Canon's 4K cinema camera — Super 35 with PL or EF mount for high-end production.
The Canon EOS C500 is a Cinema EOS camera released approximately 2012 as Canon's first 4K RAW cinema camera in the EOS Cinema line, recording 4K RAW to an external recorder via dual-link 3G-SDI. First-generation C500 (preceding the C500 Mark II). Canon EF mount.
Super 35mm Cinema CMOS sensor. 4K RAW to external recorder (dual-link 3G-SDI; requires external RAW recorder). 2K internal recording to CF cards. Canon EF mount. At approximately 1,640g body. 60fps maximum at 2K; 30fps at 4K RAW. Canon EF mount.
The C500 introduced 4K RAW recording to the Cinema EOS line in 2012 — the first 4K RAW from a Canon EOS-mount camera. The 4K RAW recording requires an external recorder (Codex Onboard M or similar); internal CF card recording captures 2K. The C500 Mark II (2019 successor) adds 6K RAW, full-frame sensor options, and multiple mount options. Note: C500 Mk I = EF mount, 4K RAW external; distinct from the C300 (internal 4K) and C70 (RF mount).
On the used market the Canon EOS C500 (first generation) is a historic Cinema EOS camera with 4K RAW capability requiring an external recorder. Condition checks: Canon EF mount contacts, CF card slots, SDI output ports, body condition, battery health (BP-A series). The C500 Mk II is the substantially updated successor.