PRESS RELEASE
SYDNEY, 2 May 2014 – FUJIFILM Optical Devices Division has introduced its new Fujinon HA18x5.5 HD zoom lens with specifications making it ideal for shooting live sporting events.
The Premier Series HA18x5.5 offers 18x zoom from 5.5mm at the wide angle to 100mm on the telephoto end to capture images for a versatile range of scenes. It features high-precision large-diameter aspheric elements, designed with Fujifilm’s proprietary cutting-edge optical simulation technology, achieving sharpness at the center as well as all corners to deliver edge-to-edge premium image quality.
“Our customers have been looking for a lens that’s capable of shooting very wide but also at long range,” explained Simon Becker, national sales manager for the Optical Division of FUJIFILM Australia and New Zealand. “Sports producers looking for a lens that can go wide and still follow the action will want to check out this lens. It’s also a solid all-around lens that can shoot interviews and other applications typical for a standard telephoto lens.”
With the HA18×5.5, the operator can get as close to the subject as a minimum distance of 40cm. With the use of the built-in 2X extender, the focal length on the telephoto end can be extended to 200mm. These features accommodate a broad range of scenes to dramatically improve usability in a variety of shooting environments including live news, sports and dramatic program production.
The lens also has built-in digital servodrive units for zooming and focusing. Its ergonomic design reduces the weight for camera operators working handheld. Equipped with a 16-bit encoders, which outputs focus and other lens data at high resolution, enables compatibility with various systems such as a virtual studio programs and combining CG with live footage.
The HA18x5.5 will be available in June of this year.