Fujinon UA24x7.8 Zoom Added to UA Series For UHD
New optics and yet another Engineering Emmy for Fujifilm and the Fujinon Optical Devices Division.
Announced during the IBC convention in September as the “world’s smallest and lightest broadcast lens supporting 4K production,” the Fujinon UA24x7.8 zoom lens (seen above), promised for delivery in January of 2018, has a total length of only 8.6” and weighs 4.4 lbs. With 24x range, covering 7.8mm to 187mm, the lens blankets the full 4K resolution at the sensor thanks to attention during the design phase paid in particular to edge degradation. There are nine aperture blades for natural, round bokeh.
With the UA24x7.8, there are now eight lenses in the Fujinon UA Series of zooms, the company’s first set designed specifically for UHD resolution. Other Fujinon UA Series models include the UA14x4.5B, UA18x5.5B, UA13x4.5B, UA27x6.5B, UA80x9, UA107x8.4 and UA22x8B. (Deciphering Fujinon’s nomenclature, the UA14x4.5B, for example, would be a 14x zoom that starts at 4.5mm, so equivalent to a range of up to 71mm.)
Their Fujinon MK family, meanwhile, is offered to “emerging” cinematographers. Designed for Sony E-mount cameras, the more compact family of lenses are lightweight and portable for live events, livestreaming, documentary work, and independent productions. With constant T(2.9) aperture and diminutive weight of 2.16 lbs., the $3,799 Fujinon MK18-55mm and the $3,999 Fujinon MK50-135mm will accommodate most needed focal length coverage. Designed with Super 35 imaging circle and parfocal focus, the zooms have matching 82mm front filter thread and 85mm barrel dimensions to accommodate fast lens swaps.
Fujinon is the Optical Devices Division of Fujifilm, producing optics for broadcast, cinematography, CCTV, and industrial markets. They also produce the Cabrio lines of detachable-servo ENG lenses and the Premiere sets of cinema zooms. Fujifilm recently won their sixth Engineering Emmy award from the Television Academy this last October for “4K Cine Zoom Lenses providing imagery in television.”
Employing Fujinon cinema zooms, two ASC members won Creative Arts Emmys this last year. David J. Miller, ASC, won for “Outstanding Cinematography for a Single-Camera Series (Half Hour),” for the HBO comedy Veep, while Donald A. Morgan, ASC won “Outstanding Cinematography for a Multi-Camera Series” for his work on the Netflix show The Ranch.
“The willingness of some of the top cinematographers and their rental houses to test, explore and provide feedback about our lenses is an integral part of this Emmy win,” states Thomas Fletcher, director of sales, Fujifilm Optical Devices Division, in the press release. “They’re a very loyal group, devoted to their lens choice. To test a new cinema lens is not something that’s considered lightly. Winning an honor as prestigious as an Emmy is an affirmation of Fujifilm’s dedication to the art and craft of cinematography. We thank the Academy for their recognition of our work and for the support we’ve received from the cinematography community.”
ASC Award winner William Wages, ASC — whose credits include Burn Notice, Containment, Revolution and Sun Records — is also quoted: “With their speed alone, they’re virtually the only lenses I’m using. The optical quality, small size and speed are unequaled. The combination of these two lenses are ideal for television production.”
