{"overview":"The Angenieux 40mm f1.8 Type S2 is a fast standard prime from the French maker Angenieux, designed in the screw-mount era for compact rangefinder and small-format use. Its f1.8 maximum aperture and 40mm focal length place it between a classic 35mm wide and a 50mm normal, intended as a versatile general-purpose optic. Today it is regarded primarily as a collector's lens given its rarity and the historic reputation of Angenieux glass.","market_narrative":"Sales data for this reference is extremely thin: a single UK auction hammer result of £18,000 in November 2024 is the only data point on file, and as a wholesale saleroom figure it sits well above what most postwar standard primes sell for. With only one sale to anchor the range and median, today's value for a clean Type S2 should be treated as indicative rather than established, and condition, originality and matching caps or case can swing the price materially. Buyers asking what a 40mm f1.8 Type S2 is worth at saleroom level should expect strong four- to five-figure territory rather than typical user-lens pricing.","buying_guide":"Inspect the front and rear elements under a torch for fungus, haze and cleaning marks, as early Angenieux coatings are soft and scratch easily. Check the aperture blades for oil and confirm the iris snaps cleanly between stops, and rotate the focus through its full travel to feel for stiffness, dry grease or grinding. Look closely at element edges for separation or balsam haze, verify the mount and engravings are original and unmolested, and treat any sale without clear glass and smooth mechanics with caution given how few clean examples appear.","specs":"Recorded specifications are limited to the model designation: a 40mm focal length with an f1.8 maximum aperture, identified as the Type S2 variant of the Angenieux standard prime line.","faq":[{"q":"What is an Angenieux 40mm f1.8 Type S2 worth today?","a":"Based on the only logged UK auction result, a Type S2 hammered at £18,000 in late 2024, so current value at saleroom level is in that region for a clean, complete example, though a single data point makes any precise figure provisional."},{"q":"How much does an Angenieux 40mm f1.8 Type S2 sell for at auction?","a":"The lens sells for premium collector money rather than user prices; the one verified UK hammer result on file is £18,000, reflecting its rarity in the Angenieux range."},{"q":"Why is the price so high compared with other 40mm lenses?","a":"Angenieux fast standards from this era are scarce, and the Type S2 designation in particular surfaces rarely at auction, so the price reflects collector demand and limited supply rather than everyday photographic utility."},{"q":"What should I check before buying one?","a":"Prioritise glass clarity (no fungus, haze or separation), clean dry aperture blades, smooth focus, and originality of markings and mount, since restoration parts for Angenieux primes are effectively unobtainable."}],"confidence":35,"reasoning":"Only one sales record and no SPECS, variants or facts were provided, so market and technical claims rest on a single data point and general brand context."}