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Cooke renaming the Panchro Line

Christopher Barrett

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Yep, I got an email from Cooke earlier today, the newish Panchro/i's will now be know as the "Mini S4's"

Hmm...

32401_4545430508882_401467624_n.jpg
 
Well, considering people still use and love the Speed Panchro's Series 2 and 3.... I welcome the end to the confusion.

Also, the 'stickers' seem to be machined aluminum, so don't think it's a cheese sticker. I'll still probably send my lenses back for the real sleeves, if they will do it.

I welcome this change... even people who know the new panchros are not the old ones, they still are confused if the new ones are revamped old designs. Now people know that these lenses are just like S4's but smaller, lighter and slower. I have gotten many calls over the last two years from people looking for S2's and S3's.

I just wish this was from the onset.
 
Whats the image circle on these lenses will they cover and perform to spec at 5k and 6k ?
 
The image circle of Mini-S4's/Panchro/i's are 33.54mm, so it does cover 5K just fine, and I've been using them on Epics for over a year now. Regarding 6k Dragon, we don't know how big that is yet. Apparently it's a little bigger than Epic 5k now, because the pixels are more dense. Who knows what the unintended image circle is on the Mini-S4's for all you peeps who don't care about what a lens circle is and what it's made to be. I'd say if the lenses are made to more-than-cover the image circle of Epic 5k, I'd say there is a good chance they will cover pretty well, probably better than most cinema lens sets.

For instance, the Mini-S4 75mm and 100mm "covers" FF on a 5D, in regards to not showing major vignetting or obvious issues, but I'm sure the edges are not nearly as good as the center. These lenses are definitely not designed or made for FF... But seems nobody cares about those things these days. See my response to this thread to know what I mean. For those without strict image standards for the edges of their image, I imagine many cinema lens sets may 'cover'... including the Mini-S4's. However since the Mini-S4's are one of the few cinema lens sets made/advertised for a greater than S35mm image circle, they will likely cover Dragon's 6k sensor size better than most... probably much better than other cinema lenses that will 'cover' but were made for s35mm frame.

We don't know the 6k Dragon size, but I imagine it will be just a little bigger than the advertised Mini-S4 size of 33.54mm, and there might be just enough decent image circle fall-off to pass most people's standards... hopefully mine as well, but I'm likely in the strict 1% percentile.
 
Mini S4?It really sounds silly. ...and having "stickers" on such a nice lens?( with that name) Have they gone mad?
 
The image circle of Mini-S4's/Panchro/i's are 33.54mm, so it does cover 5K just fine, and I've been using them on Epics for over a year now. Regarding 6k Dragon, we don't know how big that is yet. Apparently it's a little bigger than Epic 5k now, because the pixels are more dense. Who knows what the unintended image circle is on the Mini-S4's for all you peeps who don't care about what a lens circle is and what it's made to be. I'd say if the lenses are made to more-than-cover the image circle of Epic 5k, I'd say there is a good chance they will cover pretty well, probably better than most cinema lens sets.

For instance, the Mini-S4 75mm and 100mm "covers" FF on a 5D, in regards to not showing major vignetting or obvious issues, but I'm sure the edges are not nearly as good as the center. These lenses are definitely not designed or made for FF... But seems nobody cares about those things these days. See my response to this thread to know what I mean. For those without strict image standards for the edges of their image, I imagine many cinema lens sets may 'cover'... including the Mini-S4's. However since the Mini-S4's are one of the few cinema lens sets made/advertised for a greater than S35mm image circle, they will likely cover Dragon's 6k sensor size better than most... probably much better than other cinema lenses that will 'cover' but were made for s35mm frame.

We don't know the 6k Dragon size, but I imagine it will be just a little bigger than the advertised Mini-S4 size of 33.54mm, and there might be just enough decent image circle fall-off to pass most people's standards... hopefully mine as well, but I'm likely in the strict 1% percentile.

Your right. I changed my post to clarify. They are nice lenses and in many ways Id rather have them than an S4i due to size but also Im not so sure about the Cooke Bokeh wide open. Hopefully they will be OK in the corners at 6k I guess we need to get them on a projector to check.
 
panchros or minis - My dream lens set- wishing the new sony pl lenses are done by cooke -
 
I wonder if they gave up the hard anodize finish on these? That would be a shame....
 
panchros or minis - My dream lens set- wishing the new sony pl lenses are done by cooke -

The owner of Cooke Optics has said they are not done by cooke.

I still hope they (Sony)deliver/offer a good midrange PL set.
 
This is all just dumb. I don't think there's any real confusion with the Panchro name. These are (or should I say, were) the /i Panchro lenses. It's funny though, so many people call them mini-S4's or compare them to being miniature S4's, so I guess Cooke is following along? I'm with Jacek though, I hope they are not doing away with the anodized coating, that truly would be a shame. Anyway, I love these lenses. They have such a nice and soft look to them, but still retain good detail. Not as sharp or fast as Ultras, RPPs and the like, but nice all around lenses. I would take a set of these hands-down, any day over the CP.2's. IMO, the 18mm CP[.2] is reason enough to not buy those lenses. hehe...
 
Well, i actually apparently have been losing rentals for the past two years because people though my iPanchros were the S2/3's, they didnt know Cooke made a new set.

I for one welcome the change. less confusion.
 
This is all just dumb. I don't think there's any real confusion with the Panchro name. These are (or should I say, were) the /i Panchro lenses. It's funny though, so many people call them mini-S4's or compare them to being miniature S4's, so I guess Cooke is following along? I'm with Jacek though, I hope they are not doing away with the anodized coating, that truly would be a shame. Anyway, I love these lenses. They have such a nice and soft look to them, but still retain good detail. Not as sharp or fast as Ultras, RPPs and the like, but nice all around lenses. I would take a set of these hands-down, any day over the CP.2's. IMO, the 18mm CP[.2] is reason enough to not buy those lenses. hehe...

In a long run(5 years) , my money is on FULL FRAME CP2s. Hehe. 15mm t2.9(full frame) rules. Hehe ;-)
 
There is some confusion. I get calls all the time about Cooke Speed Panchros, but sometimes I don't figure that out until 20mins into the conversation setting up the rental. As an owner, people ask about my lenses and when I tell them the Panchros, the older DP's always assume they are the S2's and S3's. Mini-S4's is a more obvious to the origins and performance of these lenses, since they are based off of S4 design and quality, and really have nothing to do with the original Speed Panchros.

Cooke should have named them Mini-S4's from the start.

Nothing is changing from the lens design or build, just a different engraving on the sleeve.
 
Well, i actually apparently have been losing rentals for the past two years because people though my iPanchros were the S2/3's, they didnt know Cooke made a new set.

I for one welcome the change. less confusion.

That's wont help you as your lenses have pancro written on them!
 
That's wont help you as your lenses have pancro written on them!

But he can order a set of metallic "Mini-S4/i" stickers for his lenses to change their name... :)
 
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