At this year’s Hay Festival, the Bubble Production team relied on multiple Fujinon LA30x7.8BRM 4K portable broadcast lenses across our principal live broadcast stages, paired with Blackmagic Design URSA Broadcast G2 cameras and Blackmagic Focus and Zoom Demands.
Before investing in the lenses, we were fortunate to trial them with the support of Visual Impact Northern Ltd. Our thanks go to David Phillips and the team for arranging the demonstrations and allowing us to test the lenses thoroughly before purchase.
Proven Performance During 11 Days of Live Broadcast Production
Hay Festival is an ideal environment for testing broadcast equipment. Over 11 intensive days, our crews filmed hundreds of author interviews, panel discussions, live audience events and keynote presentations, often working from early morning until late evening.
The Fujinon LA30x7.8BRM lenses performed flawlessly throughout the festival.
With fixed camera positions and constantly changing presenters, a versatile zoom range is essential. The 30x optical zoom allowed operators to move effortlessly from wide stage shots to tight close-ups without compromising image quality, making the lenses perfectly suited to live event production.
Excellent 4K Image Quality
Image quality was consistently impressive.
The lenses produced sharp, detailed 4K broadcast images with excellent contrast, natural colour reproduction and strong edge-to-edge clarity throughout the zoom range. Combined with the Blackmagic URSA Broadcast G2, the result was a clean, consistent picture that matched perfectly across multiple cameras and production stages.
For multi-camera productions where colour consistency is critical, this combination proved extremely reliable.
Seamless Integration with Blackmagic Cameras
One of the biggest advantages was how well the lenses integrated with our existing Blackmagic workflow.
Using the latest firmware on both the URSA Broadcast G2 cameras and the Blackmagic Focus and Zoom Demands, everything worked together exactly as expected.
Our camera operators particularly appreciated:
- Smooth, responsive zoom control
- Accurate focus adjustment
- Reliable servo performance
- Precise framing during live discussions
- Consistent operation throughout long production days
This responsiveness is especially valuable during live interviews and panel sessions where subtle camera movements help keep coverage engaging without distracting the audience.
Reliability Matters Most
For any outside broadcast or live production company, reliability is arguably more important than headline specifications.
Across 11 consecutive days, multiple broadcast stages and more than 400 streamed events, we experienced zero lens-related issues.
No unexpected behaviour.
No compatibility problems.
No interruptions.
The lenses simply performed day after day, allowing our operators and engineers to concentrate on delivering the production rather than solving technical issues.
When you’re responsible for live broadcasts with no opportunity for a second take, that level of dependability is invaluable.
Is the Fujinon LA30x7.8BRM Worth It?
For production companies looking for a cost-effective 4K broadcast lens that delivers excellent image quality, a versatile zoom range and dependable performance, the Fujinon LA30x7.8BRM deserves serious consideration.
Whether you’re covering conferences, festivals, concerts, theatre, sport or corporate events, it offers an excellent balance of optical performance, portability and value.
Following its performance throughout Hay Festival 2026, it has firmly established itself as part of Bubble Production’s broadcast camera kit.
Our Verdict
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 9/10
What we liked
- Excellent 4K image quality
- Superb 30x zoom range
- Smooth Blackmagic integration
- Reliable servo performance
- Lightweight and well suited to portable production
- Outstanding reliability during an intensive live broadcast schedule
For our style of live production, the Fujinon LA30x7.8BRM delivered everything we needed and proved itself under one of the busiest production schedules of the year.
