NAB 2018: Canon Intros Four New Lenses for UHD Production Needs By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director
Monday, April 2, 2018 - 10:32 am
Print This Story
Canon took the wraps off its new lens introductions for NAB, including a new UHD-DIGISUPER 66x box lens and a second tier of UHD portable zoom lenses, the UHDgc line, that are designed to be a solid fit for 2/3-inch UHD lower-cost cameras that increasingly deliver UHD images. With 4K cameras at a remarkably low cost we wanted a second tier in 2/3-inch UHD portable lenses and that is similar to what we did when we launched the HDgc line of HD lenses [during that transition], says Larry Thorpe, Canon U.S.A, Senior Fellow, ITCG Professional Engineering and Solutions Business Planning Division.
Three new portable lenses from Canon give a new more affordable price point for those looking to enter the UHD production market.
The three new portable zoom 4K UHD broadcast lenses are the CJ24ex7.5B, CJ18ex7.6B and CJ14ex4.3B and they provide 4K UHD imaging quality at a price point that Canon says is more accessible to the majority of the broadcast market. They also maintain a compact and lightweight design to meet a wide range of needs for video productions that include documentaries, sports, events and news coverage.
There is still a lot of discussion within the broadcast industry and a lot of head scratching about the march to UHD and when UHD will start, adds Thorpe. And recognizing the uncertainty of the transition the concern is costs.
The CJ24ex7.5B, CJ18ex7.6B and CJ14ex4.3B utilize Canon's proprietary optical design technology featuring materials such as fluorite and ultra-low dispersion (UD) glass to achieve high 4K UHD performance across the entire zoom range. The lenses also support the wide color gamut approved by the ITU-R BT.2020 UHD broadcasting standard, an essential feature for capturing images in HDR. The lens ergonomics and digital servo operational controls are similar to previously announced Canon portable zoom lenses, providing users with maximum mobility in a variety of shooting situations. The CJ24ex7.5B and CJ14ex4.3B 4K lenses are scheduled to be available in summer 2018, while the CJ18ex7.6B lens is scheduled to be available in the fall.
As 4K UHD origination becomes more popular in television news, the need for affordable lenses that can deliver the necessary imaging performance has grown, adds Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. The new UHDgc series of lenses provides the optical brilliance that makes Canon a leader in broadcast lenses, while at a budgetary level that will make them attainable to a large swath of the industry.
A new 66x UHD box lens from Canon will be introduced at NAB.
NAB attendees will also want to check out the new UHD-DIGISUPER 66 (UJ66x9B), a mid-range telephoto zoom lens for 4K UHD broadcast cameras. Providing 4K optical performance for cameras that feature 2/3-inch sensors, the UHD-DIGISUPER 66 features a 66x zoom ratio, making it ideal for sports and live event productions. Leveraging Canon's Optical Shift Image Stabilizer (Shift-IS), this new lens provides both handling and operational controls similar to existing field zoom lenses for HDTV broadcast cameras, offering stable imaging and comfortable maneuverability during indoor and outdoor sports broadcasting, medium-size broadcasting vans and more.
As Canon continues to put the time and thought into the R&D of Field Lenses, we are very pleased with how the new UHD-DIGISUPER 66 advances the DIGISUPER product line, says Ishizuka. The new lens delivers improved optical performance and operational enhancements that together meet the needs of 4K UHD production industry demands.
The UHD-DIGISUPER 66 provides outstanding optical performance, resulting in beautiful images with no loss of sharpness or color from the center to the peripheral areas of image field. This lens possesses a focal length range of 9mm to 600mm and features a built-in two-times extender that allows users to double the zoom range capabilities of the lens (up to 1200mm on the telephoto end). Additionally, Canon's proprietary Shift-IS technology delivers smooth imaging with minimal blur during 4K shooting: a scenario in which even the most minor vibrations can severely impact the image. The lens is also compatible with standard broadcast zoom and focus demands, allowing for easy integration into a production setup.
It has built-in corrections for focus breathing that are electronically controlled, making it really top of the line, adds Thrope. It also very respectable ramping characteristics.
The UHD-DIGISUPER66 will be available in the fall.
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
01/06/2026
January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026
Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...
12/05/2026
Beyond the Hype: A Strategic Post-Hoc Analysis of NAB 2026 If NAB Show 2026 had an underlying theme, it was a quiet, industry-wide pivot from the high-energy sp...
12/05/2026
Guntermann and Drunck (G&D), a Panoptec Technologies Group company, and CT Square, led by Chandresh Shah, have announced a joint venture to distribute G&D and V...
12/05/2026
With 30 days until the start of the FIFA World Cup 2026, Telemundo, the exclusive Spanish-language home of the tournament in the United States, has announced th...
12/05/2026
The NHL has announced the return of Stanley Pup for its third consecutive year, a 90-minute special featuring adoptable rescue dogs competing on a miniature rin...
12/05/2026
NBCUniversal presented its 2026 Upfront to advertisers at Radio City Music Hall, detailing upcoming programming across NBC, Peacock, Bravo, and Versant properti...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced funding for the Fandom and Social Connection Initiative at Harvard Kennedy School's Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics, and Publ...
12/05/2026
TNDV and Live Media, both divisions of Live Media Group, supported live broadcast coverage around NCAA Final Four weekend in Indianapolis, including the March M...
12/05/2026
The European Football Alliance (EFA) has announced a content distribution agreement with Fubo Sports Network, the free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) channel ...
12/05/2026
For the first time, Spanish-speaking fans in the U.S. will have two separate tel...
12/05/2026
CP Communications led a comprehensive spectrum management initiative on behalf of Churchill Downs during Kentucky Derby week, coordinating RF assets across the ...
12/05/2026
LiveU has announced a strategic partnership with DRONERESPONDERS, a 501(c)3 non-...
12/05/2026
Open Broadcast Systems has announced that BMC TV, a specialist in IP transport of broadcast content, has selected the Open Broadcast Systems 5G Flyaway solution...
12/05/2026
NEP Europe, part of NEP Group, has announced it will deliver broadcast solutions...
12/05/2026
Grass Valley has announced continued collaboration with Ravensbourne University ...
12/05/2026
Stats Perform has announced the launch of Opta Pulse, an AI-assisted video creation and distribution platform for leagues, rights holders, and broadcasters. The...
12/05/2026
FOX Sports has announced a collaboration with Sesame Workshop to integrate Sesame Street characters into FOX Sports' FIFA World Cup 2026 programming. Conten...
12/05/2026
To date, NHL Productions has produced 19 broadcasts with commentary in American Sign Language
NHL in ASL (American Sign Language) may be just one show, but the...
12/05/2026
Google's Brian Albert: creators, athletes, highlights, nostalgia, second-scr...
12/05/2026
A still from Past Lives by Celine Song, an official selection of the Premieres program at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival. (Courtesy of Sundance Institute | p...
12/05/2026
Spotify is where fans and artists come together, turning discovery into somethin...
12/05/2026
Features patented Marco-MMC clocking technology
Black Lion Audio's latest release combines the company's expertise in clocking with their renowned p...
12/05/2026
New Track Panel, sequencer upgrades & more
Following their recent public beta release, Reason Studios have announced the full release of Reason 14. With the...
12/05/2026
One month to go! SBS reveals expansive FIFA World Cup 2026 lineup beyond the pi...
12/05/2026
Rohde & Schwarz presents its advanced solutions for power electronics testing at...
12/05/2026
aconnic AG (ISIN: DE000A0LBKW6), Munich, has developed a modified fund raising p...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Tyrell Corporation, specialists in high-end live sports and entertainment broadcasts, was tasked with delivering compelling broadcast coverage of premier equest...
12/05/2026
Registration is now open for IBC2026 as the global media, entertainment and technology community prepares to converge on the RAI Amsterdam from 11 14 September ...
12/05/2026
Ross Video, a global leader in live video production technology, will present its latest innovations and integrated production workflows at BroadcastAsia 2026, ...
12/05/2026
500 selected leaders from around the world across start-ups, corporates, and venture capital. Over 50bn in assets under management among attending investors, a...
12/05/2026
CVP, one of Europe's leading suppliers of professional video and broadcast solutions, has appointed Randy Koeman as Sales Manager, Netherlands, marking anot...
12/05/2026
Taiwan Television has expanded its HD content ingest workflow capabilities by investing in the PlayBox Neo Suite - a leading multi-channel multi-server UHD/HD/S...
12/05/2026
Jigsaw24 is strengthening its media team with the appointment of Tom Laker as Client Director and Ashish Chauhan as Project Manager. These strategic hires bring...
12/05/2026
Broadcast playout leader showcases hybrid IP infrastructure and workflow automation with Videoland deployment as regional benchmark...
12/05/2026
dzjinius, the all-in-one production management platform for the media and entertainment industry, will showcase its centralised approach to production workflows...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
12/05/2026
NUGEN Audio will debut Version 1.1 of DialogCheck, its intelligent dialog intelligibility and compliance tool, at the 2026 Media Production & Technology Show (S...
12/05/2026
The reactive visuals can adapt to any stage or screen setup and comprise 50 layers of Notch content
Today, Disguise announced that its high performance GX 3 m...
12/05/2026
Snapgrid , Snapbag & Airglow Expand Creative Control for the ARRI Modular LED BarFollowing the launch of the ARRI Omnibar, DoPchoice introduces a dedicated li...
12/05/2026
May 12th, 2026 Press Materials Available Here
TRIBECA FESTIVAL UNVEILS 2026 GAMES PROGRAM
Tribeca Celebrates Its 25th Anniversary With World Premieres and Pl...
12/05/2026
May 12th, 2026 Press Materials Available Here
MADONNA BRINGS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF CONFESSIONS II TO 2026 TRIBECA FESTIVAL
The Global Icon Will Unveil a Cine...
12/05/2026
Customer demand for data continues to grow in the first quarter of 2026 at Magya...
NAB 2018: Canon Intros Four New Lenses for UHD Production Needs By Ken Kerschbaumer, Editorial Director 
