Hands on with the Canon Compact Cine Servo 70-200 T4.4

by Fabian ChaundyMay 2^nd, 2017

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After having reported the announcement of the Canon Compact Cine Servo 70-200 T4.4 a few weeks ago, we thought we would pay the folks at Canon a visit during out coverage at NAB 2017 to get some hands-on time with the lens.

One of the first things we noticed about the lens is how small and compact it is. In fact, it is very similar to the earlier Canon Compact Cine Servo 18-80 T4.4, just a little bit heavier. It features the same controls for manual or servo zoom, zoom controls for when used without the pressure-sensitive optional zoom rocker, stabilisation and auto-iris switches. The front filter diameter is also the same as the wider zoom, which is handy for those who wish to use these two zooms as a package.

As Peter Marr, product specialist from Canon, explains, the servo zoom on the Canon Compact Cine Servo 70-200 T4.4 can be powered by the contacts on the EF mount, so you could even use this feature on a DSLR like the Canon 5D Mark IV. Note that while all lens functions are designed to work on Canon Cinema EOS cameras, there are some limitations when used on their DSLRs. If your camera is not compatible to power the lens, though, you can always use an external power source via the included 12v input.

We had the chance to try the focusing ring and, as we feared, it features soft stops at either end of the focus range, as is the case with the Canon 18-80. This is part of the design that makes the lens compatible with Canon’s Dual Pixel Autofocus functionality, but whether this is an issue or not will depend on your own shooting style.

There is still no word on pricing and availability, but judging from the relatively slow T4.4 and the price tag on the Canon 18-80 T4.4, I think we could expect the Canon Compact Cine Servo 70-200 T4.4 to remain within the ballpark of recent affordable Super 35mm cine zoom options from Canon, Sigma and FUJINON – i.e around the $5K mark.

Do you think you will be pairing your Canon 18-80 T4.4 with this lens? Or is the offering from the competition more attractive for your uses? Let us know in the comments below!