C300 MKiii Guide

September 16, 2022By Posted in: RTV Production Classes

C300 MKiii Guide

Kit Components

  • Canon C300 MKiii body with rail system attached
  • 2 x 15mm rails
  • Canon monitor with shotgun mount attached
  • Top handle
  • Canon monitor cable
  • 2 x thumb screws
  • Sun hood for Canon monitor
  • Scratch audio shotgun microphone
  • 24mm, 50mm 85mm CN-E lenses
  • Arri follow focus
  • RedRock micro matte box with rail attachments
  • Donut inserts for matte box
  • SDI cable
  • 2 x 256gb CFexpress cards
  • White balance card

Tripod Set Up

The lock system is shown in the photo below. When setting up the tripod ensure that all locks are on.

Check the feet and ensure the spikes are over the orange bar and the rubber strap is on correctly as seen in the photo below.

Camera Set up

When the tripod is set up take the baseplate off the tripod using the plate release and plate lock. Then, put the baseplate on the bottom of the camera rail system. You will need to use both the 1/4” and 3/8” screw for a secure mount, we recommend using the holes circled in the following picture.

*Tip: place the 3/8” screw in the hole first then find a smaller hole for the 1/4” as it can be adjusted more. 

Once the baseplate is set you can place the camera on the tripod. Ensure that the tripod plate is locked with the plate lock screw. Then, attach the side handle by plugging in the side handle to the port on the right side of the camera. Once the cable is secured, connect the handle by lining up the rosettes in a comfortable position for you. Then twist the circular piece on the handle up, DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN!

Next, attach the top handle and Canon monitor with shotgun attachment. Using the shorter thumb screw, place the top handle on the top of the C300. The handle slides into place using the cold shoe mount on the top of the camera. The cold shoe on the bottom of the handle serves as a guide.

The short screw should go through the hole with silver ridges on the bottom of it.

Once the top handle is secured, you are ready to attach the Canon monitor and shotgun mount. Take out the Canon monitor that should always have the scratch shotgun mic attached to it. Using the longer of the thumb screws, attach the monitor to the front of the top handle. Match up the ridges to ensure a secure connection.

Next using the Canon monitor cable, attach one end to the camera port labeled video and the other end to the monitor.

*Tip: The white arrows should point towards each other. DO NOT FORCE THE CABLE INTO THE PORT!

 Next attach the shotgun microphone. Unscrew the small screw on the shotgun attachment to up the cradle. Once the cradle is open place the shotgun microphone inside and lock it into place.

Attach the xlr of the shotgun microphone to input 1.

Your camera should look like the image below.

It is now time to attach the rails. Each rail has a slot on the rail system. Loosen the two rail locks on the rail system, these are found on both the left and right side and should only require a few rotations. The rails should slide in without any force. Start with the rails centered as this can always be adjusted.

Next, attach the desired lens to the camera. The red dot on the sensor lines up with the red dot on the lens and then turn to the right (if you are facing the camera). You should hear a clicking sound, this means the lens is secured properly to the camera.

Insert the battery and memory card and you are ready to start filming. There are however extra accessories that can prove helpful on set.

Additional Accessories

The follow focus lends an easy way to change focus and includes a hard stop for easy rack focusing. There are only two screws that may need to be loosened to adjust the follow focus. To attach the follow focus to the rails you will have to loosen the bottom most screw a fair amount. Then it can slide or snap onto the rails. To adjust the angle and placement of the teeth of the follow focus and the teeth of the focus ring on the lens you will need to use the middle screw. This screw only needs to be undone by a quarter turn at most!

*Tip: If you plan to use the matte box at the same time as the follow focus, put the follow focus on the right side of the camera (if you are facing the camera). You may also have to place the follow focus teeth wheel on the left side of the device as seen in the photo. 

 The matte box should be fully assembled in the kit so that all you need to do is place the rails through the matte box rail support. Loosen the blue screw on the rail support of the matte box for an effortless attachment.

The rail will it the bottom of the matte box, you will have to move the rails with the matte box attached to the point where the matte box is slightly covering the lens. You may add the appropriately sized donut to block more light from coming into the lens.

If you need to change the lens on the camera, you can pull on the large knob on the matte box and it will swing outward, allowing you full access to the lens.

The matte box is also how we add filters. These filters snap into the filter holders and can add effects to your image. To do this, loosen the screws on the filter tray of the matte box. DO NOT REMOVE THE SCREW ENTIRELY!

The filter tray can now slide out and you may place the filter in the tray as seen in the photo above. Place the filter tray back in the matte box and tighten the screws to ensure the filter tray stays in place.

A secondary Ikan Delta 7” Field Monitor is available, should you require a larger monitor or if you have a second person on camera. Attach the Ikan Field Monitor with the cold shoe mount by screwing it on top of the mount and then sliding the mount into the cold shoe on the top of the top handle. The monitor can use NP-f batteries for power as shown in the image below.

An HDMI cable will be needed to transmit signal to the monitor from the camera. Connect the HDMI cable to the HDMI port on the back of the camera and to the HDMI in on the monitor.

When finished your camera should look similar to the image below.