Canon's full-frame RF Cinema EOS production camera — a 6K back-illuminated stacked sensor, a C-line first.
The Canon EOS C400, announced in June 2024, is Canon's full-frame RF-mount production camera and the first Cinema EOS body with a back-illuminated stacked sensor. It launched at around £7,000-£7,500 body-only in the UK, positioned between the C80 and the C500 Mark II's old slot.
The 6K full-frame BSI stacked sensor gives a triple base ISO of 800/3200/12800 in Canon Log 2, fast readout with minimal rolling shutter, internal 12-bit Cinema RAW Light at up to 6K 60p and 4K up to 120p (2K crop to 180p), recorded to CFexpress Type B with SD proxy. It carries 12G-SDI, timecode in/out, built-in motorised NDs, full-size XLR on the included handle plus a mini-XLR on the body, and Dual Pixel CMOS AF II with the RF mount opening up Canon's speed booster-free full-frame glass.
Its significance is consolidating Canon's mid-range cinema line into one full-frame stacked-sensor body, and it quickly became a hire-fleet staple for drama and documentary in the UK.
On the used market check whether the body is ex-hire (asset label residue, worn rosettes and plate threads) and ask for the operating hours. Confirm the microphone holder, handle and grip are present since kits get split, and that the mini-XLR and full-size XLR inputs all pass audio. Cycle the ND unit, verify timecode and 12G-SDI BNCs are firm, run a 6K RAW clip to CFexpress to test the slot and thermals, and check triple base ISO switching in Log 2. Firmware updates since launch added AF and monitoring refinements, so confirm it is current; remaining Canon Europe warranty is worth a real premium here.