COOKE PS945 LENS

The lens I most regret parting with is the Cooke PS945 soft-focus portrait lens. I let it go when I transitioned from 4×5 portraits to medium-format digital, primarily with ALPA cameras and lenses. I needed the money, so I sold it for the same $3,500 I had originally paid.

Today, it’s worth more than double that if you can find one since Cooke no longer manufactures them. This lens would have been perfect for still-life imagery. Unfortunately, as I’m approaching retirement, I won’t have the same income to afford another. Those fortunate enough to own a PS945 are truly lucky.

What made this lens remarkable was its ability to render beautiful out-of-focus areas (bokeh) and control softness via the aperture. At f/4.5, it produces the softest effect, while f/11 eliminates it.

When I shot portraits with a Hasselblad during the film era, I used Softar filters with three strengths, which could blur the image while keeping the eye’s pupil sharp. The PS945 offers a similar rendering with even more precise softness control.

If you’re interested in a versatile, modern 4×5 portrait lens and can find one, the PS945 is worth considering.

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