By site editor Dan Chung:

If you spend your nights filming animals in the dark then this camera is for you. The new Canon ME20F-SH is a special purpose super low light camera that is capable of capturing full colour HD images at in excess of 4 million ISO. It does this by using a specially developed high sensitivity 2.26 MP full-frame CMOS sensor that has giant sized pixels and some very special circuitry. We previously reported on the development of this sensor and it is interesting to see Canon actually putting a special use camera onto the market.

The design is essentially that of an oversized block camera. It is a compact cube with no internal recording, just SDI and HDMI outputs. It uses a locking EF mount like the one found on the C500. Married with lenses like the old Canon 200mm f1.8L it really should be able to see in the dark.

Canon are targeting the camera at wildlife, security and astronomy applications – which is a good thing, considering the price tag is expected to be over $30,000. But I imagine that some of the low light technologies found in the ME20F-SH will be winging their way into cinema EOS cameras at some point in the future.

This from Canon:

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 30 July 2015 – Canon today announces the launch of the ME20F-SH, a professional multi-purpose video camera capable of capturing full colour images in extremely low-light environments. Boasting an industry leading unrivalled maximum ISO in excess of 4 million (+75dB), the ME20F-SH is designed to be as small as possible whilst delivering high quality professional grade Full HD footage.

Supporting image capture in situations where it previously would not have been possible, the ME20F-SH is ideal for use within specialist applications such as TV productions of nighttime wildlife, deep sea/cave exploration, astronomy and surveillance. The ability to install the camera in a semi-permanent location, with remote control operability also means that for documentary and natural history filmmakers, long term projects and events can be captured with minimum staffing. Due to the specialist nature and demand for this product, the ME20F-SH will only be available to selected partners.

First class infrared capability

Capturing video in low-light conditions often requires the use of infrared illumination, a technique that traditionally only yields footage in black and white. The ME20F-SH however, achieves impressive high-sensitivity performance enabling the capture of colour Full HD video with reduced noise, even in low-light conditions and without the need for infrared illumination.

Exceptionally high sensitivity

Designed to be used in situations where ambient light levels are extremely low, the ME20F-SH features a newly developed Full Frame 35mm with 2.26 MP CMOS sensor and a DIGIC DV4 processor. The sensor’s pixels and readout circuitry use Canon’s proprietary technologies to achieve both reduced noise and exceptionally high sensitivity, allowing you to capture subjects illuminated with less than 0.0005 lux. Similar to Canon’s Cinema EOS cameras, the ME20F-SH includes Canon Log and Wide DR settings, which enable a wide dynamic range (800%), delivering high-quality results across a variety of ambient lighting conditions, without the need for supplemental lighting.

Connectivity

The ME20F-SH offers several options with regard to connectivity to external third party devices for recording or remote viewing purposes, and is also compatible with Canon’s RC-V100 for full remote control over the camera.

Enabling a wide range of imaging possibilities

The new ME20F-SH employs Canon’s EF mount with Cinema Lock, as found on the Cinema EOS C500, allowing users to take advantage of the company’s extensive lineup of interchangeable lenses. By enabling operators to select the ideal lens based on their shooting or application requirements, taking into consideration such factors as angle of view and level of brightness, the multi-purpose camera facilitates a wide range of shooting possibilities.

ME20F-SH Key features:

Ultra low-light performance at ISO 4million

High quality Full HD 1080p/1080i/720p output

Flexible control with auto and custom settings

Compatible with a wide range of EF lenses

Remote control of camera settings and built-in ND and IR cut filters possible

Small and lightweight for ease of integration



You can see more details on the Canon Europe website: