Available in February for a $500 charge...

"The Canon feature upgrade will provide the EOS C100 camera (first introduced in November 2012) with greatly improved autofocus (AF) functionality made possible through Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology. First employed in the EOS 70D digital SLR camera launched in August 2013, the innovative new AF technology helps facilitate greater shooting efficiency across a variety of shooting situations. For users that work with moving subjects, this optional Dual Pixel CMOS AF upgrade for the EOS C100 camera will allow for a smoother, more natural autofocus that can be particularly useful for video markets like documentary, sports, event and wildlife."

Full details in the press release here:

Canon offers Dual Pixel AF Upgrade for EOS C100 at DV Info Net (http://www.dvinfo.net/news/canon-offers-dual-pixel-af-upgrade-for-eos-c100.html)

It looks like the same technology as used in the 70d except no touch screen focus control.

Very good Canon. Now, if it's at all possible with the hardware, can we please have a 50p/60p slow motion option for the C100...and yes I would pay for it.

When will future models of the C100 come with this Dual-Pixel AF upgrade already installed?

or Is this only going to be an option to C100 owners who want it? I'm close to purchasing one and I'm wondering if I should wait and get a model that already has the upgrade installed.

Thanks,

A very good question Kevin. If they do, there might be a modest bump in the base price too, but I would think certainly not a full $500 increase (as I'm sure there is a lot more work retrofitting something than building it in at the factory). Therefore, unless you absolutely need the C100 NOW, I'd wait.

Also, I spotted this CVP review video of the 70D today. It nicely demonstrates the Dual-Pixel AF in action. I rarely use auto focus modes on cameras (apart from my little TM900) but I sure see how it would be very useful in some run-n-gun situations with my C100, like those cat-walk examples in this 70D video for instance.

Canon EOS 70D Review with Simeon Quarrie - YouTube

I'm hearing that this is an optional upgrade that users can elect to purchase.

The imager is replaced and the firmware are updated for the $500.

When will future models of the C100 come with this Dual-Pixel AF upgrade already installed?

or Is this only going to be an option to C100 owners who want it? I'm close to purchasing one and I'm wondering if I should wait and get a model that already has the upgrade installed.

Thanks,

It would be nice if they also replaced the LCD with a touch screen as well.

or Is this only going to be an option to C100 owners who want it? Correct -- my understanding is that there will be no change to future C100's coming down the line (in fact, I'm willing to bet that all of the C100's that will ever be made, have probably been made already, but not sold yet).

This is an extra thing you can have for another $500 and a trip to the service center, whether you own a C100 right now or you wait and buy one next year. If I'm not mistaken.

I've mentioned many times in the past that Canon USA follows this forum closely. This morning one of my contacts high up the chain at CUSA sent me an email regarding this particular discussion. Here's the official low-down:

1. There is no need to change the image sensor in the EOS C100 digital video camera in order to perform this feature upgrade.

2. This is an optional upgrade, and as such it will not be installed at the factory for future shipments of the C100.

3. Within the Cinema EOS line, the Dual Pixel CMOS AF feature upgrade is being offered exclusively for the EOS C100 camera.

4. Currently, we have no information to share about Canon's plans for other existing or future products.

Hope this helps,

interesting. so can this source confirm if there is any hardware change at all? is it just a firmware mod? is it a tuning?

cheers

Thanks for the info, no need to wait a new model then if this upgrade is only a optional thing.

i would really like to see this as an option for the C300 as well - but i'm not holding my breath.

Here is a video about the upgrade from Inter BEE 2013: News Shooter with Canon. At around 9:58 they talk about it.

Inter BEE 2013: News Shooter with Canon on Vimeo

Good find. Thanks for posting! Seems to work well (smoothly and fast). Pity its centre box only. The AF Lock feature will be very useful!

Very interesting interview and great to see the autofocus working so well with a standard L lens and as Andy points out the focus lock could be useful, although this is what you get with one shot focus.

And it seems that if enough C300 users make a lot of noise that they will also get this Dual-Pixel AF.

The AF looks really responsive and quite a bit faster than the AF we have all just gained with the new firmware. I've spent a lump of time experimenting with this using the 18-135 STM lens and it works very well, although it takes a fair while for it to actually resolve into focus with some objects and I've yet to try it with humans!

Just trying to clear something up in my mind. Am I right in assuming this Dual-Pixel Autofocus upgrade coming in Feb 2014 will only work with (most) Canon EF and any Canon STM lenses, i.e. but NOT with any Canon EF-S lenses?

Reason I ask is because my Canon EF-S 17-55mm F2.8 IS happens to be my main run-n-gun lens with the C100.

I can't see any reason it wouldn't work with EF-s lenses. Works just fine on my 70D, including 3rd party crop-only lenses like the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8.

Bob

Centre AF is very disappointing, about as useful as centre magnification, the subject is rarely in the centre :(

Bob, thanks for the reply. That all makes perfect sense, of course. But I am sure I saw a table of "supported lenses" somewhere in the last day or so and there were no EF-S lenses on the list (and a few EF lenses missing too).

Now, I sure wish I could find that web link that I had stumbled upon to check if it was a legit source!

This link says it will autofocus with all EF lenses except for manual focus lenses. I can see where someone might interpret the text as not including EF-S but, when I look at Canon's website, EF-S lenses are included under the umbrella of EF lenses.

Canon U.S.A. : EOS C100 Feature Upgrade (http://usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/standard_display/eos_c100_feature_upgrade)

Bob

Thanks to Mike Bishop for posting Dan Chung's interview from InterBee.

This is just speculation of course, but Mr Onda (sic) infers that the C100 always had this ability, but it requires individual lining up and adjustment - the upgrade fee is mostly 'Service' rather than hardware such as a new sensor. I could imagine that if every camera needed fettling in the hands of an engineer for an hour or two before sale, it would add significantly to the cost (to a very price sensitive market).

Hence, it's up to the end user whether it's worth $500 for the functionality (around the base cost of a Follow Focus unit, LOL).

But that also highlights the new firmware - if, for example, the AF area was tied to the now movable MAGN. area, that would be awesome. After all, that's obviously the 'focus of interest'.

I can't see any reason it wouldn't work with EF-s lenses. Works just fine on my 70D, including 3rd party crop-only lenses like the Tokina 11-16 f/2.8.

Bob, how consistent is the performance with the 11-16mm? That is one lens I think I'd really like having autofocus on.

Bob, how consistent is the performance with the 11-16mm? That is one lens I think I'd really like having autofocus on.

It is very good. Not quite as silent as an STM lens but it focuses quickly with virtually no hunting even with a 6-stop ND. It is really fun with the 70D because you can maintain focus on a subject at the far edge of a very wide field of view.

Bob

Bob, how reliable is autofocus on the 70d in low light?

Jim I thing the auto focus work well in low light. Now if something moves in front of what you focus it will focus on that subject. I'm a little new to shooting. I started back in Dec 2012 with a Canon ViXIA HF G10 witch I still have but pick up a 70D a few months ago. So I'm learning to get expose right and stuff. But here a post I made with a video I shoot at night. Frist time have it out at night. I was using the 50mm 1/8 lens for it. No lens hood on it. I was picking up green reflections I think from the led light that they had on the trees. Plus I might need to cover the view finder when shoot down there. So not the best shooter yet.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/canon-eos-crop-sensor-hd/519323-canon-eos-70d-video-shoot-night.html

Bob, how reliable is autofocus on the 70d in low light?

I would say the low light focus capability of the dual-pixel AF is the best of any DSLR I've used. I currently own a 7D, 5DII, and a 1DIII in addition to the 70D so, yeah...pretty good.

Bob

How does it handle shallow depth of field with a wide open aperture?

How does it handle shallow depth of field with a wide open aperture?

Very well but, you can get into trouble if there is a lot of material under the focus point. If the DOF is really thin and the area under the focus point has significant depth, the camera will not know what you want in focus. That said, the 70D has excellent facial recognition that locks on and holds focus very well.

Bob

This video from Dan Chung has some great shots showing Dual Pixel AF in action on a C100 with an EF-S lens.

Inter BEE 2013: Testing the Canon C100 Dual Pixel CMOS AF on Vimeo

Give us face tracking & the upgrade might be worth the money. I don't understand why pro bodies don't have face tracking? I mostly film people for a living, what is this centre focus crap?

Really snappy focus.

But you will need to actively use it with the focus lock button otherwise it shifts focus to momentary dominant shapes such as the bottle at 01.26.

I can't actually believe that they will let this 'upgrade' out in it's present form, it's too crude a tool, especially for a Cinema Eos Camera camera such as the C100.

Surely by the time this upgrade is available it will have some of the sophistication of the Dual Pixel AF on the 70D, with face recognition and the ability select a focus zone.

The present incarnation of continuous AF that came with the recent firmware upgrade ( only usable with 2 specific STM lenses ) actually looks more pleasant than this with a nice slow shift into focus but that requires optimum light and is far slower than the AF demonstrated in this clip.

I fully agree with both the above comments.

When I wrote "great" I actually meant "shows exactly how it performs". Note to self, drink my morning coffee before I star typing on a Sunday morning!

OK, now I'm off to see Gravity in 3D in a Cambridge cinema :-)

I also agree with the above post. I thought at first it was a must have and got quite excited, but it's not. Until the focus point is moveable or face recognition is available, I'm afraid it's no use to me. Certainly not fort $500.

If they can do it in the 70D then why not the C100?

Shame.

Centre focus does seem to be a case of 'aim at foot, pull trigger'. But...

Let's turn this around - offered a choice of, let say, face tracking and 'the focus centre is the middle of your magnified image' (e.g. the new 'move your MAGN. area with the joystick, and the AF square is the middle of that), which would you go for?

I'd like both, but would rather champion 'what I have in the middle of my MAGN area is what in focus' rather than relying on face tracking. Want both MAGN and full view? Get a Ninja. It's those hairy situations with a slider and an interview that I'd love a 'magic bullet' solution.

I'd hope this solution is easier and quicker to implement while being more useful to a wider range of users.

But yes.. Face detection is cool too.

Good points Matt.

I think I'd go for the focus in the centre rather than face recognition. But having said that, I could really have used face recognition on a narrative piece just the other week. It would have been an absolute life saver.

Anyway, what's wrong with wanting EVERYTHING? he he. And while we're at it, give us our slow motion and our stop motion please, Mr Canon sir.

Dan Chung at Newsshooter (http://www.newsshooter.com/2013/11/17/inter-bee-2013-testing-the-canon-c100-dual-pixel-cmos-af/) has posted a test video of the C100 with the Dual Pixel CMOS AF Upgrade:

https://vimeo.com/groups/canonc100/videos/79361465

Bob, thanks for the reply. That all makes perfect sense, of course. But I am sure I saw a table of "supported lenses" somewhere in the last day or so and there were no EF-S lenses on the list (and a few EF lenses missing too).

Now, I sure wish I could find that web link that I had stumbled upon to check if it was a legit source!

Found Canon's list of lenses that are compatible with dual-pixel CMOS AF. Of course, these are only Canon brand lenses but so far it seems most third party lenses work except some Tamrons.

Canon U.S.A. : Dual Pixel CMOS AF (http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/standard_display/daf_compatible)

Bob

Excellent! Thanks. It's not the list I originally saw when this news broke ...it's a better list... as (of course) there are EF-S lenses on this linked one :-)

Where has the cost ($500) been published for this upgrade? I didn't notice it on the Canon website.

How long would Canon have my C100 for this upgrade? I've neve used Canon services before.

Thanks,

The $500 upgrade cost is mentioned here:
Canon USA will perform this feature upgrade at a cost of $500, and will require that EOS C100 cameras be sent to an accredited Canon service center. Shipping and handling charges also may apply. Additional details will be provided when the upgrade becomes available. (http://usa.canon.com/cusa/professional/standard_display/eos_c100_feature_upgrade)

Canon is pretty quick with the firmware upgrades. I'd say 1-2 days in service.

I'm hearing the this particular upgrade will be directly through Canon and will not be available through dealers.

Great, I'll save the original box and packaging to to ship it in.

Thanks

when you send in the camera, only send in the body without the grip or any accessories.

Terry, I leased the C100 from you (and Canon actually). Can I still get the upgrade? Do I pay for it? Do I need to get Canon's permission? Is there a question I'm not asking that needs to be answered on this issue of a lease upgrade?

(by the way, I'm totally in love with the camera, and have found my 5D mkiii languishing. The C100 is outstanding).

Hi Al,

Always happy to hear from customers that love the gear we've sold them. Makes my job a lot more fun.

Regarding the C100 upgrade, yes you'll need to pay Canon directly to perform the upgrade.

I don't think you need permission to upgrade a leased camera, but I will ask Canon Financial Services this morning for a formal response.