Canon cinema EOS C500 PL User Manual

							1
11
Introduction
About this Manual
Thank you for purchasing the Canon EOS C500/C500 PL. Please read this manual carefully before you use the 
camera and retain it for future  reference. Should the camera fa il to operate correctly, refer to 
Tr o u b l e s h o o t i n g 
( A 185).
Conventions Used in this Manual
• IMPORTANT: Precautions related to the camera’s operation.
• NOTES: Additional topics that comple ment the basic operating procedures.
• A : Reference page number.
• 2 : Text that applies only to the model shown in the icon.
• The following terms are used in this manual.
“Screen” refers to the LCD scr een and the viewfinder screen.
“CF card” refers to a CompactFlash (CF) card.
“SD card” refers to an SD or SDHC memory card.
“Recording media” refers to CF cards and SD cards.
• Photographs in the manual are simulated pictures take n with a still camera. Some screenshots have been 
altered to make them easier to read.
• Illustrations in the manual show the Canon EOS C 500 camera with a Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM lens 
attached. 
						

							About this Manual
12
84
Setting the Time Code
While recording, the camera can generate a time code signal and embed it in your recordings. You can have the 
camera output the time code signal from the 3G-SDI terminals, MON. terminals, HD/SD SDI terminal or TIME 
CODE terminal (A91). In addition, you can superimpose the time code on video output from the HDMI OUT 
terminal or SYNC OUT terminal. While playing back video recorded on a CF card, you can output the time code 
on the CF card from the HD/SD SDI terminal or TIME  CODE terminal. Additionally, you can superimpose the time 
code on the picture from the HDMI OUT terminal or SYNC OUT terminal. For recordings with a frame rate of 
29.97P, 59.94i or 59.94P, you can also select between a drop frame and non-drop frame time code.
To synchronize the camera s time code to an external time code generator, refer to 
Synchronizing with an 
External Device ( A 88).
Selecting the Running ModeDuring MXF mode, you can select the running mode of the camera s time 
code. During 4K and 2K modes, the running mode will be set to [Free 
Run] during normal shooting and slow & fast recording mode; it will be set 
to [Rec Run] during interval recording and frame recording modes. You 
can set the time code s initial value, however, by performing the procedure 
in the following section 
Setting the Time Code s Initial Value.
1 Open the time code [Mode] submenu.[¤ TC/UB Setup]  >
>  [Time Code]  > [Mode]2 Select the desired option and then press SET.€ If you selected [Regen.], you do not need to perform the rest of this 
procedure. If you selected [Preset] and would like to set the time 
code s initial value, see the following section 
Setting the Time Code s 
Initial Value.3 After you select [Preset], open the time code [Run] submenu.[ ¤ TC/UB Setup]  > [Time Code]  > [Run]4 Select the desired option and then press SET.Options
Operating modes:
[Preset]: The time code starts from an initial value you can select in 
advance. The default initial time code is 00:00:00.00. The time 
code s running mode depends on the [Run] setting.
[Rec Run]: The time code runs only while recording so clips 
recorded consecutively on the same CF card will have 
continuous time codes.
[Free Run]:The time code starts running the moment you press  SET to select this option and keeps running regardless 
of the camera s operation.
[Regen.]: The camera will read the selected CF card and the time code will  continue from the last recorded time code on the CF card. The 
time code runs only while recording so clips recorded 
consecutively on the same CF card will have continuous time 
codes.
[¤ TC/UB Setup]
[Time Code] [Mode]
[Preset]
[ ¤ TC/UB Setup]
[Time Code] [Run]
[Free Run]
Operating modes  indicates that a function is available in the 
operating mode (the two icons left of the dividing bar) 
and system priority (the three icons to the right of the 
dividing bar) indicated  and   indicates that the 
function is not available. For a detailed explanation, 
refer to 
Tu r n i n g  t h e  C a m e r a  O n  a n d  O f f ( A 26) and 
Selecting the System Priority (A 60, 64).
When a function requires the use of the menu, 
the quick reference shows the submenus and, 
when applicable, the default setting for the menu 
item. The example illustration indicates that you 
can find the function by selecting the [ ¤TC/
UB Setup] menu and then the [Time Code] 
menu item.
The arrow is used to abbreviate menu 
selections. For a detailed explanation on 
how to use the menus, refer to 
Using the 
Menus
 ( A 29). For a concise summary 
of all available menu options and 
settings, refer to the appendix 
Menu 
Options 
( A 167).
When a procedure requires selecting an option, 
the available options are listed within or after the 
procedure. Brackets [ ] are used to refer to menu 
options as they are displayed on screen. 
						

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Supplied Accessories
Supplied Accessories
The following accessories are supplied with the camera.
1Comes pre-attached to the camera.2Used to secure the optional WFT-E6 Wireless File Transmitter, when it is attached to the camera.
Monitor UnitHandle Unit Body Cap1Battery Charger CG-940
(incl. power cord)
BP-955 Battery Pack  (incl. terminal cover) Eye Cup Viewfinder Cap CA-940N Compact Power Adapter 
(incl. power cord)
SS-1200 Shoulder Strap Adapter Base for 0.64 cm (1/4 in.)  Tr i p o d sWFT Attachment Bracket
2Tape Measure Hooks1 (x 2) 
						

							Names of Parts
14
Names of Parts
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
16
5 4 3 2 1
1514
1 MAGN. (magnification) button ( A80)/
Assignable button 1 ( A111)
2 PEAKING button ( A80) /
Assignable button 2 ( A111)
3 ND FILTER +/- buttons ( A73)
4 ZEBRA button ( A83)/
Assignable button 3 ( A111)
5 WFM (waveform monitor) button ( A100)/
Assignable button 4 ( A111)
6 Q  switch ( A26)
7 Tally lamp ( A51)
8 DISP. (display) button ( A55,129)/BATT. INFO 
(battery information) button ( A24)
9 SELECT dial/SET button ( A29) 10 Control dial (
A71, 74)
11 STATUS button ( A178)
12 Å (white balance adjustment) button ( A76)/ 
INDEX button ( A128)/ Ñ (stop) button ( A128)
13 u (review recording) button ( A104)/ Ò  
(play/pause) button ( A128)
14 LENS EXCHANGE button ( A34)/Assignable 
button 5 ( A111)
15 LUT (lookup table) button ( A148)/Assignable 
button 6 ( A111)
16 CUSTOM PICTURE button ( A114) 
						

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Names of Parts
31
32
28 27 26 25 24 23 22 21 20 19 18 17
29
30
17 MON. (external monitor) terminals 1 and 2 (A41)
18 WFT terminal ( A50)
19 EXT (modular unit) terminals 1 and 2 ( A35)
20 REMOTE terminal
For connecting commercially available remote 
controllers.
21 SYNC OUT (synchronizing signal output) terminal 
(A 90,150)
22 HDMI OUT terminal ( A149)
23 GENLOCK terminal ( A88)
24 TIME CODE terminal ( A89, 91) 25 HD/SD SDI terminal (
A149)
26 SD card access indicator ( A44)
27 × (headphone) terminal ( A96)
28 DC IN terminal ( A25)
29 SD card slot ( A44)
30 3G-SDI terminals 1 and 2 ( A41)
31 MIC (microphone) terminal ( A92)
32 GRIP terminal This terminal is the same as the grip unit 
connection terminal on  the C300 / C300 PL or 
C100 camcorder. 
						

							Names of Parts
16
3438
39
40
35
36
37
37
33
2
 EF Lens mount3  PL Lens mount
2
3
33 Mount handle ( A33)
34 EF Lens mount index ( A32)
35 EF-S Lens mount index ( A32)
36 EF Lens contacts ( A32)
37 START/STOP button ( A51) 38 Bayonet ring handles (
A35)
39 PL Lens index pin ( A35)
40 Bayonet ring ( A35) 
						

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Names of Parts
53
54
55
57
58
56
59
63626160
49
52 51
49
50
48 47 46 45 44 43 42 41
41 Viewfinder unit
42 Viewfinder unit LOCK/RELEASE screw (
A196)
43  (rear panel’s backlight) button (A 57)
44 FUNC. (main functions) button ( A66)
45 START/STOP button ( A51)
46 Joystick ( A29)/SET button (A 29)
47 CANCEL button ( A29)
48 MENU button ( A29)
49 CF card slot covers for  CF card slots A (top) and 
B(bottom)
50 CF card slots A (top) and B (bottom) ( A43)
51 RELEASE (battery release) latch ( A24)
52 Battery compartment
53 Viewfinder ( A36, 38)
54 Dioptric adjustment dial ( A36) 55 Rear panel (
A57)
56 MON./3G-SDI terminal cover ( A41)
57 CF card slot cover switches for CF card slots  A (top) and B (bottom) ( A43)
58 RESET button ( A187)
59 SLOT SELECT (CF card slot selection) button  (A 46, 128)
60 CF card release buttons for CF card slots A (top)  and B (bottom) ( A44)
61 BATT. OPEN (open battery compartment) switch 
(A 24)
62 Battery compartment cover ( A24)
63 CF 2 (CF card slot A) and CF 3 (CF card slot B) 
access indicators ( A44) 
						

							Names of Parts
18
65
66
67
67
68
64
64 Tape measure hooks
Use the hooks to accurately measure the distance 
from the focal plane. 
65 Focal plane marks
66 Socket for the WFT Attachment Bracket ( A50)  67 Strap mounts (
A39)
68 Accessory shoe with mounting hole for  0.64 cm (1/4 in.) screws
For attaching accessories  such as the optional 
VL-10Li II Battery Video Light.
71
72
70 69
69 TB-1 Tripod Base for tripods with 0.95 cm (3/8 in.)  screws ( A38)
70 Tripod socket ( A38) 71 Attachment sockets for the optional TA-100 Tripod 
Adapter (A 38)
72 Tripod base screws ( A38) 
						

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Names of Parts
Monitor Unit
Handle Unit
2 1
3
4
5
6
Operation panel 
( A
20)
1LCD panel
2 MIRROR button ( A37)
3 Microphone lock screw ( A92) 4 Microphone holder (
A92)
5 Microphone cable clamp ( A92)
6 XLR terminals CH1 (right) and CH2 (left) ( A92)
3
1
2
4
1 Mounting hole for 0.64 cm (1/4 in.) screws
2 Front accessory shoe 3 Top accessory shoe
4Lock screw (
A39) 
						

							Names of Parts
20
Operation panel
13
14
18171615
6 5 4 3 2 1
7891011 12
1 DISP. (display) button (
A55, 129)
2 Ñ (stop) button ( A128)/
Assignable button 14 ( A111)
3 WFM (waveform monitor) button ( A100)/
Assignable button 8 ( A111)
4 Ú  (skip backward) button ( A130)/
Assignable button 13 ( A111)
5 EDGE MON. (edge monitor) button ( A100)/ 
Assignable button 9 ( A111)
6 INDEX button ( A128)
7 Ø  (fast reverse playback) button ( A130)/
Assignable button 10 ( A111)
8 Ò  (play/pause) button ( A128)/
Assignable button 11 ( A111)
9 ×  (fast playback) button ( A130)/
Assignable button 12 ( A111) 10
Ù  (skip forward) button ( A130)/
Assignable button 15 ( A111)
11 XLR terminal switches  for CH1 (top) and CH2 
(bottom) ( A93)
12 Protective cover for XLR audio controls ( A94)
13 ã  switches for CH1 (top) and CH2 
(bottom) ( A94)
14 ã  dials for CH1 (top) and CH2 (bottom) 
( A 94)
15 START/STOP button ( A51)
16 MENU button ( A29)
17 Joystick ( A29)/SET button ( A29)
18 CANCEL button ( A29)