By technical editor Matt Allard:
Canon today unveiled a new addition to its HD broadcast lens range – the HJ24ex7.5B. A successor to the hugely popular HJ22ex7.6B, the lens has been updated and includes a number of new features, including a wider and longer focal range. Canon claims the new lens features enhanced image quality, as well as an improved design and user handling. A versatile lens, the HJ24ex7.5B is designed for a diverse range of broadcast environments, including studio sets, live production and news gathering. With the unique combination of a high quality 24x zoom (the longest zoom in this class available today) and an impressive 7.5-180mm (18.75mm to 450mm 35mm equivalent) wide-angle view. It effectively bridges the gap of having to carry two lenses given its focal range.
We mostly cover Super 35mm sized equipment here on Newsshooter, but 2/3″ cameras are still the most widely used systems in broadcast television applications. The weight of the lens has been reduced down to 1.78kg and has been engineered to be both lighter and better balanced than its predecessor, with an improved centre of gravity. he HJ24ex7.5B features the same Digital Drive Unit found in the latest HD High-end ENG lens line-up, which enables camera operators to select repeatable zoom positions and speeds, as well as focus and iris settings as they wish. An absolute value encoder, built into the Digital Drive unit, also allows operators to quickly commence shooting without any initialisation, ideal in news gathering and sports environments.
There is still nothing that beats a ENG style camera with a good quality 2/3″ lens for balance, usability and versatility. I miss the days of having a proper shoulder mounted camera with a servo lens that feels properly balanced on your shoulder, I just don’t miss the images a lot of those cameras used to produce!
The The HJ24ex7.5B will be available from May 2015.
Maximum Relative Aperture (16:9):
1:1.8 at 7.5-120mm
1:2.7 at 180mm
1:3.6 at 15.0-240mm
1:5.4 at 360mm(2.0x)
Focal Length:
7.5-180mm
15.0-360mm (2.0x)
