Lengthy-time movement image lens producer Cooke Optics is increasing its attain into the prosumer video marketplace for the primary time with the SP3 prime lens sequence for full-frame mirrorless cameras, with mount choices supporting E-Mount, RF-mount, L-mount and M-mount cameras. The small and light-weight Cooke SP3 prime lens set might be supplied in 5 focal lengths whereas sustaining a constant T2.4 aperture throughout all 5 lenses. Moreover, all SP3 lenses share an almost an identical design and form, permitting for quick and simple interchangeability.
Key Options & Specs:
25mm, 32mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm focal lengths
T2.4-T16 aperture vary
9-bladed aperture
Twin focus scale with imperial and metric markings
Almost an identical in measurement and form; focus and iris rings are in the identical places throughout all lenses
Person-changeable lens mounts: Sony E, Canon RF, Leica L-mount, Leica M-mount
Compact and light-weight design permits for simple use on gimbal-mounted cameras
MSRP: $4500 for a single lens, $21,375 for a 5-lens set
Accessible mid-September
These new SP3 primes use an all-new optical and mechanical design tailor-made to full-frame mirrorless cameras. They’re smaller and lighter than conventional Cooke movement image lenses, becoming to the extra compact designs of full-frame mirrorless cameras. Additional, the compact measurement permits them to simply match onto lighter-weight gimbals just like the DJI Ronin sequence or into different tighter, troublesome capturing conditions.
Lenses geared toward full-frame video creators
The SP3 lenses symbolize a brand new path for Cooke; the corporate has historically centered on the premium, ultra-high-end movement image lens market. For instance, a single lens from Cooke’s flagship S8/i line of PL-mount lenses prices over $34,000. That is nicely out of attain for videographers who do not have a Hollywood price range.
The corporate tells us that because it started to look broadly on the video market, it realized that many ‘prosumer’ video creators had been nonetheless acquainted with the Cooke model. This mid-market/prosumer class is the fastest-growing phase of the video market, with many videographers utilizing cameras like Sony, Canon and RED, ranging in value from round $4,000-$10,000. This hasn’t been a market class by which Cooke historically had a presence, but they noticed robust model recognition amongst these creators. As such, Cooke developed the SP3 mirrorless lens sequence as a solution to introduce Cooke Optics to a broader person base.
Design and Options
The brand new Cooke SP3 primes are available in 5 completely different focal size choices. The lens line consists of two wide-angle choices, 25mm and 32mm, a normal 50mm lens, and two mid-telephoto varieties, 75mm and 100mm. All lenses share the identical aperture (iris) vary of T2.4-16 and have a 9-bladed aperture. Like many different cinema-focused lenses, the Cooke SP3 primes have guide focus and aperture, providing no electrical communication again to the digital camera physique.
The SP3 lenses are constructed with hardened, anodized lens barrels, and all share comparable bodily design traits, reminiscent of the position of the lenses’ focus and aperture rings. These rings are in the identical place throughout all 5 lenses, use the identical gearing (83 enamel for each focus and aperture rings), and have the identical angular rotation on each rings (160º for the main focus ring; 78º for the aperture ring). These matching design options permit the lenses to be shortly and simply swapped out on set or within the discipline with out requiring digital camera rigging equipment, reminiscent of follow-focus gear. The lenses additionally characteristic non-linear focusing and aperture scales. Cooke says this enables for finer management of focusing in direction of the minimal focusing distances and finer management of publicity changes (iris management) at wider apertures.
Though Cooke would not provide particular particulars concerning the optical structure, such because the variety of parts or the sorts of glass used, they’re nonetheless tuned to match the optical traits of Cooke’s common Panchro/i Basic cinema lenses, which have a protracted historical past within the filmmaking trade. Cooke states that the SP3 primes provide wonderful sharpness and definition and carefully match the attribute appear and feel of the Pace Panchro lens sequence. Particular care is put into how the lenses, each the SP3 primes and the Pace Panchro, render facial options and pores and skin tones, in addition to distinction and sharpness traits each on the heart and out in direction of the perimeters of the body.
Though very comparable in measurement and weight, there are slight variations from lens to lens. The 25mm and 75mm are 98mm (3.85″) in size, and the 32mm and 50mm lenses are each 94mm (3.7″) lengthy. The 100mm is the odd one out, measuring 124mm (4.88″) lengthy. Lens diameters are extra constant throughout the road, with all lenses besides the 100mm model measuring 64mm (2.52″) round. The 100mm lens has a most entrance diameter of 82mm (3.22″), though the main focus and iris rings stay the identical diameter throughout all 5 lenses.
Weight is analogous, starting from 500g to only underneath 700g. The 100mm lens is the heaviest of the group, at 690g (1.52 lbs), whereas the 50mm is the lightest, at simply 500g (1.1lbs). The 32mm and 75mm lenses each weigh 520g (1.15 lbs), and the 25mm lens weighs 575g (1.27 lbs.).
Pricing & Availability
The Cooke SP3 lenses are appropriate with quite a lot of full-frame mirrorless cameras and embody user-changeable lens mounts. The lenses might be obtainable in E-mount, RF-mount, L-mount and M-mount. Lenses will ship with E-mount flanges preinstalled. RF-mount might be obtainable quickly after launch, and consumers can redeem a set of RF mounts freed from cost through directions included within the packaging. L-mount and M-mount flanges might be obtainable individually, with M-mount variations, specifically, scheduled to develop into obtainable in early 2024. Pricing for the L-mount and M-mount gear has but to be introduced.
Notably, the corporate acknowledged that EF-mount won’t be supported. The longer flange focal distance of the EF-mount is completely different from how these mirrorless-centric lenses had been designed. Cooke famous that they’re open to extra mounts, such because the Nikon Z-mount, however there aren’t any plans for Z-mount in the meanwhile. They’ll proceed to evaluate the market and decide demand for different mounts.
The Cooke Optics SP3 lenses are set to go on sale worldwide in mid-September. Pricing for a single SP3 lens is $4,500; a whole five-lens set with onerous case, mounting {hardware}, shims and different equipment will retail for $21,375.
Cooke Optics launches SP3 prime lens sequence for mirrorless cameras, bringing a cinematic look to the videography market
Cooke SP3 sequence builds on Pace Panchro legacy to democratise picture seize
Leicester, UK – 5 September 2023 – Cooke Optics, the main developer and producer of high-end cine lenses and clever lens know-how, has introduced the launch of the SP3 vary of full-frame prime lenses for mirrorless cameras which might be set to rework the pro-video market. The T2.4 vary options 5 focal lengths, a alternative of user-changeable mounts and is of small, light-weight but sturdy building.
Tim Pugh, Chief Government Officer, Cooke Optics, stated, “The imaging market has lengthy been seen as ‘videography’ and ‘cinematography’, with their related variations significantly evident in budgets and {hardware}. Nevertheless, these boundaries are actually blurring with huge enhancements within the high quality of ‘mid-market’ digital camera efficiency and consequently the inventive optical potentialities and ambitions on this space are widening. This ‘democratisation’ implies that we are able to now provide actually cinematic glass to the standard pro-video market at an accessible value level and with flexibility of digital camera mounts, enabling extra DOP’s to reinforce the narrative of their tales.”
The Cooke SP3 full-frame prime lens sequence is predicated on the Cooke Pace Panchro, probably the most influential lenses in movie historical past, with a brand new design optimised optically and mechanically for mirrorless cameras. It gives excellent definition and backbone but options fall-off in direction of the sting of body, which is a key issue within the well-known cinematic look achieved by the legendary Pace Panchro lenses along with the trademark dimensionality and distinction efficiency that renders faces with exceptional pores and skin tone and character, generally known as The Cooke Look®. The SP3s additionally characteristic specialised cinematic optical coatings that guarantee management of extreme flare.
The SP3 vary gives 25mm, 32mm, 50mm, 75mm and 100mm focal lengths. Lenses include E-Mount put in, and RF-Mounts might be obtainable quickly. Early purchasers can get a set of RF mounts without charge by following the method famous within the packaging. L-Mount is accessible now as an adjunct half and M-Mount might be launched in early 2024. The SP3s are Cooke’s lightest lenses, weighing in at between 500g/1.10lbs and 690g/1.52lbs together with lens mount, making them sensible to be used on lighter weight gimbals in addition to drones; their sturdy building and mechanics can even face up to the rigours of fast-paced capturing environments. The small, ergonomic type issue delivers cinematic high quality capturing even in tight or onerous to achieve locations. They characteristic a twin focus scale, and the main focus and iris mechanics are aligned throughout the set to permit for quick lens adjustments whereas sustaining focus and iris motor positions.
The SP3 vary is accessible worldwide from the center of September. Pricing is $4,500 / £3,250 / €3,900 for a single lens and $21,375 / £15,400 / €18,525 for the whole set of 5 lenses in a heavy-duty carry case.
