Here’re the key points and highlights of the Cooke presentation, as part of the DCS (Digital Cinema Society) discussion, about the “Focus On Cine Lenses From the Buyer’s POV”. Cooke Optics’ Eric Johnston gives a little history of the company and shares the latest news. From mini S4/i to S7/i, and Anamorphic in the middle, explore the Cooke Look with all its glory.
DCS 2021 presentation: Focus On Cine Lenses From the Buyer’s POV
The DCS (Digital Cinema Society) once again has hosted one of the most fascinating discussions about cinema lenses. As stated by the DCS: “As is our tradition, the main ‘focus’ of the event is to explore the market of available cine lenses from the buyer’s point of view”. We, at Y.M.Cinema Magazine, have meticulously watched the presentations in order to serve you the key points and highlights which you can find them below. However, the entire credit belongs to the DCS. Read our first chapter (ZEISS) here, the second chapter (Angenieux) here, and the third chapter (ARRI) here.
About the DCS: The Digital Cinema Society, which has founded by cinematographer Jim Mathers, is a nonprofit educational cooperative dedicated to the industry’s informed integration of new technology. Academy Award winners to aspiring Filmmakers, Educators, and Students are joined by artists from every production and post discipline including dozens of ASC Cinematographers, ACE Editors, leading Technologists, and top management from Manufacturers, Studios, Exhibitors, and Networks. The Society’s purpose is not to advocate for digital technology but to objectively examine all media, solutions, services, and technologies without favoring any one brand, service, or format over another.
Cooke
In this presentation, Cooke Optics’ Eric Johnston (Business Development Director) gives a little history of the company and shares the latest news on their lenses at the Digital Cinema Society’s 2021 Lens event. Explore the presentation below:
Cooke’s presentation starts with a 60 seconds showreel which is a historical reel based on movies shot on Cooke over 100 years. We urge you to watch it as this is the best way to market a lens by showing how many great stories were crafted on this glass over a century. We tried to find this reel on the web but ended finding the longer reel, which is quite impressive as well. Check it out below:
The Cooke Look
According to Johnston, the reason cinematographers choose their lenses is the “Cooke Look”. The “Cooke Look” is Cooke’s trademark and statement for the creamy and cinematic imagery that is produced by the lenses. This is how Cooke defines the “Cooke Look”: “A sharp, subtle, smooth rendering that provides dimensionality and high contrast. It is warm and natural with a transition from optical center. It is also pleasing to the eye”. As simple as that, Cooke’s goal is to make lenses that are pleasing to the eye. That’s it! Cooke states that it has produced 10 unique series of lenses that encompass almost 100 unique focal lengths built from 1893.
The lenses
Currently, the Cooke product range induces the following lineups:
- Super 35 Series Primes
- Full Frame Plus Seires Primes
- Anamorphic Primes
- Full Frame Anamorphic Primes
The main models: From Mini S4/i to S7/i
These are the main models shown in the deck, and their description stated by Cooke:
- Cooke Mini S4/i: “The miniS4/i Primes (T2.8 to T22 aperture) incorporate everything that today’s filmmakers require: smaller, lighter-weight lenses that offer the same resolution, optical quality, and reliability as the S4/i lenses at T2.8 speed”.
- Cooke S4/i: “Cooke S4 optics offer superb optical and mechanical performance, control of flare, distortion, veiling glare and spherical aberrations at full aperture, with the cam-type focus mechanism allowing for smooth focus adjustments”.
- Cooke 5/i: “See in the dark like never before with T1.4 speed and a focus ring that illuminates when you need it. Harness the visibility you need without affecting the light coming into the camera, allowing you to get the perfect shot each time”.
- Cooke PANCHRO/i Classic: “The growing demand for vintage Cooke Speed Panchro lenses from the 1920s to 1960s prompted us to introduce a modern redesign of the vintage classic. True to the original look of the Speed Panchro but with all the benefits of contemporary glass and technology”
- Cooke Anamorphic/i Prime: “Harness all of the anamorphic lens characteristics demanded by filmmakers today with the Cooke Look and oval bokeh. Achieve exceptional shape, depth, and form with unparalleled optical and mechanical performance”.
- Cooke Anamorphic/i Full Frame Plus: “The next step in the evolution of filmmaking: large format production with anamorphic characteristics, including flare and oval bokeh”.
- Cooke S7/i: “Shoot 35mm, Super 35mm, Full Frame, VistaVision and beyond with the Cooke S7/i Primes, designed to cover the emergent full-frame cinema camera sensors up to at least 46.31mm image circle”.
Recently Cooke has updated and rebranded its website including sample footage, reels, and more beautiful and educational content. Go check it out here.
Product List
Here’re the products mentioned in the article, and the links to purchase them from authorized dealers. (Note the differences between prices due to focal lengths, characteristics, sets and etc.)
- Cooke miniS4/i
- Cooke S4/i
- Cooke 5/i
- Cooke Panchro/i Classic
- Cooke Anamorphic/i Prime
- Cooke Anamorphic/i 1.8x Full Frame
- Cooke 7S/i
