Canon U.S.A., Inc. announced today the launch of the Canon HDTV Zoom Lens HJ24ex7.5Bi, an affordable, high-quality portable telephoto HD lens for high-end Electronic News Gathering (ENG) applications.

The HJ24ex7.5B lens offers specifications that are a dramatic improvement over its predecessor: a focal range from 7.5mm at the wide end to 180mm at the tele end (360mm with built-in 2x extender in use), along with a 24x zoom ratio. A breakthrough lens delivering the world’s widest angle and highest zoom ratio in its class (Among portable zoom lenses for 2/3″ HD cameras with zoom ratios of 20x or more that are suitable for ENG-style shooting. Current as of February 1, 2015.), the HJ24ex7.5B is ideally situated for many applications, including news, sports, and documentaries.

The successor to the Canon HJ22ex, one of the market leaders in its class, the new HJ24ex7.5B improves overall lens mobility and operator comfort. The new lens design decreases both size and weight from its predecessor, and has the balance point closer to the camera body, allowing for easier handling and less operator strain in the field.

“Canon has been a strong player in the broadcast lens category for many years with the HJ22ex,” said Yuichi Ishizuka, president and COO, Canon U.S.A., Inc. “With the new HJ24ex7.5B lens, we are able to put forth superb optical performance in a lighter weight package, with improved power consumption and a competitive price point. This lens will help Canon continue its success in the ENG lens space.”

Tthe Canon HJ24ex7.5B lens provides customers with the great flexibility to compose and acquire their shot, such as when filming local HD news gathering, sports videography, or small production filming. The resolution of the lens has been improved from the center to the periphery of the frame at both short and long distance ranges, to help keep images crisp under all conditions.

Improved Operability & Usability

The Canon HJ24ex7.5B lens user will immediately feel a difference in the center-of-gravity balance compared to the previous model. With the redesigned layout of optical parts and body structure, combined with a decrease in lens weight – less than four pounds – the balance point of the lens is now closer to the camera body, resulting in improved side-to-side on-shoulder shooting, ideal for cameramen in the field. In addition to the decreased size and weight of the lens, which allows it to be held more easily for longer periods of time, the power consumption when using the zoom, iris and focus controls has been reduced compared to the HJ22ex, allowing for longer shooting time.

The lens also features a new drive unit further enhancing its mobility, system support and operability. The newly developed Digital Drive Unit supports auto lens aberration compensation with compatible camera models with immediate lens positional data output resulting in faster start-up to shooting times. Equipped with three 20-pin connectors this lens is capable of high-definition lens metadata output, even during full-servo operation, for enhanced virtual operability and precision image expression. This simplifies calibration when composing virtual and live-action images, resulting in more accurate composites.

The Canon HJ24ex7.5B lens is scheduled to be available in May 2015.