Canon has announced the MS-510, a 1-inch SPAD sensor camera capable of capturing full-color video at 0.0006 lux, doubling the low-light performance of its predecessor.
The new sensor, with approximately 3.2 million pixels, is the highest-resolution SPAD sensor ever made, according to Canon’s technical disclosures and confirmed by multiple industry sources. This advancement enables bright, noise-reduced imaging in near-total darkness where conventional CMOS sensors fail.
Built for professional leverage, the MS-510 features a B4 lens mount, 3G-SDI output, genlock, and RJ45 LAN connectivity, positioning it for integration into broadcast and security infrastructures. It supports up to 1080p at 59.94 fps and includes built-in haze compensation and smart shade control for challenging environmental conditions.
Canon also unveiled the Cine-Servo 40-1200mm T5.0-10.8 lens, a direct successor to the widely adopted 50-1000mm model. The new lens maintains the same physical size and weight — 14.6 pounds (6.6 kg) and 16 inches (413 mm) in PL mount — while expanding the zoom range from 40mm to 1200mm, with a built-in 1.5x extender pushing effective reach to 1800mm on Super35 and enabling full-frame coverage.
The lens introduces a native RF-mount option, allowing Dual Pixel CMOS AF II autofocus on compatible EOS RF-mount cinema cameras like the C400, C80, C70, C50, and R5 C. For the C400, a firmware update enables Auto Exposure Ramping Compensation to counteract light loss during zooming.
A next-generation USB-C Drive Unit accompanies the lens, cutting zoom time from 40mm to 1200mm in one second — a 50% improvement over the previous 1.5 seconds — when paired with a USB-PD device. The port also supports firmware updates, setting imports/exports, and servo drive adjustments.
Priced at $79,999, the Cine-Servo 40-1200mm represents a modest increase over its predecessor’s $75,840 tag, reflecting the added RF mount and USB-C intelligence without a proportional jump in cost.
Despite its technical prowess, the MS-510 is not positioned as a primary filmmaking tool. No Film School noted it lacks the ergonomics and workflow focus of cinema cameras, instead serving niche roles in wildlife observation, infrastructure monitoring, and law enforcement where seeing in near-total darkness is mission-critical.
The camera’s improved near-infrared sensitivity adds tactical value for night-mode operations and long-distance detection, particularly in seaports, borders, and public facilities where identifying subjects without illumination is essential.
Canon will display the MS-510 at NAB 2026 in booth #C3825, where attendees can observe its low-light performance firsthand. Both the camera and lens are slated for release later in 2026, with the lens available in September.
How the MS-510’s sensor changes low-light imaging fundamentals
Unlike CMOS sensors that accumulate charge over time, the MS-510’s SPAD sensor detects single photons per pixel, enabling near-instantaneous response and minimal motion blur even in starlight conditions. This photon-counting approach eliminates read noise dominant in traditional sensors at low light levels.
What the Cine-Servo 40-1200mm gains and loses in its redesign
The lens sacrifices one stop of maximum aperture at the telephoto end — slowing from T8.9 to T10.8 — to gain 200mm of reach while keeping size and weight identical. This tradeoff preserves compatibility with existing gimbals, drones, and housings critical to broadcast workflows.
Why Canon added RF mount and USB-C to its flagship cinema lens
The RF mount was added in response to user demand for modern autofocus and electronic communication with EOS R-series cinema cameras, while the USB-C Drive Unit enables rapid zoom and firmware management — features previously requiring proprietary serial controls.
Is the MS-510 suitable for narrative filmmaking?
No, the MS-510 is not designed for narrative filmmaking. It lacks cinema-oriented ergonomics, interchangeable lens flexibility beyond B4 mount, and workflow integrations like RAW recording or cinema-grade color science, focusing instead on specialized low-light detection.
Can the Cine-Servo 40-1200mm be used on stills cameras?
No, the Cine-Servo 40-1200mm is a cinema lens designed for video cameras with electronic servo controls. It does not support still photography autofocus or manual focus mechanisms compatible with EOS R stills bodies.