Angenieux Lenses were designed and created by Pierre Angenieux. He was a Frenchmen who began his optical company in 1935. The Angenieux Lenses quickly became popular. By 1950 Angenieux Lenses became internationally known.

One of the well known Angenieux Lenses is the R. I. Retrofocus. The R. I. Retrofocus was a reversed telephoto lens. It became popular because it featured a focal length which was less then its backfocus. This lens was the first of its kind and paved the way for many future retrofocus lenses.

Angenieux Lenses gained its international success because of the R. I. Retrofocus. This product fits a variety of name brand cameras. It fits on Exakta, Leica, Rectaflex and Alpha cameras. There were be several versions of Retrofocus Angenieux Lenses made after the original R. I. Retrofocus.

Angenieux Lenses were used on the best equipment of its time. Professional photographers of the 1960's always had Angenieux Lenses with them. Angenieux Lenses became known as top of the line lenses. They set the standard for not only lenses of their time but for all lenses to come.