Canon gave us a primary take a look at the Flex Zoom lens household, which may cowl S35 and FF sensors with the assistance of user-interchangeable relay kits. Throughout NAB 2023 we met with Ryan Snyder, Senior Product Specialist at Canon USA, who defined, which lenses and relay combos can be found.
Two Canon Flex Zoom lenses have been launched in April 2022 as full-frame cine zoom lenses: the Canon CN-E20-50mm and CN-E45-135mm T2.4 L F/FP.
One yr later, Canon launched two extra lenses, the CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L S/SP wide-angle zoom lens and the CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L S/SP lenses. In case you missed it, you’ll be able to learn up on them right here. The brand new lenses turned out to be the identical lenses, however with a special relay equipment built-in, as we discovered throughout NAB 2023.
The Flex Zoom Household options two base lenses that may be transformed to both cowl S35mm or full-frame sensors with a Relay Package. For the primary time, Canon customers can’t solely swap lens mounts (EF and PL out there) but additionally lens relays by themselves with out having to ship the lenses to a service middle.
Flex Zoom Lineup
There are 4 lenses out there now: two wide-angle lenses and two telephoto lenses.
Huge-angle Flex Zooms:
- CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L S/SP
- CN-E20-50mm T2.4 L F/FP
Telephoto Flex Zooms:
- CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L S/SP
- CN-E45-135mm T2.4 L F/FP
You possibly can both purchase all 4 lenses (2x S35 and 2x FF) or you should buy two lenses (1x extensive angle and 1x telephoto) and purchase the relay kits for each lenses and swap between FF and S35 protection.
All lenses value the identical, so it’s very easy to purchase both model of the zoom lenses and afterward, purchase the relay equipment when you want totally different protection. Canon clearly needs to supply extra flexibility to the filmmakers (therefore the identify) when shopping for their cine lenses. Learn extra on pricing beneath.
Look and shade matching
Canon Flex Zoom lenses are shade matched all through the cinema line. You possibly can simply match the Flex Zooms with different Canon lenses like Cine-Servo Zooms, CN-E Zooms, CN-E Primes and even Canon Sumire Prime lenses.
The lenses are full guide lenses aimed toward cinema filmmakers. Canon doesn’t supply any servos for these lenses. The lenses function lens information, with the PL-mount variations of the lenses incorporating a 4-pin Lemo connector to document Zeiss xD prolonged lens information for digital productions. All lenses cowl 8K resolutions edge-to-edge.
Value and availablility
Every of the 4 lenses can be found for $21,999 USD and every relay equipment for $4,999. Interchangeable EF and PL lens mounts value $1,150.
The FF model of the zooms is already out there and the S35 model of the wide-angle lens (14-35mm) can be out there in June 2023. The S35 model of the telephoto lens (31.9-95mm) can be out there in fall 2023.
You’ll find extra info on the producer’s web site.
What do you consider Canon following Angenieux and different producers in permitting you to transform your lenses from S35 to full-frame? Do you already personal FF Canon Flex Zooms and are planning on shopping for relay kits for them? Has this added flexibility made you take into account Canon Flex Zoom lenses? We’re curious to listen to what you must say! Share your ideas and experiences within the feedback beneath.
