Cooke Panchros or Ultra Primes

[Jon MIchael Puntervold]

Because lenses are actually expensive to make.

But the limited quantity of production seems to be priced into the products. BUT a lot has change the last few years, there are thousands of new PL-cameras (or PL-capable) cameras that need cinema grade glass. The RPP's are very reasonably priced btw - so it's clearly possible.

 

[Michael Lindsay]

Most manufacturers are still struggling to produce PL glass... why would they lower the selling cost when they can't make enough to meet current demand?

Also Zeiss do make the CPs which are priced cheaper? they also seem comitted to extending the range of the CPs... and their are interesting zooms coming.

Very few people have lost money buying good PL glass... I personally think very hard before buying IT software/hardware but don't worry too much about glass. It is normally (as long as you are going to use it) an ok investment.

regards

Michael

 

[Jon MIchael Puntervold]

Most manufacturers are still struggling to produce PL glass... why would they lower the selling cost when they can't make enough to meet current demand?

True, but I heard that both Coooke and Angeniux is hirering to increase production. Will see, I hope higher volumes will bring lower cost S35 lenses. It will take some time until the production capacity matches the volume of new S35 cameras I guess, but I'd be surprised if there won't be a decrease in prices in the next couple of years.

Btw: High investment cost also means higher rental costs, higher rental cost means less money for the workforce.

 

[Phan Duc Cuong]

Would like to come back on this matter

After 4 years, do you think a mix set of cooke Mini and S4 will out perform UP ?

I plan to buy 18,25,100 mini and 32,50,75 S4

 

[Ryan Patrick O'Hara]

Would like to come back on this matter

After 4 years, do you think a mix set of cooke Mini and S4 will out perform UP ?

I plan to buy 18,25,100 mini and 32,50,75 S4

Out perform is a tough question. What does that mean? Ultra primes are great lenses and look different than Cooke. Many many amazing feature films have been made with both Ultra Primes and Cooke S4's.

I can tell you the Cooke Mini's will match S4's very well. I've done testing on my own and can send you examples if you PM me again.

The only thing you need to know between Cooke S4's and Mini S4's is the Bokeh at T/2.8. Both Mini S4's and S4's have the same iris assembly , so at a T/4 the bokeh will look identical in shape. At T/2.8 the Cooke S4 will have very slightly polygonal bokeh, as the blades have begun closing from the wide open T/2 circle. The Cooke Mini s4 at T/2.8 (wide open) will be a perfect circle, because the lens blades hide behind a T/2.8 matte insert in the lens. So if shooting exactly at T/2.8, the S4 and Mini s4 bokeh will be a little mis-matched. Simply close the Mini S4 down by 1/4 of a stop and that is enough to get the blades past the T/2.8 hard matte showing the same iris shape. So my only advice is if matching S4 and Mini S4 in 2-camera coverage, I'd shoot at T/2.9 versus T/2.8 in order to get matching iris bokeh.

Other than that, you shouldn't see any noticeable differences between the glass in the image. For wider focal lengths, the Cooke Mini S4's cover more image sensor generally. They are advertised at 33.54mm while regular S4's are said to cover 30mm, but we all know (depending on standards) the image circle spills a little further. I've found the Cooke Mini S4 18mm covers a larger area than Regular S4 18mm. I'd test or confirm, but my testing has shown the Cooke Mini 18, 21, 32, and 50 have more image circle coverage than their S4 big brothers. The 25mm is about tied since the 25mm is the worst Mini S4 in terms of image circle coverage.

Anyway, hope that helps.



Not sure you can say UP's outperform Cookes or vice versa. I think UP's are much more 'clean' and have more contrast. If that is the look you want, than they will 'out perform' the cookes. At that point, you're talking about aesthetic desires because both lens sets kick some ass in talented cinematographer hands.

 

[Marcus Friedlander]

Also interesting to point out that, four years later, there are several different options for low cost, high quality PL glass, just like some predicted.