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Kowa Cine Lenses - 16mm


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Hello,

 

sometimes you can find some Cine-Kowa Lenses for 16mm, for example the 1,1 / 25mm in Arri mount. I think, this are lenses made for the Arri SR cameras.

(I think CP sold them as cinema-product-lenses too)

 

What do you know about them ? Some people say, they were "a kind of copy" of the Zeiss HS lenses. Is that right ?

 

Michael

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There has been some interesting discussion in the past comparing S16 Zeiss superspeeds vs the CP/Kowa cine lenses of a similar era. I don't know how to find that, but it's worth a search. There were some references that came up to discussions on other forums also. If you find something, please let us know.

 

I think Adriene, a cinematographer who posts often, has a set of CP primes, likes them and understands this comparison. Maybe ask him nicely and he could give some ideas.

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Some were badged Cine-Kowa, others Cinema Products Ultra T Series, same lenses I believe. We have a set of Ultra Ts in Arri Standard mount, I've also seen them in CP and Arri B mounts. As far as I know they only made a 9mm, 12.5mm, 16mm and 25mm.

 

In terms of quality they're pretty good, but not in the same league as Zeiss Super Speeds. The 9mm doesn't cover Super 16 (unlike the 9.5mm Zeiss, which does).

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  • 2 weeks later...

Michael,

 

It seems Kowa is still around, as Robert Houllahan said. Why don't you contact Kowa directly and ask your questions about the lenses? Their website says they've been around for over 60 years.

 

http://kowa-prominar.com/news/index.html

 

http://kowa-prominar.com/special/wide_lens/index.htm

 

http://kowa-prominar.com/service/index.html

 

It seems Kowa is now marketing lenses for the Micro Four Thirds camera.

 

Jean-Louis, you are correct, there was a 6mm Ultra T prime from CP. A Victor Duncan catalog from 1980 lists them not only as Cinema Products Ultra T Lenses in CP mount, but also in Arri bayonet mount. No 6mm lens at this time.

 

IMG_20150103_0009_zps3dd8aa75.jpg

 

 

 

In a 1983 Gordon catalog they list the Ultra T primes in the CP mount for the CP-16 and GSMO cameras, and then for the Eclair ACL and NPR camera (possibly with the use of an adaptor to take the CP mount to the Eclair mount). The 6mm lens is listed. So, the lenses were made until 1983 at least.

 

IMG_20150103_01_zpsfdbfb705.jpg

 

However, in a Cinema Products catalog/price list from 10/1976, it does not list these lenses....

 

IMG_20150103_04_zpsc561c8d8.jpg

 

IMG_20150103_05_zps70ad6003.jpg

 

 

Gregg, I found this link in the forum from 2005.....

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=5230

 

others....

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=59776

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=2442

 

http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=47290

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Michael,

 

I found this ad for the Ultra T lenses from Cinema Products. This had to be the announcement ad for the original 4 lenses. This was published March 1979.

 

I don't think this will answer all your questions, but perhaps there's a bit more info for you to use when deciding to use these lenses.

 

The 6mm lens must have joined the set in the early '80s.

IMG_20150104_0003_zps2a7770d4.jpg

Charlie

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Michael,

 

I found this ad for the Ultra T lenses from Cinema Products. This had to be the announcement ad for the original 4 lenses. This was published March 1979.

 

I don't think this will answer all your questions, but perhaps there's a bit more info for you to use when deciding to use these lenses.

 

The 6mm lens must have joined the set in the early '80s.

 

IMG_20150104_0003_zps2a7770d4.jpg

Charlie

Thanks!
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