Canon updates products for filmmaking and video

Canon U.S.A. Inc. launched two additions to the company’s 8K Flex Zoom Cinema Lens Series—the CN-E14-35mm T1.7 and the CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 Super 35mm format lenses. The company also announced four new relay kits—the RL-S1 and RL-S2 (for Super 35mm) and the RL-F1 and RL-F2 (for full-frame). The kits adapt each Flex Zoom lens to suit whatever sensor format is required.

The Canon Flex Zoom lens series was first introduced in 2022 to support full-frame digital cinema cameras. The CN-E14-35mm T1.7 and CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7, available in interchangeable EF and PL mounts, help produce video with beautiful and natural background blur that is desired by many end-users, the company says.

The Canon CN-E14-35mm T1.7 L S/SP and the Canon CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 L S/SP are scheduled to be available in late June 2023 and late October 2023, respectively, for an estimated retail price of $21,999.00. The Canon RL-S1 and RL-F1 and Canon RL-S2 and RL-F2 are scheduled to be available in late June 2023 and late October 2023, respectively, for an estimated retail price of $4,999.00.

Cinema EOS Camera updates

Canon also announced firmware updates to the Cinema EOS Camera lineup, which includes the EOS R5 C, EOS C70, EOS C500 Mark II, and EOS C300 Mark III.

For the hybrid video and still photography content creator, the EOS R5 C firmware updates include:

• Improved AF performance when Face Detection AF is enabled, adding the ability to select a face with an RF Lens’ Control Ring or the camera’s Control Dial. Improved Head Detection allows the EOS R5 C to detect a subject’s head, even when the subject is looking backwards. The AF frame also changes size based on the subject detected during tracking. This update is also available for the EOS C70 camera.
• Power Save Mode improvements extend recording time by approximately 30% in 4K/60p¹.
• Enhanced Clear Scan in Shutter Mode menu reduces potential flicker during LED wall usage.
• For usage with Canon’s Dual Fisheye Lens, the ability to switch from left to right lens during VR recording when using Magnify and enabled 2x magnification when recording in 8K.
• Reduced switching time between photo and video mode – approximately 40% faster from Photo to Video and 70% faster from Video to Photo.

EOS C70, EOS C500 Mark II, and EOS C300 Mark III firmware updates include:

• The EOS C70 camera will support added lenses expanding to CINE-SERVO 15-120mm lens and the newly launched Flex Zoom 14-35mm.
• The EOS C500 Mark II/EOS C300 Mark III cameras will support the Flex Zoom 20-50mm lens.
• Enhanced Clear Scan Shutter Mode reduces potential flicker during LED wall usage.
• Ability to change the on-screen Wave Form Monitor’s size (x2) and opacity by touch or through the camera’s menu.

Canon also announced that the “Add-On Applications System” for PTZ (Pan-Tilt-Zoom) remote cameras will be available for the CR-N300, CR-N500, and CR-X300. Available through a future firmware update, the Add-On Applications System will provide access to new paid video production features such as auto tracking and auto loop. The auto-tracking application will give users the ability to automatically pan, tilt, and zoom to track moving subjects, and the auto-loop application will allow users to program and automate repeated camera movements.

The Firmware Update for all three PTZ cameras to add the “Add-On Applications System” is scheduled to be available in July 2023. The paid Auto Tracking Application is scheduled to be available in August 2023 for the CR-N300 and CR-N500 for $1200.00*. The paid Auto Loop Tracking Application is scheduled to be available in August 2023 for the CR-N300 and CR-N500, and CR-X300 for $800.00.