When back in 2015 we wrote here at Pro Video Coalition about the Canon ME20F-SH the question in the air was one: can surveillance cameras enter cinematic production? Apparently they can, suggested Canon at the time, and now they’re showing how the camera is evolving from the initial prototype from 2013 to a multi-purpose camera that offers a unique view of the world… in the dark.

In 2013 Canon said that through the further development of innovative CMOS sensors, they aim to expand the world of new imaging expression, something that the presentation of the ME20F-SH, two years later, fully represented: a video camera with a sensitivity of ISO 4 million. The high number may not be usable for video you’ll see regularly at your local cinema, but it points to a line of development that may bring new and better sensors across the different camera models from Canon.

In 2015, when presenting the camera, Canon said that it was designed for “nighttime surveillance and security, cinematic production, reality television, and nature/wildlife documentaries”. These are some of the ME20F-SH’s many possible usage applications. With the ability to capture color video in extreme low-light conditions and its simplistic and versatile design, the ME-20F-SH Multi-purpose Camera can be easily incorporated into existing infrastructures and systems to provide high-quality video capture even where subjects might not be seen with the naked eye.

Now Canon has decided to take things one step further, and created two videos that show what the camera can do.  On the first video, Canon USA’s Technical Advisor Brent Ramsey gives an overview of the ME20F-SH multi-purpose camera. He goes over camera features and also shows a live demo showing the low light capability of the camera.

The second video offers an overview of the ME20F-SH multi-purpose camera’s menu system.Throughout the video, which last 11 minutes, as the first,  Brent Ramsey  discusses the overall menu layout of the camera and contents of each sub menu. If the subject interests you, take 20 minutes of your time, sit down and go through these videos of the ME20F-SH.