WXYZ Detroit taps Fujinon Lenses

WXYZ, the
ABC affiliate in
Detroit,
has purchased 15 Fujinon HTs18X4.2 BERM HD lenses with 2X extenders as part of
the station’s switchover to HD newsgathering. The lenses are being used to
outfit the station’s team of camera operators with HD equipment and are being
used with JVC GY-HD250 cameras for news gathering, sports and special events
production.
According
to Earl Watkins, WXYZ Chief Photographer, the Fujinon lens was the best fit for
their new HD field format for ENG: “We chose the lenses for their HD quality
and because we liked the way they felt. Our previous lenses were slightly
shorter, which was beneficial for certain shooting scenarios, but when we added
the hard drive to the camera, the longer Fujinon lens helped balance out the
camera and improved the feel – which is critical in ENG applications.”
The
HTs18X4.2 BERM was developed specifically for use on the JVC camera at the
request of the Scripps Broadcasting Group, which owns WXYZ. The-lens’
high-quality glass compensates for a smaller 1/3-inch imager, allowing it to
perform at its optimum.
Watkins
notes that when shooting under low lighting conditions, the quality of the
Fujinon lens stands out the most. “During undercover or investigative reporting
there’s typically less light, but even in those challenging conditions, you
notice the performance quality of the lens and its crispness,” he explained.
WXYZ and
other Scripps stations have upgraded to a digital workflow by storing video on
Focus Enhancement FireStore disk drives and editing on Macintosh laptops
running Apple Final Cut Pro software.
Response
to the new lenses has been overwhelmingly positive, adds Watkins: “I receive
absolutely no complaints from my camera operators. They’ve all told me they like
the way it tracks when you’re trying to follow focus.”