Fujifilm Introduces FP-Z8000 Projector With A Folded Two-axial Rotatable Lens
By Philip Boyle
In 2019, Fujifilm introduced the FP-Z5000 installation class ultra-short throw projector. Although it has been out a year, I do not think it has received the attention it deserves. Since Fujifilm just launched the FPZ-8000, which is the second model in their Z-Series lineup, I thought I’d give you a quick look at what I think is very exciting about these projectors for the event and education markets.
The functionality and chassis of the new FP-Z8000 and FP-Z5000 are identical. The FP-Z5000 has a rated brightness of 5,000 lumens, while the FR-Z8000, by adopting a high-transmittance lens and more powerful laser light source, can deliver a rated 8,000 lumens. Fujifilm’s Z Series models are the world's first ultra-short throw projectors equipped with a bi-axial rotatable lens.
Fujifilm is one of the world's best lens manufacturers producing a wide range of camera and projection lenses over the last thirty years. It should come as no surprise to you that their first entry into the projector market would focus, no pun intended, around their world class optics. If you are a A/V rental house or an event team, you may want to add the Fujifilm Z-Series projector to your inventory.
The Fujifilm Z-series projectors utilize a 2 axis, 360-degree, rotatable housing that looks like it came out of a Sci-Fi movie. In addition, this lens assembly provides shift up to 82% vertically and 35% horizontally with the FP-Z8000 “remembering” those shift settings when the lens is rotated to a new position. This represents a breakthrough since most ultra-short projectors have little/no optical lens shift which make them very finicky to setup.
The FP-Z8000 projector’s orientation is extremely flexible. Having 22 different lens and projector placement options makes it easy to project images on walls, floors, and even on ceilings, while mounting the projector in an unobtrusive location.
The Fuji Z-Series projector’s bi-axial rotatable lens and mechanical lens shift enables a wide range of installation and throw options that were previously difficult, if not impossible, to accomplish with a traditional fixed lens design. Plus, automatic memory of shifted images as the lens rotates to a new position, creates a powerful tool for projection designers.
Due to the projector’s amazing amount of shift and lens rotation, the physical placement and orientation of the projector almost doesn't matter. As someone who has spent years designing and setting up display spaces, pop ups, and trade shows I can assure you, this is a huge benefit.
Imagine being able to project content on the floor, ceiling, walls, and display elements – all without changing the placement of the projector. Event planners rejoice because your booth design and layout can be dictated more by the client’s design and messaging requirements and less by equipment placement.
Imagine displaying a 100” screen image with the projector a mere 30 inches from the screen and you can do it from the edge of the display space! The FP-Z8000 makes it easier than ever to let the presenter and the image be the focus with the projector moved out of the audience's line of site.
Tired of presenters or attendees getting in the way of your projected image? Not anymore because the FP-Z8000 increases the accessible area your presenters and attendees can move in without blocking projected content.
As you would expect from a lens manufacturer, the projector’s optics appear to be first class. The projector’s aspheric lens sports a diameter of 87 millimeters. The entire lens assembly has 18 separate lens elements and bends light four times on its way to the screen, including the two 90-degree angles in the lens arm.
One of the challenges in ultra-short-throw lens design is to minimize chromatic aberrations which is the misalignment of light rays at different wavelengths. Fujifilm’s optical division had to develop an advanced, high-precision manufacturing processes to ensure that the surface accuracy on the aspheric lens varied by no more than 0.0001 millimeters, boasting impressive color uniformity and minimal geometric distortion coupled with excellent focus and brightness.
The Z-Series projector’s deliver full HD (1920 x 1080) resolution and offers a robust connection panel featuring HDMI, USB, RJ45 as well as the PJ link protocol. The units feature a one chip DLP system coupled with a solid state, laser phosphor light engine, providing a manufacturer rated 8,000 lumens of light with a contrast ratio of 12,000:1. The FP-Z5000, which is already in market, has a rated brightness of 5,000 lumens.
On paper, the Fujifilm Z-Series are formidable installation class projectors. These ultra-short throw projectors are quite possibly the most flexible projector in its class providing a virtually unlimited choice of placement options for the most challenging installations.
We are looking into getting a sample so we can give you an even more in-depth product review. The Fujifilm FP-Z5000 is available now with a retail price of $12,000. The FPZ-8000 is scheduled to ship sometime in early 2021 and the price has not been announced.
