Cooke Panchro T2.8 or Zeiss Standard Prime T2.1

[Timur Civan]

it'll be hard to justify spending a LOT more just for the look.

isnt that kind of why you buy a lens? ;)

[Stephen Williams]

isnt that kind of why you buy a lens? ;)

Exactly, I rent lenses based on the project, more often than not 'Cooke' is on my equipment list.

[Stephen Williams]

19K for total of 6 lenses including 16, 28, 40, 60 (makco), 85, and 100mm. I prefer 60 over 50, that's what I like about this set. The 180mm is also for sale but I think I won't use it that much so I decide not to get it. I think under 20K for a set of 5 is very reasonable. I know many people prefer Cooke including myself, especially the S4 series for its soft look on the high contrast film. But if I am pretty happy and satisfied with the std spd so far, it'll be hard to justify spending a LOT more just for the look. And true that shooting the 16mm wide open may porthole at 4K, but I can always need another wide angle/zoom to solve this problem.

28mm will porthole as well, 10 years ago nobody would have wanted those lenses, the focus marks are way too close together if you want to be wide open all the time.

[Zakaree Sandberg]

isnt that kind of why you buy a lens? ;)

pretty sure one of the only reasons...

[Monty Chan]

isnt that kind of why you buy a lens? ;)

Agree, I like the look from both of them. They both have its own strengths, wish I can afford both of them....

[Stephen Williams]

Agree, I like the look from both of them. They both have its own strengths, wish I can afford both of them....

Thats why people rent!

[Timur Civan]

I wouldn't buy man, rent em. Make friends with a local owner, and heck even exchange services, or barter. Don't spend 15+k on glass that you will only use half the time, and have coverage issues. (If you have an epic that is)

[Ned Wilson]

Buy them if they'll pay for themselves (ie. client billings). Don't buy if you use several different types of lenses from project to project. re: Standard Speeds. I think they're great lenses and definitely have a distinct look. I prefer their look to RPP's and in some respect to Superspeeds. That said, the mechanics somewhat blow. The rings are so close together that it can be quite a finger buster aligning your MB and FF on the wider shorter lenses. The focus ring too isn't the most progressive. It's no comparison to the Cookes. Another thing to consider, is that the SS's don't perform well wide open. But the Cookes do. So in practical terms the speed is about the same with the Cookes having a clear mechanical advantage. The Panchros are a dream to pull focus on. The Standards, not so much. Looks wise, for me, it's apples and oranges. Rental wise, I think in the long run, Cookes are the smart money.

[Martin Stevens]

The Zeiss Standard speeds actually do perform well wide open.

This is why a lot of people like them more than the Superspeeds.