We are pleased to share that Talamas Sales and Rentals, a broadcast equipment rental house in Boston, recently took delivery of the new FUJINON PL 85-300 (ZK3.5x85), making it the first in the region to receive the HDTV PL mount zoom lens.

Dave Talamas, president of the rental house, expects strong demand for the PL 85-300, following in the footsteps of the PL 19-90, with which they’ve had tremendous success.
Talamas credits the design of the two Cabrio lenses with providing exactly what the market needs: fast, lightweight, multipurpose lenses offering ideal focal ranges at a price point sweet spot.

While demand for the PL 19-90 has been very strong and feedback has been positive, Talamas customers were asking for something a little bit longer. When the PL 85-300 became available, the Talamas team knew the new lens’ longer focal length would be of great use for beauty shots, nature cinematography, sports documentaries, and other applications.

Talamas Chief Engineer Anthony Bottaro considers both lenses to be crossovers, as they combine the look, resolution, and other picture attributes associated with large sensor PL mount zoom lenses, but with the compact, lightweight “run and gun” functionality ENG/EFP shooters expect.

This lens seems to be particularly appealing to ENG shooters who like to be agile and follow the action. Talamas Senior Video Technician Daniel Ardizzoni tributes that to there being a digital servo handgrip right on the lens for zoom control in combination with today’s small, lightweight digital cameras.

While those shooting ENG-style are right at home with the servo unit attached to the lens, both Cabrio lens models are designed to allow cinematographers to detach the handgrip and shoot instead with industry-standard cine motors and matte boxes, as well as FUJINON wired or wireless controllers. The digital servo on Cabrio lenses has 16-bit encoding to ensure that lens data output is extremely accurate.
The FUJINON PL 85-300 offers a focal length of 85-220mm at T2.9 and 300mm at T4.0. Weighing 3.0kg with servo and 2.5kg without, the lens offers flange focal distance adjustment, 200-degree focus rotation, a short MOD, a macro function for close-ups of objects and the images captured cover a 31.5mm diagonal sensor size.

Have questions about the PL 85-300 or any of our other professional lenses? Leave a comment here, on our Facebook page, or tweet us.

The Fujifilm Optical Devices Division will show a variety of new lenses and upgrades at this year’s NAB Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center from April 8-11. FUJINON lenses for broadcasting, sports, digital cinematography and production applications will be on display at Booth C7525, including an enhanced version of the Emmy-Award winning, “Precision Focus Assist” technology and the latest in PL Mount, EFP, Studio and ENG lenses.

Making their NAB debut this year are two high-performance lenses: the Premier PL 85-300 Cabrio lens (model ZK3.5x85) and the XA99x8.4 UltraWide field production lens.

Designed using the latest optical simulation technology, the PL 85-300 Cabrio not only offers exceptional optical performance in the center of the image, but in the corners of the frame, as well. Like the highly acclaimed PL 19-90mm Cabrio (Model ZK4.7x19), the PL 85-300 is equipped with the same indispensable features including flange focal distance adjustment, a MOD of 1.2m, a macro function for objects as close as 97mm (3.8-inches), and it covers a 31.5mm diagonal sensor size. While the two lenses share many beneficial similarities, the PL 85-300’s longer focal length – 85-220mm at T2.9 and 300mm at T4.0, with 200-degree focus rotation – makes it ideal for shooting documentaries, nature and wildlife, and commercials. The entire range of Premier PL 4K+ cine lenses will also be at the booth. On display will be the 14.5-45mm T2.0, 18-85mm T2.0, 24-180mm T2.6, and 75-400 mm T2.8-T3.8.

The new XA99x8.4 UltraWide features a newly developed, patented image stabilization technology for the rock-steady performance critical for long-distance HD shots, making it ideal for producing live sports and entertainment events. Like other lenses in this product line, the XA99x8.4 comes with FUJINON’s DIGI POWER digital controls, offering high accuracy, flexibility and a host of production features. Additionally, high-resolution 16-bit encoders make the lens suitable for virtual, robotic, and digital signage, among other applications. FUJINON’s exclusive GO-TECHnology improves image resolution and reduces chromatic aberrations at all focal lengths. The XA99x is f1.7 to 341mm and f4.2 at 832mm with a zoom range of 99x, a focal length of 8.4 to 832mm, and MOD of 2.9m. Also on display will be the XA88x8.8 with an enhanced version of Precision Focus Assist, marking the first time this model has incorporated the technology. Fans of Fujinon’s 1/3-inch EXCEED line can look forward to a new version of the 1/3-inch XT17sx4.5 lens, which features full remote control, for videoconferencing, weather cams, educational, and studio robotic applications. Other NAB highlights include lenses in the Premier Series of high-performance ENG lenses for 2/3-inch cameras: the HA19x7.4, the HA14x4.5 super wide angle and the HA16x6.3 lenses. The ZA Select Series lenses will also be on display in telephoto, remote control, and with and without 2X extender versions.

Have questions about these lenses or the NAB Show? Leave a comment here, on our Facebook page, or tweet us. We look forward to seeing you there!

Among the first to order the recently introduced PL 19-90 Cabrio ZK4.7x19 lens is Toronto-based SIM Digital—long time Fujinon broadcast and PL lens users—who ordered 14 of the lenses immediately following NAB, where it was first introduced.

A part of the PREMIER PL Mount Zoom family, the lightweight and compact lens features a first for cine-style lenses: an exclusive detachable servo drive unit that makes it suitable for use as a standard Cine PL lens or as an ENG-Style lens. SIM Digital’s use of the PL 19-90 is the latest addition to the hundreds of other Fujinon lenses they have acquired over the past 30 years (thanks, SIM Digital!)

According to Rob Sim, Founder & President of SIM Digital, the eight PL 19-90 lenses they received were immediately rented and have been used continually without any issues – a trend he expects will continue. He credits the lens’ success to the focal length of the lens and the ability to use it in an ENG scenario, making it ideal for shooting episodic television, feature films, and other multiple camera environments. Shows that have benefited from use of the PL 19-90 lens via SIM Digital so far include Rookie Blue and Beauty and the Beast.

Have questions about the PL 19-90 or any of our other professional lenses? Leave a comment here, on our Facebook page, or tweet us.

When AbelCine, the well-respected New York-based equipment reseller and rental company, saw the PL 19-90 Cabrio ZK4.7x19 lens for the first time at NAB, they realized it would be an excellent addition to their sales and rental inventory of Fujinon lenses.

A part of the PREMIER PL Mount Zoom family, the lightweight and compact lens features a first for cine-style lenses: an exclusive detachable servo drive unit that makes it suitable for use as a standard Cine PL lens or as an ENG-Style lens.

AbelCine has received dozens of the PL19-90 lens, which they have sold or rented to a range of clients, including rental houses, production companies and directors of photography.

According to Pete Abel, President and CEO of AbelCine, customers of the PL 19-90 lens include DP Jonathan Furmanski, whose resume includes a long list of documentaries, television series, feature films, commercials, and music videos; production company Zero Point Zero, whose current projects include Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, set to air next spring on CNN, and Meat Men on Food Network; and full service rental house Chater Camera, located in Northern California.

Have questions about the PL 19-90 or any of our other professional lenses? Leave a comment here, on our Facebook page, or tweet us.

It would appear that Zero Point Zero Production does it all. A nearly decade-old television and digital content production company, the group also scouts, develops, markets, and distributes entertainment, producing television shows for Discovery, Travel Channel, History Channel, PBS and Bravo. Since its inception, the company has produced over 225 hours of television in 80 countries around the world, including the critically acclaimed shows, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations and Diary of a Foodie. We sat down with ZPZ Director of Technology, Chris Faulkner, to talk about some of the company’s latest projects, the state of the industry and what we can look forward to from his team.

You recently posted a pretty phenomenal video in which you tested the slow-mo capabilities of one of your cameras using the Fujinon PL 19-90 Cabrio lensfor Parts Unknown with Anthony Bourdain. Tell us about the show and how the equipment performed.

Our DPs Mo Fallon, Todd Liebler, and Zach Zamboni just left for the very first episode of Parts Unknown. They love our new camera rig and can't stop cooing over the 19-90mm Cabrio. It's a great balance of size, sharpness, weight and range. We're all impressed with this new lens.

What other projects are you working on right now?

We just finished shooting another episode of MeatEater with Steve Rinella.

You moonlight as an instructor at the School of Visual Arts in NYC. Do you think teaching gives you a little bit of an edge in terms of keeping you “on your game” in the field?

My class at SVA is made up of first-year film students. I get a mix of newbies, film fans, and budding cinematographers, all of whom are just starting to find their voice in a visual medium. I'm a big proponent of learning by doing, so I have them out on the streets of New York City with Arriflex S-cameras by week three.

Is there one instance you can pinpoint that turned you on to production?

My first job was as sound mixer for an indie feature called Dog Years. It was rough-hewn, shot almost entirely on weekends and was in production for more than 18 months. Whether we were clearing out rattlesnakes from location or crashing a junked car for sound effects, it was a great experience and done with a lot of heart. I kind of fell in love with the process.

What piece of equipment do you rarely/never go on a job without?

Our crews constantly find themselves in tight locations with dodgy power and little time to set up a scene. A string of carnival lights—the kind with Edison screw-base sockets along a length of zip cord—can save the day.

What is it that draws you to the type of production ZPZ specializes in?

I've always worked in independent and documentary production. The "ZPZ style" is always informed by doing the most with the least. Our crews are small, our gear is lightweight and portable, and we rarely go into the field with a sound person. I think it creates a sort of intimacy that you can't reproduce by adding more stuff. Also, Tony Bourdain is a badass.

What do you view as emerging trends in the industry today?

While everyone is chasing big sensors and the cinematic look, there's still a place for a medium-sized format that is lightweight and shoulder-friendly. Besides, there's so much beautiful Super16 glass available and it's currently underutilized.

What are the most significant changes in filming from when you started?

It's quite possible to create a stunning image with equipment that costs less than $10K. What used to be the bastion of only Hollywood can be had by virtually anyone with the hankering and peck to do it. There are more voices in the conversation and I think this drives everyone to work harder and create more beautiful images.


What is something you think people would be surprised to know about you?

I went to Marine Military Academy for high school. Oo-rah!

Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know?

Tune in to Parts Unknown on CNN and MeatEater on Sportsman Channel!

For more information on Fujifilm Optical Devices, go to www.Fujinon.com, or follow us at www.Facebook.com/FujifilmOptical and www.Twitter.com/FujifilmOptical.