BREAKING THE ZOOM BARRIER: PANAVISION DEBUTS THE 300x HD LENS WITH COMPOUND ZOOM™ TECHNOLOGY

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April 29, 2024

by -- Panavision

April 28, 2024—Woodland Hills, Calif. —Panavision, the market leader in camera lenses for filmed entertainment, debuted the 300x HD Lens with Compound Zoom™ technology, a high-performance lens system with an unprecedented 300:1 zoom ratio, at NAB 2024. The lens picked up three honors including Digital TV/Television Broadcast’s Editors’ Pick of Show, Government Video’s Salute recognizing innovative achievement in the advancement of video technology, and TV Technology’s 2024 Star Award.

“For 50 years, Panavision’s Academy and Emmy award-winning cameras and lenses have helped the filmed entertainment industry create the highest quality images,” said Bob Beitcher, President and CEO, Panavision. “Now, Panavision is embarking down another path as well – bringing its truly innovative design and manufacturing capabilities to other industries like sports broadcasting, news gathering, homeland security and surveillance, where high quality imaging is absolutely critical. Along with our core business in filmed entertainment, this represents an exciting growth opportunity for Panavision, allowing us to extend our widely recognized optical core competencies to quickly expanding new markets and new customers. I am very proud of the people of Panavision, whose hard work led to this ground-breaking invention.”

In addition to the 300 times zoom ratio (from 7mm to 2100mm), the Panavision 300x HD Lens with Compound Zoom™ technology offers a very wide field of view at the short focal length, as well as other value-added performance features previously unavailable, including continuous zoom (without the use of image degrading drop-in extenders); continuous focusing through zoom; instantaneous optical breathing control at short focal lengths; and low distortion over virtually all of the zoom and focus rangers.

The lens is the result of several years of R&D from Panavision’s optical team, and the proprietary technology in the 300x HD Lens with Compound Zoom™ technology is
patent-pending.

Known for high-precision spherical and anamorphic optics for filmed entertainment, Panavision decided to apply its Primo cine optics expertise to other markets. By combining an innovative zoom design with Panavision Primo Zoom lens technology, a new standard for optical systems has been created. Initial research on a lens for the broadcast market began four years ago, when the highest available zoom was under 100 times. “At the time, it was clear that certain applications required a zoom ratio well in excess of what was available,” said Iain Neil, Panavision’s Executive Vice President R&D and Optics and Chief Technology Officer. “Our goal was to design a lens in excess of 100 times. We decided there was no easy way with conventional optics, so we invented a different kind of optical design.”

The 300x HD Zoom Lens with Compound Zoom™ technology provides high image quality in a wide variety of shooting scenarios by maximizing contrast at high definition resolution. Very low veiling glare and ghosting attributes, exhibited by Panavision’s established Primo cine lens technology, are also incorporated. Other features include boresight stability through zoom, and an active, closed loop internal optical stabilization system to reduce vibration-induced image shake.

The Panavision 300x HD Lens with Compound Zoom™ technology will be available later this year.

About the company:
Founded in 1954, Panavision Inc. is a leading designer and manufacturer of high-precision camera systems, including both film and digital cameras, and lenses and accessories for the motion picture and television industries. Panavision systems are rented through its domestic and internationally owned and operated facilities and agent network. Panavision also supplies lighting, grip and crane equipment for use by motion picture and television productions and, through its subsidiary EFILM, LLC, provides innovative digital post-production services.

For more information, contact:
Suzanne Lezotte
Tel: 818-316-2233
Cell: 818-427-0116
e-mail: Suzanne_lezotte@panavision.com

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