Valhalla, NY—Fujifilm North America Corp., Optical Devices Division, introduced the Fujifilm Fujinon Duvo HZK24-300mm PL-mount zoom lens. Further, the portable dual-format lens supports two types of large image sensors. Specializing in shallow depth of field and bokeh, the lens supports Super 35mm sensors and full-frame sensors, with a 1.5x expander engaged.
Moreover, the new lens complements the Duvo HZK25–1000mm f/2.8–5.0 PL-mount cinema box lens—Fujifilm’s first Duvo lens.
“Offering as long a focal length in as small and lightweight a package as possible, Duvo 24–300mm gives handheld positions in live production the opportunity to take advantage of that classic Fujinon cinema look that’s been developed over Fujifilm’s almost 90 year heritage, from making film to making cinema lenses, bringing that unique color space, latitude and shallow depth of field to the show,” said Stosh Durbacz, national sales manager, Optical Devices Division, Fujifilm North America Corporation.
“The most dramatic, shallow depth-of-field shots in live shows often come from those intimate handheld positions, providing viewers with an immersive cinematic experience. Fujifilm’s expanded range of our portable and long Duvo lenses provides directors with that highly desired cinema look from nearly any position.”
Fujifilm Fujinon Duvo HZK24-300mm Specs
The Duvo 24–300mm delivers 12.5x zoom, covering the 24–300mm focal range that is frequently used on set. In addition, a built-in expander shifts the focal length by 1.5 times to 36–450mm. As a result, you can capture faraway subjects in desirable fields of view. What’s more, at 10.6 inches long and weighing 6.5 pounds, the Duvo 24–300mm is compact and lightweight. Thus, the lens is portable for all types of live production.
Furthermore, you can operate the lens in the same style as a broadcast lens using zoom and focus demands. It also works with a variety of accessories specifically for portable Fujinon lenses. For flexibility, the lens can be utilized for shoulder-mounted operation as well as with a Steadicam or for high-angle shooting using a crane.
“In today’s broadcast environments, cameras with large image sensors are increasingly used amidst the growing needs for immersive cinematic expressions involving the use of shallow depth of field, bokeh and high dynamic range,” the company explained. “While cinema lenses are commonly used for those applications, they are optimized for shooting scripted production and therefore have a smaller zoom magnification ratio than that of broadcast lenses. They also often require a specialist in focus operations, which is uncommon in the broadcast industry. The introduction of this compact, lightweight portable lens to the Duvo series lens lineup will enable high mobility and portability in realizing cinematic coverage of live sporting events, music concerts, documentaries and wildlife cinematography.”
Key Features
The lens natively works with a Super 35mm sensor as well as supports a sensor equivalent to full frame by engaging the built-in expander. This expands its image circle by 1.5 times. When mounted on a camera with a full-frame-equivalent sensor, the lens delivers its maximum optical performance while maintaining the same angle of view as when used with a Super 35mm sensor.
The Duvo 24–300mm uses a polished large-diameter aspherical elements and Super-ED (extra-low dispersion) lenses to control aberrations. Its optical design also suppresses ghosting, lens flare and color bleeding to deliver natural, controllable, cinematic footage. In addition, the lens has a maximum aperture of T2.9 at the wide angle. Consequently, it enables filming in low-light conditions, such as indoor concerts and evening sporting events.
Additionally, with the Duvo 24–300mm, out-of-focus areas naturally fall out-of-focus from the focal plane into the background. This produces a sought-after cinematic look with textures and bokeh. As a result, it enables the storyteller to naturally draw the viewer’s attention to the in-focus subject. 
Further, the lens supports multi-camera operations. Camera operators can connect it to a third-party wireless lens controller, a setup commonly used for movie and TV commercial production, to remotely control focus, aperture and zoom. This also supports focusing by a dedicated focus operator.
Plus, because the lens’s focus ring has a gear pitch of 0.8m, filmmakers can use the lens with all standard, third-party accessories for movie production.
Additional Features
The Duvo 24–300mm also features Breathing Compensation technology (BCT). It automatically corrects focus breathing (fluctuations in the angle of view) to produce natural footage while maintaining the subject in the established field of view during changes in focus.
The lens additionally features Remote Back Focus. RBF enables the control of the flange focal distance from either the control panel of the camera or the robotic system that supports the RBF feature. It allows for adjustments with a large, high-resolution monitor and controlled lighting in a studio control room or in an OB van/production truck as opposed to via the onboard viewfinder.
Finally, the Duvo 24–300mm supports the Zeiss eXtended Data system. Zeiss developed the system based on the open /i Technology standard. Hence, the lens can record metadata (focus, zoom, iris position) as well as lens distortion and shading corrections.
Fujifilm expects to ship the Fujinon Duvo HZK24-300mm in the U.S. market in spring 2024. However, it will preview the lens at IBC 2023 in Amsterdam, Netherlands, September 15–18, 2023. Fujifilm will also exhibit its third Duvo lens at IBC, a portable zoom lens covering a 14–100mm focal length.
