Netflix has rejected the Canon EOS R5C for production certification, and we're told that Canon doesn't have any intention to address the issue like Sony did with the FX3.
Neither Netflix or Canon has spoken directly on why the camera was denied, but the only thing we and others can think of is that the camera lacks Canon Log-2. There may be some other image quality reason that we don't know about. The Canon EOS R5C seems to have every other feature required by Netflix for certification.
The Canon EOS R5 C can still be used for productions, but footage from the camera cannot make up more than 10% of the total runtime of the production.
We'd love to hear more on this topic.
Also, considering that both the VENICE 2 and the Alexa 35 were launched after the R5C and they are already certified, I'm pretty sure Canon just decided to not notify anyone about this - especially because being certified for Netflix original content is a big deal nowadays. They also didn't spoke up about the C200 either.
As far as I know, they consider image quality (the technical standard, evaluating the signal to noise ratio, dynamic range, black levels, and the list goes on), codec (options, bitrate, color subsampling, bit depth) and also inout and output terminals. Cameras such as the C200 and Pocket 4K Cinema Camera were rejected due to the lack of timecode inputs, per example. And since the R5C does have a timecode inout and plenty of codecs, even a RAW format, my guess it that it was something regarding the image quality of the camera - and they could be spot on on the lack of Canon Log 2, since it's the required gamma for most of the certified Canon cameras on the Netflix PTA website.
Filipino-made productions improved in image quality. Just wish Netflix et al also controlled quality of artificial light as well so that production value improves further.
Both points are not "software fixable". So no chance for Canon to solve that.
... and why they submitted the R5C for Netflix certification in the full knowledge that the lack of Log 2 would probably cause their application to be rejected?
The C200 is a perfect example: it lacked the Canon Log 2, but yet it was not certified due to the lack of TC I/ O.
The only odd thing about all of this is Canon's reaction for this, to not evaluate their options and just giving up entirely. Sony had their share of trouble with the FX3, but they solve all the complaints from Netflix and fixed in a firmware update, hence Netflix granting a certification.
Maybe it’s as simple as the R5C doesn’t have built in ND?
Netflix approved C70 settings:
3840 x 2160 YCC422 10 bit
XF-AVC (Long GOP is not an approved compression scheme)
Canon Log 2 : C.Gamut
Canon Log 3 : C.Gamut
Just say original content to be distributed by Netflix must meet these minimum video specs, then list the specs. If content producers can produce video that conforms to those specs, great, if not, not great.
Yeah it's odd. I work with Netflix and Amazon and have delivered series to both. Amazon is much more flexible and pragmatic about these things. While Netflix has always had great resources and communication about camera specs and compression/steaming codecs, some of the decisions like this on the R5C are head scratchers.
I have a C70 for personal work and I love it, but I was considering the R5C as a replacement for my C70 and DSLR. Will be curious to see if there is an answer on this soon.