Canon unveils its first two zoom lenses for 8K broadcast cameras

SYDNEY, Australia - November 7, 2019: Canon Inc., Canon Australia, and Canon Marketing Japan Inc. announced today the launch in Japan of two new lenses for 8K broadcast¹ cameras equipped with 1.25-inch sensors: the UHD-DIGISUPER 51 field zoom lens and the 7x10.7 KAS S portable zoom lens.

The development of the new UHD-DIGISUPER 51 and 7x10.7 KAS S zoom lenses for 8K broadcast cameras represent the culmination of Canon’s optical technologies. In recent years, such productions as documentaries and broadcasts of sporting events have begun to adopt 8K equipment to deliver ultra-high-resolution video around the world.

To that end, there is demand for essential technological developments and the stable supply of equipment optimised for 8K standards covering input, transmission and output. With the addition of broadcast lenses that realise 8K ultra-high resolution to its lineup, Canon meets the needs associated with increased image quality for video.

UHD-DIGISUPER 51
The new Canon UHD-DIGISUPER 51 achieves a level of superlative optical performance from the centre to the peripheral areas of image field to support 8K broadcast cameras. Canon’s first 8K field zoom lens, the UHD-DIGISUPER 51 realises a focal length range of 15.5 mm to 790 mm and a zoom ratio of 51x. In addition to realising a high zoom ratio, the lens maintains similar handling to existing field zoom lenses for 4K cameras that employ 2/3-inch sensors, making it possible to transition to 8K production while retaining the same shooting style as with 4K production. The lens makes possible the capture of realistic, high-resolution video in a wide range of scenarios, including indoor and outdoor sports broadcasting or in medium-size broadcasting vans.

7x10.7 KAS S
The 7x10.7 KAS S covers a focal length range from 10.7 mm to 75 mm, enabling a 7x zoom ratio on a portable zoom lens for 8K broadcast cameras. The lens achieves resolution and contrast from the centre to the periphery of the image to support 8K broadcast cameras while maintaining similar handling to existing portable zoom lenses for 4K cameras that employ 2/3-inch sensors. The lens maintains the manoeuvrability demanded of broadcast equipment for such scenarios as shoulder-mounted shooting or transporting equipment to meet a variety of video production needs, from documentary shooting and video shooting for different events to broadcasting applications.

Pricing and Availability

¹ A broadcasting image standard for images with a resolution of 33 million pixels, 16 times the resolution of Full HD and four times that of 4K.