Canon has announced the launch of two new additions to their highly popular 8K Flex Zoom Cinema Lens Series—the CN-E14-35mm T1.7 and the CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 Super 35mm format lenses. In addition, Canon is also introducing four new relay kits—the RL-S1 and RL-S2 (for Super 35mm) and the RL-F1 and RL-F2 (for full-frame). These relay kits allow each Flex Zoom lens to be adapted to suit different sensor formats, providing enhanced versatility and value for cinematographers.
Matthew Duclos, Lens Technician – Duclos Lenses
This is a clear signal to professional cinematographers and rental houses that Canon is listening to feedback from their user base. The trust that Canon has expressed by providing a user-interchangeable mount system and now the new Relay Kit is not something I would have expected but am very, very glad to see. It’s clear that Canon has a bright future in the motion picture industry.
One of the key features of the new Flex Zoom lenses is their fast T1.7 aperture across their zoom ranges, allowing cinematographers to create powerful shots with shallow depth-of-field, resulting in beautiful and natural background blur. This makes them ideal for shooting movies, television dramas, commercials, and other video content where a cinematic look is desired.
The Relay Kit is positioned at the rear of the lens and is user-interchangeable. The kit includes the necessary rings to update the engraved components so that focal length and t-stop markings are accurate. Based on the design of this lens and similar features in other lenses, this procedure should only take a technician about 30 minutes in total. Well done, Canon!
What sets the Canon Flex Zoom lenses apart is their unparalleled flexibility. With the relay kits, these lenses can be easily adapted for Super 35mm or full-frame sensors as needed, providing cinematographers with the ability to adapt to the changing requirements of different film productions. This versatility allows for greater creativity and freedom in capturing the desired visual effects.
“We are excited to expand our Flex Zoom series with the CN-E14-35mm T1.7 and CN-E31.5-95mm T1.7 lenses, along with the new relay kits,” said Mr. Takashi Osawa, Vice President and General Manager of Canon U.S.A. Inc.’s Imaging Technologies & Communications Group. “These lenses are designed to meet the needs of professional cinematographers who demand the highest level of image quality and flexibility in their video productions.”
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 relay kits, as well as the Canon RL-S2 and RL-F2 relay kits, are also scheduled to be available in late June 2023 and late October 2023, respectively, for an estimated retail price of $4,999.00*. You can find the new Canon CN-E 14-35mm T1.7 Flex Zoom and the Canon CN-E 31.5-95mm T1.7 Flex Zoom on our website along with the Canon Relay Kit and the rest of the Canon Cinema Eos lens line.
Canon will be showcasing its latest digital imaging solutions and products, including the new Flex Zoom lenses and relay kits, at the NAB Show 2023 (Booth #C3825) in Las Vegas from April 16th-19th. This will be a great opportunity for professionals to experience the performance and versatility of Canon’s latest cinema lenses.