Uses cutting-edge optical technology and image processing technology
FUJIFILM has launched and already sold several of its SX800, a new long-range surveillance camera equipped with built-in lens, in Australia. The SX800, developed with the cutting-edge optical technology and image processing technology, features a high-performance built-in FUJINON zoom lens, capable of 40x optical zoom to offer a focal length range extending to 800mm, the world’s longest telephoto coverage in this type of camera*.”
Fujifilm Australia’s national business development manager Simon Murphy said, “The SX800 is an epoch-making surveillance camera that features advanced image stabilisation performance, fast and accurate autofocus with AF speed as fast as 0.3 seconds, and outstanding heat haze / fog reduction function, making it possible to instantaneously capture clear footage of a distant subject. As a result we have already sold several SX800s in Australia to companies and organisations using them for high level security applications.”
Today, there is an increasing recognition of security for the safe and secure society. More recently, along with the changing international affairs, long-range surveillance cameras capable of monitoring distant subjects are being introduced not only at international border controls but also at large-scale public facilities such as ports and airports. However, conventional long-range surveillance cameras often have issues including their susceptibility to camera shake in gusty winds and slow autofocus. Fujifilm has been working on developing innovative products to resolve such issues by combining its unique optical technology, nurtured through the development of a wide range of lenses including 4K/8K-compatible broadcast lenses and cinema camera lenses, with cutting-edge image processing technology found in the “X Series” of digital cameras.
The SX800, the first to be launched in this initiative, is a long-range surveillance camera with 40x optical zoom to cover the focal length range from 20mm to 800mm. When combined with the digital zoom of up to 1.25x, the camera can reach the focal length equivalent to 1000mm in long-range surveillance. This means it can capture the vehicle registration plate** on a car at about 1km away. Fujifilm’s proprietary image stabilization mechanism accurately controls camera shake without any time lag.
Furthermore, the use of the Rear Focus mechanism*** and other features delivers high-speed and high-accuracy AF, attaining focus in as fast as 0.3 seconds.
The camera’s high-speed image processing engine achieves detection and real-time correction of heat haze and fog. These features make this model an ideal choice for conducting surveillance operations at national borders, forests and large-scale public facilities including ports, airports and highways.
1. Main Features
(1) 40x optical zoom to cover a focal length range of up to 800mm, the world’s longest telephoto length
- The SX800 is equipped with a built-in high-performance FUJINON lens capable of 40x optical zoom to cover focal lengths from 20mm on the wide angle end to the world’s longest telephoto length of 800mm. It also features digital zoom capability of up to 1.25x to enable long-range surveillance equivalent to 1000mm in focal length.
(2) Advanced image stabilisation performance
- The SX800 features a newly-developed image stabilisation mechanism, using optical and mechanical design technologies fostered through the development of broadcast lenses and interchangeable lenses for digital cameras. High-performance gyro sensors detect even the smallest of vibrations. The use of ceramic beads, processed in precision, in the mechanism’s drive section has minimised friction and resistance during image stabilisation for accurate compensation of camera shake without time lag. That means the camera can be installed at high positions susceptible to gusty winds or at places that suffer large vibrations such as highways and airports.
(3) Rear Focus mechanism for fast and accurate autofocus with AF speed as fast as 0.3 seconds
- The SX800 uses the Rear Focus AF mechanism, which drives a rear group of small-diameter lens elements at high speed. The combination of on-sensor phase detection AF and contrast AF achieves autofocusing as fast as 0.3 seconds, attaining focus on a subject instantaneously. This is a substantial improvement in AF speed compared to several seconds to around 10 seconds it took for the conventional system that drives a front group of large-diameter lens elements.
- The mechanism is capable of continuous AF, maintaining focus on a subject in real time. The camera automatically switches to the optimum AF system according to the shooting site’s lighting conditions and other factors, so as to achieve AF of advanced precision and high speed in a variety of situations.
(4) Outstanding capability to control heat haze and fog to produce clear images
- The camera’s image processing engine uses the latest compensation algorithm and handles computation at high speed to detect and correct heat haze and fog accurately in real time, producing clear images. Heat haze, in particular, typically makes it difficult to distinguish a subject from other moving objects within the frame, making it necessary to use a dedicated external device for image correction. With the SX800, no such external device is needed to produce clear footage.
- The lens is applied with multi-layer coating to support a wide range of wavelengths from visible lights to near infrared rays. This has boosted light transmittance to the ultimate level to effectively control lens flair and ghosting.
- The use of high-performance image sensor*5 and cutting-edge image processing technology achieves clear images with minimal noise even in low light conditions with high sensitivity settings.
- *5Effective image size of 1/1.8 inches. The effective image size refers to the area of the image sensor used to record visual images.
(5) Significant simplification in installation procedures
- The SX800 has been designed and assembled with a lens integrated into the camera body so as to bring out the maximum performance from both components. This has eliminated the need for the conventionally-required steps of adjusting optical axis and flange focal length, thereby simplifying installation procedures substantially.
- *Among long-range surveillance cameras with built-in lens, as of July 23, 2019 according to Fujifilm
- **Capable of identifying the sequential vehicle designation number on a registration plate
- ***Auto-focusing method that drives a rear group of small-diameter lens elements at high speed
