Cooke AP3 : New Anamorphic 1.5x Lens!

Cooke AP3 Anamorphic 1.5x – Launch & Live Demonstration

Recently Cooke introduced AP3 lenses with global launch various places From Hyderabad to Chennai Chapter, where community of Cinematographers  recently witnessed an exclusive live demonstration of the newly introduced Cooke AP3 Anamorphic 1.5x lens series at Cinema Factory Academy, Chennai, bringing together leading cinematographers and industry professionals to experience Cooke’s latest compact anamorphic offering.

The event was attended by eminent cinematographers including S. R. Kathir, Arul Vincent, K. M. Bhaskaran, Narayan Kumar, Vetrivel Mahendran, and Sakthivel, along with cinematography enthusiasts, professionals, and students.

The gathering was welcomed by Ace Cinematographers CJ Rajkumar, Karthik Raaja, and R. Prasanna Venkatesh, who emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for cinematographers and aspiring filmmakers to engage with emerging imaging technologies and lens innovations.

Representatives from Cooke, Peter Dorai, Phaneedhra Kasukurthi, and Shristi Radhakrishnan Vijayakumar, presented the AP3 lens series and conducted extensive live demonstrations using contemporary camera systems including the Sony Venice and DJI Ronin 4D.

Key Highlights

Introduction to the Cooke AP3 Anamorphic 1.5x lens series

Live lens demonstrations on professional cinema cameras

Examination of anamorphic image characteristics

Analysis of Cooke’s signature flare behaviour and oval bokeh

Compact anamorphic workflow advantages

Interactive technical discussions with cinematographers

The AP3 series attracted significant attention for its ability to deliver the classic anamorphic aesthetic in an exceptionally compact and lightweight design. Participants observed the lenses’ distinctive flare characteristics, pleasing oval bokeh, cinematic rendering, and practical handling advantages for modern productions, including handheld, Steadicam, and gimbal applications.

S. R. Kathir isc shared his experience shooting a feature film predominantly set in the middle of the sea, explaining how the compact nature of Cooke optics proved highly beneficial in challenging production environments. He also appreciated the lightweight design and operational flexibility offered by the AP3 series.

Veteran cinematographers K. M. Bhaskaran, Vetrivel Mahendran, and Sakthivel particularly complimented the extraordinary anamorphic flares and visual character produced by the new lenses.

A major attraction of the event was the opportunity for attendees to gain hands-on experience with both the new Cooke AP3 Anamorphic 1.5x series and the widely appreciated Cooke SP3 spherical lenses, allowing cinematographers to closely evaluate image quality, flare behaviour, focus characteristics, and overall optical performance.

The launch successfully demonstrated Cooke’s continued commitment to combining its renowned cinematic look with the practical demands of modern filmmaking. The AP3 Anamorphic 1.5x series showcased how classic anamorphic aesthetics can be delivered through a compact, lightweight lens platform ideally suited for contemporary production workflows.

Many Film enthusiasts extend their appreciation to Cooke, Srishti Digilife, DJI Ronin representatives, and all participating cinematographers and industry professionals for making the session a valuable and technically enriching exploration of modern anamorphic cinematography.

Article by

CJ Rajkumar

Author/ Cinematographer