Canon C300 & C100 matching custom picture files

Ive spent some time working on custom picture profiles for the Canon C100 and Canon C300 cameras that allow both cameras to be cut together and match well. I don’t own test charts but I’ve tested these under various conditions and they match well. The following examples were shot using the built in tungsten setting on both cameras, manual white balancing or dialling in Kelvin settings on both cameras can produce non balanced results so I prefer to use the presets for two camera shoots when possible.

PJnormHD

This is a neutral custom picture that has similar results to having no custom picture at all with the exception that the sharpness is dialled down to -5 on both cameras and the WB levels are tweaked on the C300 so that both cameras produce a similar colour balance.

PJcineHD

I developed this custom picture profile mainly for my Harley-Davidson projects but it’s proved useful for a lot more than just event work. Canon Log definitely gives you more dynamic range and options in post but with fast turn around projects I prefer to shoot with a profile that produces more of a baked in cine look. There’s a CINE1 Gamma applied to give a bit more contrast and I’ve used a normal1 colour matrix so that the colours pop a little rather than a CINE matrix which would result in more muted colours.

The images below are obviously not designed to highlight the look of the custom picture, they are more to show how the C100 and C300 profiles match colours. To see what the custom picture looks like have a look at some of my recent videos.

  
  

PJclogHD

These are based on the standard CINEMA profiles. The Canon Log gamma is used but with the balance corrected to allow both the C100 and C300 to match in terms of colour and levels.

  
  

The custom picture files can be downloaded below. Please note that the firmware update 1.0.7.1.0 that has to be installed by Canon changes the way colour is handled on the C300 so there are different versions of the files.

For C300’s with 1.0.6 and earlier – downloaded here – last updated 6-12-2012

For C300’s with 1.0.7 firmware – download here – last updated 12-2-2013

Please come back and let me know how they work out, good or bad any feedback will help to develop the files further.

Installation

This is based on mac, windows should be similar but I don’t have a windows machine so I can’t be sure. Please note that these custom profiles use the first positions on the card, if you have others in those positions that you wish to retain you will need to back them up prior to installing these.

C100

1. With an SD card inserted in the C100 copy one of the standard custom picture profiles from the camera to the SD card using the transfer option with the custom picture menu. This just creates the required folder structure, if you already have custom picture settings on the card then this isn’t required.

2. Eject the card from the camera and mount it on a computer. You will see a main enclosing package called ‘PRIVATE’, right click on that and choose ‘show package contents’.

3. Now you should see a folder named C_PICT, place the C100 picture profiles in that folder and then eject the card.

4. Re-insert the card into the C100, go to the custom picture menu and either select the profiles direct from the SD card or copy them to the camera.

C300

1. With an SD card inserted in the C300 copy one of the standard custom picture profiles from the camera to the SD card using the transfer option with the custom picture menu. This just creates the required folder structure, if you already have custom picture settings on the card then this isn’t required.

2. Eject the card from the camera and mount it on a computer. You will see a main enclosing folder called ‘PRIVATE’, open that folder.

3. Now you should see a sub folder named C_PICT, place the C300 picture profiles in that folder and then eject the card.

4. Re-insert the card into the C300, go to the custom picture menu and either select the profiles direct from the SD card or copy them to the camera.

You may also like...

24 Responses

  1. Nathaniel says:

    Hi Paul,

    I know this is an old one, but wondered if you had an update for the most recent canon c300 mk2 firmware please as I am struggling to install from the SD card and I think that may be the issue.

    I am not a techie by any means so any help would be greatly appreciated!

    Thank you in advance for your help.

    Best,
    Nathaniel

    • Paul Joy says:

      Sorry for the very late replay Nathaniel, I haven’t been monitoring the comments here well enough recently. I’m afraid I haven’t owned any Canon cameras for a while now so I don’t I’m afraid. I hope you solved the problem.

  2. Hugh says:

    Hi Paul,

    I want to make some community-based interviews relating to art and benefits it has when created within the community.
    To do this I will be using two cameras, a Canon C300 mk I and a Canon C100 mk II.
    So far I cannot seem to match the colours, someone suggested I came here and try to reach out for advice?

    If there is any I would gratefully request support to any capacity.

    Thanks in advance

    Kind regards

    Hugh

  3. sebio says:

    are there any exisitng for xf305 pls?

  4. Pierre says:

    Hi Paul,

    I have a little trouble. I can’t use or install the custom profils on C100. They are not recognized by the C100.
    For example, when i saved a custom profil from the C100 to the sd, that create the private file and c_pict and put it as : CPICT401 (for example). But your customs profils are CPICT301.
    When I put it on the SD, C100 find the CPICT401 but not yours ( the 301for example).

    Do you have any ideas ?

    My firmware : 2.0.3.1.00

    • Paul Joy says:

      I’ll have to check that out Pierre, thanks for the heads up.

    • Billy says:

      Hey Pierre,

      I’m having the same problem with my C100 MKii. I’ve loaded the custom picture onto my c300 no problem, but as you said my c100 is only recognising the ‘out of the box’ canon CP.

      I’m guessing you are using a c100 mkii as well?

      They must of changed the way the camera reads CP in an updated firmware or with the mkii.

      Paul, would you have the settings in text that we could manually put in? That would be amazing as your CP look great! I’m dying to get my c300 matching up with the c100mkii and this looks like a great sollution.

      Thanks,

      Billy

      • Hugh says:

        Hi Billy,

        I am trying to match up my Canon C100 mk II with my Canon C300 Mk i
        and having problems getting the colours right.
        Please could you tell me if you managed to resolve your issue and if so would you share the information/

        Kind regards

        Hugh

    • Hugh says:

      Hello Pierre,

      Did you manage to get the custom profile into the C100 mk ii and if so how did you manage it?

      I am trying to match up my Canon C100 mk II with my Canon C300 Mk i
      and having problems getting the colours right.
      Please could you tell me if you managed to resolve your issue and if so would you share the information/

      Kind regards

      Hugh

  5. michael says:

    hi paul,
    great website! I am looking for some custum picture profile for c100. especially something that works without grading. are you still using the ones above you did ( as this post is a couple of years old…). are there other cp’s around you can recommend?

    at this moment i only have the eos standart and wide dr on my camera… ( and clog)

    thanks,
    Michael

  6. paul hirschberger says:

    can you advise on how to update firmware and not loose my custom picture profiles? i understand they can be saved to an sd card, but it there an advised method? many thanks ahead of time.

  7. Ray Singer says:

    Hello Paul, Thanks sincerely for the useful info. I wonder if you’ve had a chance to use the Samurai Blade with the C100? It’s a problem since the C100 doesn’t have SDI out, but the clarity of the screen may make Atomos’ converter and the Blade worth the penalty. Any thoughts?

    Thanks again for your wisdom.

  8. Jamie says:

    Paul,

    Any update on how you got on with the Ninja 2? Was there as much noise as you thought there would be.

    Would like to get your thoughts on this.

    • Paul Joy says:

      The Ninja works great Jamie, see my review here https://www.pauljoy.com/gear/camera-accessories/atomos-ninja-2-review-with-canon-c100/

  9. Christopher says:

    Is there anyway to remove the SD card Private setting? I prefer to have a drag and drop system instead of opening up every clip for saving?

  10. Diego Perrona says:

    just get another 5D Juan! definitely there is no doubt about it ;D

  11. Juan says:

    What would be a better video camara when the final output will be for web video. So far Im using the canon mark ii 5d for documentary work, but need a second camara and the new C line is intriguing. Im debating over the C100, sony’s f700, or even the canon 6d, or another mark ii. Thank you for your comments.

  12. Gary Breece says:

    JR, I’d hold off on the Ninja 2. I have one with the C100 and have not been very happy. Seems like a lot more noise on the Ninja than the AVCHD. I’ve only done tests, but I’m shooting a spot on Wednesday with this setup and will report the results. If the Ninja shows a lot of noise under ideal lighting conditions, I’m going to return it.

  13. JR Dziengel says:

    Ok, good enough for me. A guy who’s on a strict budget. C100 here I come. Atomos Ninja 2 too! Thanks Paul. Happy Holidays!!

  14. Paul says:

    I must admit the bottom one does look slightly sharper, so I therefore went for that one as the C300. The AVCHD codec does worry me slightly in the C100, OK I guess if your just doing stuff for DVD, but for that price point I’m not sure – what would you say Paul ?

    • Paul Joy says:

      Saying it’s okay for DVD is a doing the C100 a huge disservice, the footage is easily capable of being used for Blue-ray or other HD formats. Yes the AVCHD loses out slghtly to the XF codec on the C300 but not by much.

  15. Ed says:

    The top one is C100 and bottom one is C300?
    I am guessing by looking at how certain details are falling apart a little more on the top image and figured that was maybe the AVCHD codec at 24mbps vs the 50mbps of the C300… but I could totally be wrong.

    • Paul Joy says:

      Spot on. I didn’t think the detail difference was very obvious but I guess if you know where to look you can find it. For me the slightly yellow / green bias gives away the C300, if you dial that out the reds get pink so finding a middle ground on that camera is tough. The C100 on the other hand seems to be free from that problem.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *