Anyone ever use Angenieux lenses?

chip j · Nov 11, 2014

I have an Angenieux enlarging lens that is a sheer delight--posh & jazzy. What were their camera lenses like, anyone? Chip

summicron1 · Nov 11, 2014

never used one, but they were so good that Leica let them put an R mount on them. Supposed to be top flight optics. I know they're expensive even in an Exakta mount.

Theo Sulphate · Nov 11, 2014

I have one 50mm Angenieux lens for my Exaktas, but haven't used it yet (got way too many 50's for Exakta...). It's a very nicely built lens.

Also, the Beaulieu 5008 S 8mm camera has a very nice Angenieux zoom.

MDR · Nov 11, 2014

Angenieux lenses are supposed to be superb lenses there offerings in the movie world seem to support that view

Alex Muir · Nov 11, 2014

I have just acquired a Leicina 8SV that is fitted with the Angenieux 7.5-35mm zoom. I haven't tried it yet, but the 'mechanics' of the lens are superb. The camera has clearly been well used, but zoom and focus are smooth and precise with absolutely no play.
I believe they also made lenses for Alpa reflex cameras which was a high quality brand.
Alex

bdial · Nov 11, 2014

They have a very good reputation, they are what the motion picture guys I used to work with swore by.

I have a 35 mm Angenieux exacta mount lens, but have never used it due to not owning a functioning Exacta body.
My understanding is that the 35 is the first retro-focus wide angle for a 35mm SLR.

Trask · Nov 11, 2014

I used a borrowed Angenieux lens back in the early 1970's -- I believe it was a LTM wide angle, but it's a dim memory. I know it made some very nice images. Even here in France Angenieux lenses are not common. If anyone is seeking to sell a lens they're not using, drop me a PM.

hamradio · Nov 11, 2014

I have a Angenieux 75/3.5 Z3 in LTM. It's a nice lens, but nothing terribly remarkable...just a triplet. Seems to fetch semi-ridiculous prices, for some reason.

bsdunek · Nov 11, 2014

I have an Angenieux Zoom that I used on my Bolex H8. It was a wonderful lens - couldn't ask for better.

flavio81 · Nov 11, 2014

chip j said:
I have an Angenieux enlarging lens that is a sheer delight--posh & jazzy. What were their camera lenses like, anyone? Chip

Angenieux was the first manufacturer to offer a retrofocus lens on a film camera. The exact design was copied by other manufacturers like Nikon (on their first 28mm) and Mamiya (on their 65mm lens for the 6x6 TLR)

They made lenses for the Exacta, which competed with the fine lenses made by Carl Zeiss and Schneider.
They were one of the little few manufacturers who made lenses for the ALPA cameras, which were real luxury items.
Many movies have been shot with Angenieux lenses.

So you probably have a very good lens.

Dan Fromm · Nov 11, 2014

flavio81 said:
Angenieux was the first manufacturer to offer a retrofocus lens on a film camera.

Another canard. From 1931-on TTH supplied inverted telephoto lenses for three strip Technicolor cameras. Retrofocus is an Angenieux trade name for Angenieux's inverted teles that's become generic.

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 11, 2014

I have the 15/1.3 and 75/2.5 in C-mount for my Super-8 camera, and they seem to be fine lenses.

They made a 35-70mm zoom in various mounts, but I've never managed to snag one for Canon FD, though I've bid on it a number of times on eBay.

MDR · Nov 12, 2014

Angenieux was the first to offer retrofocus lenses for still cameras not mp-cameras. As Dan said TTH was the first to offer a retrofocus design (1931). Angenieux are very well constructed and good the Price reflects their good Name in the mp-world.

chip j · Nov 12, 2014

I paid $100 for my G 10 48mm f4 enlarging lens 20 yrs ago; a while back I saw one on e-bay for $400!

AgX · Nov 12, 2014

Dan Fromm said:
From 1931-on TTH supplied inverted telephoto lenses for three strip Technicolor cameras.

TTH = Taylor, Taylor & Hobson

OldBodyOldSoul · Nov 12, 2014

I used an Angenieux 45-90/2.8 for one roll of film. It was mounted on a Leicaflex SL, whose prism was so yellow that shooting with it wasn't easy. I liked the lens and would love to shoot with it more, but I would have to get another Leicaflex and the money for it keeps getting diverted to other things.

flavio81 · Nov 12, 2014

Dan Fromm said:
Another canard. From 1931-on TTH supplied inverted telephoto lenses for three strip Technicolor cameras. Retrofocus is an Angenieux trade name for Angenieux's inverted teles that's become generic.

Dan Fromm, the same from Robert Monaghan's Medium Format forum and Photo.net? Pleased to meet you!

Yes, you are correct. I should have said first to introduce a retrofocus "for 35mm still cameras".

Yes, "retrofocus" as a term was coined by Pierre Angenieux, but today is often used instead of "inverted telephoto".

TTH= Taylor, Taylor and Hobson now called "Cooke optics"

GarageBoy · Nov 13, 2014

My dad swears by the Angenieux/Kinoptik renderings

Talking about Exakta versions alone
The teles are nice - smoooth Bokeh
The retrofocus wides are merely okay
Not very flare resistant

You can get an adapter to put Exakta lenses onto a canon FD or EOS camera (there's an OEM Exakta to Canon adapter)

Anyone ever use Angenieux lenses?

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