Gravity Media is a global media production, creative service and facilities company. Built on collaboration, innovation and a network of global talent, they have a 30-year pedigree formed by the coming together of four established broadcast and production houses – Gearhouse Broadcast, HyperActive Broadcast, Input Media and Chief Entertainment. Recently the company had a requirement to significantly bolster and upgrade their 4K broadcast lens inventory, in particular for use at the Repco Supercars Championship races and for that they chose FUJINON UA125×8BESM and FUJINON UA107x8.4BESM lenses.

Gravity Media’s Broadcast Project Manager – Supercars, George Hennessy​, said, “Our requirements were to upgrade the fleet of our large lenses from HD to 4K standard, with an industry leading manufacturer. Our criterium was based on the robust and dynamic environments of both outdoor fast-moving sports such as Supercars and Touring Car Racing (TCR) in locations around Australia through all months of the year. After a full and comprehensive assessment of all available 4K large lens options, FUJINON’s UA125×8BESM and UA107x8.4BESM lenses were deemed the best and those that met our requirements perfectly.

As well as covering Supercars races Gravity Media also has many productions in light entertainment with studio-based shows that require the camera and lens to operate and perform in highly dynamic lighting conditions with contrasting set and lights demanding the very best the industry has to offer.

Hennessy continued, “The motorsport calendar of Supercars and TCR takes the season of racing from sub-tropical to sub-Antarctic locations and experiencing all weather extremes. Heat haze with high humidity in some locations with cold winter weather and foggy conditions in other areas of the country require broadcast lenses not only able to perform in optimal conditions, but more importantly also in highly challenging atmospheric conditions when they are called to still perform and cut through these environmental challenges. The cameras we use with the lenses are not only for the live action, but also extreme slow-motion replays with both foreground and background framing to shot composition vital to the production’s storytelling narrative. I’m happy to say the new FUJINON 4K box lenses suit and meet these styles and requirements perfectly.”

FUJINON’s UA125×8BESM achieved both the highest magnification 125x and 4K optical performance of any zoom lens^*1 and the UA107x8.4BESM was specifically designed to produce 4K UHD performance from the latest 4K 2/3″ Ultra HD cameras. Both lenses are ideal for live sports coverage particularly when they are used together in a production. They both carry a unique optical image stabilisation mechanism and produce a vivid colour reproduction and HDR-based rich tonal gradation for superior video production. Users of the lenses also enjoy a natural bokeh achieved with a 9-blade diaphragm and the standard feature of built-in 16bit encoders*².

Most recently Gravity Media used the UA125 and UA107 lenses at Supercars races in Darwin, on the Gold Coast and in Adelaide.

Hennessy explained, “On the Gold Coast Street circuit we used six of our new FUJINON lenses on field of play cameras to shoot field coverage of the Gold Coast Street Circuit. Typical shots included fast panning and long throw zooming to tight shots from 400 metres down to 15 metres in distance. The FUJINON lenses gave good throw and could easily go further if needed. The lenses performed brilliantly with zero issues despite very high temperatures and significant humidity. It was the same story for the Adelaide 500 where we used eight of the FUJINON lenses in a similar way for similar shots and again, all of the lenses performed perfectly and without any issues.”

At the Darwin race the camera position was 570 metres from the start of the main straight on a 5-metre scaffold on the inside of the racetrack. The main shot was for the lens to pick up a car turning into the main straight and follow as directed. Secondary use of the lens was a later cut to see the rear of the car breaking into the first turn at the end of the main straight and follow through the corner.

FUJIFILM Australia’s General Manager, Electronic Imaging & Optical Devices Division, Shaun Mah, said, “Gravity Media is one of the world’s leading media production, creative services and facilities companies and one that is known for being forward looking, particularly where technology is concerned. This latest purchase and use of FUJINON 4K lenses embodies that forward thinking philosophy and we are delighted to once again be their supplier of choice for high-quality broadcast lenses.”

George Hennessy concluded, “The FUJINON UA125×8BESM and FUJINON UA107x8.4BESM lenses are very high quality, give excellent results and are very reliable. For a company like Gravity Media where many of our broadcasts are live and there is no room for error, lenses like these are a major plus for us. We look forward to continuing our relationship with FUJIFILM Australia and to using FUNINON lenses for many years to come.”