With HD production activity expanding, the popularity of 1/3-inch HD camcorders has grown, thanks to their impressive performance and modest pricing. In response to this trend, Canon U.S.A. Inc., a leader in digital imaging, has introduced the 1/3-inch KT17ex4.3B IRSE portable HD zoom lens, which combines advanced optical performance and features with affordability and value.
Designed to support both HD Electronic News Gathering and general HD production requirements, the KT17ex4.3B portable HD zoom lens is ideal for shooting assignments that require flexible creative control and a generous focal range. The lens features a 17x zoom ratio and a minimum focal length of 4.3mm, which provides a 62.6-degree angular field of view in the 16:9 HDTV image format. Its built-in 2x extender increases the focal-length range from 8.6mm to 146 mm.
The use of large-diameter aspheric lens elements contribute to tighter control of lens aberrations, in the KT17ex4.3B, especially comatic aberration and geometric distortion. The KT17ex4.3B lens uses a variety of optical materials, including Fluorite and high-index glasses that lower flare, increase contrast, and enhance picture sharpness at the image center and extremities. The compact and 3.26 lb. lightweight housing of the KT17ex4.3B lens provides a high degree of ruggedness and durability.
The new KT17ex4.3B lens takes advantage of Canon’s ergonomically improved Digital Drive unit, designed to help reduce operator fatigue, by fitting more comfortably into the palm of the hand, while a reduced in width helps position the palm closer to the optical axis, reducing the degree of arm bend for less physical strain during prolonged shooting.
In addition to a new design, the Digital Drive unit also provides for creative videography using advanced operational features with exact control of zoom, focus, and iris settings. These settings can be pre-set by the lens operator for precise and repeatable shuttling between two different settings at predetermined speeds at the touch of a button on the Digital Drive unit. The Shuttle Shot, Frame Preset, and Speed Preset settings are customizable using an information display window on the Digital Drive unit. All of these features are made possible by Canon-developed miniature 16-bit high-resolution rotary encoders derived from technologies in Canon’s high-end portable HD zoom lenses.
Newly developed optical glass materials each having unique dispersion characteristics allowed improved control over chromatic aberrations and geometric distortion. Lens element surface accuracy has been improved two-fold over those in the earlier HDgc lenses contributing to the improved MTF performance New Multilayer Optical Coatings combined with new deposition processes produce an improved optical contrast ratio Three-part Internal Focus is a Canon design innovation that reduces changes in aberrations when focusing to different object distances while also exercising improved control over any tendency for focus breathing New and more powerful computer design tools facilitated a greater degree of optimization of multiple optical variables in the lens design
Enhanced servo system called Shuttle Shot that adds value-added creativity to handheld acquisition systems Advanced Drive technology ? encompasses servo control that allows the operator to precisely zoom between tow pre-programmed zoom positions Maximum Zoom speed is 1.2 seconds over entire range
Extensive use of 3D CAD-CAM design facilitated a design that paid high attention to operator comfort and attendant lowering of fatigue during protracted shooting: Special Magnesium alloy body for light weight and exceptional durability Computer simulation of the optomechanical design allowed examination of optimized anti-reflection internal barrel coatings, and structural techniques (light blocking grooves and knife edges) that produced greater control over harmful light reflections within the lens barrel that can be stimulated by strong light sources
All contemporary Canon lenses avoid the use of materials and substances potentially harmful to the environment. Lead has been removed from all optics and other identified substances from all components comprising the composite lens system.