What is a Canon DigiSuper lens, and why does it cost so much?
Asked 10/14/2013
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I came across the Canon DigiSuper/XJ100x9.3 broadcast zoom and was surprised by the price. What kind of lens is this, what is it used for, and what features make it so much more expensive than typical still-photo or even many cinema lenses?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
12y ago
2 Answers
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Basically it is so expensive because it is a professional lens for HDTV broadcast video with 100x zoom from 9.3mm out to 930mm (1860mm with a 2x extender) with an f-stop range from 1.7 to 9.4.
It is very hard to compare the specifications of this lens with lenses made for still photography.
From the first page in a search on Google: http://www.canon.com/bctv/products/digi100af.html
- Extremely high focusing accuracy in full HDTV specifications
- Ability to focus from a completely de-focused status without hunting
- Ability to focus on a high speed moving object
- Size and position of the AF frame (target area) in the camera
- VF can be changed from the Focus Demand FDJ-P31/P41. (The size of the AF Frame can be changed in 3 steps)
- Two operation modes (Full Time AF / Part Time AF) of the Auto Focus system is the answer to a professional camera operator’s various demands.
- Ultra High Zoom ratio 100x
- Ultra Telephoto 1860mm with 2x Ext
- X-Elements & Power Optical System
- Optical Shift Image Stabilaizer
- CAFS (Constant Angle Focusing System)
Originally by user4273. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user4273
12y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
A Canon DigiSuper lens is a high-end broadcast HDTV video lens, not a still-photography lens. It’s built for professional studio and live-production cameras where operators need an enormous zoom range, fast operation, and extremely reliable optical performance.
The example linked is a 100x zoom, roughly 9.3mm to 930mm, with a built-in 2x extender for even more reach. That combination alone is very difficult and expensive to design. Broadcast lenses also need to stay parfocal—holding focus while zooming—which is critical for live video work.
According to the community answers, this lens also includes advanced autofocus for HDTV broadcast use, including accurate focusing, fast subject tracking, and the ability to focus without hunting. It also has systems to minimize focus breathing / angle-of-view changes during focusing.
So the price comes from a mix of extreme zoom range, high optical precision, broadcast-specific mechanics and electronics, and professional reliability requirements. In short: it’s a specialized lens for top-tier TV production, not a consumer or general-purpose camera lens.
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