CNN Selects Fujinon Lenses for Facility Upgrade to HDTV in New York and D.C. Bureaus

CNN has purchased a total of 26 high-definition Fujinon lenses– 19 studio lenses and seven hand-held lenses – for itsbroadcast facilities in New York and Washington, D.C.

CNN purchased 10 HA26x6.7 ESM studio lenses and five HA13x4.5ERDSuper Wide Angle ENG-style HDTV lenses for the new CNN Time-LifeStudios on the ground floor of the old Time-Life Building in Manhattan.The new wrap-around studio provides a pedestrian view of the set of thehighly rated American Morning with Paula Zahn. The lenses areaffixed to Sony HDC-950 HD cameras used to shoot AmericanMorning as well as the marquee evening show, Connie ChungTonight, shot in an adjacent studio.

CNN has also ordered nine HA26x6.7 and two HA13x4.5 HD lenses forits Washington Bureau, which produces several politically orientedshows such as The Capital Gang and Inside Politics with JudyWoodruff.

“We’re proud to have been selected by such a respectednews organization and to help it migrate to high-definitionproduction,” said Thom Calabro, national sales manager, broadcastand communications products division. “CNN is known for itstechnological innovation, and we’re honored by the selection. Thecombination of the superior optics and advanced features of theHA26x6.7 and the market-leading wide angle of HA13x4.5 gives CNN thequality and flexibility it needs to handle just about any productionrequirement.”

The HA26x6.7ESM features a focal length of 6.7 to 175mm with a71-degree field of view at its shortest focal length and magnificationof up to 26X. The lens has a maximum photometric aperture T-number of1:1.7 up to 121mm and 1:2.5 up to 175mm with a minimum object distancefrom image plane of 1.25m. Features include Fujinon’s Digi Powerdigital servo control systems for advanced zoom performance.

The HA13x4.5ERD features the widest angle of view, with a 93-degreehorizontal field of view at its shortest length (4.5mm) andmagnification of up to 13X (59mm). The lens is well suited for a widerange of shooting applications from wide angle to telephoto.Fujinon’s proprietary optical simulation technology substantiallyreduces axial chromatic magnification and spherical aberration,resulting in a higher peripheral image resolution.

Fujinon is a major manufacturer and distributor of optics and lensassemblies for the broadcast, digital cinema, and industrial markets.The company's line of television zoom lenses are used in virtuallyevery segment of the broadcast industry, including electronicnewsgathering, studio and field production, and HDTV. For moreinformation about Fujinon broadcast and communications products, call(973) 633-5600 or visit www.fujinon.com.