Angenieux 28-340: Professional zoom lens with 12:1 ratio (28-340mm), 23 lens elements, PL mount; standard for documentary and run-and-gun production.
The optical construction consists of 23 lens elements in 18 groups, with four elements made of fluorite glass. The minimum focusing distance is 1.2m continuously across the entire zoom range. The lens features three precise focus rings with a 300° rotation angle for the focus ring and 180° for the zoom ring. Internal focusing prevents any change in length when adjusting focus. The lens covers an image circle of 31.4mm and is equipped with a PL mount.
Angenieux introduced the 28-340 in 2008 as a further development of the successful Optimo series. Pierre Angenieux founded the French company in 1935 but only established himself as a standard in Hollywood in the 1960s with the legendary 25-250mm zoom lenses. The 28-340 was created in response to increasing digitalization and was intended to optimally utilize the extended dynamic range of digital sensors. In 2015, a revised version with improved color correction for 4K productions followed.
The 28-340 is particularly suitable for documentaries and run-and-gun productions where the extreme zoom range minimizes lens changes. Cinematographers appreciate the consistent image quality from wide-angle to telephoto, allowing for seamless zoom movements. In nature films, the 340mm focal length enables discreet animal shots from a distance. However, the high zoom factor requires solid tripod heads, as even minimal movements become highly visible at telephoto settings. Internal focusing prevents dust from entering through moving front elements.
Compared to the Angenieux 24-290, the 28-340 offers extended telephoto reach with slightly reduced wide-angle coverage. Canon's CN20x50 achieves similar zoom factors but focuses on the telephoto range (50-1000mm). The Zeiss LWZ.3 21-100 covers a more practical range with higher aperture but does not reach the telephoto focal lengths of the Angenieux. For controlled studio environments, prime lenses from the Angenieux Master Prime series offer higher optical quality but require frequent lens changes. The 28-340 remains unrivaled for productions that require maximum flexibility with minimal equipment effort.
Ich verwende das 28-340 hauptsächlich bei Dokumentarproduktionen, wo ich schnell zwischen extremen Brennweiten wechseln muss ohne das Set zu unterbrechen. Die durchgehend hohe Bildqualität vom 28mm Weitwinkel bis 340mm Tele eliminiert optische Kompromisse bei spontanen Situationen, allerdings erfordert das Gewicht von 4,8kg eine solide Shoulder-Rig-Konfiguration für längere Handheld-Sequenzen.
Das extreme Zoomverhältnis eröffnet mir neue narrative Möglichkeiten, besonders für emotionale Verdichtung durch kontinuierliche Push-ins von etablierenden Totalen zu intimen Großaufnahmen. Bei Verfolgungssequenzen kann ich nahtlos zwischen verschiedenen Perspektiven wechseln ohne Schnitt, wodurch die Spannung kontinuierlich aufgebaut bleibt und der Zuschauer unmittelbar in die Handlung hineingezogen wird.
Ein 28-340 kostet etwa 45.000 Euro, ersetzt jedoch vier bis sechs Festbrennweiten und reduziert damit Rental-Kosten bei längeren Drehs erheblich. Die minimierte Anzahl an Objektivwechseln beschleunigt besonders bei Dokumentarfilmen den Drehfortschritt um 15-20%, da das Team flexibler auf unvorhergesehene Situationen reagieren kann ohne aufwendige Equipment-Umbauten.
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