Canon CR-N500 Professional 4K NDI PTZ Camera with 15x Zoom (Titanium White)

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 titanium white 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 9x9 live view, control of up to 100 cameras, settings loading and configuration, and tally functions.

Key Features

1" CMOS Sensor

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 DIG!C DV6 Processor

The CR-N500 PTZ camera incorporates Canon s DIG!C DV 6 Image Processor, which is essential in providing high image quality, advanced performance, and convenient operability. This advanced core technology component provides the image-processing power and speed that enables features such as 4K UHD video acquisition and precise Hybrid AF.

Dual-Pixel CMOS AF

Dual-Pixel CMOS AF is Canon s breakthrough AF technology that uses a CMOS sensor with a structure that combines imaging and phase-difference AF functions. The Dual-Pixel CMOS AF determines the focusing position by the phase difference, which drives the focusing lens smoothly and enables quick focusing. The AF tracking capability is effective even during zooming, panning, or tilting. On the other hand, with conventional contrast AF method, used by other cameras, the focusing position is determined by the contrast (difference of brightness). Therefore, the focusing lens may move slightly back and forth around the focusing position, which could cause delay when focusing.

Dual-Pixel Focus Guide

Utilizing information from Dual-Pixel CMOS AF, Dual-Pixel Focus Guide helps achieve precise focus by displaying focus assist information on the screen. It employs a truly and innovative user interface that helps enable the user to see if they are focused in front of or behind the subject through visual observation, and allows quick and accurate manual focus to be achieved. This helps simplify the focusing process when shooting in 4K UHD, which requires strict focus accuracy.

Face Detection and Tracking

The CR-N500 has multiple focus modes that aid the operator when confirming focus. When set to on, the Face Detection and Tracking can track the face of a subject when they are within a frame. Furthermore, there are two Face Detection options (Face Priority and Face Only). Face Priority will track a face within the scene when a face is no longer within the scene, the camera will continue to focus within the predefined focus area. In the same way, the Face Only function will track the detected face within the scene if the face is no longer within the scene, the camera will maintain its focus position without tracking for new objects. If more than one face is detected within a scene, the operator can toggle between detected faces. Both modes are useful when following a subject, allowing the operator to focus on composition while the camera handles focus.

Canon UHD 4K Lens

The CR-N500 features a 15x optical zoom lens and exhibits a wide viewing angle of 73° (horizontal). At the wide end, the 25.5mm (35mm equivalent) lens is capable of capturing extensive scenes in tight shooting spaces such as indoor events for cinematic wide shots. The camera utilizes aspheric lens elements to achieve 4K image quality while minimizing various aberrations over the entire zoom range.

Built-In ND Filters

Easily change the look of the image capture by utilizing a neutral-density filter. The CR-N500 is equipped with a built-in ND filter mechanism that allows the user to select from three densities: 1/4, 1/16, and 1/64. With the built-in ND filter, users can achieve rich video expression by controlling aperture values.

Optical-Shift Stabilization

The lens structure of the CR-N500 enables real-time responsiveness in a three-dimensional space, supporting optical image stabilization, which helps keep the image capture stable by minimizing vibration.

Oversampling HD Processing

The full HD recording (oversampling HD processing) takes full advantage of the image information acquired by the 4K sensor to generate beautiful high-definition, full HD video. This helps content creators produce stunningly detailed FHD video when utilizing the CR-N500.

Smooth and Responsive Pan and Tilt Performance

The CR-N500 is equipped with the PT drive mechanism that can change the pan/tilt speed in incremental steps. This allows the operator to set the speed to desired preference to allow for smooth PT movement. The CR-N500 exhibits a variable pan and tilt speed of 0.1 to 100° /second.

Canon Log 3 Support

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