How Open Gate on the Canon EOS C50 Unlocks Cinematic Flexibility for Modern Creators

Open Gate is one of the most talked-about recording formats in videography today. If you’ve seen creators talking about capturing “more of the frame,” or being able to reframe their shots later for vertical or cinematic use, that’s Open Gate. It’s a real workflow upgrade for creators who need flexibility across platforms, whether it’s Instagram Reels, YouTube, or cinematic showcases.

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1. What is Open Gate?

Open Gate means you’re recording the full sensor, not just a cropped portion. Instead of being locked into a standard aspect ratio like 16:9, you capture a taller, more flexible frame. Later, you can reframe that same shot for vertical (9:16), square (1:1), or cinematic widescreen (2.35:1) without losing resolution.

When I explain Open Gate, I call it “future-proof framing.” Imagine taking a group photo where you capture not just the faces but extra space above and below. Later, you can crop it tall for Instagram Stories, wide for YouTube, or square for a website banner – all from the same shot. During my motorbike shoot, I took one Open Gate clip and created three unique versions: a 16:9 widescreen pass, a 9:16 social reel, and a 1:1 cinematic crop. Each looked native and sharp, with zero quality loss. It’s a perfect example of how using the full sensor gives creators more control in post-production and ensures every frame stays flexible for future formats.

2. How to Use Open Gate on the Canon EOS C50

Canon has made enabling Open Gate on the C50 straightforward with just a few menu selections. Once enabled, the camera captures extra vertical space, which allows you to decide later whether your final output will be vertical, horizontal, or cinematic.

Activating Open Gate on the C50 is simple – in the Recording Format menu, select Open Gate mode. I keep a 9:16 framing guide visible on my external monitor so I can compose with both horizontal and vertical crops in mind.

My on-set workflow is built around reframing later, so I compose slightly wider than usual – for example, shooting at 24mm or 28mm instead of 35mm – to leave breathing room for cropping. At night, I push ISO up to 6400, taking advantage of the C50’s Dual Base ISO (800 and 6400), which keeps footage clean and cinematic in low light.

One mistake beginners make is forgetting how much extra headroom they’re capturing. It’s easy to accidentally include stands, crew, or unwanted details in the frame. I avoid that by slowing down before each take, checking my guides carefully, and scanning the full frame before I hit record.

3. Why Creators Should Care About Open Gate

Open Gate is more than a technical feature - it’s about efficiency, flexibility, and future-proofing. It lets you:
• Reframe shots for different platforms (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, cinematic widescreen)
• Stabilise footage in post without losing quality
• Preserve maximum resolution for future projects or client needs

Although this was my first time shooting in Open Gate, I immediately noticed how much easier it made post-production. With the Canon EOS C50’s 7K Open Gate resolution, I could use warp stabiliser in Premiere Pro without worrying about losing too much of the frame. The footage stayed sharp and cinematic, even after heavy stabilisation. That extra resolution meant fewer reshoots, smoother edits, and far more creative flexibility across formats.

4. Real-World Applications of Open Gate

Open Gate shines when flexibility matters. Here are a few scenarios where I’ve found it invaluable:
• Branded content: Shoot once, deliver in multiple formats without compromising quality
• Cinematic projects: Capture the full sensor area, then decide in post how to crop for storytelling
• Social-first content: One Open Gate clip can cover Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts

To explore Open Gate’s potential, I created a short video entirely around the format’s flexibility. I started with a single 3:2 Open Gate clip, then reworked it into multiple outputs – beginning with a 9:16 vertical version, then reframing it into 16:9 widescreen, and finally layering both together in an experimental edit that combined multiple aspect ratios on screen.

The challenge was keeping the sequence cohesive while jumping between formats. Open Gate on the C50 made that possible. Every crop retained crisp detail and resolution, which turned what could have been a limitation into a creative advantage. It proved how one take can become multiple deliverables across different platforms, each with its own visual character.

5. Limitations and When Not to Use Open Gate

Open Gate isn’t always the right choice. Consider:
• File size: Larger files require more storage and faster editing systems
• Workflow impact: Extra resolution can slow editing or rendering
• Simpler projects: For 16:9-only outputs, standard recording might be quicker and more efficient

Since I’m still early in using Open Gate, I tend to err on the side of caution and shoot in it whenever I can. When editing, I create proxy files for all my clips – this keeps playback smooth even when working across multiple high-resolution timelines. It’s an easy workflow hack that lets me enjoy the full creative freedom of Open Gate without overloading my system.

Open Gate has become one of my go-to features on the Canon EOS C50. It allows me to capture once and deliver everywhere, whether that’s cinematic widescreen, social-first vertical, or anything in between.

Using Open Gate on the C50 completely changed how I think about framing. My advice is simple: test it on a project you care about. Shoot freely, then play with the crops in post. You’ll quickly see how powerful it is – not just for flexibility, but for reimagining how stories are told across platforms.

Find out more about the EOS C50.
Photography by Moses Aurelius. See more of his photos on Instagram.