Reasons to go for C300 over RED Scarlet X?

[Emmanuel Plakiotis]

Originally Posted by Tim Le

Emmanuel, I think you're referring to the 8-bit limitations? The reason is just a practical one: Canon did not have a DSP chip that could handle a 10-bit baseband at the time the C300 was developed. All they had was the DIGIC DV III. However, this chip does process the sensor data at 12 and 13 bits before being conformed to 8-bits. We have to remember Canon isn't in the same situation as Sony or Panasonic, who have an established line of CineAlta and Varicam cameras that have the 10 bit infrastructure already developed.

Tim,
You believe the DSP is to blame for not having 10bit from the HDSDI?

[Tim Le]

Originally Posted by Emmanuel Plakiotis

Tim,
You believe the DSP is to blame for not having 10bit from the HDSDI?

Yes, that's what Larry Thorpe says in this interview:

HD Magazine - HD Mag - Canon's Larry Thorpe on the C300's design andorigins

At about 3:10 he talks about why it can't do 10-bits, but he also says in the future Canon will move from 8-bits. Lots of other interesting tidbits in that interview, as well.

[David Heath]

Originally Posted by Peter Moretti

Another reason for 8-bit is that there is a trade-off in terms of resolution quality and color quality at work......... it's better to use those pixels for resolution than for pixel depth.

There is also a trade off between bitdepth and compression. (For the same data rates.)

And banding can be brought on by too much compression, as well as over manipulation with low bit depth.

And in the case of bitdepthh, it's a direct correlation. You'd have to up the bitrate by 25% for comparable compression. (All other factors kept the same.)