Cooke’s Anamorphic Legacy Steps Into the Mirrorless Era
Cooke is extending its storied cinema pedigree into the mirrorless space with the new AP3 FF series, a trio of 1.5x anamorphic lenses designed specifically for full-frame sensors. Available at launch in 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm focal lengths, each lens opens to a fast T2.4 and ships in Sony E-mount, with user-swappable Canon RF, L-Mount, and M-Mount options included as accessories. Unlike bulky anamorphic cinema glass, the AP3 primes are built from the ground up for smaller digital bodies, targeting filmmakers who need a cinematic lens for video but work on hybrid or compact cinema cameras. Cooke positions AP3 as a bridge between its high-end anamorphic line and the rapidly growing world of anamorphic lenses for mirrorless systems, promising the “Cooke Look” in a more accessible, agile form factor.
1.5x Anamorphic Squeeze for Modern Aspect Ratios
At the heart of the AP3 series is a 1.5x anamorphic squeeze, a middle ground between 1.33x and 2.0x designs that increasingly defines anamorphic lenses for mirrorless workflows. On a standard 16:9 sensor, a 1.5x anamorphic squeeze yields an approximately 2.6:1 image, while 3:2 open gate capture produces around 2.25:1. This makes AP3 particularly attractive for full-frame anamorphic glass users who master for today’s widescreen deliverables without extreme cropping or data-heavy formats. Cooke describes the rendering as a “controlled anamorphic character,” promising recognisable horizontal flares, painterly bokeh and gentle distortion, but balanced with clarity and consistency across the focal range. The goal is to deliver a distinctive anamorphic aesthetic tailored to modern digital pipelines, rather than a purely vintage or overly stylised look.
Compact Cinema Build Aimed at Handheld Filmmaking
Where traditional anamorphic cinema lenses can be dauntingly large, the Cooke AP3 primes focus on portability. Weighing roughly between 1.17kg and 1.41kg depending on focal length, and measuring around 14–16cm in length, they are significantly more compact than Cooke’s Anamorphic/i FF lenses while still fully metal in construction. All three lenses share an 87mm front diameter and 82mm filter thread, along with unified 0.8 MOD focus and iris gears, so rigs, matte boxes and follow-focus units can stay in place when swapping glass. The focus ring offers a 160° throw for precise pulls, backed by dual metric and imperial scales, while the iris ring rotates 79°. Cooke emphasises that this compact design is optimised for handheld and gimbal work, letting creators use a cinematic lens for video on mirrorless bodies without wrestling oversized cinema housings.
Optical Character: Sharp Where It Counts, Expressive Everywhere Else
Beyond mechanics, the AP3 series is designed to deliver a recognisable yet refined anamorphic personality. Each lens features nine aperture blades, contributing to rounded, "painterly" bokeh that Cooke says remains consistent across the T-stop range and all focal lengths. Horizontal flares are intentionally present, described as having depth and complexity rather than simple streaks, and the flare behaviour is tuned to match across the set. While many modern cinema lenses lean into softness, the AP3 primes prioritise central sharpness, with Cooke stating they are “defined where they need to be, expressive everywhere else.” Focus transitions are engineered to feel natural and organic, and focus breathing is minimised but not completely removed, preserving its value as a subtle storytelling tool. Color is balanced and matched across the range, and the lenses share coatings and hardware architecture with Cooke’s SP3 line, making it easier to mix spherical and anamorphic looks within a single production.
Pricing, Positioning and the Growing Anamorphic Mirrorless Market
The Cooke AP3 primes arrive into a crowded field of anamorphic lenses for mirrorless cameras but clearly target a higher tier. Each lens is priced at USD 7,750 (approx. RM36,000), while a three-lens bundle of 35mm, 50mm and 85mm sells for USD 22,250 (approx. RM104,000), offering a modest saving over buying individually. More affordable 1.5x options such as SIRUI IronStar, DZOFILM Arcana or Blazar Viper sit far below this price bracket, but they also do not carry Cooke’s long-standing cinema legacy or tight integration with its broader ecosystem. Strategically, AP3 signals that serious full-frame anamorphic glass is no longer confined to large cinema bodies. For mirrorless filmmakers who have outgrown entry-level options yet still value portability, Cooke AP3 lenses present a focused new choice: genuine anamorphic character, engineered from day one for compact digital rigs.