FUJIFILM’s world-first dual-axis projector dazzles at Adelaide Fringe

The Adelaide Fringe festival is synonymous not only with cutting edge experiences but also with the latest in technology that enables those experiences. This year is no different as for the first time in Australia FUJIFILM’s FP-Z5000 ultra-short throw projector, equipped with the world’s first folded two-axial rotatable lens, is being used to project Karl ‘Winda’ Telfer’s Yabarra – Dreaming in Light, the festival’s signature installation.

The company responsible for providing and installing the projection equipment on Yabarra – Dreaming in Light are ProAV specialists Novatech Creative Event Technology.

“Novatech co-owner, Milenko Novakovic, came across the FP-Z5000 just prior to its release and was so impressed he immediately requested that we have the first demo unit in Australia for testing and evaluation,” comments Novatech MD Leko Novakovic. “It became quite apparent very quickly that we would then buy some. The FP-Z5000 is such a unique product and Milenko had some great ideas of how we could use these projectors in new and innovative ways, one of which was for the Yabarra – Dreaming installation, so we decided on an initial purchase of four units.”

Novatech are known for their incredibly high standards in terms of quality and customer experience so their requirements for the FP-Z5000 were comprehensive.

“We hadn’t invested in smaller projectors for a while and we were just in the planning phase for Yabarra – Dreaming in Light,” continues Novakovic. “With that installation using more than 30 projectors we knew that the new FUJIFILM Z5000s would now be a key part in the design. At one point there was going to be a space in the gallery that called for a full immersive ceiling and walls projection. Then the creative changed and this wasn’t required. That said, we still had some sections that we simply did not have the projection distance to cope with, even with short-throw fixed lens options and the Z5000s became the saviors.”

There are two areas in Yabarra – Dreaming in Light where the creative team wanted a wall and floor projection to tie into one another. Within these areas the team also wanted a large six meter-wide image but Novatech only had two meters of throw distance to work with.

Novakovic added, “We didn’t want the image interrupted as people came up close to the projection and that’s where only the unique dual-axis lens design in the Z5000s could make this possible.”

The FP-Z5000 is equipped with the world’s first folded two-axial rotatable lens developed with FUJIFILM’s cutting-edge optical technology nurtured through the development of FUJINON lenses. It gives this projector the capability of directing the lens up, down, front, rear, left and right to project images in various directions without having to move the main unit. This means it can project images not only on a wall or screen but also on the ceiling and floor, and easily switch between vertical and horizontal display. The use of the ultra-short throw lens makes it possible to project images on a 100-inch screen from the close-up distance of just 75cm.

The Yabarra – Dreaming in Light installation has been a huge success and widely acclaimed as one of the best installations the Adelaide Fringe Festival has ever had.

“FUJINON are known for their quality in glass,” concludes Novakovic. “The thing with the Z5000s is it’s all about the lens and the unique dual-axis design that has to be seen to be believed. In the Yabarra – Dreaming in Light installation the projectors have remained stable and consistent throughout, with the colours bright and vivid. For Novatech, owning these amazing projectors will give us creative freedom to come up with more unique projection designs for events, custom activations and installations. I must also say that the team at FUJIFILM were great to deal with, quick and responsive and we received our order in very good time.”

Yabarra – Dreaming in Light was on at the Adelaide Fringe Festival from February 14 until March 15.