CameraWorth.com

Angenieux Retrofocus Type R11 3.5/28mm

The Angenieux Retrofocus Type R11 3.5/28mm is a wide-angle prime lens from the French maker Angenieux, built around the retrofocus design Pierre Angénieux pioneered in the 1950s to clear the mirror box of SLR cameras. With a 28mm focal length and an f/3.5 maximum aperture, it was aimed at reportage and general wide-angle work on 35mm SLRs of the period.

At UK auction the R11 28mm f/3.5 has a thin but consistent record, with hammer prices ranging from £130 to £200 and a midpoint around £165 between the two recorded sales — figures that reflect wholesale saleroom levels rather than dealer retail. As of 2026 a clean, working example tends to sell for the upper end of that band, while copies with cosmetic or optical faults are worth closer to the lower figure. Mount variant and overall condition are the main drivers of value, so the price a given example fetches can swing meaningfully on those points.

I have one to sell

Sales History

Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.

Date Price Source
Apr 2026 £238 Flints Auctions
Feb 2026 £162 Flints Auctions
Nov 2025 £625 Flints Auctions
Oct 2025 £130 Tennants Auctioneers
Dec 2024 £188 Flints Auctions
Jun 2024 EUR 2,000 Leitz Auction
Jun 2022 £250 Flints Auctions
Jun 2022 £438 Flints Auctions
Feb 2022 £325 Flints Auctions
Nov 2021 £285 Flints Auctions
Nov 2019 EUR 600 Leitz Auction
Oct 2019 £312 Flints Auctions
Nov 2016 EUR 200 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 300 Leitz Auction
Nov 2016 EUR 300 Leitz Auction
Nov 2015 EUR 400 Leitz Auction
Mar 2014 EUR 1,700 Leitz Auction
Nov 2008 EUR 220 Leitz Auction
Nov 2007 EUR 420 Leitz Auction
Nov 2006 EUR 1,000 Leitz Auction
Nov 2003 EUR 354 Leitz Auction
Nov 2003 EUR 532 Leitz Auction
Jun 2003 £940 Christie's

Frequently asked questions

What is an Angenieux Retrofocus Type R11 3.5/28mm worth today?

Recorded UK auction hammer prices sit between £130 and £200, so a typical clean example is worth somewhere in that range depending on mount, cosmetics and optical condition.

How much does an Angenieux 28mm f/3.5 R11 sell for at auction?

The two logged UK sales are £130 in 2025 and £200 in 2016, giving an indicative price of roughly £165 at the hammer before buyer's premium.

Why is the Angenieux R11 historically significant?

It carries the Retrofocus name Angenieux coined for the reverse-telephoto wide-angle design that allowed short focal lengths to be used on SLRs without fouling the mirror.

What should I check before buying one?

Prioritise glass clarity (no fungus, haze or heavy cleaning marks), dry and responsive aperture blades, and a smooth focus helicoid, as these are the faults that most often reduce the value of vintage Angenieux primes.

Other Angenieux lenses