Canon HJ8x5.5B KLL-SC HD-EC Len

Canon Updated: 2007-06-18
Canon HJ8x5.5B KLL-SC HD-EC Len

The The HJ8x5.5B KLL-SC is a 5.5 - 44mm T2.1 portable high definition cine zoom lens offered by Canon.

A third-generation cine lens design - it is the latest addition to a family of 2/3-inch digital motion picture lenses that already include a 4.7 - 52mm T2.1 and a 7.5 - 158mm T2.1 zoom lenses. This new lens is distinguished by the fact that it was designed in close concert with the six new cine prime lenses - and all involved a close collaboration with some renowned directors of photography.

This lens is intended for directors and cinematographers who use digital motion picture acquisition systems for production of prime time drama and episodic television, television commercial, and feature movies.

ABOUT THIS LENS

The HJ8x5.5B KLL-SC offers a modest focal length range that will be attractive to many cinematographers who seek tight control over lens focal length. Weighing in at only 4.4 lbs, the lens is ideal for handheld, compact tripod, lightweight jib-arm, and Steadicam shooting.

With the advice of the consulting directors of photography, Canon sought an optimization of numerous performance parameters that would elevate 2/3-inch HD-EC imagery to a level commensurate with the creative aspirations of the film community. The design has achieved a very high MTF that is optimally distributed across the image plane and that holds up well over the entire 5.5mm to 44mm focal range. Combined with the superb contrast performance and a remarkably well-controlled relative light distribution characteristic, the resultant picture sharpness will impress the most exacting cinematographer. The contribution of the consulting directors of photography helped identify a lens sharpness characteristic over the critical 35 - 70 Lp/mm spatial frequency region that - when combined with the digital HD 24P cameras - produced a desired subjective picture sharpness when imaging human facial close-ups with the lens aperture close to wide open. Canon employed unique optical innovations to achieve that performance.

Chromatic aberrations are well controlled over the 8x zoom range. Contrast was extended by superb control of black reproduction - with optical and mechanical design innovations that substantially reduced flare, veiling glare, and any internal reflections. Similar attention to minimization of ghost images and other highlight-related chromatic distortions caused by strong light sources on-axis and off-axis further extend the operational contrast range of the lens.

Color reproduction constituted a special design consideration for the HJ8x5.5B KLL-SC in a quest to closely match that of the six new Cine prime lenses (introduced by Canon in concert with this new zoom lens). No activation of camera white balance is required when exchanging between the-is zoom lens and the six Canon prime lenses.

The lens has exceptional behavior in terms of the ever-challenging specification on geometric distortion at the very wide angle focal lengths.

Focus breathing in this new lens achieved even further improvement over its predecessors with the incorporation of new optical refinements - to where the undesirable alteration of angle of view with actuation of the focus control is now virtually eliminated.