Cooke introduces full-frame S4 FF/i cinema lenses

The lineup includes six 18–100 mm lenses with a T2.0 aperture, PL mount, and Cooke’s signature color rendition and bokeh. Pre-orders are open: $15,000 per lens.

Cooke S4 FF/i: six full-frame cinema lenses with a T2.0 aperture

Cooke Optics has introduced the S4 FF/i series, a full-frame version of its Super 35-format S4/i cinema lenses. The lineup comprises six primes, all with the same maximum T2.0 aperture. The manufacturer has updated the optical series while preserving the image character associated with the original S4/i S35 lenses.

Design and mechanics

The new lenses have focal lengths of 18, 25, 35, 50, 75, and 100 mm. All models share a unified body design: the front diameter is 87 mm, the iris ring rotates 75 degrees, and the focus ring rotates 270 degrees. The controls are also positioned consistently, making it easier to swap lenses on a rigged camera.

All models except the 18 mm T2.0 have an 82 mm front filter thread. The wide-angle lens has no filter thread, but it can be used with a matte box.

The lightest lens in the series is the 50 mm T2.0, weighing 1.45 kg. The 18 mm model weighs up to 1.8 kg, or nearly four pounds. Dimensions vary by focal length: the 75 mm lens is 89.3 mm long, while the 18 mm is 124 mm long.

Close-focus performance

Cooke highlights the lenses’ close-focus capabilities. The company describes their minimum focus distances as among the best in their class, averaging around 385 mm across the series. The 25 mm and 35 mm lenses can focus from 280 mm, while the 100 mm T2.0 has a minimum focus distance of 650 mm.

Image character and bokeh

The series’ optics are designed to produce controlled flares with a noticeable but restrained character. According to Cooke, they appear layered and complex without overwhelming the image. Veiling flares take on the color of the light source, while contrast falls off without excessive haze. Flare intensity varies slightly from one focal length to another, but the overall character remains consistent across the lenses.

The series retains the skin-tone rendition and subtle warmth characteristic of S4/i S35. The manufacturer also notes a soft glow and bloom effect that can enhance color saturation. Contrast falloff is described as very smooth and close to how it is perceived by the human eye. Cooke says the lenses are sharp across the entire frame and emphasizes that, with full-frame optics, both edge-to-edge image quality and consistency matter. The company’s aim is to preserve the expressive quality associated with vintage optics while offering greater reliability through modern construction.

All six models have a nine-blade iris with curved blades. At T2.0, it produces soft, rounded bokeh in the center of the frame and distinctive cat-eye shapes toward the edges. The curved blades help keep the bokeh rounded as the iris is stopped down.

Price and availability

The Cooke S4 FF/i lenses are now available for pre-order at $15,000 each. The standard mount is Arri PL.

Images courtesy of Cooke Optics.