TecH Specs
| Lens | T | CF | ø | Weight | Sensor | Mount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8-64mm | 2.4 | ca. 100cm | 95mm | 1,67kg | S16 | PL |
The Canon 8–64mm T2.4 is a truly iconic cinema zoom lens designed originally for Super 16 format — often nicknamed “The Hurt Locker Lens” due to its prominent use on the film The Hurt Locker. Covering the focal range of 8–64mm with a constant T2.4 aperture, it offers the equivalent field of view of roughly 16–128mm on Super 35 sensors — a remarkably useful range, especially on modern crop-mode cameras like the ARRI Alexa 35.
Built with documentary shooters in mind, this zoom is lightweight, compact and fast. It features a short focus and zoom rotation ideal for handheld tracking and quick-paced shooting scenarios. The build quality is robust (described as almost “mil-spec”), and many users appreciate its practical usability: from T2.4 out of the box to sharp performance at T2.8 and beyond.
Optically, the 8–64mm delivers a balanced mix of character and performance: at open aperture it gives a softer, textured look — chromatic aberrations and slight barrel distortion at the wide end contribute to its vintage charm. When stopped down to T2.8 or T4 the image becomes cleaner and very sharp. Focus breathing is impressively controlled for a zoom of this era: almost none at the wide end, and minimal even at longer focal lengths.
While originally made for Super 16, the lens still finds life in modern workflows: many digital cameras allow crop-modes that make this lens viable today, and its look makes it highly desirable for filmmakers chasing organic texture, vintage appeal and cinematic flexibility.
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