Fujinon to display precision focus at GV Expo

Lens maker Fujinon will display its Precision Focus Assist
System and other lenses at The Government Video Expo in Washington, DC
from Dec. 5-7.

The Precision Focus Assist system is a built-in lens feature
designed to focus on precise objects in a viewfinder and the list price for a
lens with Precision Focus is around $188,000.

“We created the Precision Focus Assist System because
it is very difficult to focus in on an object on a viewfinder,” says Thom
Calabro, Fujinon national sales manager. “The viewfinder is only seven
inches, sometimes smaller. A cameraman may not make out something in the
viewfinder but people at home with large LCD screens can see it. HD is so
critical, a slight error slicks out like a sore thumb.”

The Precision Focus lens on display at the show is the
HA22x7.8BRD. It is a telephoto lens with a reduced size and weight (1.78kg),
improved F number (F1.8) maximum relative aperture of F1.8 (from 7.8-122mm) and
reduced Minimum Object Distance (0.8m). Other Precision Focus is also available
on the XA101x8.9BESM HD zoom, HA22X7.3BRD HD EFP lens, the HA26x6.7ESM HD
studio lens, and the HA13x4.5BRD-S28K HD wide-angle lens.

The Precision Focus system is a focus assist system designed
to adjust the lens for optimum focus. Since the move from SD to HD focus
clarity has become a necessity. There is a Prism in the lenses with CCD’s that
measure from front and behind objects. The two CCD’s called CCD A and CCD B are
built into the lens barrel. The positions where values of where A and B match,
is the perfect focus position.

Precision Focus lenses are operational on any 2/3-inch
camera and are not affected by object movements. When the Precision Focus is
mounted the size and the position of the focus area can be changed at the
camera operator’s discretion.

“Our job is not to take the cameraperson’s job
away,” said Calabro. The camera operator can choose to select manual or
automatic focus assist.

In momentary mode, whatever appears inside the viewfinder
box is put into focus. The object stays in focus regardless of whether it is
still or moving. To maintain optimum focus three, colored LEDs light up to show
what is in focus. If an operator chooses automatic mode, Precision Focus takes
over the controls and ensures the captured image will be of the highest
possible quality.

The Precision Focus Assist does not require tight zooming to
focus. It performs even on wide shots. “Without Precision Focus, operators
would have to zoom back out for a wide shot. Instead operators can focus on the
framing of a shot, of say a football or soccer field, and not have to check if
it’s in focus,”said Calabro.