Cooke Optics has announced the S8/i Full Frame (FF) series of lenses. These lenses feature an all-spherical design and they all have a very fast T1.4 aperture. The first seven lenses in the series come in focal lengths of 25mm, 32mm, 40mm, 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, and 135mm. Nine additional lenses will join the range from late 2022.
This is an interesting move by Cooke, especially considering that they already have the S7/i full frame prime lenses. I think that because a lot of other manufacturers have been bringing out faster lenses, Cooke needed to release an alternative to the S7/i series.
The S8/i are cutting-edge, state-of-the-art high-speed full frame lenses designed by cinematographers’ feedback to create more realistic and film-like images with spherical lenses for digital motion capture. Cooke claims that the S8/i produces images with an almost organic feel and a clean bokeh.
Cooke has focussed on optimizing the contrast performance for the S8/i. Cooke states that creating film-like images with that “Cooke Look”, requires the optimization of contrast. Cooke’s design team, which includes Academy Award winning designer Iain Neill, Chief Optics Advisor at Cooke undertook a huge study to ensure S8/i’s contrast performance is maximized to suit the actual resolution of digital cameras.
Under the body, S8/i is an all-spherical design that produces a near telecentric output of the light rays, which is efficient for sensors. It is characterized by smooth, spherical bokeh and minimal color fringing.
Fast T1.4 & Lightweight
With a maximum aperture of T1.4 across the focal range, the new S8/i FF lenses are amongst the very fastest produced lenses for larger than full-frame capture. They also offer greater control over depth of field and flare characteristics while still providing excellent low light performance without graining.
The current seven focal lengths range in weight from 2.1kg / 4.69 lb for the 50mm T1.4 up to 3.18kg / 7lb for the 135mm T1.4.
Compact and light, agile, and easy to use, the new S8/i FF lenses have been created for a wide variety of situations and today’s compact cameras. Being lighter, however, has not compromised strength, durability, or exceptional image quality.
The S8i lenses include Cooke’s very latest intelligent /i technology.
- /i data focus and iris position
- /i motion inertial data
- /i maps factory calibrated shading and distortion data
All S8/i FF lenses have a common fixed front diameter of 104mm, with a focus drive gear of 140T x 0.8 mod and an iris drive gear of 134T x 0.8. All the lenses also feature a nine-leaf linear module iris assembly.
Pricing & Availability
The Cooke S8/i FF lenses will retail for the following prices:
- 25mm T1.4 $34,650 USD
- 32mm T1.4 $34,650 USD
- 40mm T1.4 $34,650 USD
- 50mm T1.4 $34,650 USD
- 75mm T1.4 $34,650 USD
- 100mm T1.4 $34,650 USD
- 135mm T1.4 $36,100 USD
Selected focal lengths will be available to view at BSC Expo in London in March and NAB in Las Vegas, and Micro Salon AFC in Paris in April.
Competition for the S8/i series comes primarily in the form of the Zeiss Supreme Primes, ARRI Signature Primes, Angenieux Optimo Primes, and Tokina Vista Primes.
