Band Pro Film & Digital is teaming with optics manufacturer Schneider Kreuznach to produce a new line of HD C-mount lenses designed to enhance the performance of leading 1/3-inch HD cameras such as the Iconix HD-RH1F and Toshiba IK-HD1.

Due to their compact size and portability, 1/3-inch chip cameras are a popular choice for film and video productions. According to Band Pro president Amnon Band, “With the growing use of these cameras, we saw there was also a growing need for a new generation of high-end optics that would free them from the limitations of SD and raise their performance to the level of true high definition.” The new C-mount lenses, he explained, will be ideal for shooting everything from sporting events, commercials and music videos to television dramas and special shots in feature films.

The team plans to produce a family of lenses beginning with wide angle, normal and telephoto primes in 2009, with an eye to creating additional focal lengths and zooms in the future.

A leader in the area of high definition, Band Pro has an established track record for identifying and fulfilling the requirements of HD production, working with manufacturers to improve the quality of equipment and accessories and bringing them up to HD standards. Schneider Kreuznach is renowned for its comprehensive line of professional lenses, accessories and filters for still photography, cine and broadcast cameras, and digital cinematography.

The new HD C-Mount lenses will be manufactured at Schneider in Bad Kreuznach, Germany, and distributed worldwide by Band Pro Film & Digital and its companies.