Cooke's modern reissue of the Speed Panchro formula — twelve primes from 18 to 152mm, T2.2 at the core, with /i metadata. Available for Super 35 and as an FF variant.
The Panchro/i Classic is Cooke's modern reimagining of the Speed Panchros from the 1930s to the 1960s. It adopts their visual profile — warm skin tones, controlled flare, soft highlights — but implements it with today's manufacturing tolerances, PL mount, and /i Technology, which transmits focal length, aperture, and focus distance data to the camera and post-production.
Regarding Naming Confusion
Several spellings are in circulation: "Panchro/i Classic," "Panchro/i Classic S35," and "Panchro Classic FF." These are format variants of the same family, not separate product lines — and there is no version without /i Technology with simplified mechanics. Anyone reading such a distinction is reading an error.
The Series
Twelve focal lengths from 18 to 152mm. The core aperture is T2.2; it gets slower at the longer end: 65mm Macro T2.4, 100mm T2.6, 135mm T2.8, 152mm T3.0. The focus throw is consistently 270 degrees. The S35 variant covers Super 35, the FF variant additionally covers Full Frame.
On Set
The series is the usual way to achieve a vintage character without buying into the unpredictability of genuine vintage optics — consistent external dimensions, reliable markings, reproducible series. Those who don't plan for the aperture jump from 100mm onwards will suddenly find themselves a stop darker at the long end.
Related terms
Quiz
1. Was beschreibt „Cooke Panchro Classic" am besten?
2. Zu welchem Department gehört „Cooke Panchro Classic"?