F&F Productions’ New GTX-16 HD Truck Outfitted with Fujinon Lenses

Fujinon lenses have been outfitted on the newest 53-foot HD truck in the F&F Productions HD mobile fleet, the GTX-16. The Fujinon lenses are paired with 12 Ikegami HDK-79EC CMOS cameras as well as two HDL-50 POV cameras that offer flexibility by allowing for both fiber and triax operation.

A total of 21 Fujinon lenses were purchased, including the HA14x4.5BERM Premier Series HD ENG Super Wide Angle lens. “The new wide angle lens, the HA14x4.5BERM, is definitely a distinctive tool for production,” says Bill McKechney, VP of engineering at F&F Productions. “It’s the widest lens FUJIFILM has had so far. It’s a good clean picture with no distortion on the edges.”

Also purchased were the XA101x8.9ESM super telephoto and the XA88x8.8ESM telephoto field lenses, which feature an exclusive anti-fogging design to minimize lens fogging on location. “These new lenses are going to enhance the way the camera people work,” says McKechney. “They are able to go wider without sacrificing image quality.”

These new Fujinon lenses are also full servo zoom and focus. “We bought enough of the additional gear to convert the hard lenses from servo to manual operation,” says McKechney. “Some cameramen prefer to do it the old-fashioned way. The lenses can be converted quite easily for manual or servo operation.”

The GTX-16 will be used for sports and entertainment contracts. It was built with an entertainment and 3D infrastructure, including 3G compliance, 24 prewired cameras, and 25 prewired VTRs. “I’ve been working with Fujinon for over 30 years, and we have approximately 90 Fujinon lenses,” says F&F productions president George Orgera. “Their service and support is fantastic. This is important because the truck is booked solid with college football and other CBS shows thru April.”