Canon, a leader in imaging technology, is making waves in the world of professional video production with its latest announcement. Canon has introduced a groundbreaking series of RF mount Cinema Prime lenses, expanding on its already impressive lineup of EF mount CN-E Primes and PL mount Sumire Primes. This move into the realm of RF mount cinema lenses is set to revolutionize the industry by offering outstanding optical performance and cinema-style functionality, catering to the needs of professional video producers across various genres, from drama and documentaries to music videos and large-scale productions.
The star attractions of this unveiling are the seven new lenses, which have been long-awaited by the industry:
- CN-R14mm T3.1 L F
- CN-R20mm T1.5 L F
- CN-R24mm T1.5 L F
- CN-R35mm T1.5 L F
- CN-R50mm T1.3 L F
- CN-R85mm T1.3 L F
- CN-R135mm T2.2 L F
These native RF mount lenses redefine the landscape of cinematography by facilitating high-speedcommunication between the lens and the camera body. The result? Enhanced stability and a more comfortable operation for filmmakers.
Canon’s commitment to pushing the boundaries of cinematography is evident in the seamless compatibility of these lenses with Canon’s EOS C70 (released in November 2020) and EOS R5 C1 (released in March 2022) RF Cinema cameras. Operators will appreciate the capability to control various critical aspects, including magnification, chromatic aberration correction, peripheral light correction, and dual-pixel focus guidance, all through the camera body. An additional perk is the new lenses’ distortion aberration correction, streamlining the video production process, both during recording and post-shoot editing.
When it comes to optical performance, these RF mount Cinema Prime lenses set new industry standards. They excel in delivering exceptional color reproduction and are tailored for use with 4K and 8K cameras. This is achieved by incorporating large-diameter aspherical lens elements and lens elements with anomalous dispersion glass. With bright T-stop values and 11 aperture blades, filmmakers can achieve that coveted shallow depth of field, round blurring, and soft image expressions. Notably, the lenses maintain a consistent color balance across the entire series, simplifying color tone adjustments when switching lenses during the same scene.
Filmmakers will find the operation of these lenses a breeze, thanks to an operation ring designed with the perfect sense of torque for precise and smooth adjustments – an absolute necessity for cinema shooting. Their unified design, including gear positions, lens diameter, and rotation angles, guarantees that filmmakers can swap lenses without the hassle of reconfiguring matte boxes or external follow-focus accessories for each model. Canon has thought of everything, even providing a knurled surface near the mount for a comfortable grip, ensuring lenses can be securely attached and detached without the need to grip the operation ring.
The key features of the RF mount Cinema Prime lenses are truly impressive:
- A genuine RF mount, eliminating the need for a converter and ensuring stable operation
- High-speed lens communication, offering advanced metadata support from the lens to the camera
- Geared rings for superior manual control and compatibility with third-party follow-focus accessories
- High optical performance and image quality, perfect for 4K, 8K, and HDR productions
- T-stops with values up to T1.3, covering a wide range of focal lengths, from ultra-wide to telephoto
- Minimal focus breathing
- An 11-blade iris, creating cinematic bokeh and softly diffused highlights
Cinematography enthusiasts and professionals alike will have the chance to get up close and personal with these groundbreaking RF mount Cinema Prime lenses. Canon will be showcasing them at IBC 2023, held from 15th to 18th September 2023 at the RAI, Amsterdam. This event is a golden opportunity for visitors to explore and experience these lenses firsthand and witness the future of cinematic artistry. Canon’s journey into RF mount cinema lenses is a testament to the company’s dedication to innovation and its commitment to empowering filmmakers to create awe-inspiring visual stories.
