Meduza Systems, maker of the Meduza 3D 4K all-in-one camera, will launch the Delta 4K S3D Meduza lens, built-for-purpose matched pairs of 3D lenses designed by Kenji Suematsu, at IBC, writes David Fox.
The lens set has been designed and built to deliver “super high precision”, not only in the glass, but also in the motorized focus and iris controls.
The eight lenses in the series are not only optically matched (to three decimal places of focal length) and sold in pairs, but each lens has been constructed to fit into a compact 38mm-wide mechanical barrel to allow for very close inter-axial positioning, which is often critical to S3D. Besides the Meduza camera, they are suitable for use with 2/3-inch or smaller sensor cameras such as Silicon Imaging, Iconix and Flare.
“The Delta series has been specifically developed to meet the challenges of precision needed both for 3D and for 4K cinematography,” said Chris Cary, CEO of the UK 3D Tech start-up, 3D Visual Enterprises, Meduza Systems’ parent company.
Each lens pair is designed to minimize the amount of optical change (or delta) between one image and another. “Quality S3D images are the product of many elements of precise control working together, and optical precision is one of the most vital, especially working in 4K,” added Meduza Systems’ COO, Jon Kitzen.
“All of the standards being set for cinema and television alike are reaching out for a level of optical excellence for which 2D lenses and lens mounts trying to work in tandem were never intended.”
Meduza set out to improve on 2D optics that have previously been rather large, heavy, bulky film lenses, not built to the tolerances of S3D use. While a lens may indicate 50mm, in reality it may be a 48.5mm, while the next lens could be 49.9mm. Colour and distortion from one lens to the next could also be quite far off.
All of this creates added work and costs in post. The company also claimed that larger format film lenses “are just not capable of the resolution requirements of the new generation of small compact 4K sensors, therefore, not optimal for S3D work.”
Its 16-piece set, with eight focal length pairs (T1.9/35mm, 1.4/23mm, 1.4/17mm, 1.4/12mm, 1.9/10mm, 1.4/8mm, 2.1/6mm, and 1.8/4.8mm), has been designed specifically to accommodate motorised focus and iris controls. The iris and focus rings, which float on a set of 50 micro ball bearings, will be supported by the forthcoming Preston 3D controller.
They use a new Meduza Mount, which is designed to deliver precise optical positioning in relation to the sensor. “We found the C mount and other fittings just weren’t able to work within the tolerances we set,” said Cary. “The standards required for 4K and S3D are far more demanding. so we built for tomorrow rather than settle for today.”
