Canon announced two 8K broadcast lenses - the UHD-DIGISUPER 51 and the 7x10.7 KAS S

MELVILLE, NY, November 6, 2019 – Canon U.S.A., Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, today announced the launch of its first two 8K Broadcast lenses: the UHD-DIGISUPER 51 (SP51x15.5B), a long-zoom field lens, and the 7×10.7 KAS S, a portable zoom lens. These two new zoom lenses are compatible with 8K broadcast cameras equipped with 1.25-inch sensors.

“8K broadcasting equipment is the newest frontier for covering sporting events and documentary productions around the globe,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “Through the addition of our first 8K broadcast lenses, Canon is cementing our position on the cutting edge of the latest ultra-high-resolution digital imaging solutions.”


UHD-DIGISUPER 51 8K Lens

The UHD-DIGISUPER 51 8K field zoom lens provides high-quality optical performance for 8K broadcast cameras from the center to the periphery of the screen. The lens is built with the world’s highest1 51x zoom, as well as the world’s longest1 focal range from the wide-angle end of 15.5mm to the telephoto end of 790mm. In addition, the lens also features a built-in 1.5x extender that increases the maximum focal length to 1185mm. With the ability to realize high magnification, this lens provides users with the same operability as a conventional 2/3-inch HDTV or 4K field zoom lens, allowing them to switch to 8K video shooting and production without changing the shooting style.

7×10.7 KAS S 8K Lens

Featuring a 7x zoom that covers a focal range of 10.7-75mm, the new 7×10.7 KAS S is ideal for a variety of broadcasting applications. From the center of the screen to the corners of the periphery, this lens has the resolution and contrast compatible with 8K broadcast cameras, while also having the same operability as a conventional 2/3-inch HDTV or 4K portable zoom lens. The 7×10.7 KAS S is equipped with key features designed to provide customers with a high-quality, user-friendly experience, including the mobility required for on-the-move shooting.

1.25-Inch Image Format Size for 8K UHD Live Television

The early experimental 8K UHD live television coverages of sporting events proved critical to determining the image format size that could deliver the essential depth of field while also ensuring an individual image sensor photosite size that could sustain 8K MTF, adequate dynamic range, and luma signal to noise.

A 1.25-inch image format size balances those imaging parameters in tri-sensor cameras for 8K UHD live television. The 1.25-inch image format has a diagonal of 18.5mm as compared to the smaller 11.0mm of the 2/3-inch format and the larger 28.2mm of the Super 35mm format.

The 7×10.7 KAS S will be available by special order beginning in January 2020, and the UHD-DIGISUPER 51 will be available by special order beginning in May 2020. For interest or inquiry about either lens please contact your local Canon representative. To learn more about Canon broadcast lenses, please visit www.usa.canon.com.

Canon announced Sumire PL-Mount Cinema Prime Lenses

MELVILLE, NY, April 3, 2019 – Covering the core range of focal lengths that cinema professionals desire, Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging solutions, is excited to announce the company’s first set of seven cinema prime PL-Mount lenses, aptly named Sumire Prime. Pronounced “Soo-mee-ray,” the word is of Japanese origin and is associated with a floral gentleness and beauty. Sumire Prime Lenses offer a unique artistically pleasing look with gentle and beautiful skin tones and smooth bokeh, designed for use with large-sensor cinema cameras, including 35mm full-frame cameras such as the EOS C700FF Cinema Camera.

In addition to bright T-stops and Canon’s renowned warm-color imagery, a unique optical design introduces a nuanced look as the lens aperture approaches its maximum setting - subtly modifying the textural renderings of the human face closeup. It also smooths the transition to the fall-off portions of the scene resulting in a pleasing bokeh. This combination adds emotional expressiveness and provides creative flexibility to create a memorable scene.
“Sumire in Japan is the name of a flower, and like the petals of a flower, our lenses are most beautiful when fully opened. This is the inspiration behind the Sumire look,” said Kazuto Ogawa, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “The feedback from cinematographers is crucial and their voices have been heard loud and clear – they asked Canon to introduce a set of PL-mount cinema prime lenses. We went a step further and our new Sumire Prime Lenses produce the beautifully cinematic and unique images professionals desire. We can’t wait to see how the lenses will contribute to the art of filmmaking.”

The new set of seven Canon Sumire Prime Cinema Lenses include the following :

• CN-E14mm T3.1 FP X
• CN-E20mm T1.5 FP X
• CN-E24mm T1.5 FP X
• CN-E35mm T1.5 FP X
• CN-E50mm T1.3 FP X
• CN-E85mm T1.3 FP X
• CN-E135mm T2.2 FP X

All Sumire Prime lenses feature an 11-bladed iris and bright T-stops that allow users to capture images that feature a more natural circular-like bokeh from both maximum to minimum aperture. The use of an odd number of iris blades also helps to diffuse light rays and produce what is generally considered a more sought after, artistically pleasing and cinematic look with warmer colors. The lenses also achieve uniform color balance throughout the lineup, helping to reduce the need for post grading, even when a production is frequently changing lenses.

The highly durable Sumire Prime lenses feature the same outstanding operability and reduced focus breathing as Canon’s well-established EF-Mount Cinema Prime Lenses. Manual operation provides users with the resistance they desire to make precise changes in focus. A 300-degree focus rotation angle and gear position is consistent across the entire Sumire Prime series of lenses - eliminating the need to adjust gear positions when changing lenses.

“The new Sumire Prime lenses are the perfect blend of science and art,” says cinematographer Matt Porwoll, who shot the first U.S. footage with the lenses. “The bokeh comes alive in ways that weren’t occurring with other lenses I’ve used. Lens flares have a dynamic feel to them, rather than behaving in a formulaic manner. I wish I had these on my last project!”

The Sumire Prime Lenses are compatible with the complete lineup of Canon Cinema EOS full-frame and Super 35mm 4K cameras, including the EOS C700 FF, EOS C300 Mark II and EOS C200. In addition to Canon cameras, the new lenses are also compatible with the latest full-frame and Super 35mm PL-mount cameras from leading manufacturers. Additionally, the mount on the Sumire Prime Lenses is interchangeable and can be converted from PL-Mount to EF-Mount at a Canon Factory Service & Repair center. A Canon representative will be able to perform the service or even revert back to original PL-mount upon request at an additional cost*.

Availability* 

The Canon CN-E24mm T1.5 FP X, CN-E35mm T1.5 FP X, CN-E50mm T1.3 FP X and CN-E85mm T1.3 FP X lenses are scheduled to be available in Summer 2019. The Canon CN-E14mm T3.1 FP X lens is scheduled to be available in Fall 2019. The Canon CN-E20mm T1.5 FP X and CN-E135mm T2.2 FP X lenses are scheduled to be available in Winter 2019/Spring 2020. 

Canon demonstrated Ultra High resolution 8K video shot with new Cinema EOS camera

Canon and Miyazaki Prefecture collaborate on ultra-high-resolution 8K video “Origins of Japan’s Mythology”

Canon, in cooperation with Miyazaki Prefecture, has produced a new, ultra-high-resolution 8K video highlighting some of the prefecture’s most iconic sightseeing locations and cultural elements. The project, entitled “Origins of Japan’s Mythology,” aims to promote tourism to Miyazaki and to preserve its natural beauty and cultural heritage. Using a Canon 8K camera equipped with the Company’s rich lineup of EF Cinema Lenses covering the full range from wide-angle to telephoto, this video features such scenes as Takachiho Shrine and ritual Kagura dancing, Amanoyasugawara cave and sake making at a brewery in the town of Hinokage. Watch the video and experience the majesty of Miyazaki in exquisite detail!

Sharing his thoughts on capturing Miyazaki with 8K equipment, director of “Origins of Japan’s Mythology” and CEO of Full score Co., Ltd. Ichiro Shimada said :

“Of the six days we spent filming, we only had clear skies for one. But we were still able to capture the full range of Miyazaki’s graceful beauty in 8K, from Amanoyasugawara cave against the backdrop of faint rain to droplets forming outside Amanoiwato. Then on the final day, the sun finally emerged and we witnessed a miraculous sea of clouds from our vantage point at Kunimigaoka. The sublime sight of gentle drifting clouds and the soft glow of the sun is enough to take your breath away, and I feel we fully captured this in our 8K content.

“Canon’s 8K technology not delivers not only extremely high resolution, but also high dynamic range and rich color expression. And with the ability to record in 8K RAW, we could represent our subjects with more true-to-life visuals. Finally, thanks to the ease of scaling our existing 4K equipment to accommodate our workflow, we were able to film without any trouble. I hope our work will allow even more people to experience the beautiful scenery of Miyazaki.”

Canon’s 8K Technologies

Canon is leveraging its proprietary optical and image-processing technologies to develop a full lineup of 8K equipment spanning input to output, including cameras, lenses and displays. The 8K camera used to record this content is equipped with a Canon-developed 8K image sensor that realizes ultra-high resolution of 8192 x 4320 pixels—16x that of 2K—high-precision HDR and a wide color gamut. All of this makes possible the capture of footage with quality, presence and immersion that’s like seeing with the naked eye. In addition to hardware, Canon is pursuing development of such fully immersive experiences as the Free Viewpoint Video System, which gives viewers the feeling of watching an event in person. Going forward, Canon will continue striving to develop and deliver new visual solutions and experiences.