Three weeks. Long hours under the California sun. Relentless days behind the lens. The Dallas Cowboys’ creative team, led by Drew Ferguson, put the new Aizu Primes through a true test of endurance at their 2025 training camp in Oxnard, CA.
Here’s what Drew and his team had to say after pushing the Aizu Primes to the max.
Compactness and Handling
Sigma:
The Aizu Primes all maintain 5″ barrels (PL mount) and weigh just a hair over 3.5 pounds (1.7 kg). Did the size and/or weight of the lenses influence the way you worked during spring training?
Ferguson:
They were a great size, honestly. We run the DZO Arles for a majority of our shoots, and these are pretty comparable in terms of size and weight. So, we were pretty comfortable working with these like we do with our other cine glass.
Durability
Sigma:
The Aizu Primes feature full metal construction. Is durability a consideration in your line of work, and did the lens’s build meet your expectations in demanding shooting conditions?
Ferguson:
Our gear takes a beating. With over 500 shoots a year, some stuff is bound to break, so we’re always factoring in durability of a product before purchasing. The lens’s build met the expectations for our line of work, for sure.
Fast Aperture
Sigma:
The Aizu Primes have a consistent T1.3 aperture value throughout their entire range. Has the speed of these lenses influenced your approach to shooting in different lighting situations on or off the field?
Ferguson:
For sure. Having a super speed lens like this gives us a ton of flexibility when we’re having to shoot in dark environments like our tunnels. We don’t have to factor in as much lighting as we use to when we run around with these lenses.
Bokeh and Depth of Field
Sigma:
After spending time with the Aizu Primes, how would your team describe the qualities of the lens’s bokeh or its ability to separate subjects from the background?
Ferguson:
Honestly, it’s some of the best I’ve ever used. The separation is so smooth and the character you get out of opening up wide is pretty unique.
Versatility
Sigma:
Did the lenses perform consistently when switching between handheld, gimbal, or tripod setups?
Ferguson:
We didn’t do any gimbal work, but it was consistent across handheld, high hats, and tripods for use. It was consistent across all the cameras we used, too, which was really nice, since we don’t always get that consistency when swapping between camera bodies.
Overall Shooting Experience
Sigma:
Did you find certain shots or scenarios where these lenses were particularly well-suited (or challenging) to use?
Ferguson:
Interviews were where these really shined for us because we could control the composition and environment, and get exactly what we needed out of the lenses. But, honestly they were still pretty versatile with run-and-gun. There really weren’t many shots where I felt like I missed focused, even when wide open.
Cine, Meet Football
Sigma:
You and your team have expressed a keen interest in pairing the world of cinema lenses with the world of sports in ways many teams haven’t explored. Did the large 46.3mm image circle influence your shooting choices, and did you experiment with pairing the lens with large format cameras or sensors to achieve a particular look or workflow?
Ferguson:
We actually didn’t get a chance to test a ton of footage out on the Fujifilm Eterna like we wanted. But, we definitely are interested in pairing it with our Pyxis 12Ks when they arrive in this coming quarter!
