After an announcement at the Cannes Film Festival last July, Angénieux is pleased to present the first 37-102mm Full Frame Optimo Ultra Compact Zoom of a series of two. These compact lenses, also including a 21-56mm lens, will be the perfect companions to the Optimo Ultra 12X and the Optimo Prime series to create a complete Angénieux high-end Full Frame solution.
The 37-102mm lens was just presented for the first time in the world by Band Pro Film & Digital Inc, the exclusive partner for Angénieux lenses in the Americas, during a special event at New York’s Peninsula Hotel. A second presentation event will take place in Los Angeles on September 29, 2021.
The new Full Frame series of Optimo high-end compact zoom lenses is the result of decades of proven expertise in high precision optics and mechanics dedicated to cinema. The 37-102 & the 21-56 are the direct descendants of the iconic and Academy awarded Optimo 15-40 and 28-76 lenses, which have been the faithful companions of Directors of Photography for more than 15 years. Step by step, they will replace them on movie sets.
This new generation of high-end lenses is fully designed for the FF/VV format. Lightweight and compact, these lenses are among the lightest on the market. Thought for cinema users, the Optimo Ultra Compact lenses are the perfect addition to the Angénieux high-end Full Frame collection which already included the Optimo Ultra 12X and the Optimo Prime Series.
They will seduce by their ergonomics, their superb optical quality from T2.9 (in FF/VV), including the famous Angénieux look and their high-precision mechanics. Image quality is consistent from T2.9 to T22 and at every focal length and focus distance.
The iris is also capable of closing completely. The balance of contrast, color and resolution offers an appealing cinematic look.
The new compact lenses will coexist with the extremely popular Type-EZ lenses - which were among the first Full Frame zooms and have been a huge commercial success - on two different segments of the market. The Optimo Ultra Compact lenses will join the Optimo Ultra 12X and the Optimo Primeseries on high profile productions while the Type-EZ lenses will continue to be the preferred lens for a huge variety of projects and applications in Full Frame.
About Angénieux
Angénieux is world-renowned for its camera lenses. Awarded four times in Hollywood by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and sciences in 1964, 1989 and 2009, and by the Society of Camera Operators in 2012, as well as in 2014 by the British Society of Cinematographers in London, Angénieux lenses are a benchmark for image professionals. They are used worldwide for cinema, TV dramas, music videos or commercials.
The history of the brand started in 1935, more than 80 years ago, with the creation of the Pierre Angénieux Company. Since1993, Angénieux has become a Thales Group brand.
Cinema enthusiast and genius inventor, Pierre Angénieux laid the foundations of the modern zoom lenses and ensured the continued success of his company which experienced an incredible destiny. Pierre Angénieux was not only interested in cinema: he also turned to photography, television, optronics, medical. Angénieux lenses went all the way to the moon!
Chosen by NASA in the 1960’s, they have participated to different missions of the prestigious American organization. They were aboard Apollo 11 and participated to the extraordinary success of the mission, that, 50 years ago, showed the images of man’s first step on the Moon.
Currently available, the book « Angénieux and Cinema: From Light to Image” retraces through 270 pages widely illustrated,the incredible adventure of the Angénieux brand up to its most current challenges. The book is also available in English.
