NBC Uses Canon Lenses to Cover Olympics in HD

NBC will deploy numerous HDTV lenses from Canon Broadcast to cover the Winter Olympics in Torino.

NBC will use the Canon XJ25x6.8B IE-D "DIGISUPER25xs" HDTV studio lens featuring a zoom ratio to 25X and a focal length from 6.8mm to 170mm and featuring a digital servo system that provides constant angle of view while focusing (also known as the "Constant Angle Focusing System" or "CAFS"). Also on hand in the studio is Canon's new XJ22x7.3B IE-D "DIGISUPER22xs" compact HDTV studio lens, designed for use with portable cameras.

Canon is also supplying NBC with its HJ22ex7.6B IRSE telephoto ENG lens, the HJ11ex4.7B IRSE wide-angle lens and the HJ40x10B IASD-V long portable lens featuring Shift-IS internal Optical Shift Image Stabilization. All three include the Canon eDrive feature to enable users to easily program such functions as zoom and focus settings into their lenses for precise, automated repeatability via an LCD menu, assignable "soft" function buttons and a rocker switch built into the lens grip.

In the mobile OB vans serving NBC's HD coverage, cameras are outfitted with the Canon XJ100x9.3B IE-D ("DIGISUPER100xs"), the XJ86x9.3 IE-D ("DIGISUPER86xs") and the XJ75x9.3B IE-D ("DIGISUPER75xs") lenses, all featuring very long telephoto capability with Canon's Shift-IS internal Optical Shift Image Stabilization. Canon will also offer full-time, on-site technical support.

"Canon has been our lens partner for the past size Olympics and has provided a quality product that delivers excellent images for our viewers," said Chip Adams, director of venue engineering for NBC.