The Canon EOS C500 Mark II and EOS C300 Mark III are Canon's latest addition to their robust and expansive digital cinema lineup. 12G-SDI Output and internal Cinema RAW Light recording separate these cameras from entry level cinema cameras. Both models also utilize Canon's Dual Pixel Autofocus technology that we have come to love. The choice of both full frame (C500 Mark II) and super 35 (C300 Mark III) sensor cameras that work in the same housing provide incredible flexibility. Whether you need extra resolution, higher frame rates, or access to a wider range of lenses, you can now choose the best tool for any given project. The Nauticam NA-C500II housing offers unparalleled access to both cameras resulting in one of the most ergonomic cinema housings to date.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

INTRODUCING NAUTICAM NA-C500II

The Canon EOS-C500 Mark II and EOS-C300 Mark III Cameras

The Nauticam C500II Underwater Housing is compatible with both the Canon EOS-C500 Mark II and EOS-C300 Mark III Cameras. While each camera has its own unique specifications, there are a couple shared sticking points that underwater video shooters have to come to love with a Canon cinema camera, autofocus and white balance. "Canon Color" or Canon's unique ability to give better manual white balance results than any other camera manufacturer and Canon's Dual Pixel AF which uses two photodiodes behind each pixel to improve the camera's autofocus abilities are precisely why Canon cameras remain so popular underwater.

Key Camera Specifications:

Canon EOS-C500 Mark II

• 20.8 Megapixel Full Frame CMOS Sensor, DIGIC DV 7 Processor
• 5.9K 60fps, 4K 60fps, 2K 120fps
• Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus
• 15 Stops of Dynamic Range
• Internal Canon RAW Light (12-bit or 10-bit)) and XF-AVC (10-bit) Recording
• Canon Log 2 and Log 3 Gamma
• 2x CFexpress Type B Card Slots
• 5-axis Electronic Image Stabilization

Canon EOS-C300 Mark III

• 9.6 Megapixel Super 35 Dual Gain Output (DGO) Sensor, DIGIC DV 7 Processor
• 4K 120fps, 2K 180fps
• Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus
• 16 Stops of Dynamic Range
• Internal  Canon RAW Light (12-bit or 10-bit) and XF-AVC (10-bit) Recording
• Canon Log 2 and Log 3 Gamma
• 2x CFexpress Type B Card Slots
• 5-axis Electronic Image Stabilization

Integrated into both cameras are an in-camera Neutral Density filter which allow for 5 steps of neutral density at 2,4,6,8 and 10 stops.  Both cameras also share the unique ability to record in Canon RAW Light format that captures Raw video data in files as little as 1/5 the size of standard Cinema RAW files.  

The Nauticam NA-C500II Underwater Housing

Nauticam has long been producing industry-leading housings for Cinema cameras and have taken that experience to create the most advanced underwater cinema system housing available.

Taking advantage of the small form factor of the C500 Mark II and the C300 Mark III, the Nauticam NA-C500II is both ultra-portable yet offers full access to the camera's critical functions. Nauticam has taken a modular approach to the this system, similar to that of the DCS housings for RED and ARRI cameras with a wide variety of add-ons from top-handles to skids and movable trim weights.

The NA-C500II features multiple bulkhead openings for HDMI/SDI Bulkheads to support an external monitor or surface monitor feed.  The housing also supports the Canon LM-V2 4.3" LCD monitor in the rear of the housing for a more streamlined approach.

The housing includes the newest version of the venerable Nauticam Cinema Skids that feature tracks along which the optional trim weights can be moved to achieve perfect trim for the shot. Mounts on the housing itself also allow for direct attachment of the trim weights to allow for either a fixed trim or for when using tripod legs instead of the skids.

The housing will accommodate the Canon BP-A30 and larger BP-A60 batteries, providing plenty of run time. As with previous Cinema System housings, the Nauticam NA-C500II features large control knobs for focus and zoom which also feature marking disks that can be removed and marked with the desired lens position or focus information.

Mission Control

Regardless of where a button or control dial may lie on the camera body, Nauticam engineers obsess over making sure that access to that control on the housing be intuitively placed for ease of use to insure no shot is missed while searching for a button or dial.  To take this a step further, Nauticam has also integrated the Nauticam to Canon SDK Control Board which places a variety of electronic control functions at your finger tips. 

Integrated Vacuum Check and Leak Detection System

The Nauticam vacuum check and leak detection system is shipped with NA-C500II as standard equipment.  Also included is the M16 Vacuum Valve II, this monitoring system provides constant updates on the water tight and safe-to-dive status of the housing. A simple color coded LED lighting system lets the user know that the vacuum is solid, or that the housing is losing vacuum. Leak detection is built into the same circuit, so if there is water intrusion, an audible and visual indication will occur. The Nauticam system is temperature compensated, eliminating false alarms caused by a change in outside temperature, or from a camera heating up on an action packed dive.

Premium Professional Optics

Optical performance is just as necessary as camera performance and this becomes even more critical given the challenges of filming underwater. The Nauticam NA-C500II uses the same N120 Port System as the previous NA-C200 housing which makes for a seamless transition for those upgrading to the C500 Mark II or C300 Mark III. While this system provides exceptional optical-glass and flat port solutions for a wide variety of EF-mount lenses, the real power can be realized using Nauticam's Water Contact Optics. This lineup of dry and wet lenses are conceived using commercial lens-design software to achieve truly unparalleled underwater image quality both for stills and video in both macro and wide-angle situations. The WACP-1 and WACP-2 achieve ultra-wide 130º fields-of-view with reduced distortion over conventional optics while featuring ~0" minimum focus distances, zoom through capabilities and unbeatable corner sharpness at even wide-open apertures such as F5.6. The SMC-1 and SMC-2 macro wet-optics, when used with the Canon 100mm F2.8 macro lens provide 2x and 4x magnification respectively and the SMC-1 actually provides a resulting image with increased contrast and sharpness than the 100mm lens itself can achieve in air without a magnifier.

RESOURCES

NA-C500II Manual Download PDF Coming Soon

In The Box

• NA-C500II Housing
• 25625 M16 Vacuum Valve II
• Nauticam to Canon SDK Control Board
• 90222 Housing O-ring, O-ring remover and lubricant
• 2x Optical bulkhead caps
• 2x Handles with mounting balls
• Monitor shade
• Housing skids
• Panasonic CR-2032 Battery (for moisture alarm and vacuum system)
• Set of Allen Keys
• Pelican Case
  

Accessories

• 16232 0.25kg Trim Weights for 16227
• 16233 0.5kg Trim Weights for 16227
• 16221 Top Handle for Epic LT/Weapon LT/C200/C500II Housings
• 25221 M10 strobe mounting ball for housing
• 17959 Housing mounting ball with 1/4" screws

HDMI/SDI

HDMI Recommended Configurations

For HDMI 1.4 Cable System

• 25033 Standard HDMI bulkhead with M16 thread*
• 16243 HDMI A-D Cable in 0.5m Length for RED DSMC2/C200/EVA1/C500II

*25033 is included with monitor housing options below

• 17920 NA-502B-H Housing for SmallHD 502 Bright Monitor
• 17923 NA-Shinobi-H Housing for Atomos Shinobi 5.2" 4K HDMI Monitor with HDMI 1.4 input

SDI Recommended Configurations

• 25058 M16 SDI Bulkhead*
• 25060 SDI Cable in .3m Length for Connection from Camera to Underside of SDI Bulkhead*

*25058 and 25060 are included with monitor housing options below

• 17921 NA-502B-S Housing for SmallHD 502 Bright Monitor (with SDI input support)
• 17924 NA-Shinobi-S Housing for Atomos Shinobi 5.2" 4K Monitor with SDI input

For Surface SDI Monitor

• 25058* M16 SDI Bulkhead
• 25060* SDI Cable in .3m Length for Connection from Camera to Underside of SDI Bulkhead
• 25065* SDI surface monitor cable in 45m length (for connection from SDI Bulkhead to Surface Monitor on land)
• 25059 SDI cable extension adaptor
• 25062 SDI cable in 5m length (for connection between SDI Bulkheads)
• 25063 SDI cable in 30m length (for connection between SDI Bulkheads)
• 25064 SDI surface monitor cable in 15m length (for connection from SDI Bulkhead to Surface Monitor on land)

(* marked items are essential items SDI Surface Monitor)

Port System Restrictions

• The shortest extension ring for EF lenses to use with 18802 8.5’’ acrylic dome port /18812 230mm optical glass wide angle port is 21130.
• The shortest extension ring for EF lenses to use with 85201 WACP-1 is 21125.
• 85202 WACP-1 could not be mounted on housing directly unless you remove the middle part of float collar.
• The shortest extension ring for EF lenses to use with 85204 WACP-2 is 21120. 
• 16410 N120 to N200 Port Adaptor for Epic/Weapon LT Housings is incompatible.