognition for our revolutionary ME20F-SH camera,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and COO, Canon U.S.A. “This marks Canon’s fifth Emmy, an accomplishment we are immensely proud of. This award is a testament to the company’s commitment and vision for developing imaging tools that help creative professionals see what was previously considered impossible.”

Canon’s remarkable ME20F-SH is a multi-purpose camera that can achieve ISO sensitivity of over 4,000,000 and employs an enhanced version of a 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor for Full HD video. Its compact, modular body design allows easy custom configurations for diverse usage scenarios. Since its introduction in July of 2015, this unique camera has been used by visionary cinematographers and productions such as National Geographic’s groundbreaking Earth Live broadcast in 2017. The program aired live video from remote wilderness sites around the world, utilizing the ME20F-SH for the nighttime locations to capture images of nocturnal creatures that would have otherwise gone unseen. While capturing video in extreme low-light conditions often requires the use of infrared illumination (a technique that only yields video in monochrome), the ME20F-SH camera achieves impressive high-sensitivity performance enabling the capture of color Full HD video with reduced noise in low-light conditions without the need for infrared illumination.

The ME20F-SH employs an EF mount, allowing users to make use of the Company’s extensive lineup of interchangeable EF lenses. By letting users select the ideal lens based on their shooting or application requirements, taking into consideration such factors as angle of view and level of brightness, this multi-purpose camera facilitates a wide spectrum of imaging possibilities.