Cooke has announced a new set of full-frame cinema primes. The S4 FF/i lenses are a full-frame update of the company’s classic S4/i S35 glass. They come in PL or LPL mount.
Focal lengths
The lineup includes 18 mm, 25 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 75 mm and 100 mm primes. Cooke optimized them to cover full-frame sensors such as those in the Red V-Raptor VV, Sony Venice and Arri Alexa LF.
Every lens opens to T2.0 and uses a nine-blade iris for smooth, round bokeh. You can choose metric or imperial scales on the focus ring.
Design
The lenses share a consistent design, so you can swap between them without rebalancing your rig. Geared rings use a standard 0.8 pitch, with a 270-degree focus throw and a 75-degree iris throw.
Front diameter is 3.42 inches (87 mm) on every lens. All except the 18 mm take an 82 mm screw-in filter. Lengths run from 3.51 inches (89.3 mm) for the 75 mm to 5.07 inches (124 mm) for the 18 mm. The 50 mm is the lightest at 3.2 lbs (1,450 g), while the 18 mm is the heaviest at 4 lbs (1,800 g).
Close focus
Cooke calls the close focus distances class-leading. The 25 mm and 35 mm focus down to 11 inches (280 mm), and the 18 mm manages 12 inches (300 mm). The 50 mm reaches 14 inches (350 mm). The 75 mm gets to 18 inches (450 mm), and the 100 mm closes in at 2 feet 3 inches (650 mm). Cooke measures these distances from the sensor.
Paired with the T2.0 maximum aperture, that means a shallow depth of field for close-ups and inserts.
Cooke look
Cooke says the S4 FF/i keeps the natural skin tones of the S4/i S35. The company likens the effect to a very light filter on faces, with detail that resolves gently instead of harshly.
Flares are more expressive and layered, enveloping the frame without overpowering it. Bokeh is smooth and extremely round wide open, then shifts to a cat’s eye shape toward the frame edges. Cooke says that change stays consistent across the set.
/i Technology inside
The lenses include Cooke’s latest /i Technology. Lens data travels through the mount and a cable connector. The real-time readout covers focus and iris position along with inertial motion data. Each lens also carries a unique factory-calibrated shading and distortion map, which gets transmitted too. Cooke says the data helps VFX-heavy productions and virtual production.
What we think
The Cooke S4/i S35 lenses are an industry standard, used on some of the biggest movies and TV shows. Now Cooke is bringing that look to full-frame cameras. Improved close focus helps with tight shots, and the expressive flares and bokeh should add character.
These are rental lenses for many crews. At $15,000 each, a full set of six costs $90,000. Shooters working on a Venice or Alexa LF for commercial or narrative jobs will likely ask their rental house about them. With so much work shot on full frame these days, demand should be strong.
Pricing and availability
The Cooke S4 FF/i primes are available to preorder now, with shipping expected to start at the end of November. They cost $15,000 each.
