France's renowned lens, the Angénieux 50mm f1.5 Type S21, late model, manufactured in 1957. Marked in feet, with a preset aperture. It has a 4-group, 6-element Double Gauss design.
When near wide-open apertures, it produces an incredibly beautiful image with a soft veil-like flare and rich bokeh. The distinctive Angénieux aesthetic is also irresistible. The recessed design of the lens means no hood is necessary, allowing you to use it without compromising its beautiful appearance by attaching a hood.
This lens has an Exakta mount, but it has been masterfully converted to Leica M mount. The Leica M mount part is an adapter, allowing you to easily return it to the Exakta mount, making it a versatile piece.
The adapter section faithfully reproduces the silver band characteristic of the late-model Angénieux S1, to the point where it could be mistaken for a genuine part. The stylish appearance, with its sleek curves and silver band accents, might even surpass the ultra-rare original S21 Leica L-mount version. Furthermore, it is rangefinder coupled. With live view, you can also shoot close-ups down to about 30cm from the front of the lens.
The S21 uses an unusual filter diameter of 51mm or 51.5mm, which is quite hard to find, but this item comes with a modified one-off B+W 52mm UV filter.
A coveted piece for Leica and vintage lens enthusiasts. A rare gem.
With minimal signs of use, the exterior is in very beautiful condition. The matte silver band shines with a fresh, like-new surface.
In 2024, a full overhaul was performed, and a custom one-off adapter was made. The operational feel of each part is very smooth. In actual shooting tests with our store's Leica M10-P demo unit, there were rare instances of slight front focus at mid-range distances, but stopping down by 1–2 stops brings it within the depth of field, making it within an acceptable range.
There are signs of wear on the coatings of each lens surface, but no noticeable wiping scratches, leaving the glass in quite good condition for an Angénieux lens.
Given the difficulty of obtaining an original Leica screw mount S21 nowadays, this rangefinder-coupled late model S21 is an ideal piece. It’s in a rare and highly desirable condition!
