Fujifilm Releases Zeiss Extended Data Update for Fujinon Premistas
The firmware release coincides with the significant growth in virtual production necessitated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Fujifilm North America Corp. has released a Zeiss Extended Data firmware update for Fujinon Premista Series lenses. The 28-100mm T2.9 and the 80-250mm T2.9-3.5 can now be updated at any Fujifilm Optical Devices Service Center. The Premista 19-45mm T2.9 will ship in early 2021 with full Extended Data functionality.
This firmware release coincides with the significant growth in virtual production that has resulted from the Covid-19 pandemic. The Fujinon firmware update is fully compatible with not only camera manufacturers and third-party production software and technology companies, but also with the Unity and Unreal gaming engines prevalent in virtual production.
“In addition to providing production value, the amount of time and money the Extended Data technology saves is considerable, particularly for VFX work, and apropos of the rapid emergence of the virtual-production world,” says Thomas Fletcher, director of marketing, Optical Devices Division, Fujifilm North America Corp. “Thus far, Sony and Red have implemented the Zeiss Extended Data workflow for shading and distortion values with compatible prime lenses, so the idea that workhorse cameras like the Sony Venice and the Red DSMC2 can now record advanced lens metadata from Premista zoom lenses is very exciting.”
Based on Cooke’s /i technology, the Zeiss Extended Data software creates opportunities to streamline and increase the accuracy of the image capture and processing workflow. Additionally, it efficiently transfers real-time information about lens distortion and shading characteristics, allowing VFX artists and other creatives to make precise adjustments in virtual production and post.
“Fujinon’s Extended Data workflow offers a myriad of added capabilities for virtual production,” notes virtual-production consultant Gary Adcock. “The addition of shading and lens distortion to the existing focus, iris and zoom data allows the virtual world to display with those same design and performance characteristics while adding the ease-of-use and simplified setup that zoom lenses make possible in digital production.”
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