Broadcast News
25/07/2018
Cooke Optics Full Frame Lens Deployed For Feature Film 'Lyrebird'
Cooke Optics' S7/i Full Frame Plus Prime lens range has been deployed to shoot director Dan Friedkin's upcoming feature film 'Lyrebird'.
Cinematographer Remi Adefarasin, OBE SCE, shot early tests of the film with ALEXA 65 using many different lenses, but chose the S7/i Full Frame Plus lenses as they were first appearing.
He said: "Dan is a great collaborator and said from the start that he wanted great visuals but not mannered or false. Although we loved the large format, no lenses [available at the time] did what we hoped for. Many of the current ranges are stills lenses adapted for movies, but they did not have any cinematic quality or consistency. Great for plate shots but not kind to faces, and they breathed badly with the slightest focus pull."
They decided instead to shoot with ALEXA SXT with Cooke S4/i lenses. Then, just as this had been decided, ARRI announced the ALEXA LF.
"This camera fulfilled our large format ambition – but, like the Cooke S7/i lenses, it was not yet available and wouldn't be until our shoot began," recalled Mr Adefarasin. "It was a massive frustration knowing that the equipment we wanted was just around the corner and out of reach."
However, thirty minutes past call on the first day in Amsterdam, a brand new ALEXA LF and a set of new Cooke S7/i lenses were delivered to the set.
"We shot open gate 1.85 and the results blew us away," he continued. "We were shooting mostly at 800 ISO but at times went to 1280 ISO without any loss in image quality. We could shoot wider shots that had a closer feel, and the viewer could choose what part of the frame they were interested in, giving a more immersive experience."
The film called for a variety of lighting conditions: on location and on sets, interiors and exteriors, day and night.
Mr Adefarasin said: "It was always the intention for the lighting to look natural yet interesting. Dan and I never wanted it to look glossy or 'lit'. We mostly shot with HMI and tungsten but also used a lot of modern LED lights – indeed, some sensitive locations would only allow us to use LEDs – and we used IR Nd's in bright conditions. The Cooke S7/i's performed superbly at every challenge. We had some shots where we panned through the sun and the results looked wonderful. From candle light through LED to Mole Beams and HMI and then sunlight, I was happy.
"We never wanted to shoot big close-ups for this film. Too many movies resort to close-ups when they don't have a decent background, or to get lots of quick cover. That misses out on the experience of seeing a film. You lose body language, sense of place, relationships. Full frame gives you rich images but with a rounder look… the image rolls off smoothly into the background.
"I'm so pleased with how the Cooke S7/i's have captured this - practically every frame exalts the virtues of these delicious lenses."
The S7/i Full Frame Plus lens range has been designed and built from the ground up to cover the latest full frame cinema camera sensors up to the full sensor area (46.31mm image circle) of the RED Weapon 8K, and also partner well with the ALEXA LF and the Sony Venice. The lenses offer excellent optical and mechanical performance, control of flare, distortion, veiling glare and spherical aberrations at full aperture. The award-winning cam-type focus mechanism allows for smooth focus adjustments.
Like all modern Cooke cine lenses, the S7/i lenses come equipped with /i Technology for frame by frame digital information capture, which was employed on this feature for the few VFX shots as well as providing information to the director.
Lyrebird is produced by Imperative Entertainment and Ridley Scott.
www.cookeoptics.com
Cinematographer Remi Adefarasin, OBE SCE, shot early tests of the film with ALEXA 65 using many different lenses, but chose the S7/i Full Frame Plus lenses as they were first appearing.
He said: "Dan is a great collaborator and said from the start that he wanted great visuals but not mannered or false. Although we loved the large format, no lenses [available at the time] did what we hoped for. Many of the current ranges are stills lenses adapted for movies, but they did not have any cinematic quality or consistency. Great for plate shots but not kind to faces, and they breathed badly with the slightest focus pull."
They decided instead to shoot with ALEXA SXT with Cooke S4/i lenses. Then, just as this had been decided, ARRI announced the ALEXA LF.
"This camera fulfilled our large format ambition – but, like the Cooke S7/i lenses, it was not yet available and wouldn't be until our shoot began," recalled Mr Adefarasin. "It was a massive frustration knowing that the equipment we wanted was just around the corner and out of reach."
However, thirty minutes past call on the first day in Amsterdam, a brand new ALEXA LF and a set of new Cooke S7/i lenses were delivered to the set.
"We shot open gate 1.85 and the results blew us away," he continued. "We were shooting mostly at 800 ISO but at times went to 1280 ISO without any loss in image quality. We could shoot wider shots that had a closer feel, and the viewer could choose what part of the frame they were interested in, giving a more immersive experience."
The film called for a variety of lighting conditions: on location and on sets, interiors and exteriors, day and night.
Mr Adefarasin said: "It was always the intention for the lighting to look natural yet interesting. Dan and I never wanted it to look glossy or 'lit'. We mostly shot with HMI and tungsten but also used a lot of modern LED lights – indeed, some sensitive locations would only allow us to use LEDs – and we used IR Nd's in bright conditions. The Cooke S7/i's performed superbly at every challenge. We had some shots where we panned through the sun and the results looked wonderful. From candle light through LED to Mole Beams and HMI and then sunlight, I was happy.
"We never wanted to shoot big close-ups for this film. Too many movies resort to close-ups when they don't have a decent background, or to get lots of quick cover. That misses out on the experience of seeing a film. You lose body language, sense of place, relationships. Full frame gives you rich images but with a rounder look… the image rolls off smoothly into the background.
"I'm so pleased with how the Cooke S7/i's have captured this - practically every frame exalts the virtues of these delicious lenses."
The S7/i Full Frame Plus lens range has been designed and built from the ground up to cover the latest full frame cinema camera sensors up to the full sensor area (46.31mm image circle) of the RED Weapon 8K, and also partner well with the ALEXA LF and the Sony Venice. The lenses offer excellent optical and mechanical performance, control of flare, distortion, veiling glare and spherical aberrations at full aperture. The award-winning cam-type focus mechanism allows for smooth focus adjustments.
Like all modern Cooke cine lenses, the S7/i lenses come equipped with /i Technology for frame by frame digital information capture, which was employed on this feature for the few VFX shots as well as providing information to the director.
Lyrebird is produced by Imperative Entertainment and Ridley Scott.
www.cookeoptics.com
Useful Links
Top Related Stories
Click here for the latest broadcast news stories.
21/04/2004
Canon introduces two new HD lenses at NAB
Recognising the rapid expansion of HD camera system options from multiple manufacturers, Canon has unveiled two new HD studio lenses, the DIGISUPER 22
Canon introduces two new HD lenses at NAB
Recognising the rapid expansion of HD camera system options from multiple manufacturers, Canon has unveiled two new HD studio lenses, the DIGISUPER 22
12/04/2018
Few Lens Optics For Decades, Then Came The Large Digital Sensors
As software takes control of virtually every production and delivery function, cameras and lenses have reached the stage of looking magnificent as the
Few Lens Optics For Decades, Then Came The Large Digital Sensors
As software takes control of virtually every production and delivery function, cameras and lenses have reached the stage of looking magnificent as the
29/01/2019
Cooke Optics To Unveil Anamorphic/i Full Frame Plus Lens
Cooke Optics is to present not only a standard Anamorphic/i Full Frame Plus lens, but also - for the first time anywhere – an Anamorphic/i Full Frame
Cooke Optics To Unveil Anamorphic/i Full Frame Plus Lens
Cooke Optics is to present not only a standard Anamorphic/i Full Frame Plus lens, but also - for the first time anywhere – an Anamorphic/i Full Frame
23/02/2016
New Sigma Lens Mount Converter Expands High-Performance Lens Options
The Sigma Corporation of America has announced the release of its new high-performance Sigma Global Vision lens converter – the Mount Converter MC 11
New Sigma Lens Mount Converter Expands High-Performance Lens Options
The Sigma Corporation of America has announced the release of its new high-performance Sigma Global Vision lens converter – the Mount Converter MC 11
05/04/2019
Angénieux To Preview New Book At NAB
Angénieux is set to preview its new 270-page book at NAB, chronicling the company's rise since its inception in 1935. There will be both a French and
Angénieux To Preview New Book At NAB
Angénieux is set to preview its new 270-page book at NAB, chronicling the company's rise since its inception in 1935. There will be both a French and
19/04/2017
Cooke Optics To Unveil S7/i Full Frame Plus Lenses
At NAB 2017, Booth C5414, Cooke Optics will launch its S7/i Full Frame Plus prime lens range. The range is designed to cover the emergent full frame c
Cooke Optics To Unveil S7/i Full Frame Plus Lenses
At NAB 2017, Booth C5414, Cooke Optics will launch its S7/i Full Frame Plus prime lens range. The range is designed to cover the emergent full frame c
30/04/2024
CVP To Present Lens Coverage And Camera Comparison Tool
CVP has confirmed Technical Consultant Sam Measure is to present the unique Lens Coverage and Comparison Online tool at the Pacific Northwest Lens Sum
CVP To Present Lens Coverage And Camera Comparison Tool
CVP has confirmed Technical Consultant Sam Measure is to present the unique Lens Coverage and Comparison Online tool at the Pacific Northwest Lens Sum
14/11/2007
Cooke RED Set Released From Precision Lenses Manufacturer
Cooke Optics Ltd., a leading manufacturer of precision lenses for the motion picture industry, has announced the Cooke RED Set, a package of four stan
Cooke RED Set Released From Precision Lenses Manufacturer
Cooke Optics Ltd., a leading manufacturer of precision lenses for the motion picture industry, has announced the Cooke RED Set, a package of four stan
27/03/2009
New Motorised Lens Mount Available For All Christie Digital Cinema Projectors
Christie, a leader in digital cinema projection, has announced the introduction of a motorised lens mount solution that is fully compatible with all C
New Motorised Lens Mount Available For All Christie Digital Cinema Projectors
Christie, a leader in digital cinema projection, has announced the introduction of a motorised lens mount solution that is fully compatible with all C
21/10/2009
Cooke Optics And Foundry Collaborate On Post
A premier manufacturer of precision lenses for the motion picture industry, Cooke Optics, has announced that it is working with The Foundry to incorpo
Cooke Optics And Foundry Collaborate On Post
A premier manufacturer of precision lenses for the motion picture industry, Cooke Optics, has announced that it is working with The Foundry to incorpo
08/11/2024
Canon Unveils Its RF-S 7.8mm F4 STM DUAL Lens
Canon has unveiled its groundbreaking RF-S 7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens, designed to make realistic, high-quality 3D still and video creation more accessibl
Canon Unveils Its RF-S 7.8mm F4 STM DUAL Lens
Canon has unveiled its groundbreaking RF-S 7.8mm F4 STM DUAL lens, designed to make realistic, high-quality 3D still and video creation more accessibl
30/05/2024
SMPTE RIS-OSVP Camera And Lens Metadata Committee Conduct Study
SMPTE®, the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, and members of its Rapid Industry Solutions, On-Set Virtual Production (RIS-OSV
SMPTE RIS-OSVP Camera And Lens Metadata Committee Conduct Study
SMPTE®, the home of media professionals, technologists, and engineers, and members of its Rapid Industry Solutions, On-Set Virtual Production (RIS-OSV
29/05/2019
Cooke Optics Launches Online Motion Gallery
Cooke Optics is presenting #ShotOnCooke (www.shotoncooke.com), a unique online motion gallery showcasing the use of Cooke's acclaimed lens ranges acro
Cooke Optics Launches Online Motion Gallery
Cooke Optics is presenting #ShotOnCooke (www.shotoncooke.com), a unique online motion gallery showcasing the use of Cooke's acclaimed lens ranges acro
19/09/2011
Canon Launch Widest Angle Long Zoom HD Field Lens
The new Digisuper 95 (XJ95x8.6B) is Canon's latest addition, offering a new generation super-telefoto lens that provides a range of imaging possibilit
Canon Launch Widest Angle Long Zoom HD Field Lens
The new Digisuper 95 (XJ95x8.6B) is Canon's latest addition, offering a new generation super-telefoto lens that provides a range of imaging possibilit
28/10/2004
OpTex offer special deal on lens servicing
Lens experts OpTex, renowned for their design and manufacture of high quality optics, are currently offering a special deal on all lens servicing. A c
OpTex offer special deal on lens servicing
Lens experts OpTex, renowned for their design and manufacture of high quality optics, are currently offering a special deal on all lens servicing. A c