If you’re working on a field or studio production with high-end cameras that can benefit from remotely controlled cameras with minimal operating crew, and you need more accurate camera-matching than a traditional PTZ camera, the satin black CR-N500 Professional 4K NDI PTZ Camera with 15x Zoom from Canon will fit right into your documentary shoot, event, streaming broadcast, reality show, or digital film production. The CR-N500 is designed to fit right into an existing multi-camera shoot, matching the color depth and visual look with its professional sensor and features so that postproduction camera matching and color correction is made easy.
The CR-N500 sports many resources of a high-resolution Canon camera or camcorder with features such as a 1″ dual-pixel CMOS sensor, the Canon DIG!C DV6 image processor, scene modes, face-tracking, 15x zoom, 20x digital zoom, dual XLR / 3.5mm microphone input, and video recording up to UHD 4K. The camera also includes NDI|HX support without requiring a separate license, allowing you to drop the camera into your existing NDI network with minimal configuration. Other professional camera attributes of the N500 include genlock support, Canon Log 3 support, and built-in ND filters with clear, 1/4, 1/16, and 1/64 options.
Where the PTZ camera diverges from the Canon camcorders is in its remote options such as control via IP, RS-422 serial, IR, or Wi-Fi as well as HDMI or 3G-SDI video output. It can perform smooth, precision pan, tilt, and zoom movements with a speed range of 0.2 to 300° per second. Mic-level audio can be input via dual XLR inputs or via a 3.5mm mini-jack, and then embedded in the HDMI and 3G-SDI outputs, in your NDI|HX stream, or in RTP/RTMP/RTSP streaming output.
The camera can also be powered using PoE+ (Power-over-Ethernet) using its LAN port, so it can fit right into your existing PoE+ network without requiring the use of local power to save cabling. The camera supports wide dynamic range, minimum brightness of 1.5 lux, and its lens features a 35mm equivalent focal length of 25.5 to 382.5mm. The camera can utilize an external controller via RS-422 or Canon’s proprietary XC IP protocol on a private, secure LAN, using the optional RC-IP100 PTZ controller. Or if you’d prefer to use Canon’s camera control software, the free-to-download application can work on Windows OS, so you can control all the camera functions from a laptop or tablet. The software provides a 9×9 live view, control of up to 100 cameras, settings loading and configuration, and tally functions.
Key Features
The CR-N500 features a Canon 1″ 4K CMOS image sensor capable of UHD 4K video capture at 30p and up to 60p in Full HD, making the CR-N500 PTZ camera great for the remote and unobtrusive capture of professional productions.
The 1″ sensor allows for larger photosites compared to smaller-sized sensors found in other PTZ cameras, resulting in stunning images with less noise in low-light situations. The large sensor also exhibits a shallow depth of field at large apertures, producing blurred backgrounds in images, while Canon’s DPAF tracks and keeps subjects in sharp focus. The CR-N500’s DIG!C DV 6 imaging processor drives the high sensitivity (1.5 lux) and low-noise performance of the camera yielding amazing imagery in a variety of shooting conditions.
Canon Log 3 is a gamma regarded for its latitude and flexibility with post-processing. It realizes a dynamic range (800% / 13-STOP equivalent) while retaining the characteristics of the dark area and the proximity of 18% grey.
Log shooting is particularly effective for constantly shifting shooting sites such as unscripted productions and documentaries or sites with rapidly changing lighting conditions. Canon Log 3 is a gamma considering a simple grading by tightening the dark area to arrange the gradation, which retains the ease of use of Canon Log making the noise less visible.
Shooting in log allows the CR-N500 to more easily match the color and look of other cameras, especially those also shooting in log. This helps provide a more consistent look across the entire production.
The CR-N500 supports the Standard VISCA Protocol to remotely control the camera via IP. When connecting a standard VISCA protocol-compatible remote controller to the camera over IP or serial RS-422, the camera can be operated remotely and shooting settings can be adjusted by utilizing the remote controller.
The standard VISCA protocol is widely used in video production, broadcasting, and many other markets. The CR-N500 supports the standard VISCA protocol that is regarded as an industry standard and is suitable for operation within existing workflows.
The Remote Camera Control Application can be utilized to control the CR-N500. The Remote Camera Control Application is a Windows application for centralized control of multiple cameras. It is possible to operate up to nine cameras and display videos at the same time, achieving a multi-camera operation.
At a video production or broadcasting site, an operator can select a camera from the videos displayed on the “Connected Camera List”, within the application and operate it from the “Camera Control Area” in the control panel of the software. The software is included and can be installed immediately without having to prepare a hardware controller in advance making it easy to use for the operator while creating an effective one-person operation.
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