Canon Uhdgc 2/3-inch Portable Zoom Lenses 4k Uhd Broadcast Cameras Introduction Date

The Canon UHDgc series is a lineup of portable zoom lenses engineered to support 4K UHD broadcast cameras with 2/3-inch sensors. Introduced to facilitate the industry-wide shift from HD to 4K, these lenses offer exceptional optical clarity in a lightweight, compact design ideal for Electronic News Gathering (ENG), sports reporting, and field production.

Prior to the introduction of the UHDgc series, broadcasters often had to choose between the mobility of standard HD lenses and the optical quality of larger, heavier 4K box lenses. The UHDgc line eliminated this compromise. By offering 4K resolution in a standard 2/3-inch portable housing, Canon allowed broadcast stations to upgrade their camera infrastructure without retraining staff or replacing support equipment like tripods and pedestals. The Canon UHDgc series is a lineup of

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Best for: Official announcements or internal memos. The UHDgc line eliminated this compromise

Best for: Spec sheets, brochures, or quick reference guides. Best for: Spec sheets, brochures, or quick reference guides

While 4K studio box lenses had begun to emerge, the workhorse of mobile production—the 2/3-inch portable zoom lens—lagged behind. Existing HD lenses, even high-end ones, revealed chromatic aberration, softness at the edges, and resolution falloff when paired with the new generation of 4K broadcast cameras hitting the market (such as the Sony PXW-FS7 and the soon-to-be-released Grass Valley LDX 4K series).

The CJ18x7.6 UHD, for example, offered a versatile 18x zoom ratio, with a focal length range of 7.6-137mm. This made it ideal for a variety of broadcast applications, from live sports and news coverage to documentary and event production. The lens also featured a built-in 1.5x extender, which allowed for greater flexibility and convenience.