A Third Fujinon Premista Zoom

A Third Fujinon Premista Zoom

Fujinon has finally announced the latest addition to their Large Format Cine Zoom lineup: the Fujinon Premista 19-45mm T2.9. Fuji’s newest cine zoom is a short, lightweight wide-angle 19-45mm T2.9 zoom lens. Just like the 28-100mm T2.9 and the 80-250mm T2.9-3.5, the Premista 19-45mm produces images with natural and beautiful bokeh, outstanding high resolution, accurate color rendition, and controllable flare with minimal ghosting for capturing high dynamic range. Fujinon once again did an excellent job at ensuring minimal distortion throughout the entire zoom range allowing for less work in post-production phases and more creativity in the field.

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Fujinon MK L-Mount Kit from MTF Services

Fujinon MK L-Mount Kit from MTF Services

UK based lens mount manufacturer MTF Services has announced a new conversion kit which will allow the Fujinon MK zooms to be converted to L-Mount. If the kit is anything like the rest of their products, it ought to be a proper method for getting the MK zooms onto your Panasonic, Sigma, or Leica camera.

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Fujinon’s New MK Series Launches With An 18-55mm T2.9, TRY IT at Duclos!

Fujinon’s New MK Series Launches With An 18-55mm T2.9, TRY IT at Duclos!

Fujifilm has been busy… If you’re a Fuji fan like I am, you’ve been completely obsessed with the new GFX mirrorless medium format camera and haven’t been paying attention to the other projects they’ve been working on. Which, when you think about it – is mind boggling, that Fujifilm is doing so much at once. This particular move is a bit different for Fujifilm. Instead of making something that fits tightly into their own ecosystem, Fujinon Optical Systems has designed and manufactured a purpose built cinema lens, exclusively for E-mount cinema cameras. A whole new line they’re calling the MK series. The first lens in the line will be the brand new MK18-55mm T2.9. Let’s explore!
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NAB 2016 Recap, Final

NAB 2016 Recap, Final

And here we are – our last day on the NAB 2016 show floor. We scoped out all the major lens manufacturers’ new gear, go out hands on some brand new tech and soon-to-be-released models. We spoke with some of our favorite lens makers to see what’s coming down the pipe. Overall, we’re less than enthused… Here’s our closing thoughts on the state of the motion picture lens industry as of NAB 2016. Continue reading “NAB 2016 Recap, Final”

NAB 2016 Preview

NAB 2016 Preview

NAB has officially begun. It looks like just about every lens manufacturer couldn’t keep it in their pants and dropped their news ahead of the actual show, with a few exceptions. This post is a general roundup up the news announced as of Sunday night before the show. We’ll be posting a daily wrap-up with a ton of photos and additional news from the show floor so be sure to subscribe and check back soon. If there’s anything we missed that you found interesting, send a tweet to @MQDuclos and we’ll make him run across the expo to check it out ;-). Let’s get to it! We’ve broken the product announcements up by manufacturer in alphabetical order. Continue reading “NAB 2016 Preview”

P3 Update Looks Into Lenses

P3 Update Looks Into Lenses

 

Duclos Lenses - Your Source for Professional Cinema Lenses

If you haven’t already, you should grab a copy of P3 Update. After you do that, check out a neat article by James Thompson, that explores what choosing a lens means these days and why shooters make the decisions they do. With feedback from industry professionals such as Richard Crudo, ASC, Steven Poster, ASC, and Jon Nelson, it’s a nice article that I feel taps into the direction that the motion picture lens industry is going in that you need to find what works best for you and the only way to do that is experience.

Take anyone of these lenses from any manufacturer, off any shelf in any rental house in the world, and I guarantee it will deliver an amazing image,” says Cinematographer Richard Crudo, ASC (“Justified”). “But, what does that tell us? Is it the right feel? Is it the right texture? Is it the right thing for what you are trying to do? And, that you only know when you have a script in hand and a director to talk about it with.” That chat with a director will also cover the subject of resolution. “We’re already at 4K resolution, which is more than the human eye can handle,” explains Crudo. “The only thing that really changes is apparent contrast at that point. [Manufacturers] should be worrying more and putting all their R&D into bit depth and color space [and] black level. That is where we really need to work, capturing highlights [and] the high-end of the spectrum.

Check out the complete article over at P3 Update.

2014, Year of the Servo Lenses

20140411-183725.jpgFujinon started a trend when they took their professional mid-range cinema zooms and slapped on a servo unit borrowed from their Broadcast Division. The result was the very successful 19-90mm Cabrio zoom, followed shortly by the 85-300mm Cabrio and just recently the 14-35mm Cabrio. During NAB 2014, or as I call it, Spring Christmas, Angenieux, Canon, and Zeiss all announced lenses with servo units in various practical applications. Credit where credit is due, Fujinon started it… Continue reading “2014, Year of the Servo Lenses”

Fujinon Steps Up With 12x Zoom 25-300mm

Fujinon Steps Up With 12x Zoom 25-300mm

25-300mmRight on the heels of Canon’s newst announcement of their 17-120mm Cine-Servo zoom, Fujinon drops a bombshell with their newest addition to the Cabrio line of lenses: a 25-300mm. Fujinon’s press release doesn’t specify a T-stop, but a photo clearly shows an aperture ring with a T3.5 maximum marking. Not bad for a 12x zoom range. Fujinon says the lens will begin shipping in June but the servo unit won’t be available until Q3.

Updated Specs
MSRP $44,000
Camera Format PL Mount
Focal length 25 – 300 mm
Zoom Range 12 ×
Maximum Photometric
Aperture T-No.
1 : 3.5 (25-273mm)
1 : 3.85 (300mm)
Iris Blades 9
Focus Rotation (degrees) 280
Zoom Rotation (degrees) 120
M.O.D. from image plane 1.2 m / 3′ 11″
Object dimensions at M.O.D.
9 Aspect ratio*
25 mm   937 × 527 mm
300 mm   77 × 43 mm
Angular field of view
16 : 9 Aspect ratio*
25 mm   57°32′ × 34°19′
300 mm   5°14′ × 2°57′
Macro Available as standard
Filter thread N/A
Diameter × Length 136 × 401 mm
Weight 8.9 kg
Features • Detachable Digital Drive Unit – Optional
• Flange Focal Distance Adjustment
Fujinon’s Words

FUJIFILM’S NEW CABRIO OFFERS ZOOM RATIO OF 12X TO COVER 25MM WIDE ANGLE TO 300MM AT TELEPHOTO

Wayne, N.J., April 2, 2014 – The Optical Devices Division of FUJIFILM North America Corporation willannounce the latest addition to its popular series of cine zooms – the Premier PL 25-300mm Cabrio[ZK12x25] at the annual NAB 2014 convention, held in Las Vegas, starting on April 7th.. The company will exhibit in NAB Booth #C7025.

Equipped with a 35mm PL mount, the PL 25-300mm boasts a high zoom ratio covering the focal length of 25mm to 300mm. Like all Cabrio zooms, the PL 25-300mm supports an optional detachable drive unit for electric zooming, focusing and iris. Mounting the unit enables remote control of zoom, focus,and iris adjustment.  It can be used as a self-contained ENG-style or cine style lens. When used without the drive, industry-standard cine motors can be fitted.

Designed using the latest proprietary optical simulation software, the PL 25-300mm offers exceptional optical performance in the center of the image and in the corners of the frame. The digital servo’s 16-bit encoding assures operators that all lens data output—including the position of the zoom, iris, and focus—is extremely accurate. The zoom supports Lens Data System (LDS) and /i Technology metadata formats, and can be controlled using cinema industry standard wireless controllers as well as existing FUJINON wired and wireless units.

FUJINON’s PL 25-300mm lens is the latest development in the company’s popular Cabrio series, which includes the recently introduced Premier PL 19-90mm, the PL 85-300mm, and the recently introduced PL 14-35mm lenses.

The PL 25-300mm zoom will be available in June of this year, the optimal digital servo drive approximately Q3

A presentation running on two monitors within the Optical Devices Division’s NAB booth will feature several of the industry’s top cinematographers, including Claudio Miranda, testifying to the unsurpassed versatility and image quality of the FUJINON cine-style lenses. This year also marks FUJIFILM’s 80th anniversary, and 40 years for the Optical Devices Division, formerly known as FUJINON, in the U.S.

Fujinon 14-35mm Cabrio Wallpaper – Compliments of Duclos Lenses

Fujinon 14-35mm Cabrio Wallpaper – Compliments of Duclos Lenses

Compliments of Duclos Lenses – Enjoy this high-res desktop wallpaper of Fujinon’s newest addition, the Cabrio 14-35mm T2.9. Happy New Year from the folks at The Circle of Confusion and Duclos Lenses. Check out the other Fujinon cinema zooms from Duclos Lenses here.

Duclos Lenses - Fujinon Cabrio 14-35mm T2.9 Fuji
Duclos Lenses – Fujinon Cabrio 14-35mm T2.9 Fuji

 

Fujinon Fills Out Cabrio Family

14-28mm-FujiFujinon has been making some progress with their Cabrio line of professional lenses. With some very steep competition from Canon and Zeiss in terms of sub-$50k cinema zoom lenses, Fujinon’s Cabrio series are a great option with the included zoom rocker and relatively light-weight. The Cabrio line started with the 19-90mm T2.9 and was joined by the 85-300mm T2.9 shortly thereafter. With a large number of users who are looking for that slightly wider field of view thanks to the 5D and the larger sensor in full-frame cameras, Fujinon announced the 14-28mm T2.9 Cabrio during NAB 2013.

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Proper Maintenance Is Critical For New Lenses

Duclos Lenses recently announced a now program that offers customers the ability to bring their equipment in anytime for what is essentially routine check-up and maintenance. Any lens purchased from Duclos Lenses is eligible for two years from the date of purchase at no additional cost to the customer. This is great for users who shoot in harsh climates or rough conditions since they can simply bring their lens in to Duclos Lenses after a shoot and have it cleaned up, back-focus checked and calibrate, and evaluated for any potential damage done during the shoot. It’s like having your own personal lens tech to inspect your gear before and/or after every shoot. Considering Duclos Lenses has been servicing lenses for over a decade and has over 100 years of combined motion picture lens service experience, this is just another reason why Duclos Lenses is the premiere destination for professional motion picture optics. Continue reading “Proper Maintenance Is Critical For New Lenses”