The Cooke Speed Panchro lenses are legendary cine lenses that originated in the mid-20th century and were widely used in the golden age of Hollywood filmmaking. These lenses were renowned for their groundbreaking optical design and exceptional image quality, setting a standard for cinematic lenses that endured for decades.
Optically, the Cooke Speed Panchro lenses were characterized by their fast maximum aperture, typically ranging from f/2.0 to f/2.3, allowing filmmakers to shoot in low-light conditions and achieve shallow depth of field for creative effect. They produced images with a distinctive vintage look, characterized by warm colors, gentle contrast, and subtle aberrations.