Master Primes vs Cooke S5i (when speed is needed)

Joseph OMalley · February 18, 2014

I'll be shooting on 2 perf (most likely an Arricam) and both I and the DoP have agreed that we'll need high speed lenses for the shoot.

Master Primes seem to be the go to lenses when high speed is needed. But they are so damn expensive! It would hurt our budget to go for them.

I'm wondering has anyone used the s5i lenses. Are they cheaper on rental? I know they can look great. I seen them in HUGO and I seen them used on 2 perf for the OLD BOY remake.

If you have used them please share your thoughts - pros and cons.

Thanks in advance.

Freya Black · February 18, 2014

I prefer the Cooke S5's to the Master Primes and the cookes go down to T1.4 vs the T1.3 of the Master Primes.

I think it just comes down to a matter of taste and what you can get a good deal on.

Freya

Adrian Sierkowski · February 18, 2014

I also prefer modern cooks to modern zeiss. However, I expect both of them to be very similar in rate for the kit-- the cookes may even be a bit more since if memory serves they are slightly newer than the master primes.

Haris Mlivic · February 20, 2014

I'd say they are about the same price. If you can't afford them you should look at either S4 or Ultra Primes which are color/contrast matched to the S5 and Master Primes respectively, the difference is not that huge, its barely one stop for the Ultras.

Your other option are the Zeiss super speeds, they are cheaper than both S4 and Ultras, but way way older, and have completely different characteristict. Not in a bad way, they make beautiful images, but more vintage especially when shot wide open. Ziess compact primes might also be a good choice.

Other than these there are a bunch of other brands making high speed lenses, like the luma tech illumines, but they drop of in quality pretty fast after the super speeds in my opinion.

Here's a good starting point for research:
http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?94289-SALT-III-High-Speed-Lens-Shootout-quot-WFO-quot-Results

Joseph OMalley · February 20, 2014

Thanks. Yeah, turns out both s5i and master primes are out of our reach. But we can get a good deal on Ultra Primes. If I still shoot on the Arricam these are what I'll use. Can't find a 2 perf anywhere. Only 3 perf.

John Holland · February 20, 2014

Take 2 in London have 2 perf Aaton Penelope for hire .

Joseph OMalley · February 20, 2014

Thanks - will have to look into that.

Freya Black · February 20, 2014

Take 2 in London have 2 perf Aaton Penelope for hire .

That's a good call! :)

The camera was made to be 2perf too so it's not a conversion from 4perf or anything.

Could be just the thing if it's available.

Freya

Mark Kenfield · February 21, 2014

I'm not sure how much stock you've got to purchase, but the cost difference between 2-perf and 3-perf could quite possible cover the additional cost of the Master Primes/S5is.

If you need the extra stop of exposure, perhaps look into the Illumina T1.3 lenses - they're a lot cheaper than MPs/S5i and I've seen some lovely samples from them on Vimeo.