Angenieux has announced the Optimo 42-420mm A2S Long Range Anamorphic lens. The 42-420mm uses a traditional 2x horizontal squeeze and becomes the 2nd long range anamorphic lens in Angenieux’s lineup, joining the Optimo 44-440 A2S.
The Optimo 42-420mm A2S features IRO (Interchangeable Rear Optics) technology. This IRO technology was first built into the 10x Optimo zoom, allowing a swap of the lens from its anamorphic version, the 44-440 A2S Optimo, to its spherical version, the 25-250 Optimo Style. It is also part of the new Optimo 42-420 A2S lens. Just like the Optimo 44-440 A2S, the 42-420mm A2S can be converted to a spherical 25-250 T3.5 zoom by swapping the rear group and appropriated rings.
The Optimo 42-420 A2S is based on the Optimo 44-440 A2S lens, which was introduced in April 2016. Due to customer feedback from people using that lens, Angenieux created the Optimo 42-420 A2S which has a different focal length and has even less distortion than the 44-440. While the lens features many of the same specifications (constant T4.5 aperture) that made the Optimo 44-440 A2S lens so popular, it is claimed to produce different image characteristics.
The lens comes with the standard PL mount lens, and it has a sub-mount system in order to be equipped with various mount options including the new LPL Arri mount. Angenieux claims the lens has superb image quality along the full focal length range, minimal breathing and low distortion. Mechanically, the lens features precise and ergonomic focus ring with the ability to swap easily the focus scale ring from meters to feet. It is designed for extreme shooting conditions with a better sealed optical area than on its predecessor reducing dust inhale, and can be used in a temperature range from -20°C to +40°C (-5°F to + 105°F).
The Optimo 42-420mm A2S certainly won’t be a cheap lens. The 44-440 A2S lens announced in 2016 retails for $74,999 USD.
