The Cooke SP3 series brings the renowned Cooke Look to mirrorless cameras in a compact form. These primes draw inspiration from the classic Speed Panchro lenses, blending vintage character with modern engineering. Each lens features a consistent T2.4 aperture across the set, full-frame sensor coverage, and user-interchangeable mounts for versatility. As mentioned by Spencer Frost in our latest video for Georges Cameras TV, the optical design emphasises warm tones, controlled flare, and high micro-contrast, setting them apart from more clinical modern optics.

Crafted with precision, the Cooke SP3 lenses boast a durable all-metal housing that ensures longevity in demanding environments. The focus and iris rings are smooth and geared for cine use, with consistent positioning across the set for seamless lens swaps. Weighing between 500g and 690g depending on the focal length, they balance well on smaller cameras without adding excessive bulk. The compact dimensions make them easy to pack and travel with, enhancing practicality for filmmakers on the move. Interchangeable mounts allow adaptation to various systems, future-proofing your investment and avoiding lock-in to a single ecosystem.

The Cooke SP3 primes deliver the signature Cooke Look, characterised by organic rendering, pleasing skin tones, and a painterly quality that adds depth to images. Drawing from vintage Speed Panchro DNA, they introduce subtle aberrations for character, yet maintain sharpness and resolution suitable for high-end productions. Flare is managed beautifully, creating artistic highlights without overwhelming the frame. Micro-contrast enhances texture and detail, particularly in natural light scenarios. This unique visual signature differentiates them from alternatives like Sigma or Canon lenses, offering a more artistic feel.

In use, these lenses feel intuitive, with damped rings that provide precise control. The minimal focus breathing ensures consistent framing during pulls, a benefit for narrative work. Their lightweight design pairs excellently with compact rigs, such as those from RED, Canon, Nikon or Sony, allowing for agile setups. Mount versatility shines here, with easy swaps between E-mount, RF, L-mount, and M-mount options. A Nikon Z-mount is on the horizon, promising seamless integration with emerging Nikon cine bodies. This adaptability makes them a practical choice for multi-camera workflows.

The Cooke Look provides a warmth and vintage flair that modern lenses lack. SP3 lenses are praised for their portability, balancing effortlessly on small form factor cameras like RED’s Komodo and Raptor systems, which aids in dynamic shooting. Based on look and portability any of the range are well suited for indie filmmakers, commercial directors of photography, and content creators transitioning to cine glass. Overall, users will find these lenses a fresh addition to their toolkit, recommending them for scenarios where organic imagery trumps clinical precision.

This wide-angle option excels in capturing expansive scenes with minimal distortion, making it suitable for landscapes or tight interiors. Its optical formula includes aspherical elements to control aberrations, preserving the Cooke warmth even at the edges. Benefits include enhanced depth of field control at T2.4, allowing for selective focus in broad compositions. In practical terms, it handles flare well in backlit situations, adding a cinematic glow without loss of contrast.

As a standard wide, the 32mm provides a natural perspective for documentary-style work. Its optics deliver consistent colour rendition across the frame, aligning with the Cooke heritage for seamless multi-lens edits. The benefit of low breathing makes it reliable for rack focuses, enhancing storytelling flow. Robust mechanics ensure it withstands frequent use in travel-heavy productions.

The nifty fifty in this series offers a classic normal field of view, ideal for portraits with beautiful bokeh. Drawing from Panchro roots, it produces creamy out-of-focus areas with a gentle transition, flattering skin tones. Practical advantages include its lightweight build, perfect for gimbal mounting, and the ability to adapt mounts quickly for hybrid shoots.

The Cooke SP3 Full-Frame 6-Lens Prime Set, encompassing 18mm, 25mm, 32mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 100mm focal lengths with a Sony E mount as standard, delivers the iconic Cooke Look in a compact package tailored for mirrorless systems. Drawing from the heritage of Speed Panchro optics, these primes offer a consistent T2.4 to T16 aperture range, ensuring matched colour rendition and 8K-capable resolution across full-frame sensors, while providing a gentle focus fall-off and smooth bokeh that mimic natural human vision for enhanced storytelling.

Interchangeable mounts extend compatibility to RF, L, and M systems as accessories, future-proofing the investment for diverse workflows, and the bundled robust hard-shell carry case adds practicality for travel and protection. Ideal for indie filmmakers and content creators, this set combines vintage character with modern durability, excelling in natural light scenarios through controlled flare and warm tones, setting it apart from more sterile alternatives by infusing footage with an organic, painterly quality that elevates professional productions.

The Cooke SP3 series represents an accessible entry into cinema glass, carrying the trusted Cooke DNA in a form that appeals to emerging creators. Their unique character, combined with practical features like adaptability and compactness, positions them as a valuable tool for those pursuing an organic aesthetic. Whether enhancing indie projects or commercial endeavours, these lenses offer consistency and versatility that elevate footage.