CANON LENSES AT HOME WITH BOTH OPERA AND OLYMPICS

‘Crucial’ To Broadcast Success

Canon lenses are a vital part of the outside broadcast tool-chest: the crucial first element in the successful capture, writes Christopher Bretnall, Technical Producer, Creative Broadcast Solutions

From the versatile HJ11x4.7B, capturing the pain and joy on the athletes’ faces at the finishing line at Athens, to the DigiSuper100xs on a mountain overlooking Salzburg, Canon has delivered the shot, reliably, consistently and with unbeatable optical performance – what I need, when I need it.

HD Opera

We are advising the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on the specification and build of their 12-camera Sony HD broadcast facility, currently under construction. This will be used by the ROH to capture a comprehensive archive of the Royal Ballet and Royal Opera, in HD/5.1 quality, and to support the core needs of visiting broadcasters.

Canon lenses were a natural choice for such a prestigious installation. They will deploy the 86DigiSuperIIxs to capture the close-ups essential for making the television audience feel part of the performance.

A first in this field of performance capture will be to use a number of  HJ40x14IASD-V lenses on cameras mounted on robotic heads, which have been modified and developed especially for the Royal Opera House’s needs. This lens was chosen for its combination of low weight (5.4KG) to fit within the payload of the remote head; delivery of a fabulous 14-560mm focal length; and the  in-built image stabiliser - an essential tool with robotic mounts and long focal length.

For the cameras closer to the stage, the brand new HJ22x7.6B IASE was chosen as a best all-round performer: with its near 65degree wide-end to the 1.6degree narrow-end -using the range extender - plus portability and aperture values.

Olympian efforts

But Canon’s service isn’t only reactive.  The Athens Olympics is a recent example. It was the world’s biggest TV event, both in volume of kit, and in global viewers. They were truly record-breaking, unrepeatable events, that had  to be captured in the highest quality. And there was no possibility of easy access to the field of play for repairs to kit.

Meetings were set up at the Canon European HQ near Amsterdam several months prior to the Games to devise a support plan that had Roy Voortman of  Canon working directly with us at every event and every session. With cameras and lenses being changed for each sport and discipline, and with the excessive heat, humidity and dust that was Athens, the lenses were certainly subjected to extreme punishment.. Canon’s proactive approach saw a ready supply of essential spare parts, and in some cases spare lenses, meaning that throughout the Games, not one single shot was missed due to a lens failure.

So, outstanding service on top of outstanding quality – just  two recent examples of why Canon is always first choice.