A request for NAB attendees who love lenses

[D Fuller]

Two companies, True Lens Service in the UK and P+S Technik in Germany are offering the service of rehousing Cooke Speed Panchro lenses (my favorites, the old ones from 50 years ago). The approaches are quite different: TLS uses 110mm fronts and offers closer focus in the shorter focal lengths. P+S uses 80mm fronts and closer focus in the longer focal lengths. But I believe that both are similar under the hood, using a new cam focussing mechanism, but keeping the original lens assembly intact and using it inside the new housing.

TLS has announced that they are going to show theirs at NAB. I'm not certain about P+S, but I hope they will too. Deadlines are keeping me away, but I'd love to see a report on these two efforts. How does the focus feel? Is there any image shift in the new lenses? How nicely would they sit on an Epic? And a general impression of who's done the better job of skinning this cat.

I know there is a lot to check out, but... Evin? Timur? Please?

 

[Steve Gal]

I will be checking them out since I have a set that I need to get rehoused.

 

[D Fuller]

I will be checking them out since I have a set that I need to get rehoused.

That's great to hear, Steve. I'll be looking forward to your impressions. BTW, you probably know this, but Van Diemen also rehouses these lenses. I'm sure they do a great job, but they are way more expensive.

 

[D Fuller]

Has anyone seen the set at P+S Technik yet? TLS are getting good reviews, but I've seen nothing about P+S. They say they are in their booth.