‘NEW’Dutchview Auto-Focus with Canon

Dutchview, the largest technical media company in the Netherlands, has signed a contract to re-equip with Canon HD lenses.  Notably, they have made a commitment to auto-focus lenses - believing that theses are the future - and have already ordered 10 big box lenses from Canon.

Dutchview has 14 studios and provides crew, OB trucks and facilities for studio and outside recording, as well as ENG, postproduction and storage facilities.  They are replacing all their SD lenses with Canon HD lenses over the next 4 years.

Said John Visser, Managing Director of Dutchview Multicam, on the choice of Canon: “Obviously, for us to replace all our SD is quite an expensive operation - something we cannot do in one year - so we looked for a partnership over several years: and also, of course, we wanted to get the best deal.  The Netherlands predominantly prefer Canon lenses, and we already had a very good relationship with Canon.  Nevertheless, we naturally asked all lens providers to quote: but Canon provided a very attractive package, and we were happy with them.”

Product and Service Count

“What we really like about Canon is the product: not only the optics, but also the very good mechanical quality.  In addition, we get excellent cooperation from their service organization - we never have problems getting a spare or a replacement.”　　Peter Slot, Senior Project Manager added: “Our experience with Canon's product reliability for the last 15 to 20 years has been extremely good.  Almost everything we do is a live production - so reliability is a very important factor when it comes to acquisition.  Flexibility is important too: when we get very busy, we need extra lenses, and that is easy with Canon lenses - because most of the hire companies in the Netherlands are Canon- based. ”

Auto-Focus “Futre-Proof”

Dutchview have taken the radical decision to replace all their big box lenses with auto-focus lenses.  Peter Slot comments, “We held a number of long lenses, 70x and 55x, which had to be replaced.  In our investment program, we work on a five- year replacement cycle: but we can work on much longer times with lenses.  For long-term investment, especially with long lenses, we believe it's not just nice to have auto-focus - but very necessary.  We have also decided to replace our 21x studio box lenses with AF versions of the XJ27x.”

John Visser adds: “One of our main selling points is that our clients appreciate the quality of our camera work.  We think auto-focus will give us a better picture - by giving the cameraman more time to focus on composition.  Focus technique is also much more difficult with high definition than standard definition: so we tested Canon auto-focus lenses with our cameramen and some of our clients.  Everybody was happy - so we are future-proofing by purchasing AF lenses with our HD program.”

Picture: Contract Celebration, from left: Wilfred Soerel, Canon Europa; John Visser, Dutchview Multicam; Ken Koyama, Canon Europa; and Peter Slot, Dutchview Multicam

10/11/2009