FS: Cooke 20-60 T3.1 - $6000

[Matthew Rogers]

Hey guys, I have my Cooke 20-60mm T3.1 lens for sale. Since I've gotten my RED primes I haven't used the lens and I don't foresee using it again anytime soon.

The lens is in very good condition. I bought it from Able Cine Tech almost two years ago and they refurbed it before sending it to me. The iris, zoom, and focus are smooth and the lens has been totally trouble free for me. It does have a small scratch towards the edge of the front element. It was there when I bought the lens for Able Cine, but doesn't affect in any way that I've ever seen. Even when I've shown a flashlight straight onto where the scratch is, I've never see the spot on my monitor (it may actually be out of the FOV for the RED sensor)

It comes with the lens, Pelican 1550 case with custom cut foam (not pluck-n-pull). It does NOT come with a lens support as it's just light enough (6.1 lbs) to not need one like it's bigger brothers, the Cooke 20-100 & 18-100.

Asking price is $6000 and comes with free FedEx Saver shipping to anywhere in the USA. No PayPal (fees are too high), certified check or money order.

Below are pictures and at the bottom is a link to a full res jpeg screenshot from a short film I shot with the lens.

[Tony Covell]

A steal at this price. "Used by those who know".
Cheers
Tonycovell@talktalk.net

[Todd Anderson]

According to the Cooke website, this lens was suppose to be the first zoom that Cooke could market as comparable to the finest prime lenses of the day. (see exact quote below)

"Cooke Varopanchro, 20-60mm, T3.1 
Epitomised 35mm zoom lens design, with an optical performance comparable to the finest prime lenses. Introduced in 1981."

[Tony Covell]

Ten years or more later Arri coined the name for Zeiss "Variable Prime" We always used them as primes that you could ease a shot without changing a lens.
A Brilliant lens.
Tonycovell@talktalk.net

[Dave Blackham]

What is the front element size of the lens, I guess what Im asking is will it suit a 4 x 5.65 matte box ?

[Matthew Rogers]

What is the front element size of the lens, I guess what Im asking is will it suit a 4 x 5.65 matte box ?

It's a 120mm front, so it works easily with a 4 x 5.65 mattebox (that's what I have been using it with.)

BTW, it's about 12" long.

Matthew

[Todd Anderson]

Hey Tony,

How does it compare to the 20-100 and 18-100? Would you say by having a pretty conservative focal range that it performs on par or better than the 18-100? I imagine it would breath far less, but what about optically? The small size and weight of the 20-60mm is great.

And the 20-60mm looks like it is pretty much the 35mm equivalent of the beautiful 10.4.-52mm Super16 lens (9-50mm regular 16mm)

-T

[Matthew Rogers]

Hey Tony,

How does it compare to the 20-100 and 18-100? Would you say by having a pretty conservative focal range that it performs on par or better than the 18-100? I imagine it would breath far less, but what about optically? The small size and weight of the 20-60mm is great.

And the 20-60mm looks like it is pretty much the 35mm equivalent of the beautiful 10.4.-52mm Super16 lens (9-50mm regular 16mm)

I can tell you a few things I've noticed between the 20-60 and the 20-100 (never have gotten to use the 18-100) At 20mm, the 20-60 is much sharper than the 20-100 (at least one the 20-100 I've used) At 60mm, the 20-100 is slightly sharper at T3.1, but at T4 and above, I feel the 20-60 is slightly sharper.

T4 and above are pretty sharp on the 20-60. I like the way it looks at T3.1 as it takes a little edge off the image, but if you want razor sharp, you either need to run at a higher f-stop or get a modern Optimo.

Matthew

[Zakaree Sandberg]

rad lens.. wish I had the extra 6k layin around

[Tony Covell]

Its a long time since I shot or compared this lens with other Cookes. I know that when they are set up right you can select any MM between 20 and 60 and get a shot that matches all the other cookes.
You can use the zoom to ease a shot during the natural movement of the scene and its not obvious that you did that.
Last ones I had of these sold in minutes and for more money.
A sign of the times.......sigh!!
I am now on leave for about a week so I wont respond further. Cheers. Tonycovell@talktalk.net