New Lens Coatings Set Stage For 4K HDR

TV broadcasters find themselves in a not-too-unfamiliar place at the 2016 NAB Show — somewhere between the old and the new.

The last time they were in this position was that years-long transition between analog and digital over-the-air TV broadcasting.

And while the transition from digital ATSC 1 (A/53) and next-gen ATSC 3.0 is digital-to-digital, it doesn’t mean the transition will be any easier this time around.

But the complexity now stems from the wide variety of options made possible by the next-gen standard, which the industry has asked the FCC to authorize.

One of those options is HDR, or high dynamic range — the visual equivalent of pulling apart an accordion to reveal all the details of the instrument that would remain hidden when it’s collapsed. At this year’s NAB Show, HDR is getting a lot of attention in conference sessions, at special ATSC 3.0 exhibit areas and on the show floor in the booths of vendors.

In the Fujinon booth, the company is exhibiting its answer for HDR — new 4K Ultra HD camera lenses with new HTEBC coatings and a new barrel design that improves the signal going through the lens, says Thom Calabro, company director of marketing and product development, broadcast and communications products.

“For those who are looking for HDR cameras, you are going to be better starting off with the lens that gives you the high dynamic range than the one that does not give you that high dynamic range. And that is what we are offering in our new lenses,” he says.

The lenses include the Fujinon Premier PL 20-120mm Cabrio XK (XK6x20) zoom, the UA13x4.5 wide angle Ultra HD (UHD) lens and the edge Fujinon UA107x8.4 (UA107x) broadcast lens.

So why would a TV broadcaster in the United States be concerned about HDR at this point in broadcasting’s evolution?

Calabro says it’s to futureproof their glass. All of the new Fujinon 4K lenses can be used with today’s HD cameras, which will benefit from the new coatings and designs, as well as tomorrow’s 4K cameras when that becomes a reality for broadcasters.

Just like during that SD to HD transition, there came a point when broadcasters decided to protect themselves against the future, the new 4K lenses with support for HDR pickup give broadcasters a way to meet today’s needs while preparing for tomorrow’s eventualities.

Fujinon is in NAB Show booth C7125.

Read all of TVNewsCheck‘s NAB 2016 news here.