Fujinon

Technical Details

Fujinon lenses utilize proprietary glass types such as ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass and fluoride-coated front elements to minimize chromatic aberrations. The broadcast series includes 22x to 101x zoom lenses with continuous servo control and digital lens drive systems. Cinema lenses in the Cabrio series offer detachable servo units and PL mount connections. Typical specifications: Minimum Object Distance from 0.6m, filter diameter 82mm-300mm, weight between 1.8kg (Cabrio 14-35mm) and 52kg (XA101x8.9 box lens).

History & Development

In 1944, Fuji Photo Film produced the first Fujinon lenses for military applications. In 1962, they entered the broadcast segment with the first zoom lens for television cameras. The breakthrough came in 1988 with the world's first HDTV-compatible lens. In 2006, Fujinon expanded its portfolio to include cinema lenses, and in 2018, the first 8K-certified optics series with 120 line pairs/mm resolution followed.

Practical Use in Film

Fujinon lenses dominate the broadcast sector for sports coverage and live events due to their precise zoom mechanics and color consistency. In cinema production, DoPs use the Cabrio series for documentary work and run-and-gun shooting. "The Revenant" (2015) used Fujinon 14.5-45mm for handheld sequences, and "1917" (2019) relied on Fujinon zooms for continuous camera movements. Netflix series like "Ozark" routinely use Fujinon Cabrio lenses for their consistent color reproduction.

Comparison & Alternatives

Fujinon primarily competes with Canon (CN-E series), Angenieux (EZ series), and Cooke (Anamorphic/i). While Canon scores points with Dual Pixel Autofocus, Fujinon offers superior zoom range and lower weight. Angenieux lenses achieve higher apertures (T2.6 vs T2.9), while Fujinon impresses with more precise mechanics and distortion values below 0.1%. For high-end productions, DoPs choose Cooke or Zeiss; for TV drama and documentaries, Fujinon dominates due to its better price-performance ratio.