Canon U.S.A. Exhibits Imaging Solutions at NAB Show

Canon U.S.A. is showcasing a wide range of products for broadcast HD-television production, HD-video-content creation, and high-resolution image display. On display in Booth C4325 are HD broadcast lenses and robotic pan-tilt HD cameras, the new Canon XA10 professional camcorder, and XF300-series and XF100-series professional camcorders, as well as EOS DSLR cameras with full-manual HD video capture, the REALiS WUX4000 Installation LCOS projector, and large-format imagePROGRAF printers.

Advanced-Design PL-Mount Lenses
Canon U.S.A. has introduced two advanced-design PL-mount lenses, the Canon FK14.5-60 wide-angle cine zoom lens and the Canon FK30-300 telephoto cine zoom lens, that address emerging 4K production standards. The precision-matched lenses incorporate optical designs that simultaneously optimize and enhance multiple imaging attributes while minimizing optical aberrations and distortions. The new design virtually eliminates focus breathing.

The wide-angle FK14.5-60 maintains its T2.6 maximum aperture over the entire focal range and, with the virtual absence of focus breathing, offers new freedom in exploring novel picture creation. The telephoto FK30-300 complements the wide-angle FK14.5-60 in larger studios while also servicing many outdoor shots with exceptionally vivid imagery.

Portable HD Zoom Lens With Built-in 2x Extender
Using the latest optical technologies to deliver high performance at an attractive price point, the KJ20x8.2B portable HD lens is the newest member in the HDgc Series of portable HD zoom lenses. It is designed to support a wide range of applications and users, from broadcast ENG to professional freelance HD shooters. Advanced features include the built-in 2x extender, offering ENG shooters and other camera operators greatly improved subject-framing flexibility. The KJ20x8.2B is also Canon’s widest (8.2 mm) lens in the affordable 20x zoom class and covers a generous range of focal lengths, particularly with its built-in 2x extender expanding its 8.2mm-164mm focal length to 16.4mm-328mm.

Firmware for XF305, XF300 Camcorders
New firmware upgrades the XF300–series camcorders to include Canon’s 3D Assist and Scan Reverse Functions, built-in features facilitating use of two units to work in tandem to capture 3D HD video. The firmware allows OIS Lens Shift to be used in optically aligning two XF305 or XF300 camcorders and a Focal Length Guide to display the zoom position of each camera in relation to the other and calibrate zoom settings. It also supports Double Slot Recording for instantaneous backup and the option to disable Relay Recording for dual-memory-card management.

XA10 Professional Camcorder
The new ultra-compact XA10 Professional Camcorder is suited to situations where mobility while shooting is critical. This feature-rich professional model records Full HD 1080p video using an AVCHD codec. It includes a detachable handle for low-angle shooting and portability. With the handle attached, functionality is further enhanced with the addition of XLR inputs and an external microphone holder. The XA10 provides the option of recording to a 64-GB internal Flash drive or two SDXC-compatible card slots, as well as Relay Recording and the ability to record simultaneously to two cards for instant backup.

XF-Series Professional Camcorders
On display in the Canon booth is the full line of professional HD camcorders, including the XF-series lineup featuring the Canon XF305, XF300, XF105, and XF100 models. The Canon XF305 and XF300 professional camcorders feature a Canon 18x HD L-series lens, providing focal-range versatility required in the field. Each model includes three Canon-developed and -designed native 1920×1080 CMOS image sensors, and Canon’s proprietary XF codec delivers the color detail required for accurate chroma-keying, color-grading, and compositing for digital filmmaking.

The XF105 and XF100 provide mobile HD video capture in a compact form factor. The XF105 and XF100 use the Canon XF Codec featured in the Canon XF305 and XF300 yet are less than half the size and weight of those models. They feature a Canon 10x HD zoom lens and built-in infrared low-light feature.

All XF-series models record to Compact Flash (CF) cards and feature hot-swappable card slots for maximum performance. Canon’s XF305 and XF105 models feature industry-standard HD-SDI output, genlock, and SMPTE time code (in/out) terminals for multicamera or 3D productions.

The Canon XF Codec is an MPEG-2 4:2:2 50-Mbps codec used for exceptional high-definition image quality, full non-linear–editing (NLE) compatibility, and efficient, robust workflow. It is currently compatible with software widely used in the video production and broadcast, including those from Adobe, Apple, Avid, and Grass Valley.

With the firmware introduction for the XF305 and XF300 models, all four Canon XF-series camcorders offer in-camera features to enable easy setup and capture of high-definition 3D video when two camcorders are paired.

3D Solutions for Broadcast Lenses
The new 3D Bridge Cable, with the company’s new ergonomic Digital Drive Unit and 3D Lens Adjustment Software, provides interoperability and precision in synchronization of zoom, focus, and iris positions of the lens pairs. The Digital Drive Unit incorporates Canon-developed, ultra-compact rotary encoders capable of 0.1-µm position detection, which produces 16-bit resolution of the positions of zoom, iris, and focus controls.

Most of Canon’s HDTV zoom lenses are equipped with 16-bit resolution rotary encoder devices, which provide precise synchronous lens control by connecting the two lenses with a 20-pin to 20-pin single cable. The 3D Bridge Cable will allow simultaneous control of a pair of lenses from one zoom and focus controllers.

The 3D Lens Adjustment Software is intended to make stereoscopic tracking of the zoom, focus, and iris even more precise and allow appropriate offsets to be easily made using the Digital Drive Unit’s display to compensate for minor zoom and focus-tracking differences between any two lens pairs. With the 3D Bridge Cable, the software will also make it possible to use standard lens controllers. The software can be installed to the conventional lenses at Canon service centers for customers who purchase the 3D Bridge Cable.

Also on Display

The new 24-in. imagePROGRAF iPF6300S large-format printer provides photographers with an affordable, eight-color option for printing high-quality images in a shorter amount of time than Canon’s 12-color, imagePROGRAF lineup.

The REALiS WUX4000 Installation LCOS Projector is the company’s first high-resolution projector for the installation market. It delivers higher-than-HD-resolution (1920×1200) widescreen images with an aspect ratio of 16:10 and high brightness level of 4,000 lumens. Based on Canon’s fourth-generation proprietary AISYS-enhanced LCOS (liquid crystal on silicon) optical engine, it delivers crisp, seamless images with intricate detail, high brightness, high contrast and accurate color.

Throughout the show, Canon is hosting a cross-section of professional cinematographers, broadcast specialists, and moviemakers talking about their recent works shot on Canon equipment. Among the speakers scheduled to appear in the Canon booth: Alex Buono, Russell Carpenter, Rodney Charters, Allen Daviau and Bill Bennett, Bruce Dorn, Vincent Laforet, Patrick Moreau, Joe Pontecorvo, Kevin Shahinian, and Gale Tattersall.