Along with the XF605 camcorder, Canon has introduced another professional device for the broadcast market: The Canon 10×16 KAS S zoom lens offers 8K resolution for modern 2/3″ broadcast cameras.
I personally have worked a lot with these types of lenses in my career. Before cameras like the Sony FS7 or the Canon C300, handheld broadcast cameras like the Sony PDW-790 (with XDCam discs as storage media!) were – and to some extent still are – the norm.
This new broadcast zoom lens attempts to bridge the broadcast world with the 8K future of image acquisition, it seems.
Canon 10×16 KAS S zoom lens
This new lens is being marketed by Canon as a complement to the existing high-performance UHD-DIGISUPER 51 box lens (15.5 – 790 mm) and the handheld 7×10.7 KAS S zoom lens (10.7 – 75 mm), both of which are capable of delivering 8K resolution to the 2/3″ sensor.
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It offers a fast aperture of f/2.8 over the entire zoom range and is equipped with an 11-blade diaphragm. The closest focusing distance is specified at 0.9 m (from the front element).
The lens itself measures 247 mm in length, while the front diameter is 114 mm. The whole thing weighs about 2.94 kg.
What is missing from this lens is an internal extender, which is quite common in broadcast lenses. Normally, there is a 1.5x internal extender that can be engaged by flipping a mechanical switch.
What we do get are the usual interfaces to external devices, such as remote zoom grips or follow focus units. The handle has motors for all three mechanical sprockets in it, so you can operate them remotely or from behind a tripod in larger studio setups where it’s a bit inconvenient to reach for the lens. The lens must be connected to the host camera to receive power for the motors.
Pricing and availability
Pricing and availability have not yet been announced, perhaps we will see a release close to the aforementioned Canon XF605 camcorder scheduled for Q4 2021.
Do you have any experience with this type of lens? What are your thoughts on them?
