Canon recently announced a new portable broadcast lens. Its rather unintuitive name – CJ27ex7.3B IASE T (CJ27ex) – cannot hide what this lens is: Essentially a box lens zoom range crammed into a compact, handholdable, ENG-ready package. Aside from the impressive zoom range, the CJ27ex also includes a 2x extender built in. The optics are only part of the story since Canon also recreated the drive unit. The eXs V unit brings some useful and innovative features. A vast zoom range is synonymous with broadcast lenses, and so are sophisticated drive units able to control every aspect of the lens operation. This segment has been honed for years, and revolutionary changes are hard to imagine. Yet Canon isn’t a company that fears such issues. Always innovating, the company managed to create meaningful progress in the broadcast optics fields with the new CJ27ex.Extreme zoom rangeThe CJ27ex boasts an extreme x27 zoom range from 7.3mm to 197mm. While this range is impressive in its own right, the CJ27ex adds an x2 extender on top. This brings the telephoto reach to 394mm. This kind of zoom range is mostly found in gargantuan box zoom lenses but Canon managed to case it in this compact chassis, making it ideal for ENG, smaller rigs, cranes, etc. Canon classifies the CJ27ex as a UHDxs lens, the highest ranking in the company’s system. Canon CJ27ex side view. Image credit: CanonInnovative drive unit – the eXs VAlongside innovative optics, Canon rigged the CJ27ex with the next generation of drive units – the eXs V (five). All the basics are here – focus, aperture, and zoom control. A nifty little screen-joystick-based system allows for various settings. A USB-C input will let you share settings with other cameras on set for quick and easy operation alignment. This will also allow for firmware updates and access to the lens’ maintenance history by the end user.Canon CJ27ex top view, with eXs V drive unit. Image credit: CanonThe new eXs V also offers a focus breathing compensation feature. Canon redesigned the 20pin connection with a slight angle to allow operators to set the camera on the ground or other flat surfaces, as well as stabilizers.Canon eXs V 20pin angeled connection. Image credit: CanonWho is it forThe new CJ27ex brings box zoom lenses’ range into the ENG form factor. This may benefit a wide variety of broadcasters – ENG teams, sports broadcasters, medium studios, and more. The field-of-view flexibility is now much more accessible. Canon CJ27ex. Image credit: CanonPrice and availabilityThe CJ27ex will be available in August 2024. The price hasn’t been published yet. It was first shown at NAB 2024.Do you find this combination of zoom range and ergonomics essential to your work? Will it change the way you can cover news or sports events? Let us know in the comments.
