Frazier lens
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A Frazier lens is a special camera lens designed by photographer Jim Frazier. This lens provides an extremely deep depth of field which allows virtually everything to be in focus. His invention has been used by cinematographers because it enables them to do shots that were once impossible optically.
A United States patent was issued on March 10, 1998 for the lens and Frazier was awarded a Technical Achievement Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. The patent was licensed to Panavision for production and marketing of the lens. In 2003, Panavision and Frazier brought suit against Roessel Cine Photo Tech, Inc. for violating the patent.
At the trial, it was discovered that the video Frazier had submitted "[i]n the interests of demonstrating to the Examiner the features and uniqueness of the optical system of this patent application" contained shots that had been created with a different lens.
The patent was declared unenforceable for inequitable conduct and attorney's fees were awarded to the defendants.
[edit] External links
- Official page with pictures at panavision.com
- "Australian invention dazzles Hollywood" at wipo.int
- Informal message board talk about the lens at cinematography.net
- Inequitable Depth of Field - Frazier lens
- US Federal Appeal Court Decision - Frazier vs. Roessel Cine Photo
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