Cooke Varotal, Interesting little... well no, Big lens.

TimurCivan

TimurCivan

Director of Photography
Staff member
I finally got my Element technica Dovetail 19mm Rod support, meaning my Cooke Varotal 18-100 is fully use able now!

This lens is kinda awesome. its like a ferrari from the 1960's. Old, not "modern", but tangible passion and performance for its day. It has OOdles of charachter, and a "look" that cant be beat.

Here is a short bit of a more extensive test, trying out a Sepia filter. The coolest thing is that the Varotal has a built in round 31mm Filter holder that pops out of the lens. I got a bunch of the small filters from the Cooke dealership a couple weeks ago. I couldnt wait to try em out. i wasn't disappointed. There is something about the Tiffen Sepia #1 filter that is just magic. its golden looks while retaining color is just amazing. Not to mention the organic sharp/soft/sharpness of the lens itself, just creates an amazing portrait combo.

I will be posting up a more complete visual example in the coming days. Thank fully i have a tolerant girlfriend.

You can see in the bokeh part in the beginning, the green flare that people are coming across in AF100 footage. I really think its from the glass that makes up the Filter wheel assembly and the last elements of the still and vintage cinema lenses not having taken in to account the neccesary digital cinema component of sensor protection.


this was lit with 1 40watt bulb off camera to the left and a computer screen.

img6439m.jpg


 
I for got to mention its 1 stop under exposed, brought up to proper exposure. so thats probably the culprit. But still..... its freaking ISO6400 !!!!!!! and it looks AMAZING considering the ISO.......
 
But how does it compare to the scarlett?!!!!!!

Hahahaha.


In seriousness, that's a good lens. I've 1st AC'd many many films on the RedMX which used those older cooke zooms. They have a very nice image and the contrast softens easily with flares. I personally REALLY like when lenses do that to great extents.

6400?! What's up Timur? Trying to save money on the electric bill? Turn some lights on! :)

Post some flare tests... if I remember correctly that guy has a very nice flare and I believe, depending on what kind of source, it's a purple color. I might be wrong though. I just remember it had a cool flare.
 
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Very nice Timur. That is one hell of a camera. Though it does not look like the lady is all that impressed, "Timur with ANOTHER camera.... shaaaaa!" "Been there done that", no doubt.
 
David, you've met my girlfriend Clearly!

But yes they flare like a MOFO and i love it. I'll put up a quick and dirty flare demo.

Whats really awesome is tha theres a filter slot, thats basically a door to the Optical path inside the lens, so you can generate some AWESOME flares that way.
 
Ryan Patrick O'Hara said:
But how does it compare to the scarlett?!!!!!!

Hahahaha.


In seriousness, that's a good lens. I've 1st AC'd many many films on the RedMX which used those older cooke zooms. They have a very nice image and the contrast softens easily with flares. I personally REALLY like when lenses do that to great extents.

6400?! What's up Timur? Trying to save money on the electric bill? Turn some lights on! :)

Post some flare tests... if I remember correctly that guy has a very nice flare and I believe, depending on what kind of source, it's a purple color. I might be wrong though. I just remember it had a cool flare.
Click to expand...

Honestly man, its just so damn sensitive you find yourself doing this... what other lights can i turn off? uh huh.... now turn off the TV, thats blowing out the picutre.... great, now unplug the clock radio, its adding red fill light.... damn i need duvatine on that window to keep the street light out.....
 
What is your opinion on the zoom's sharpness via T-stops? I remember the one I had on a feature awhile back was the 20-100, not your newer and better 18-100... was top shape at a 4-5.6 split... it was great when more open, but it was best there. How is yours? I've had much less time on the 18-100. I
 
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image1dl.jpg


Cooke 18-100 T3 @ T4 0dB.

Its a still from my girlfriends new Video.

This is where the Dynamic Range really shows. Look how much detail in the white shirt it holds. i'll post an uncorrected grab in a second.

image2q.jpg


final product. its the new intro video to www.bhavanilee.com , The old intro while nice, is in a different direction from what she wants.

 
Ryan Patrick O'Hara said:
What is your opinion on the zoom's sharpness via T-stops? I remember the one I had on a feature awhile back was the 20-100, not your newer and better 18-100... was top shape at a 4-5.6 split... it was great when more open, but it was best there. How is yours? I've had much less time on the 18-100. I
Click to expand...

It vignettes slightly when wide open especially on the long end of the lens. Stop down to a 4 and you're good. Its sharp, but not too sharp. Its the PERFECT portrait lens. I feel like the sharpness performance kicks in at a T4. There isnt too much of a difference optically between the 20-100 and the 18-100 sharpness wise. The main differences are the updated mechanics, and it does not breathe when focusing at all. watch the video up above to see the breathing performance during the focus rack.
 
Timur I just wanna say your not the only one with a Hotlooking Girlfriend :thumbsup:

Still cant see the grabs though.
 
SOMEBODY HELP!!!!!! The F3 is melting my brain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Nice Timur...and your girl friend is stunning!)
 
TimurCivan said:
I finally got my Element technica Dovetail 19mm Rod support, meaning my Cooke Varotal 18-100 is fully use able now!
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Timur,

Looking at mounting a Cooke 20-100mm on a AF100. Do you think a lightweight 15mm rod system would support it, or is 19mm needed?

Thanks,
Bern
 
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Hows the viewfinder on the F3.

I really loved the "Love Dance "shoot you posted a while back. Was this lens used for that shoot? Was that just available lighting in that studio? It had such a warm feel to it. Just beautiful.
 
I used my cooke panchro, prime lenses for that. I did light that shoot. We had 3x 1.2k HMI's for fill light using the sun as a backlight.

Bern, you must use 15mm/19mm studio rods. 15mini won't even fit under the lens.
 
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