Rare item: French P. Angénieux 75mm f3.5, Type Z3. Genuine Leica screw mount. Serial number 45.xxx, manufactured in 1944.
It has a 3-group, 3-element triplet design and is uncoated. The distance scale is in meters. The aluminum barrel is very lightweight at just 128 grams.
This lens is an early Z3 model, with an amber-colored anodized finish that gives it a nice vintage feel. It would be a pleasure to line it up with the contemporaneous brownish 35mm f3.5 TYPE X1, 50mm f1.8 S1, and 90mm f2.5 Y1.
The 75mm focal length is perfectly balanced, and the lens is so light and compact that you might forget it is a telephoto lens. Its design is distinctly Angénieux, with a soft and gentle rendering.
Although the Z3 was produced in reasonable quantities, many were used with dry grease, leading to uneven wear on the aluminum barrel, causing wobbly helicoids and significant decentering. As a result, we are very cautious when sourcing these lenses. However, this particular unit has been carefully serviced, and its rangefinder coupling is remarkably accurate.
There are light scratches, minor scuffs, and fading due to normal use, giving it a nice, vintage look. The unique helicoid knob, often lost, was missing but has been replaced with a custom-made knob that respects the original design—a nice touch!
This lens underwent a full overhaul at our shop in 2022 under its previous owner. The aperture and helicoid still operate smoothly, and the rangefinder coupling is spot on.
There are quite a few light cleaning marks on both the front and rear elements, and some glass hazing on each surface, but for an Angénieux Z3, the condition is decent.
Sample photos have been uploaded to our gallery. Thanks to the smooth operation and accurate rangefinder coupling, shooting with this lens was a pleasure. We hope you enjoy viewing the samples.
