Angénieux 28mm f/3.5 Type R11 – Leica Screw Mount
A renowned French maker of cinema lenses, P. Angénieux produced this 28mm f/3.5 Type R11 lens in 1956.
This is the later version, featuring coarser knurling on the aperture and focusing rings. It comes in the original Leica screw mount (L39), with rangefinder coupling and a focusing scale marked in feet. The optical formula is a 6-element, 6-group retrofocus design, and it features a beautiful purple-toned coating.

True to its retrofocus architecture, the lens has a large, flared front with a distinctive waist — a bold and unique silhouette. Its unmistakable two-tone finish, with deep navy blue anodized aluminum and matte chrome knurled rings, exudes elegance and unmistakable French design flair.

Production numbers for the L-mount Angénieux 28mm are low, making this a fairly rare lens.
Its unique styling pairs beautifully not only with Barnack Leicas, but also with black paint M bodies and modern digital M models. A timeless design that transcends eras.

For reference, the filter thread diameter differs between versions — 56mm on the earlier model and 58mm on this later version — something that continues to perplex and amuse Angénieux users to this day (ourselves included).

A rare and refined collector’s piece.

Many Angénieux lenses show heavy signs of use and faded finishes, but this particular example has retained its deep black paint beautifully. The matte chrome band around the barrel is also in excellent condition, and both the mount and front engraving remain exceptionally clean. There are a couple of minor marks — one near the tip of the barrel and another beside the 3.5 feet marking on the distance ring — but they are very slight.

The lens underwent a full overhaul in May 2025. Both the aperture and focusing helicoid have been finely tuned to provide a smooth, dampened feel. Rangefinder coupling is perfectly aligned.

There are no visible cleaning marks on the glass. Under strong LED light, you may notice some extremely minor coating degradation, but this is negligible and should have no impact on image quality. For an Angénieux, the optics are in particularly fine condition.

Thanks to the clean glass, real-world performance was also excellent. Sample shots are available in our Test Shots Gallery, where you’ll see the lens rendering a gently glowing softness — a distinctively tender and expressive character.

Comes with the original front cap from the earlier production type.