Cooke SP3 Primes vs ZEISS CP.3 Primes

Cooke has launched the Cooke SP3, a set of 5 prime lenses for full frame cameras.

These lenses have a user-changable Sony E-mount with an L-mount available as an accessory. A Canon RF mount accessory will be available in the near future. The M-mount will be available in 2024.

Each lens in this collection aligns perfectly with the Cooke Panchro/i Classic (PL-mount) series, making the Cooke SP3 primes an ideal choice for cameras on drones or gimbals, complementing your primary camera.

The Cooke SP3 primes are inspired by the legendary Speed Panchro line. These lenses are sturdy yet compact and lightweight. They have similar focus and iris rings throughout the range, making them perfect for seamless lens swaps when working with matte boxes and FIZ (focus/iris/zoom) motor systems.

The Cooke SP3 Range

The list of five lens from the set:

Lens	Focal Length	Aperature
Cooke SP3 25mm	25mm	T2.4 – T16
Cooke SP3 32mm	32mm	T2.4 – T16
Cooke SP3 50mm	50mm	T2.4 – T16
Cooke SP3 75mm	75mm	T2.4 – T16
Cooke SP3 100mm	100mm	T2.4 – T16

Features

The Cooke SP3 prime lenses feature a 64mm to 82mm front diameter, which is strange because it’s a non-standard size to traditional matte boxes. They have a 58mm to 77mm filter thread for attaching filters.

The Cooke SP3 primes have nine-blade apertures, and are designed for resolutions beyond 8K. The iris has a 78-degree throw, consistent across the range.

The Cooke SP3 lenses are sharp at the center with a gradual focus drop-off at the edges of the frame. In other words, don’t expect corner-to-corner sharpness. That’ll be disappointing to many, especially at this price point. The lenses will need to be tested to see just how much of a resolution drop there is, and whether or not it is consistent across the range.

Each Cooke SP3 lens comes with a scratch-resistant coating capable of withstanding challenging environmental conditions. This is important, considering the price point.

The Cooke SP3 primes maintains a consistent 0.8 MOD (Module) gearing across the entire range, ensuring seamless compatibility with follow-focus systems and other accessories. Focus scales come in both feet and meters, catering to the preferences of professionals worldwide and enhancing ease of use across different regions.

Technical Specifications

Here are the important technical specifications:

Lens	Angle of View for Full Frame (degrees)	Angle of View for Super35 (degrees)	Filter Thread	Mimium focus distance
Cooke SP3 25mm	81	62	58 mm	139 mm
Cooke SP3 32mm	69	50	58 mm	223 mm
Cooke SP3 50mm	47	34	58 mm	394 mm (15.5″)
Cooke SP3 75mm	32	22	58 mm	689 mm (27″)
Cooke SP3 100mm	25	17	77 mm	663 mm (26″)

The close focusing distances are a bit perplexing, with 15.5″ for a 50mm. Ideally you need something closer to 12″. However, they’re decent on the long and short end.

Here are the size and weight specs:

Lens	Length	Front Diameter	Weight
Cooke SP3 25mm	98 mm	64 mm	575 g
Cooke SP3 32mm	94 mm	64 mm	520 g
Cooke SP3 50mm	94 mm	64 mm	500 g
Cooke SP3 75mm	98 mm	64 mm	500 g
Cooke SP3 100mm	124 mm	82 mm	690 g

Even though the lenses are designed for drones and gimbals, they are remarkably inconsistent in terms of length and weight, two important conditions to keep things moving without readjustments.

What Cooke promises in return is the Cooke SP3 Primes will deliver the classic Cooke look.

Let’s compare them to the industry standard Zeiss CP.3 primes to see how they stack up.

Cooke Sp3 vs Zeiss CP.3 Primes Comparison

Here are the differences:

Features	Cooke SP3 Primes	Zeiss CP.3 Primes
Mounts	E to RF, L and M	PL to EF, F, E and MFT
Typical Aperture	T2.4-T16	T2.1-T22
Aperture blades	9-blades	14-blades
Focus Rotation	160 degrees	300 degrees
Image Circle	43.3 mm	46.3 mm
Focal length range	25mm to 100mm	15mm to 135mm
Close Focus 25mm	5.5″	10″
Close Focus 50mm	15.5″	17.7″
Front Diameter	64 mm^	95 mm
Weight of 50mm lens	500g	770g
Cost for 25mm and 50mm	$9,000	$10,180

The Cooke SP3 primes lenses and the Zeiss CP.3 primes are similar in price-range, but that’s where the similarities end.

The Zeiss CP.3 have incredible advantages:

• More lenses in the range.
• Wider aperture and greater aperture range
• Better focus throw
• Consistent size and mechanics
• Larger image circle for full-frame cinema cameras
• PL-mount

I can’t understand this last bit. It is unthinkable how Cooke can have a cinema lens series not in the PL mount.

The Cooke lenses are lighter and smaller, and are only reliably viable if the Cooke look is what you’re after. However, I have a question for you if that’s the case: How were you managing for so long?

Testing the Cooke SP3 primes is an excellent way to understand the true value of the optics. After all, it has the Cooke name on it. If I ever get my hands on them (Cooke has almost given up on the Indian market) I’ll test them and let you know.

What do you think? How relevant do you think the Cooke Sp3 primes are? Is it too little too late?