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Cooke 85-215mm Varotal/i Zoom Lens with PL Mount

The Cooke 85-215mm is a 85–215mm f/2.9 cinema lens designed for PL Mount mount cameras. Check GearFocus for current availability, with buyer protection on every purchase.

Cooke 85-215mm Varotal/i Zoom Lens with PL Mount

Cooke 85-215mm Varotal/i Zoom Lens with PL Mount

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Lens Overview — Cooke 85-215mm

The Cooke 85-215mm Varotal/i is a manual-focus cinema zoom lens built for Super 35 format cameras and fitted with a PL mount. Covering a focal length range of 85mm to 215mm, it falls into the telephoto category and offers a maximum aperture of T2.9, giving cinematographers meaningful control over depth of field across the full zoom range. At 4kg, it's a substantial piece of glass suited to professional cinema rigs where build quality and optical consistency take priority over portability.

The PL mount is the industry-standard fitting for cinema cameras, making this lens broadly compatible across professional digital cinema and film-based bodies that accept PL glass. Manual focus is the only focus mode, which is standard practice in high-end cinema production where focus pullers operate independently. The lens carries the Varotal/i designation, indicating inclusion of Cooke's /i Technology — an embedded data system in the PL mount that communicates lens metadata to compatible camera bodies and on-set data-logging systems.

With no image stabilization, the lens is intended for use on stabilized rigs or in controlled production environments. It represents a serious, professionally oriented telephoto zoom option for Super 35 cinema work.

Key Features — Cooke 85-215mm

85-215mm Telephoto Zoom: Covers a versatile telephoto range in a single lens, allowing cinematographers to reframe from medium-telephoto to long-telephoto without a lens swap.

Constant T2.9 Aperture: Maximum aperture of T2.9 is maintained across the full zoom range, providing consistent exposure and depth-of-field control at every focal length.

PL Mount: Industry-standard cinema lens mount compatible with professional camera systems from ARRI, RED, Sony, and others.

Super 35 Coverage: Designed to cover the Super 35 format, the most widely used sensor size in professional digital cinema production.

Cooke /i Technology: Embedded metadata system transmits real-time lens data — including focal length, focus distance, and aperture — to compatible camera bodies and on-set logging systems.

Manual Focus Design: Smooth, precise manual focus ring built for repeatable focus pulls by a dedicated focus puller in professional cinema workflows.

Lens Specifications — Cooke 85-215mm

Cooke 85-215mm full specifications
SpecDetail
Use CasesDocumentary, Video / Cinematography
Lens TypeZoom
FormatSuper 35
Zoom/PrimeZoom
Focal Length85–215mm
Maximum Aperturef/2.9
Camera SystemCinema / Video
Lens MountPL Mount
AutofocusNo
Focus TypeManual
Image StabilizationNone
Weight4kg

Description — Cooke 85-215mm

The Cooke 85-215mm Varotal/i is a professional cinema zoom lens spanning the telephoto range, designed for Super 35 format digital cinema and film cameras equipped with a PL mount. With a maximum aperture of T2.9, this lens delivers consistent light transmission across its zoom range, giving cinematographers reliable exposure and depth-of-field performance from 85mm through to 215mm. Weighing 4kg, it is built for use on professional cinema rigs rather than lightweight handheld setups.

The lens is manual focus only, reflecting standard professional cinema production workflows where focus control is managed by a dedicated focus puller. The Varotal/i designation includes Cooke's /i Technology embedded in the PL mount, enabling lens metadata to be communicated to compatible camera systems and data-logging tools on set. There is no image stabilization, so use on stabilized support systems is recommended.

No filter thread size is listed in the specifications, which is worth confirming before planning front-mounted filtration. This is a purpose-built cinema zoom for Super 35 production requiring a robust, professional-grade telephoto zoom with PL-mount compatibility.

Pros — Cooke 85-215mm

  • ✓Telephoto zoom range from 85mm to 215mm provides versatile framing options without a lens change
  • ✓Maximum aperture of T2.9 enables meaningful depth-of-field control across the zoom range
  • ✓PL mount is the industry-standard cinema fitting, ensuring broad compatibility with professional cinema cameras

Cons — Cooke 85-215mm

  • ✗At 4kg, the lens is heavy and demands robust support rigs and follow-focus systems
  • ✗No image stabilization, requiring external stabilization solutions for handheld or moving shots
  • ✗Manual focus only — no autofocus option for run-and-gun or documentary-style shooting

Videos — Cooke 85-215mm

Cooke Varotal/i Zoom lenses 35-95mm and 85-215mm || New Zoom Lenses || Cooke Look — DBreach

Resources & Downloads — Cooke 85-215mm

Manuals & Guides

Frequently Asked Questions — Cooke 85-215mm

What mount does the Cooke 85-215mm Varotal/i use?+
The lens uses a PL mount, which is the standard cinema lens mount found on professional digital cinema and film cameras. This makes it compatible with a wide range of professional cinema bodies designed to accept PL-mount glass.
What sensor format does this lens cover?+
The Cooke 85-215mm Varotal/i is designed for Super 35 format cameras. It is not specified for larger formats, so shooters using larger sensors should verify coverage before use.
What is the maximum aperture of this lens?+
The lens has a maximum aperture of T2.9. This is a T-stop rating, which accounts for actual light transmission through the lens rather than just the geometric aperture.
Does this lens support autofocus?+
No. The Cooke 85-215mm Varotal/i is a manual-focus-only lens, consistent with professional cinema production practice where a dedicated focus puller controls focus independently.
How heavy is this lens?+
The lens weighs 4kg. This is a significant weight that should be factored into rigging, support system, and operator ergonomics planning for any production.
Does this lens have image stabilization?+
No, the lens has no image stabilization. Shooters requiring stabilized footage will need to use external solutions such as gimbals, steadicams, or motion-dampening rigs.

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