Canon developing new 35 mm fixed-focal-length EF Cinema Lens
Canon announced its full-fledged entry into the cinema and television production industry with the launch of its Cinema EOS System of digital cinematography lenses and cameras, positioning the lenses at the core of the system. To date, Canon has launched 11 EF Cinema Lenses. Earning kudos from industry professionals working in the fields of motion-picture, commercial and television production, the lenses boast outstanding optical performance to make possible a range of visual expression possibilities while delivering exceptional handling ease.
In response to strong market demand, Canon is developing a 35 mm single-focal-length EF Cinema Lens. The lens is designed to fulfill contemporary 4K (4,096 x 2,160 pixels) production standards, which offer a level of resolution exceeding four times the resolution of Full HD, and will be compatible with not only industry-standard-size Super 35 mm-equivalent sensors, but also 35 mm full-frame, APS-H-size and APS-C-size sensors. While details about specifications and pricing have yet to be determined, Canon aims to release the new lens at the end of 2013. By providing filmmakers and videographers with a wider selection of lenses from which to choose, Canon supports increased shooting flexibility to ease new and fresh imaging perspectives.
Canon plans to show a mock-up of the lens from April 8 to 11 at NAB Show 2013, one of the world’s largest events for the broadcasting equipment, video and digital media industries, in Las Vegas, U.S.A.
Canon will continue to enhance its Cinema EOS System product lineup to support diverse imaging creation in the motion-picture and other digital high-resolution production industries, contributing to further expanding the possibilities of visual expression and the development of cinematic culture.
Current Canon Cinema Lens Lineup
Each current Canon Cinema lens is equipped with an 11-blade aperture diaphragm, which is ideally suited to help achieve creative depth-of-field manipulation and pleasing “bokeh” effects. The Canon line of Cinema prime lenses is precision-matched for consistent and solid optical performance throughout the line, and the inner focus mechanism helps reduce focus-induced changes in the angle of view. All feature a full-frame image circle in a lightweight, compact design, and they incorporate proven Canon lens elements designed to fulfill contemporary 4K production standards. All Canon Cinema primes also deliver color tone and balance that matches Canon’s top-end Cinema zooms and compact Cinema zooms. Canon Cinema prime lenses deliver the operation and reliability required in professional film-style shooting environments.
All Canon Cinema prime lenses are fully compatible with the Canon EOS C500, EOS C300, EOS C100, and EOS-1D C digital cinema cameras. The EF-mount design of all Canon Cinema prime lenses provides communication with these cameras for such handy features as display of the f number in the electronic viewfinder, recording of focus/zoom position and f number, and, later this year, Peripheral Light Compensation*1.
Strategically integrated motion-picture style mechanical attributes (as opposed to those for still photography lenses) are also an important design feature of Canon’s series of Cinema prime lenses. These film-style characteristics include 300-degree rotation on the focus ring for precision focus control as well as large, highly visible engraved focus scales for convenient operation. These markings appear on the angled surfaces on both sides of the barrel, making them easy to read and to adjust the “stepless” focus and/or aperture settings of the lenses from behind or from either side of the camera for camera operators or focus pullers. Focus markings can be switched from standard labeling to metric, and control rings are engineered to keep up the proper amount of resistance with consistent operating torque and familiar tactile “feedback” for satisfying manual control. All of Canon’s current Cinema prime lenses also share the same uniform gear positions, diameters, and rotation angles, as well as front-lens diameters, making them compatible with a variety of matte boxes, follow focus gear, marking disks, and other third-party film-industry-standard accessories. Film crews can quickly change lenses without the need for accessory gear-position adjustments or other changes to the rig setup.
The versatility of image-capture options using Canon EOS digital cinema cameras can be further extended with Canon’s Cinema Zoom lenses (the CN-E14.5-60mm T2.6 wide-angle and the CN-E30-300mm T2.95-3.7 telephoto) and Compact Cinema Zoom lenses (the CN-E15.5-47mm T2.8 wide-angle and CN-E30-105mm T2.8 telephoto). All four lenses are available in both EF- and PL-mount versions, and the mount can be switched at a Canon service facility in the United States for added flexibility. Almost all of Canon’s EF Series photographic lenses can also be used with these Cinema EOS cameras, including Image Stabilized zoom, tilt-shift, and macro lenses.
*1 Peripheral Light Compensation is expected to be available within 2013 and will need a firmware upgrade for compatible cameras.