Philipp Marzusch Posted December 31, 2013 Share Posted December 31, 2013 (edited) It is with deep regret that I have to sell my «Taylor-Hobson Cooke Varokinetal 10.4 - 52 T 2.8 (SUPER 16)» zoom lens with Aaton Mount. I originally bought it for the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera, which I ordered back in may. But since I had not received my unit before the end of november, which was the starting date of my film project, I decided to switch to the obtainable 2.5k-camera-version (EF-mount) from Blackmagic. This SUPER 16 lens won’t cover the 2.5k version’s sensor, it would vignette at shorter focal lengths. Now I read on the internet that it even vignettes on the Pocket version. So to all of you who consider using this lens on a BMPCC: This lens doesn't work on the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera. It vignettes all the way through when the aperture is closed. Offering this lens here on cinematography.com is a hefty step for me because it’s a real jewel and a great example of british craftsmanship. Anyway: this legendary zoom lens features the following . . . Characteristics: the glory of being a unit of the first Super 16-lens ever. Taylor-Hobson introduced it in 1983. I should fit to the ingenious S16-aspect ratio invented by the swedish DP Rune Ericson. That means: It’s no retrofit, no conversion. It left its factory as a Super 16 lens from top to toe! the famous „Cooke look“ which has the reputation of being very cinematic: creamy and - at the same time - very sharp. Among professionals, it is admired for its fantastic reproduction of skin tones. multicoatings on both the front and rear optical elements a lens barrel which doesn’t lengthen when turning the zoom ring. The optical elements move internally - a characteristic of cinema-grade quality. Advantages: 1. There’s is no (or at least no noticeable) «breathing effect» which is a disagreeable side effect of modern DSLR-filmmaking-times. 2. Very resistant to age: because when focusing, the lens barrel doesn’t «aspirate» any dust as it is usually the case of DSLR-lenses that vary their length. a close focus of 1.6 ft / 0.49 m engraved on the lens barrel. But in wider focal lengths, you get things sharp that are even closer. a focus gear for the use of a follow focus Aaton Mount What’s included: Used: 1x «Taylor-Hobson Cooke Varokinetal 10.4 - 52 T 2.8 (SUPER 16)» with Aaton Mount 1x original aluminium case, very solid, with an additional wooden layer, individually fitted foam material and a cubbyhole for the silica gel inside 1x original zoom crank 1x sunshade from Tiffen which allows the use of filters. The lens itself has no filter thread. 1x original front protection cap 1x original rear protection cap Condition: Optics: As I mentioned above, I wasn’t able to test the lens since the Blackmagic camera which I finally bought only works with Canon EF lenses. The only thing I could do was checking it under light: the optical elements are very clean thanks to its clever non-aspirating-construction, there’s only little dust inside, which can only be seen when looking from one end to the other straight into direct light (but for a vintage lens, it looks fantastic) no fungus thanks to the silica-gel sachets lying in the aluminum case in which it has always been kept no haze no separation But . . . NOTE: There is a very tiny scratch in the centre of the front optical element consisting of two parallel lines, thinner than hairs, each of them around 1 mm long. The distance between these two parallel lines does not exceed 0.5 mm. I doubt it will be visible on the frame, although I can’t guarantee its invisibility (see below on the pictures 8 and 9). There are some minor cleaning marks on both the front and the rear optical elements. They are as thin as the silk of a spider and quite hard to see - when looking transversely on the glass under a certain light incidence. After all that I read in the internet, it should not affect the image quality at all, although I can’t vouch for this neither (see below on the pictures 8 and 10). Lens Barrel Cosmetics/Mechanics: the outer body looks great in consideration of its 20+ years of age: it is very clean, the original black lacquer is still nice. All in all just some signs of use. the focus ring, the zoom ring and the aperture ring work very smoothly. They run like butter, without any resistance nor play the aperture blades work perfectly, no oil the mount is made of high quality machined steel and perfectly collimated for Aaton mounts By the way: On the Website of Cooke Optics it’s written that «this lens was first used by American cinematographer Curtis Clarke to film "The Draughtsman’s Contract," the first technically and commercially successful Super 16 feature to be made. The CVK offered advancements in filming under difficult lighting conditions in 16mm and Super 16mm formats. It began production in 1983». See here: http://www.cookeoptics.com/t/history.html On the website from CinemaTechnic, the Cooke 10.4-52 is listed among other vintage Super 16 lenses that «meet today's standards of optical quality for Super 16 film production» and is described as «rare». Back in 1995, its price was 13,200.-$. Todays estimated price for used units (according to CinemaTechnic): 6,500.-$. See here: http://www.cinematechnic.com/resources/optics_for_super-16.html Another used Cooke 10.4 - 52 for sale. Price: 5,500.-$ See here: http://www.visualproducts.com/storeProductDetail03.asp?productID=627&Cat=8&Cat2=15&Cat3=24#bigPic Price: 1750.- € + shipping costs SHIPPING (WITH INSURANCE): Germany: €6.90 (parcel) + €3.50 (insurance) = €10.40 European Union: €19.90 (parcel) + €20.78 (insurance) = €40.68 To the members from beyond the European borders: I regret that I can't ship the lens to your place. It's because I couldn't find a parcel service who ships insured parcels to other continents. Furthermore I'm not familiar with import sales taxes, clearance charges etc. I'm sorry! IMPORTANT NOTICE: I'm offering you a right of return (10 days, starting from the day of the receipt of the lens) if you're not satisfied. As this is a used item, a warranty can not be offered. Pictures: Please click on them to enlarge (I'm sorry for the advertising on directupload.net) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. Edited December 31, 2013 by Philipp Marzusch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philipp Marzusch Posted January 1, 2014 Author Share Posted January 1, 2014 New price: 1650.-€ + shipping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gregg MacPherson Posted January 2, 2014 Share Posted January 2, 2014 .... It vignettes all the way through when the aperture is closed. I just had a look through the viewfinder stopped down in the S16 frame and I couldn't see a vignette. Can you point me to where this was being discussed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philipp Marzusch Posted January 2, 2014 Author Share Posted January 2, 2014 Hi Gregg! Thank you for your input! I wrote this because I had made some enquiries about this lens and finally came across a discussion between an austrian user and an american user on instagram. Here's the link: http://instagram.com/p/f5CxDbsDfq/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philipp Marzusch Posted January 4, 2014 Author Share Posted January 4, 2014 (edited) New price: 1550.-€ + shipping Edited January 4, 2014 by Philipp Marzusch Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philipp Marzusch Posted January 14, 2014 Author Share Posted January 14, 2014 New, final price: 1475.-€ + shipping Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Boyd Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 Hi Philipp, is the lens still for sale? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philipp Marzusch Posted February 10, 2014 Author Share Posted February 10, 2014 @Alexander Boyd Hi Alexander, thank you for your interest! The lens is just sold, I'm afraid. But I promise to contact you if the Cooke's image circle does not fit to the buyer's camera sensor, okay? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alexander Boyd Posted February 10, 2014 Share Posted February 10, 2014 please do so! ;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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