Lens News

Canon has just unveiled a massive zoom lens for cinema cameras. Called the CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm T5.0-8.9 Ultra-Telephoto Zoom lens, Canon is hailing it as the “world’s longest 4K ultra-telephoto zoom lens” for large-format, single-sensor cinema cameras.

With a built-in, 1.5x extender, the focal length of the new lens translates to 75-1500mm. The lens comes with a removable Digital Drive, designed for use in either broadcast or cinema-style productions.

“The use of large-sensor 4K cameras is rapidly spreading beyond motion pictures and episodic television, into many new types of productions such as broadcast sports and nature documentaries,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO of Canon U.S.A. in a press release outlining potenial uses for this new monster lens.

The Canon CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm T5.0-8.9 Ultra-Telephoto Zoom comes in EF- or PL-mounts, is 15.9 inches in length (for the PL version) and weighs 14.6 pounds. Here are a few more features of this new lens:

• Rugged build

• Removable Digital Drive unit for traditional EFP-style (electronic field production) operation

• Handy zoom/rocker switch with programmable zoom and focus settings, and data connections for use with broadcast-type field/studio servo-demand controls for zoom and focus.

• When you remove the Digital Drive, it enables cinema-style operation of the CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm lens with features including engraved barrel markings, an 11-blade iris to help achieve smooth “bokeh,” and compatibility with lens-support rods, matte boxes, and other cinema accessories.

This lens won’t be cheap though. It’s slated to go on sale in early 2015 for $78,000. More info on the CINE-SERVO 50-1000mm lens here.