In April 2022, Canon announced the launch of its new series of cinema lenses — the Flex Zoom Lens Series. Now, just a year later, Canon has announced two additional lenses to its growing cinema line. The new CN-E 14-35MM T1.7 S/SP Lens and CN-E 31.5-95mm T1.7 L S/ SP Lens will be available for both EF and PL mount. While the lenses are designed for Super 35mm cameras, they can also be used with full-frame cameras with the addition of a relay unit. Let’s take a closer look at what you can expect of these new lenses…
Key Features of the 31.5-95mm Lens
- Designed for super 35mm cameras (but also compatible with full frame relay unit)
- 8K optical performance with Canon Cinema EOS Color Science
- Constant T1.7 throughout the zoom range
- Focal length between 31.5mm to 95mm
- 3x zoom ratio
- 11-blade aperture
- Focus rotation angle of 300 degrees
- Minimum shooting distance of 3’4”
- Weighs 7.8 lbs.
- Supports EOS-Lens and Cooke/I Technology communication
Key Features of the 14-35mm Lens
- Designed for super 35mm cameras (but also compatible with full frame relay unit)
- 8K optical performance with Canon Cinema EOS Color Science
- Constant T1.7 throughout the zoom range
- Focal length between 14mm to 35mm
- 2.5x zoom ratio
- 11-blade aperture
- Focus rotation angle of 300 degrees
- Minimum shooting distance of 2’
- Weighs 7.7 lbs.
- Supports EOS-Lens and Cooke/I Technology communication
What’s New About These Canon Lenses
8K Performance
You can expect smooth bokeh and satisfying depth of field falloff with both lenses. This is thanks to its 11-blade aperture and internal focusing system that will minimize focus breathing. This kind of image quality – when paired with a Super 35mm or full-frame camera — will prove ideal on film sets that require striking 4K or 8K footage.
Canon Cinema EOS Color Science
One of the most important considerations when choosing a cinema camera and lens is its color science. With these lenses, you’ll receive Canon’s famous Cinema EOS color capabilities, which supply warm tones synonymous with Canon’s lens lineup. This kind of warm color balance beautifully displays all skin tones and textures. The lenses’ 8K-compatible chromatic aberration correction and lens coatings will also reduce color bleeding, ghosting, and flaring — so you can expect the best image quality at any aperture.
Cinema Style Operability
With either lens, you’ll receive a consistent front diameter, gear positions, and gear rotation angles for cinema style operability. Its focus, zoom, and iris rings meet the industry standard and both lenses will suit a variety of follow focus systems. And if you often work in low-light conditions, you’ll appreciate the lenses’ glow-in-the-dark metric and imperial markings. The lenses also have an interchangeable mount design that allows you to switch between EF and PL mounts. These lenses have definitely been built with high-end video productions in mind.
Constant T1.7 throughout the zoom range
Regardless of the zoom range, you can expect a constant T-stop fo 1.7. This large aperture will allow you to capture footage in low-light conditions with ease. These two new lenses are a bit heavy — at over 7 lbs. each. Although, the constant, fast aperture and high-quality glass will prove to be worth the extra weight.
Who Are the Canon Cinema Lenses for?
Filmmakers, documentarians, and videographers will find these cinema lenses especially useful. Also keep in mind that the lenses have an interchangeable mount design which allows you to switch between EF and PL mounts depending on your camera. You can convert from Super 35mm to Full Frame format with the additional purchase of a full frame relay unit.
Comparable Lenses
These two new zooms join the existing full frame CN-E 20-50mm T2.4 and CN-E 45-135mm T2.4 lenses in the Flex series, which were announced this time last year. With this new release, Canon offers cinema-level glass reaching focal lengths from 14mm to 135mm. These four lenses are virtually all you need to capture any scene with your Canon camera.
Canon Cinema Camera Firmware Update
Along with these two new Flex series lenses, Canon has also announced a firmware update for the EOS C300 III, EOS C500 Mark II, and EOS C70. The update will be available starting summer 2023 and will include:
- Improvement to Clear Scan shutter mode
- Waveform Monitor/Vector Scope magnification
- Enabling 1080i output from 12G-SDI in slow & fast mode
- Support for Flex Zoom CN-E14-35MM T1.7 L S
With these additions to Canon’s existing cameras — plus the two new lenses — Canon cinematographers and filmmakers will have a wider range of creative possibilities.
