Angénieux 90mm f1.8, Type P1 early version. This is a rare original Leica screw mount. Manufactured by P. Angénieux, the renowned French cine lens maker, with a 4-group, 5-element Ernostar design. Distance scale in meters.
The serial number of this lens is 1786xx. It predates the first number recorded by renowned collector Patrice-Herve Pont in his book on Angénieux lenses, which starts at 178711. In this world where early versions are often regarded as superior, this is quite a prestigious P1!
A classic mid-telephoto lens known for its dramatic rendering, typical of Angénieux. It delivers impressive color rendering in color photography and even more dramatic tones in monochrome.
Whether shooting in color or black and white, you can enjoy beautiful, emotionally powerful images. While the fast aperture and telephoto nature make focusing very challenging, our staff has rated this lens highly, and every test shoot with it brings excitement.
It seems this lens has seen considerable use over the years, with the black anodized finish fading into a gunmetal hue from long-term handling. When paired with a well-worn camera body, the result is so striking you might find yourself saying, Wow! at its impressive presence.
This lens comes fitted with an extremely rare original hood, but unfortunately, it cannot be removed. Despite numerous attempts by repair professionals using various methods, it wouldn’t budge. However, the hood perfectly matches the lens's aesthetic, so we recommend using it as is.
Fully overhauled in August 2024, with careful adjustments made to the aperture and helicoid, resulting in excellent operational smoothness. Interestingly, the three aperture indicators engraved on the barrel all show slightly different values, which is how it was originally produced. Perhaps this early serial number reflects its prototype-like nature.
According to the repair technician, the internal structure also differed from typical P1 models. The focus has been adjusted as well, and while there is a slight front-focus tendency in the range from close distances to about 3 meters, the test results were favorable.
The glass has typical Angénieux characteristics, including some cleaning marks, minor coating deterioration, and a small trace of fungus on the front element. But overall, for a large-aperture Angénieux, the condition of the glass is relatively good. The lens delivers that distinctive, beautiful P1 rendering.
We’ve posted sample images in the gallery. The wide-open rendering, with just the right amount of softness, creates a truly delightful atmosphere. The lens's quality will shine even more when photographing portraits, cats, or dogs.
