Flimsy HDMI Solution with Canon C100 Mark II - Gefen Mono LOK Cable

Last year I upgraded my video production camera package from the Canon 5d Mark III to the Canon C100 Mark II. As a working cameraman and editor in Vienna who had recently opened a video production company, I got to a point where I needed a “workhorse” at my disposal at all times to film my videos. Something that would provide me with features which conventional DSLR cameras didn’t. I film and edit a lot of corporate client stuff in Austria such as corporate videos, interviews and conference coverage, so something as simple as long battery life and recording time with no limits are essential when filming long speeches and presentations in conference centers.

Another great feature the camera has is built in XLR inputs. So for example while filming corporate interviews or presentations I’m able to run the audio from the lavalier mics directly to my camera. Essentially, this also saves me a bunch of time in the editing room since I no longer need to sync my video footage to the audio tracks I would normally record externally if shot with a DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Of course the camera is far from perfect and many may argue that Canon’s line of Cinema Cameras are overpriced, but camera prices are not the aim of this particular blog post. One thing that did bother me however was the HDMI port and how the cable feels a bit flimsy when connected. For bigger video productions I like to film with my Atomos Ninja Star external recorder in combination with the C100 Mark II, which allows me to capture the video footage in Apple ProRes. So far so good!

In many run and gun situations, the videographer is forced to wear multiple hats on and off set, such as cameraman, director, cinematographer, producer and eventually editor of the video production project. In those situations, obviously the less a cameraman or videographer has to worry about, the better.

And a flimsy cable that could be easily disconnected from the camera and damage the HDMI port is definitely something that shouldn’t be on the mind of a camera operator or videographer while shooting important client videos. Luckily the camera has the option to use a locking HDMI cable, which basically solves the issue of potentially damaging the camera’s port if accidentally snagged during the video shoot.

Acquiring such a cable wasn’t as easy as I had hoped, at least not in Vienna. However I did end up finding and ordering the “Gefen Mono LOK” from a company in Austria.

The cable comes with a built-in screw, allowing for secure and fixed connection directly to the C100 Mark II. It’s not the cheapest solution since the 0,9m cable can range anywhere from €45 - €55 Euros, but it does give me peace of mind during my video shoots while I’m running around on set constantly filming with the camera on my shoulder, tripod, slider and so on.

Posted by: Vitor Goncalves

Vitor is a filmmaker, cameraman and editor based in Vienna, Austria. He is the owner of Reel Arts Media.