Abakus have the lens technology for Super Hi-VisionAbakus News
Abakus have the lens technology for Super Hi-Vision
With a picture diagonal of 180 degrees and a maximum aperture of f/4.0, this is the lens that you need to give that wide look essential to make the most of Hi Vision.
It feels like you are really there!
Super Hi-Vision is a display standard which is 16 times better than standard High Definition HDTV. The current standard for High Definition is just over 2000 pixels, whereas Super Hi-Vision uses 7680x4320 pixels. In simple terms of mega pixels HD versus Super Hi-Vision, the score is HD 2 mega pixels, Super- Hi-Vision 33. Super-Hi-Vision wins !
Obviously without really high quality front-end lenses, with superb optical quality, the impact of this high quality streamed technology would be diminished. The NEW Abakus SUPER Hi-VISION lens provides cinematographers with visual wide angles, with super-sharp image quality, even better than High Definition. This incredible Abakus lens follows in the footsteps of the Abakus B4-mount lenses such as the Abakus-Stadium lens (picture-diagonal 210°) and the Abakus-Arena (picture-diagonal 140°) The angle of view of the new Super Hi-Vision lens is between the Stadium and Arena making this new wide angle lens ideal for large audiences and outside broadcast e.g. the 2012 London Olympics where events could be shown on outside screens in major cities with much better quality than has been possible with just HD. The mind blowing quality of Super Hi-Vision technology means that it is possible to experience super-sharp images and have a strong sense of reality and feeling of actually being there.
The mind blowing quality of Super Hi-Vision means that lines are are not visually noticeable even when close to a screen, so audiences get a really strong sense of reality. Obviously without really high quality front end lenses, the impact of this high quality streamed technology would be diminished. This new Abakus lens provides that quality.
In terms of which cameras on which to use this Abakus lens - not a problem. The Abakus Super Hi-Vision lens, designed to works perfectly on High Speed Cameras, also works really well on RED Cameras!
Normally it is not a good idea to fire arrows at a broadcast camera lens, but that is exactly what competitors in the Beijing Olympic archery competition did. Fortunately, this Abakus Target lens had been designed to survive direct hits. It was designed to withstand the considerable force of arrows impacting the target, whilst not compromising the target in any way.
The lens was designed to fit right in the centre of the Bulls-eye of the archery targets so that the arrows could be "watched" coming straight towards the target.
In order to transmit the superb, HD quality images of the event, a small, highly-efficient, optical borescope relay system was designed. This passes the HD quality images to the camera, which was situated out of harms way behind the target. With all this in mind it is not surprising that the lens body is very rugged, made from stainless steel. Although the borescope relay system part of the lens was both a mechanical and optical challenge, its design faded into insignificance in comparison with the criteria required for the front lens group.
The shape and form of the front of the lens is revolutionary. The front element itself is tiny ( a mere 2 mm in diameter) and yet incredibly powerful in optical terms. This and the rest of the front optical assemblage are housed in metal shaped like a jet fighter nose cone to withstand high energy impact. The front comes down to a point of only 2.5 mm with a sapphire window on the outside for maximum strength. The lens barrel is only 12 mm diameter over a length of over 230 mm.
All the purpose designed internal optics and metal body are made in the UK using only the best quality materials in order to guarantee the best attainable High Definition performance in a tiny package. This sophisticated, Abakus design achieves high definition quality when used on the Iconix HD-RH1F and similar 1/3", 3-chip, HD cameras.
We have formally and officially shortened our name to Abakus Ltd. Abakus Scientific has often been referred to as just Abakus, so it seemed sensible to make it official. Along with the name Abakus Ltd registered at Company House in London, we have also acquired an equivalent shortened website address which is www.abakus.co.uk. This name became available on Christmas Eve 2005, so we got it as a present to our long suffering customers, who have uncomplainingly used the much longer www.abakus-scientific.com. We hope that the new short version will be more convenient for everyone to use. e-mail:sales@abakus.co.uk.
We still have the same snail-mail address at, Grange Farm, Bourne Road, Carlby, Stamford PE9 4LU, UK
Abakus Stadium Lens Used at Twickenham
The Abakus Stadium lens was first used for rugby Internationals at Twickenham UK and then International and some Premier League football games. It is now used also much more extensively
in many non-sporting situations, because Abakus format adapters are available to convert the B4-mount to PL for film uses.
(Picture courtesy of Sky Sports and RFU)
Abakus Adapters (Abakus 132) enable B4 mount lenses fit any PL camera including the new Red Camera, for perfect change in format.
Demise of Optex
In the past Abakus, produced (optical design, assembly and testing) a variety of products which were over-badged and sold by Optex. We would appreciate direct feedback from past Optex customers regarding their future needs and wants for any of the "Optex" products which were originated by Abakus. Customers may find it useful to know that Abakus still carry some spare optical components for these products. e.g. Abakus have some "spares" of the High Definition "Excellence" Periscope/Borescope with all its special lenses (40mm, 28mm, 20mm, 14mm and 10mm).
Abakus now offer new redesigned conversion kits for the Zeiss 10-100. These convert 16 mm lens to convert it to super 16 12-120. Click here for details
Abakus Radiation Tolerant Viewing Systems
At Abakus we use our specialist optical technical expertise in more than one market place. In addition to the TV/cine industry we also supply the nuclear industry with appropriate non-browning viewing systems for use in various levels of radiation e.g. we produce systems to look through thick or thin walls into radioactive zones, as well as radiation tolerant borescopes to look through small narrow holes. Click here for details.
NEW Abakus High Definition Fixed Focal Length Lenses
Small 6mm, 9mm, 15mm,25mm HD Fixed Focal Length Lenses, (Size approx 2cms, x 4cms length) for use with 2/3" single-chip C or D-mount cameras. Sorry ! But they are not suitable for 3-chip cameras which have a beam-splitting prism because there is not enough back focus.