Laowa Enters the 8K Market with the Ultima 12-120mm T4 Broadcast Zoom Lens

by Alexandra ThompsonToday

At IBC 2024, Johnnie spoke with Marcus Kwong from Laowa to discuss the company’s latest innovation—the Ultima 12-120mm T4 S35 8K Broadcast Zoom Lens. This Super35 8K lens marks Laowa’s entrance into the competitive 8K broadcasting market.

When asked about the target audience for this lens, Marcus explained that it is primarily aimed at broadcasting studios handling fast-paced ENG and EFP work – for example, a football match or live news coverage. Johnnie noted the competition in this field, especially from established players like FUJIFILM/FUJINON. However, Marcus emphasized that Laowa is taking a different approach with Ultima’s 12-120mm focal range, offering an alternative in a fairly saturated market.

Optical performance and design

Marcus highlighted several technical details, starting with the constant T4 aperture across the zoom. The lens is designed to be parfocal, ensuring no loss of focus when zooming in or out. The lens comes in a PL mount, but a B4 version could be offered depending on market demand.

In answer to Johnnie’s question about testing the lens to verify its 8K resolution, Marcus said it was tested on 8K cameras, focusing on MTF (Modulation Transfer Function) and the number of lines per millimeter it could resolve. With an image circle of 29.5mm, the lens slightly exceeds the size of standard Super35 sensors, giving it some extra room over the 8K resolution.

Prototypes and final versions of the Laowa Ultima 12-120mm 8K lens

Laowa had two lens versions on display at IBC, marked by different colored rings. Marcus explained that the green ring represents a prototype, while the blue ring designates the final version. This distinction showcases the many stages involved in refining the lens before its release.

Laowa Ultima 12-120mm 8K lens – servo motor integration

Laowa partnered with Movcam to introduce a compatible servo motor for the Ultima, making it an even more versatile tool in fast-paced settings. According to Marcus, the servo motor is nice to have for quickly controlling focus, aperture, and zoom, especially in ENG and EFP scenarios. Johnnie pointed out that while the Ultima is fully manual, the servo motor helps automate focus control, etc., making it easier to handle.

Build and compatibility

When discussing the lens’ weight of 3.2kg/7lbs, Marcus said the lens was designed to be durable with robust construction to withstand harsh environments. The lens is compatible with a variety of cameras, including the Blackmagic Broadcast G2 and other PL-mount broadcast cameras in Super35 format. The lens has an outer diameter of 114mm (with an internal diameter of 110mm) and a minimum focus distance of 1m/3.28ft at 12mm.

Price and availability

The Laowa Ultima 12-120mm 8K Broadcast Zoom Lens is expected to retail for $15,000 and will be available early next year. As Johnnie noted, while this lens isn’t for everyone, for those in search of this type of performance, it’s an exciting new option. For more information, please see the Laowa website.

What do you think of a broadcast lens with this focal range? Is it something you can see yourself using? Let us know in the comments!