Press Releases

Canon CJ12ex4.3B: New, Lightweight 2/3” 4K Portable UHD Wide-Angle Broadcast Lens with 12x Zoom and the World’s Widest Focal Length 4.3mm for Professionals

Canon CJ12ex4.3B, 4K

Canon CJ12ex4.3B, 4K

CJ12ex4.3B portable 4K 2/3-inch broadcast lens, the world’s first* 4K wide-angle lens with for use with 4K broadcast cameras featuring 2/3-inch sensors.

This will be the first in a new line of 4K broadcast lenses intended to support a range of 4K ultra-high-definition (UHD) productions.

Designed as a portable wide-angle 12x zoom lens, the CJ12ex4.3B is ideal for Electronic Field Production (EFP) and Electronic News Gathering (ENG) broadcast applications covering news, sports, live events and filmmakers creating documentary projects desiring 4K quality. Canon is also developing a portable, longer-zoom 4K lens that will further extend 4K UHD production capabilities….

This portable wide-angle lens provides the optical excellence needed for 4K broadcast production. Its 4.3mm wide angle (96.3 degree horizontal angle of view) and minimum object distance of 30 cm are both the best of its class in the world*. A built-in 2x extender allows more telephoto operation without sacrificing 4K image quality.

This wide angle lens supports framing of scenes containing large amounts of image detail — for example, a wide end zone-to-end zone shot. Editors can then select a 1920 x 1080 crop from within the 3840 x 2160 camera original with full HDTV image quality. Alternatively, the 4K UHD camera video can be downsampled to HDTV offering enhanced resolution by virtue of that supersampled original.

The form factor for production shooters will be very similar to shooting with Canon’s HD lenses in size, weight and controls. Its light weight of 4lbs, 10oz. and compact size make it ideal for shoulder-mounted ENG applications.

https://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/about_canon?pageKeyCode=pressreldetail&docId=0901e02480fea353#

* Among portable 4K broadcast lenses for 2/3-inch imager format as of August 25, 2015

The CJ12ex4.3B portable broadcast lens is scheduled to be available in the USA in December 2015 while the longer-zoom 4K lens is scheduled to be added to the lineup in the first half of 2016.

For more information and the full list of product specifications, please visit: pro.usa.canon.com/broadcast

CJ12ex4.3B

Canon launches world’s widest 2/3” 4K portable broadcast lens¹ – the CJ12ex4.3B

London, UK, 25 August 2015 – Canon today unveils the CJ12ex4.3B, a new 2/3” portable 4K zoom lens with the world’s widest focal length – an incredible 4.3mm, designed for professionals shooting interviews or live broadcast, including sport and news. Canon also today announces that it is developing a new compact 2/3” 4K all-purpose-zoom lens. Further bolstering Canon’s 4K broadcast lens range for cameras employing 2/3” sensors, the versatile new lens will be optimised for both indoor and outdoor shooting, across a variety of applications including, sporting events, live broadcasts, as well as television dramas and commercials.

4K all-purpose-zoom lens

4K all-purpose-zoom lens

Outstanding 4K optical performance
Leveraging Canon’s renowned heritage in optical design and advanced technologies, the CJ12ex4.3B delivers outstanding 4K image quality throughout the entire 12x optical zoom range. Providing the freedom to quickly adapt to different shooting environments, the new lens enables shooters to swiftly move from an ultra-wide 4.3mm angle shot to close ups, whilst ensuring first-class image quality from the very centre to the edge. A built-in 2x extender also helps provides even greater focal reach, whilst still maintaining 4K optical performance.

Canon CJ12ex4.3B, 4K

Canon CJ12ex4.3B, 4K

To further provide sharp, high contrast images, the CJ12ex4.3B includes an increased use of fluorite and UD glass combined with Canon’s expert coatings, resulting in exceptional control over ghosting and flare. A new three group internal focus system also reduces focus breathing.

Exceptional portability and flexible operation
Boasting a brand new design, the CJ12ex4.3B is compact and lightweight, weighing just 2.1kg, making it similar in size and weight to a comparable 2/3” HD lens. Ideal for on-shoulder shooting traditionally adopted by news gatherers, the lens can easily be used on-the-go, and with an ergonomic design and grip, it is comfortable to hold for longer periods of time. The lens also incorporates three 20-pin connectors for easy integration with existing HD zoom/focus controllers and can be directly connected to an external virtual operation system at the same time.

Canon CJ12ex4.3B, 4K

Canon CJ12ex4.3B, 4K

Featuring a Digital Drive Unit, the CJ12ex4.3B offers advanced operability giving users the freedom to select repeatable zoom positions and speeds, in addition to focus and iris settings. A 16-bit absolute value encoder integrated into the Digital Drive Unit allows operators to start shooting with the camera’s aberration compensation function in an instant, without the need for any initialisation. This is perfect for news and wildlife environments where action can disappear as quickly as it started. A digital display, built into the Digital Drive Unit, also makes it easy to set, review and adjust vital functions in a way similar to 2/3” HD lenses.

Canon CJ12ex4.3B, 4K

Canon CJ12ex4.3B, 4K

Key features CJ12ex4.3B:

Canon CJ12ex4.3B, 4K

Canon CJ12ex4.3B, 4K

  • 4K resolution 2/3” portable wide angle lens with 12x zoom
  • Exceptional 4.3mm focal length at the wide end extends to 52mm (104mm using the built-in 2x extender)
  • Stunning optical performance right to the edge of the image when paired with a 2/3” 4K compatible camera
  • Combines 4K quality with lightweight design and compact size comparable to HD lenses for comfortable on-shoulder shooting
  • Sustained 4K performance even when using the built-in 2x extender
  • Proven, high-quality 16-bit encoder captures precise information on zoom, focus and iris and allows support for aberration correction immediately on start-up
  • 3 20-pin connectors make for effortless use with existing Canon HD lens accessories and virtual systems

¹ World’s widest focal length for a 2/3” 4K portable lens, based on Canon market research, as of 25th August 2015