Canon has announced a new 27x portable broadcast zoom lens and next-generation digital drive unit. The lens titled CJ27ex7.3B, is Canon’s first 2/3” portable lens with a class-leading 27x optical zoom, which expands and strengthens the company’s extensive broadcast lens lineup.

CJ27ex7.3B 27x Portable lens

According to Canon, camera operators can capture beautiful content with its new broadcast lens. The CJ27ex7.3B, Canon’s first 2/3” portable lens with a class-leading 27x optical zoom, expands and strengthens the company’s extensive broadcast lens lineup. The new lens, with superb optical performance, is classified as a UHDxs lens, with Canon’s highest image quality rating for broadcast optics. The lens spans a focal range of 7.3mm to 197mm. With a built-in 2x extender, the lens’ maximum telephoto reach increases to 394mm.

Canon is committed to providing the best equipment possible to enhance visual storytelling. The new lens we are introducing will result in strikingly sharp video footage for audiences watching news, entertainment, sports, and more.

Brian Mahar – SVP and GM at Canon U.S.A

Ultra-zoom + Portability

The CJ27ex7.3B lens is designed to be portable, with the mobility of a conventional ENG (Electronic News Gathering) lens. The 27x zoom ratio, typically only available in 2/3” box lenses, is now offered in a portable lens with the introduction of the CJ27ex7.3B. The versatile focal length lens is equally at home in hand-held news, live sports, and broadcast studios. The 7.3mm wide angle helps set the scene for viewers, while the 197mm telephoto end delivers tight shots of the subject. If you’re looking for a lens to shoot high-quality video for live broadcast, such as a big sporting event where you want to zoom in on the action or capture a wide view of the game, the CJ27ex7.3B has you covered.

Next-generation drive unit

The new lens also features Canon’s next-generation drive unit, the e-Xs V. The new drive unit features an angled 20-pin connector and a built-in USB-C connector, giving users a better experience with equipment setup and maintenance and improving operability with an updated display menu. Also, Focus Breathing Compensation, a feature for ENG lens that helps minimize image distortion when racking focus, and Automatic Restoration of Illumination Attenuation (ARIA) technology is supported to help minimize the effects of f-drop/ramping as the lens zooms.

Explore the video below to learn more about the lens:

Price and availability

The CJ27ex7.3B broadcast lens is expected to be available for purchase in August 2024 and will be on display at NAB 2024 at the Canon booth in the Las Vegas Convention Center. There’s no info about pricing.