Feature Guide
The Optical Database
Browse our full spreadsheet-style lens database filtered by brand and type. Easily search and sort character traits, view lenses in full hierarchy view. Optionally search by card view for a more visual experience.
Overview
The Optical Database is the heart of CineTraits — a comprehensive, filterable table of every lens in our system. You can switch between a hierarchy view (grouped by series) and a flat list, customise which columns are visible, and sort by any trait. Whether you're comparing focal lengths across a brand's lineup or hunting for a specific optical personality, the Database is your starting point.
Database walkthrough video — coming soon
The Database "Lab Tested" Toggle
Inside the Lens Database, you can flip the Lab Tested toggle at the top of the table to filter the entire database down to lenses that have visual test data. This is the fastest way to skip past lenses that only carry research-based traits and focus on glass we've actually shot through in the lab. Toggle it off again to see the full catalogue, including lenses still in the pipeline. Watch it in action below — the toggle flips automatically every few seconds to demonstrate.
How To Tell A Lens Has Visual Data
Every lens row in the Database carries a small status dot to its left. The simple rule: if there's a dot, the lens has visual test data attached to it — the colour just tells you which stage of testing it's currently in. If there's no dot, no visual tests have been captured yet (though character traits may still be present from research). The previews below show every dot variant exactly as they appear in the Database.
Has Visual Data
Roughly 80–100% of all visual test data is present. All major tests are complete. Remaining tests will be completed at a later date.
Some visual tests are live, but the lens is no longer with us in testing. We will attempt to retest this lens and complete testing later.
Currently being tested in our lab — early visual data is available while testing continues.
Previously tested but currently going through a new round of testing — updated imagery coming soon.
No visual test data — character traits may still be present from research or community input.
No Visual Data
These statuses appear across the database but carry no visual test data. Character traits may still be present from research.
Catalogued in the database but dimmed and non-clickable — no detail page or test data yet.
We're aware of this lens and have added it to our catalogue — testing has not started.
Recently added to the database — awaiting prioritisation and testing.
Planned for addition — the lens or set is on our radar but not yet in the pipeline.
Queued and next in line — we're planning to test this lens soon.
Test Completion Progress
Every lens in the Database shows a colour-coded status dot that represents its overall test completion. Hover over the dot — or the Lab Tested badge — to reveal a floating panel with a progress bar and a full list of individual sub-tests. Green means done, grey means pending. The dot colour shifts from red through orange, teal, and green as more tests are completed — so you can gauge coverage at a glance without clicking into any lens.
Hover over the coloured status dot on any lens card or table row to see a detailed breakdown of test completion — including which sub-tests have been finished and an animated progress bar.
Filtering
Use the filter bar at the top to narrow the table by brand, optical type, era, mount, character traits, and more. Filters stack together — combine Vintage era with Warm flare to find exactly the glass you're after. Active filters appear as colour-coded chips that can be removed individually. The result count updates instantly as you add or clear filters.
Sorting by Traits & Specs
Click any column header to sort the entire table — including character trait columns like Flare, Bokeh, Sharpness, and Contrast. Click once for ascending (mildest values first), click again for descending (most extreme at the top). The active sort column is highlighted in the header row so you always know which trait is driving the order.
Character Trait Badges
Each lens row displays colour-coded character trait badges — the same glass-style badges used across CineTraits. These let you visually scan for similar optical personalities at a glance without opening each lens individually. Hover over any badge to see a detailed tooltip with the trait name, description, and full value hierarchy.
List View vs Card View
Switch between list view and card view depending on how you prefer to browse. List view gives you compact, sortable rows — ideal for scanning specs and traits across many lenses quickly. Card view shows cover images and key data in a visual grid — better for browsing and discovery. Both views support the same filtering and sorting controls.
Grid Density Controls
Adjust the grid density with the column slider to view more lenses at once or zoom in for fine detail. Fewer columns gives you larger previews for pixel-peeping. More columns lets you see the full lineup in one view for broad comparisons. Try it below — drag the slider to change the number of columns.
Hierarchy vs Flat View
Toggle between hierarchy mode (lenses grouped under their series) and flat mode (every lens as its own row). Hierarchy mode is great for exploring a brand's lineup — expand a series to see every focal length. Flat mode is better for cross-brand comparisons and sorting across the entire catalogue. The toggle is persistent, so the Database remembers your preference.
Right-Click Context Menu
Right-click any lens row to access a quick-action context menu. From here you can open Quick Preview, go to the lens set, search for lenses with similar traits via AI, or jump straight into Discover to view test imagery for that lens's brand and series — all without leaving the Database.
Search Cooke Speed Panchro
Quick Preview & Hover Cards
Hover over any lens row to see a quick preview card with the lens cover image, key specs, and character trait summary. This lets you triage lenses without leaving the table. Click through to the full lens detail page for test imagery, editorial content, and comparison tools.
Screenshot of hover preview card on a lens row
Adding to Compare & Wishlist
From the Database, you can add any lens to your Compare list or Wishlist with a single click. The Compare list lets you view lenses side by side with synchronised test imagery. The Wishlist saves lenses for later — and you can even export it as a PDF with AI-generated descriptions for each lens.
Screenshot showing the compare and wishlist actions on a row
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