Canon recently unveiled new lenses in the Canon CINE-SERVO lens series, along with the recently-announced Canon EOS C400. The product numbers are the CN7×17 KAS T/R1 (RF mount) and CN7×17 KAS T/P1 (PL mount). These lenses are new products in the EF/RF Cinema Lens CINE-SERVO Lens series. The release date is early October 2024. The release price is not yet determined..
The CN7x17 KAS T/R1 is the first Canon CINE-SERVO lens series to feature an RF mount, while the CN7x17 KAS T/P1 is a cinema lens that uses a PL mount, which is widely used in the broadcasting industry. While inheriting the features of the previous product “CN7x17 KAS S” (released in August 2014), such as high optical performance compatible with 4K and 8K cameras, the new Canon CINE-SERVO lenses have expanded communication functions via each mount and are equipped with a new digital drive unit “e-Xs V,” improving operability and functionality. The lenses designed to meet a variety of needs, such as the expansion of shooting techniques such as remote shooting and virtual production in live broadcasts of sports and video production such as movies, and the efficiency of workflows.
Canon CINE-SERVO Lens with an RF-Mount
The new lens supports native Canon RF mount communication protocols, and when combined with the “EOS C400” (scheduled for release in early September 2024), “EOS C70” (released in November 2020), or “EOS R5 C” (released in March 2022), the camera can perform chromatic aberration correction, peripheral illumination correction, and dual pixel focus guide functions just like previous products. Combination with this new lens now also supports distortion correction. In addition, it is now possible to output lens metadata suitable for virtual production, and when used in combination with the “EOS C400”, it supports high-precision CG compositing processing in real time and post-production.
NEW Digital Drive Unit
The new digital drive unit, “e-Xs V,” is installed for the first time in the CINE-SERVO lens. The high-speed focus and iris allow the camera operator to shoot as intended, even when shooting fast-moving subjects in sports broadcasts. In addition to suppressing the angle of view fluctuation that occurs when focusing through optical design, it is equipped with a focus breathing correction function that precisely corrects automatically in conjunction with zoom. Furthermore, the highly versatile USB Type-C terminal allows the lens setting data to be read/written from a USB memory stick and the user to update the firmware themselves.
Shooting for broadcast or cinematic styles
This new lens is equipped with functions and a design suitable not only for broadcast-style operation using servo control with a digital drive unit, but also for cinema-style shooting with full manual operation. In addition to the “12-pin serial communication” communication standard for broadcast camera systems, and the “CN7×17 KAS T/P1” supports Cooke’s “/i Technology”, which is widely adopted in the video production industry, as well as ZEISS’s “eXtended Data.” By being able to output various lens information during shooting externally in real time via the mount, this product is designed to improve the efficiency of shooting and editing.
NOTES:
*1. CINE-SERVO is a Canon general term for lenses that come standard with a drive unit compatible with cameras equipped with large-format sensors.
*2. The EOS C70 and EOS R5 C can be supported by updating to firmware scheduled for distribution in the second half of 2024. The EOS R5 C has performance guarantees only in VIDEO mode.
*3. ZEISS’s “eXtended Data” is not compatible when attached using the “Mount Adapter PL-RF” scheduled to be released in September.
