Canon adds 4 x 4K cinema lenses

Canon is developing four new compact, lighter, low-cost 4K digital cinematography zoom lenses, for its expanding EF Cinema Lens range. These will join the seven high-end lenses announced last November.

The new lenses are designed for Super35mm sensors (such as the upcoming EOS C500 rather than full-frame sensors like the EOS-1D C DSLR) and support 4K (4,096 x 2,160) resolutions.

They will be available with both EF and PL mounts, and will be smaller, lighter and more compact than its earlier offerings. Canon has also promised that they will be available “at competitive prices, offering premium performance to a wider range of users”.

There will be two wide-angle cinema zoom lenses: the CN-E15.5-47mm T2.8 L S (with Canon’s own EF mount) and the CN-E15.5-47mm T2.8 L SP (with a PL mount); alongside two telephoto cinema zooms: the CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L S (EF) and CN-E30-105mm T2.8 L SP (PL). I

They are claimed to be “ideal for handheld shooting” or for working with Steadicams.

Prototypes of the new cinema zoom lenses will be shown at NAB next week (April 16 to 19 in Las Vegas), and they should be available from September 2012.

By David Fox