Canon Launches Service to Expand the Capability of 4K Broadcasting Field Zoom Lenses

Canon announced that Canon will launch a paid service for achieving impressive image expression that makes the subject stand out against effectively blurred backgrounds to its lenses for 4K compatible broadcasting cameras and will begin pre-registration on 3 April 2025[1]. This type of visual expression, which Canon calls “Novel Look,” will be made available for the UHD-DIGISUPER 122 112x (launched in April 2019) and UHD-DIGISUPER 111 111x field zoom lenses[2] (launched in February 2019).

In recent years, video expressions featured highlighted subjects against blurred backgrounds have been frequently used in sports broadcasts and recording music events. By incorporating special optical units into these lenses, Canon will expand the range of video expression for broadcast lens users by making it possible to shoot impressive footage with a shallow depth of field, while taking advantage of these lenses’ characteristic high magnification zoom functions.

The new service provides not only a sophisticated way to highlight a subject but also ease of focus. Thanks to the optical units that utilise its proprietary optical design, Canon has realised a mechanism that makes it easy to focus when shooting with the aperture open, where focusing is generally difficult, thereby enabling video expressions that accentuates the subject. This feature makes it possible to record decisive moments at sports broadcasts or music events in a highly impressive way with video footage that stands out above the rest.

In addition, the service will allow users of the UHD-DIGISUPER 122 and UHD-DIGISUPER 111 to enjoy both Novel Look and these lenses’ existing vivid view with deep, screen-wide depth-of-field, easily switching between them. There is no need for users to have another lens, a camera to attach it to, or other operating equipment in order to achieve new forms of expression. Instead, camera operators can utilise the new feature smoothly while maintaining the familiar shooting settings. Since the colour tone of the Novel Look expression is the same as that of existing field zoom lenses, no colour tone adjustment is required when switching between the two.

Canon plans to commercialise field zoom lenses with 122x and 111x zoom for 4K broadcast cameras equipped with optical units for the Novel Look service.