Nikon Z shooters just got a serious upgrade to their glass options. Cooke Optics has added Nikon Z-mount to its SP3 and AP3 cinema prime lines, joining the existing Sony E, L-Mount, Canon RF, and Leica M options. The move was announced on July 28, 2026, with the Z-mount versions set to start shipping in August 2026.
If you’ve spent any time around cinema glass, you know the reputation. The SP3 series — where “SP” stands for “Speed Panchro” — is a modern, mirrorless-friendly reimagining of Cooke’s legendary Speed Panchro lenses. The goal is to deliver that revered contrast, color rendering, flare behavior, and fall-off that filmmakers still adore. There’s a reason it’s simply called “The Cooke Look.”
The SP3 lineup is now a six-lens family for full-frame mirrorless, spanning 18mm up to 100mm, with focal lengths of 18mm, 25mm, 32mm, 50mm, 75mm, and 100mm. Every one of them shares a fast T2.4 aperture, with a full aperture range of T2.4–T16. The original series launched back in September 2023 with five lenses; the 18mm was added later to round things out.
The AP3 range is the newer arrival — a set of 1.5x anamorphic primes built for full-frame mirrorless. Currently there are three focal lengths: 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm, each also opening up to a bright T2.4. These carry “The Cooke Look” too, just dressed in anamorphic character — think oval bokeh and streaking flares. Both series use interchangeable mounts, which is exactly why adding Z is so straightforward.
Nikon’s timing here is no accident. Beyond the company’s own ZR, these lenses are a natural pairing for Nikon’s RED cameras, which are firm favorites across a wide swath of professional productions. That opens the door for directors of photography who want genuinely cinematic optics without being locked into a single mount ecosystem.
On to the money. The Cooke SP3 lenses run $4,500 each, with the 18mm sitting slightly higher at $4,970. The five-lens set from 25mm to 100mm is $21,375, and the full six-lens set is $26,000.
The AP3 anamorphics are pricier, as anamorphics tend to be: $7,750 per lens, or $22,250 for the three-lens set with a case.
There’s a nice incentive for buyers, too. Eligible new SP3 and AP3 purchases include a complimentary second mount, and Nikon Z is now on that menu. Existing AP3 owners who simply want to add the Z-mount to their kit can pick one up for around £414.
It’s part of a broader trend Cooke itself has flagged — the blurring line between videography and cinematography as mid-market cameras keep leveling up. The result is that this fabled glass keeps reaching more shooters, on more cameras.
