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Friday, Mar 29, 2024

Zeiss Opens Film Demo Center in Sherman Oaks

German optics company Zeiss opened a cinema lens demonstration center and showroom this month in Sherman Oaks. On the eighth floor of the high-rise at 15260 Ventura Blvd., cinematographers can examine and test Zeiss’ state-of-the-art lenses, cameras and film equipment. “Zeiss has been making lenses for cinema for over a century,” Snehal Patel, Zeiss’ cinema sales manager, told the Business Journal. “Now that we are responsible for selling directly to the market, it makes sense to have a space to experience all of our offerings.” The full range of Zeiss lens lines are on display, including Supreme Primes, Compact Primes with metadata technology, Cinema Zooms, and lenses for still videography cameras like Milvus, Otus and Loxia. Visitors can shoot test footage on the premises. The center also boasts a full editing suite, a projection room where filmmakers and cinematographers can evaluate test shots scientifically, and a 4K HDR theater where they can screen tests in a proper viewing environment. All services are available by appointment only. “We wanted to have a certain type of classy presentation, where the customer feels they are in a quiet and private space with a wonderful view, which isn’t ground-floor level and not a showroom that welcomes walk-in traffic,” said Patel. The location in Sherman Oaks is ideal due to its closeness to highways 405 and 101, he added. Its centricity in the greater Los Angeles area makes it accessible to filmmakers, rental houses and operators all over the region. Countless Hollywood favorites were filmed using Zeiss optics, from “Goodfellas,” to “Children of Men,” to “Blade Runner 2049,” to Guillermo Del Toro’s 2018 Best Picture winner “The Shape of Water.” “We are known for sharp, clean lenses with a neutral tone and cinematic look,” Patel said. “Almost every cinematographer working in film and TV has used our products many times during their career.”  Film equipment is not available for purchase at the center — sales are made exclusively through Zeiss dealers. Palmdale Walmart The Walmart Supercenter in Palmdale has launched new technological services to make shopping easier and more convenient. The store is now equipped with a 16-foot-tall orange pickup tower that functions like a vending machine for web orders. Customers shop online, then wait for a confirmation email or text containing a barcode for their order. Meanwhile, Walmart associates place the purchased items in compartments within the tower. When customers arrive, they scan their barcode and the pickup tower delivers the items in seconds. As reported previously in the Business Journal, Walmart installed a tower at its Lancaster store in September. The Palmdale storefront also launched “Online Grocery Delivery,” a service where customers can shop for groceries on their phone through the Walmart Grocery mobile app and get orders delivered to their home or a desired location. For this service, Walmart created new job positions called “personal shoppers.” These employees identify and select produce, meat and other goods when filling orders. The delivery service costs $9.95 and requires a $30 minimum purchase. Food prices are the same as in stores. “Getting groceries and fitting errands into a busy schedule has never been this easy,” said Matthew Russell, Walmart’s e-commerce manager, in a statement. “Making life easier to leave more time for family is how we design innovation.” The new installations offer a glimpse into the future of retail, where stores integrate location-enabled technology and mobile devices to save customers time and effort. Walmart now has 700 locations equipped with pickup towers, and 800 offering Online Grocery Delivery. The Palmdale Walmart Supercenter is located at 40130 10th St. West. Camarillo’s New Outlets Three new retailers have opened shops at Camarillo Premium Outlets. Bohemian clothing brand Johnny Was opened March 29 in the center’s main court, replacing menswear brand Ben Sherman. Women’s sportswear and workout clothing brand Lorna Jane Active Living opened March 30 in fashion court. It took the space previously occupied by shoe store Rockport. Planet Blue, a beachy brand offering shoes, jewelry and accessories opened April 1 in main court in a slot formerly occupied by Salvatore Ferragamo. These are the first outlet locations to open for all three retailers. They will offer products at discounts of 25 to 65 percent off regular retail prices. All three stores will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., except on Sundays when they will close at 8. Camarillo Premium Outlets is located at 740 Ventura Blvd. Staff Reporter Andrew Foerch can be reached at [email protected] or at (818) 316-3130.

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