Angenieux Retrofocus Type R11 · 28mm f/None

{"overview":"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.","market_narrative":"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.","buying_guide":"Inspect the front and rear elements for fungus, haze and cleaning marks, as early Angenieux coatings are soft and scratch easily. Check the aperture blades for oil and confirm they snap cleanly across the range, and turn the focus helicoid through its full travel to feel for stiffness, dry grease or a gritty action. Look for any sign of element separation around the cemented groups and confirm the mount and rear baffle match the body you intend to use it on, since R11 examples appear in several mount fittings.","specs":"Key specifications confirmed from the available data are a 28mm focal length, an f\/3.5 maximum aperture and a retrofocus optical layout designated Type R11.","faq":[{"q":"What is an Angenieux Retrofocus Type R11 3.5\/28mm worth today?","a":"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."},{"q":"How much does an Angenieux 28mm f\/3.5 R11 sell for at auction?","a":"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."},{"q":"Why is the Angenieux R11 historically significant?","a":"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."},{"q":"What should I check before buying one?","a":"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."}],"confidence":45,"reasoning":"Only two sales records are available and no SPECS or variant data were supplied, so pricing guidance and technical detail are necessarily limited."}