The KJ22ex7.6B is part of a new family of second generation 2/3-inch HDgc portable HD lenses. The new design reflects design refinements to the first generation line of HDgc lenses originally introduced in 2006.
The HDgc line of lenses had been specifically developed to achieve a price performance ratio that was commensurate with the new line of cost-effective HD camcorders being introduced by all major camera manufacturers in response to the broadcast industry's rapidly growing interest in transitioning to HDTV newsgathering, HD reality shows, and other lower-budget HD productions. They also directly address the increasing adoption of HD digital origination by the growing independent filmmaking market sector. In addition, they are anticipated to foster growing interest in HD within the broad B2B market sectors. To support this extensive flexibility in HD acquisition systems, the HDgc family includes 2/3-inch, 1/2-inch, and 1/3-inch lenses.
The KJ22ex7.6B IRSE is a portable HDTV production lens within the 2/3-inch image format sector of the new HDgc family. This particular lens is intended for users whose foremost priority is an affordable HD lens that delivers a generous range of focal lengths combined with a wide field of view in a lightweight mobile package. It was specifically designed for the many new cost-effective but remarkably high-performance 2/3-inch acquisition systems that appeared in 2008-2009.
In the KJ22ex7.6B lens imaging performance has been significantly advanced by mobilizing the most contemporary of optical glasses, optical coating materials and processes, and powerful new optical design tools. Customer feedback also spurred a total redesign of the digital drive unit that further optimized both the ergonomic aspects and the performance of the digital electronic control of zoom, iris, and focus.
The short 7.6 mm focal length translates to a 64.6 degree horizontal angle of view for the 16:9 HD image format. Combined with a focal range that has been extended to now cover a range from 7.6mm to 168mm (and 336mm with extender) this lens offers unsurpassed operational capabilities in a compact package. Focus breathing has also been significantly reduced over the predecessor lens.
ABOUT THIS LENS
The new KJ22ex7.6B is a telephoto lens covering a generous range of focal lengths while also providing a modest wide-angle of almost 65 degrees in the 16:9 HD image format. This provides a very flexible image framing range especially for outdoor applications. The central design criteria for this new lens sought an excellent balance between size, weight, and HD optical performance intended for HD News and many HD production applications. Customer recommendations based upon experiences with our first generation HDgc telephoto lens combined with the harnessing of new optical design strategies and new advanced optical materials to produce an excellent overall price performance ratio for the new KJ22ex7.6B.
The optical performance of the KJ22ex7.6B has been improved on a number of fronts compared to its predecessor KJ21ex7.6B. The new lens deploys Large Diameter Aspherical lens elements that contribute to a better control of comatic aberration, geometric distortion, and corner resolution. Curvature of field and chromatic aberrations have been reduced by use of special optical materials that include Fluorite and Hi-UD glasses. Computer optimization of both the optical and optomechanical designs contributed to achieving a high-performing telephoto lens within a compact and lightweight body.
Coupled with innovations in optical performance, is a totally new design of the digital drive unit. Refined by long-term market research and worldwide experience, Canon utilized the latest in 3D CAD-CAM design to significantly improve the human tactile interface to the control of zoom, iris, and focus.
