Canon EOS C80 and C400 get Cinema Exposure firmware

Canon has released a substantial free firmware update for the EOS C80 and EOS C400, and the headline addition is one that should interest anyone regularly shooting Canon Log: a new Cinema Exposure mode.

Firmware version 1.0.7.1 adds Cinema Exposure as a new Capture Mode alongside the existing Custom Picture option. The important difference is that Cinema Exposure can change how the camera allocates its dynamic range between highlights and shadows according to ISO sensitivity. In practical terms, Canon says the system is designed to improve highlight performance when you move above the camera’s base ISO settings, giving filmmakers more flexibility in difficult lighting while keeping the workflow centred around log capture.

That feels particularly relevant with cameras such as these because both are built around 6K full-frame BSI sensors and are designed for productions where there is often very little opportunity to stop and carefully rebuild the lighting. The EOS C400, for example, offers triple base ISO settings of 800, 3200 and 12,800 when working in suitable recording modes, alongside 16 stops of claimed dynamic range. If you’re interested in why that additional resolution can matter once footage reaches the edit, our guide explaining the advantages of shooting 6K video is worth a look.

The update goes further than exposure control. Both cameras now support Canon’s CN30×40 IAS J/R1 RF-mount and CN30×40 IAS J/P1 PL-mount Cine Servo lenses. We covered the Canon CN30×40 Cine Servo lens when it was announced in April. Its 40-1200mm range, extending to 60-1800mm with the built-in 1.5x extender, makes it an unusually specialised option for wildlife, sport and large-scale live production.

The EOS C400 gets another useful broadcast-oriented addition in Auto Exposure Ramping Compensation. This uses in-camera gain compensation according to zoom position to maintain consistent image brightness with compatible Cine Servo lenses. That’s the sort of feature that might sound relatively minor on paper, but during a long live zoom it could save an operator from having to compensate manually for changing transmission through the lens. Canon lists seven compatible lenses, including the new CN30×40 IAS J/R1.

Both cameras also gain external audio output while recording in Slow & Fast Motion mode. Switch the new S&F External Audio Output option on and audio can be sent through SDI, HDMI or headphones. That’s another practical addition for crews where monitoring matters even when the camera itself is capturing at a different frame rate.

For anyone building the cameras into a larger production kit, these changes strengthen what was already a fairly extensive Cinema EOS ecosystem. The RF mount opens up Canon’s growing lens range – our guide to the best Canon RF lenses provides a useful overview – while the C400 in particular is designed around professional connections including 12G-SDI, timecode, Genlock, Ethernet and a 12-pin lens terminal.

I think the most interesting aspect here is that Canon isn’t simply fixing bugs. Cinema Exposure changes how filmmakers can approach exposure and highlight protection, while the lens and audio improvements address very specific production requirements. For existing EOS C80 and C400 owners, that makes version 1.0.7.1 an update well worth investigating before the next shoot.

Canon EOS C80 and EOS C400 firmware update specifications

Firmware version: version 1.0.7.1.
Compatible cameras: Canon EOS C80 and Canon EOS C400.
Capture mode: adds Cinema Exposure alongside the existing Custom Picture mode.
Cinema Exposure control: adjusts the balance of dynamic range between highlight and shadow regions according to ISO sensitivity.
Lens compatibility: adds support for the Canon CN30×40 IAS J/R1 RF-mount and CN30×40 IAS J/P1 PL-mount Cine Servo lenses.
Auto exposure ramping: available on the EOS C400, using in-camera gain compensation to maintain brightness with supported Cine Servo lenses.
Slow and fast-motion audio: enables external audio output through SDI, HDMI or headphones during Slow & Fast Motion recording.
Update media: requires an SD, SDHC or SDXC memory card with a capacity of at least 512MB.
Eligible firmware: cameras running firmware versions 1.0.0.1 through 1.0.6.1 can be updated.
Rollback: cameras cannot be returned to a previous firmware version after installing version 1.0.7.1.

Canon EOS C80 and EOS C400 firmware update price and availability

The Canon EOS C80 and EOS C400 firmware update is available free of charge from 19 August 2026. No official UK, US or Euro price applies because the update is free. Please keep an eye on their website Canon Product Support for more details.