Canon Announced Two New Cinema Zoom Lenses (and updates to Cinema EOS cameras)

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Canon released two new broadcasting lenses for their Cinema EOS system, the CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L S / SP and CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L S / SP.

CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L key features:

• Constant T1.7 aperture across entire focal length
• 14-35mm wide angle zoom range
• Compatible with Canon relay change mount for easy conversion between Super 35mm and Full Frame
• Cooke /i Technology™ and ZEISS eXtended Data™ lens communication
• 11 Iris Blade aperture for beautiful bokeh effect
• Interchangeable EF/PL mount options
• 3.3kg in weight

CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L key features:

• Constant T1.7 aperture across entire focal length
• 31.5-95mm mid-focal length zoom range
• Compatible with Canon relay change mount for easy conversion between Super 35mm and Full Frame
• Cooke /i Technology™ and ZEISS eXtended Data™ lens communication
• 11 Iris Blade aperture for beautiful bokeh effect
• Interchangeable EF/PL mount options
• 3.5kg in weight

Canon press release:

Canon bolsters cinema line up with two new Flex Zoom lenses and updates to Cinema EOS cameras

London, United Kingdom 3rd April 2023 – Canon Europe today announces the launch of two Super 35mm lenses for high-end 4K, 8K and HDR cinema productions, which enhances its Flex Zoom line-up. With the ongoing popularity of the Super 35mm sensor, the CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L S / SP and CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L S / SP are the fastest Super 35mm lenses on the market offering such broad focal lengths1. The CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L, a wide angle 14-35mm zoom lens and the CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L, a mid-focal range lens with a 31.5-95mm zoom range, offer incredible optical performance to support a wide range of uses and shooting scenarios.

Powerful cinematic imagery

Bolstering Canon’s Flex Zoom range, the CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L and CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L offer a fast constant aperture of T1.7 that creates an incredibly shallow depth of field to ensure subjects stand out, whilst also enhancing the compatibility with fast prime lenses when used together in the same production. Covering the most frequently used focal lengths in cinema production, these models offer high optical performance to create sharp, consistent images for 4K and 8K capture. Coupled with 11 Iris blades, this produces a beautiful bokeh effect and softly diffused light. Building on Canon’s heritage and colour science, the CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L and CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L achieve warm colours and true-to-life skin tone reproduction, with breath-taking image quality.

Versatile Flex design

Living up to the series name, the CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L and CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L are flexible lenses, suited to a wide range of scenarios. In addition to the interchangeable mount design that enables the lens to be switched between EF and PL mounts, these lenses are the first in Canon’s cinema range that make use of Canon’s interchangeable relay kit, enabling them to be switched from Super 35mm to Full Frame and back again, at any Canon authorised service centre2. Weighing just 3.3kg and 3.5kg respectively, the CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L and CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L have a compact, lightweight design that is perfect for versatile shooting or tight filming environments.

Enhanced communication for creative workflows

Both lenses support efficient lens metadata workflows including Cooke /i Technology™, and ZEISS eXtended Data™ via PL mount, alongside 4-pin Lemo connectivity. This is invaluable for virtual productions, where positional information is needed to ensure virtual backgrounds react as a natural background would to the perspective of the camera, as well as for post-production VFX workflows. Furthermore, electronic lens communication with chromatic aberration and peripheral illumination correction, as well as a Dual Pixel Focus Guide for manual focus assist via EF mount is available when used with compatible cameras.

Offering precise operation and enhanced usability, the CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L and CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L feature 0.8mm gears which are compatible with industry-standard follow focus accessories and external motors. With a precise mechanical design, users have greater control over lens optics, enabling smooth operation and creative control during filming. With a robust build, these lenses stand up against a range of different environments, making them great for on-location shooting.

Cinema EOS firmware update

Canon is also announcing a collection of new firmware updates to further enhance and expand the capabilities of the EOS R5 C, EOS C70, EOS C300 Mark III and EOS C500 Mark II cameras.

The update will bring a high resolution Clear Scan function, offering a more concise range from 50 to 250Hz, providing greater synchronisation support when shooting LED screens on virtual productions. In addition, an option to change the in-camera waveform monitor size, as well as further metadata support for the latest Canon lenses, has been added. 

Improvements to the EOS R5 C include support for the EF-EOS R 0.71x Mount Adapter, faster switching time between photo and video modes, a power saving mode, 2x magnification during 8K MP4 recording and a digital-teleconverter option, maximising flexibility by providing a quick way to increase the telephoto capability of the lens used.

Details about the CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L and CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L are available here:
https://www.canon-europe.com/lenses/cn-e14-35mm-t1-7-l-s-sp/
https://www.canon-europe.com/lenses/cn-e31-5-95mm-t1-7-l-s-sp/
To find out more about the Cinema EOS firmware updates please visit:
https://www.canon-europe.com/support/

Kickstarter: Benro Theta, The Intelligent Modular Travel Tripod

Benro Theta
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Welcome the Benro Theta, a self-proclaimed intelligent modular travel tripod. It’s on Kickstarter and it looks like a good idea (to me).

If you like the idea behind the Benro Theta, have a look on their Kickstarter page to learn more.

As technology advances, we’re constantly moving toward a future where devices can do more with less. The Benro Theta is no exception to this rule. Theta is a highly innovative product that combines portability, stability, efficiency and intelligence. Theta offers the same stability a regular tripod does, but with many extras to assist photographers in taking the perfect shot with ease. From rapid leg deployment and automatic leveling, to remote camera control, automatic exposure adjustment, and livestreaming – Theta is designed to elevate your photographic journey.

With Theta’s level function, you can turn the ball head into a platform that is always level. Instead of having to take care of whether the framing is horizontal during the shoot – it is horizontal at all times. So you can stay focused on your composition.

In fact, we initially wanted to design an electric tripod head with built-in leveling that would be travel-friendly. However, the torque of an electronic tripod head is quite high, and making it smaller would give up its stability. With lots of testing, we redesigned Theta’s legs and ball head to make it a truly portable, self-leveling tripod. All without compromising stability and practicality.

More here….

Canon EOS R5 C Approved For Netflix Productions

Canon Eos R5 C
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The Canon EOS R5 C has been approved by Netflix, i.e. it satisfies their requirements to be used for productions for the streaming service.

Canon press release:

Canon EOS R5 C Now Approved for Netflix Productions

New Firmware Update Enhances Operation & Image Quality of the Hybrid Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera

Canon’s EOS R5 C has been added to Netflix’s list of approved cameras. This allows filmmakers to use Canon’s full-featured, hybrid full-frame mirrorless camera for Netflix productions.

Version 1.0.3.1 firmware elevates the overall image quality and camera operability for content captured by filmmakers and creators using the EOS R5C.

The EOS R5 C approval brings the number of Canon Cinema EOS camera models approved for use on Netflix productions to eight.

Canon Cinema EOS camera models on the Netflix approved camera list include:

  • Canon EOS R5 C
  • Canon EOS C500 Mark II
  • Canon EOS C300 Mark III
  • Canon EOS C70
  • Canon EOS C300 Mark II
  • Canon EOS C700 FF
  • Canon EOS C700
  • Canon EOS C500

The new firmware update strengthens Canon’s commitment to the filmmaking and content creation market.

To download the new firmware update, please visit EOS R5 C Firmware Version 1.0.3.1

For more information on the Canon EOS R5 C camera, please visit EOS R5 C Product Page

Please visit Netflix’s site for more information about approved cameras:

Cameras & Image Capture: Requirements and Best Practices

Canon Develops Another Imaging Sensor That Can See In The Dark (the MS-500)

Ms-500
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Another highly specialized imagining sensor developed by Canon’s laboratories, the MS-500. Canon plans to commence sales of the MS-500 in 2023.

Canon press release:

Canon developing world-first ultra-high-sensitivity ILC equipped with SPAD sensor, supporting precise monitoring through clear color image capture of subjects several km away, even in darkness

TOKYO, April 3, 2023—Canon Inc. announced today that the company is developing the MS-500, the world’s first1 ultra-high-sensitivity interchangeable-lens camera (ILC) equipped with a 1.0 inch Single Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) sensor2 featuring the world’s highest pixel count of 3.2 megapixels3. The camera leverages the special characteristics of SPAD sensors to achieve superb low-light performance while also utilizing broadcast lenses that feature high performance at telephoto-range focal lengths. Thanks to such advantages, the MS-500 is expected to be ideal for such applications as high-precision monitoring.

There is a growing need for high-precision monitoring systems for use in such environments as national borders, seaports, airports, train stations, power plants and other key infrastructure facilities, in order to quickly identify targets even under adverse conditions including darkness in which human eyes cannot see, and from long distances.

The currently in-development MS-500 is equipped with a 1.0 inch SPAD sensor that reduces noise, thus making possible clear, full-color HD imaging even in extreme low-light environments. When paired with Canon’s extensive range of broadcast lenses, which excel at super-telephoto image capture, the camera is capable of accurately capturing subjects with precision in extreme low-light environments, even from great distances. For example, the camera may be used for nighttime monitoring of seaports, thanks to its ability to spot vessels that are several km away, thus enabling identification and high-precision monitoring of vessels in or around the seaport.

With CMOS sensors, which are commonly used in conventional modern digital cameras, each pixel measures the amount of light that reaches the pixel within a given time. However, the readout of the accumulated electronic charge contains electronic noise, which diminishes image quality, due to the process by which accumulated light is measured. This leads to degradation of the resulting image, particularly when used in low-light environments. SPAD sensors, meanwhile, employ a technology known as “photon counting”, in which light particles (photons) that enter each individual pixel are counted. When even a single photon enters a pixel, it is instantly amplified approximately 1 million times and output as an electrical signal. Every single one of these photons can be digitally counted, thus making possible zero-noise during signal readout—a key advantage of SPAD sensors4. Because of this technological advantage, the MS-500 is able to operate even under nighttime environments with no ambient starlight5, and is also capable of accurately detecting subjects with minimal illumination and capture clear color images.

The MS-500 employs the bayonet lens mount (based on BTA S-1005B standards) which is widely used in the broadcast lens industry. This enables the camera to be used with Canon’s extensive range of broadcast lenses which feature superb optical performance. As a result, the camera is able to recognize and capture subjects that are several km away.

Going forward, Canon will continue to pursue R&D and create products capable of surpassing the limits of the human eye while contributing to the safety and security of society by leveraging its long history of comprehensive imaging technologies that include optics, sensors, image processing and image analysis.

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Sony Announces The ZV-E1, Full-frame Camera For Content Creators

ZV-E1
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Sony released a full frame mirrorless camera, the Sony ZV-E1, aimed at the video making folks.

Sony ZV-E1 at a glance:

  • Designed for Content Creators
  • 12MP Full-Frame Exmor R CMOS Sensor
  • UHD 4K 120p / FHD 240p / 10-Bit 4:2:2
  • 5-Axis SteadyShot Image Stabilization
  • 15+ Stops Dynamic Range, AI Auto-Framing
  • Multi-Face Recognition, Time-Lapse
  • Product Showcase Setting
  • S-Log3, S-Gamut3, S-Cinetone, User LUTs
  • Extended ISO 80-409,600
  • Internal Mic + Inputs, USB Streaming

Sony press release:

Sony Electronics Announces the ZV-E1, a New Full-Frame, Interchangeable Lens Camera for Video Creators

A Compact Lightweight Body Designed to Give Creators the Ultimate Video and Content Creation Tool

SAN DIEGO, March 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Electronics announced today the new ZV-E1, an interchangeable lens camera with a high performance 35mm full-frame image sensor for the ultimate video creation experience. Newly positioned in Sony’s ZV vlog camera line-up, the ZV-E1 boasts a 12MP full-frame image sensor, Sony’s latest BIONZ XR image processing engine, a dedicated AI (artificial intelligence) processing unit, compatibility with over 70 Sony E-mounti lenses, and other advanced technologies for capturing cinematic imagery with rich colors, low noise and high precision. The world’s most compact, lightweight full frame interchangeable lens cameraii , the ZV-E1 offers outstanding mobility, with refined operation to give video creators maximum creative freedom and versatility.

“The ZV-E1 has been designed to deliver a premium content creation tool for video creators who want to elevate their content,” says Yang Cheng, Vice President, Imaging Solutions, Sony Electronics Inc. “We are constantly listening to feedback from our customers, pushing to innovate to meet their demands. We have taken all the information into mind with our development of this new camera – with more sophisticated video features, a streamlined user experience and an extremely compact design, the ZV-E1 offers a whole new way for today’s creators to create top level video content.”

Expressive imagery that emphasizes the subject
The ZV-E1 is a dedicated content creation camera that features a 35mm full-frame back-illuminated CMOS Exmor R™ sensor, with approximately 12.1 effective megapixels, delivering high sensitivity, low noise and gorgeous bokeh.

With up to eight timesiii more processing power than previous Sony processors, the new BIONZ XR™ image processing engine markedly boosts high-sensitivity performance, gradation rendering, color reproduction, low-noise performance, and more. The high volume of data generated by the image sensor can be processed in real time, even when shooting 4K (QFHD: 3840 x 2160) footage at 120piv. The BIONZ XR processor also contributes significantly to improved AF speed and precision.

High-quality 4K (QFHD) video can be recorded with full pixel readout at 10-bit 4:2:2, without the need for pixel binning and with very high speed to minimize rolling shutter. This makes the expressive advantages of the full-frame format available for video recording while delivering high-resolution 4K footage. Users can upgrade from 4K 60p to 4K 120pv through the Creators’ Cloud for extraordinarily smooth 5x (max.) slow-motion imageryvi. Direct playback for video in slow or quick motion in the S&Q modevii boasts outstanding image quality.

With 15+ stop latitudeviii, it’s possible to capture natural looking images in a wide variety of lighting to capture natural looking images even in extraordinarily low light situations without losing highlight or shadow detail. The standard ISO range extends from 80 to 102400 for both stills and movies. The expanded range for stills is 40 to 409600, and the expanded range for movies is 80 to 409600.

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Canon Recalls Some Batches Of EOS R10 Cameras And EF 50mm F1.2 Lenses

Canon Eos R10 Review
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Canon Japan published a customer advice about some batches of Canon EOS R10 cameras and EF 50mm f/1.2L lenses.

Canon found the following issue with Canon EOS R10 cameras:

A small part of this product makes a loud noise […] when the built-in strobe fires.

Is your Canon EOS R10 part of this batch? Find out this way:

[EOS R10 cameras] with the serial number (on the bottom of the camera) of which the two digits from the left are “01” to “10”.

(For products sold in Japan, some products from “01” to “03” are eligible.)

See here to learn more…

CANON EF 50mm f/1.2L

Some units of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.2L lens might have this issue:

When shooting in a high temperature environment, the exposure may not be as intended, resulting in variations in the brightness of the images shot in the same scene, or an error “Err01” may occur.

How to find out if your lens is affected? Check the serial number. Canon states:

Some of the EF50mm F1.2L USM interchangeable lenses for single-lens reflex and mirrorless cameras produced in 2022.

Lenses with the 10-digit serial number printed on the lens body (see the figure on the right) whose four digits from the left are “1840”, “1940”, “2040”, “2140”, and “2240” are eligible.

See here to learn more…

[via asobinet]