Pierre Angénieux

Pierre Angénieux (1907 - 1998), Industrial engineer-optician and French.

Pierre Angénieux was born the July 14th 1907 with Saint-Héand, meadows of Saint-Etienne in France. He receives the diploma for the occupation of engineer of the Arts and trades in 1928 then that of engineer-optician in 1929 after his studies with SupOptique where he follows in particular the course of optical design of Henri Chrétien.

After a passage at Pathé, it founds, in 1935, its company of Optique specialized in the field Cinématographique, the establishments Pierre Angénieux . It is within this one that it will make the choice of the geometrical Optique with the detriment of the Optique physics for the objective calculation of the S, joining in that the German École (Carl Zeiss and Ernst Abbe). He then develops methods of calculating which make it possible to reduce of a factor by 10 the time necessary the development of an objective.

In 1950, it invents the revolutionist Rétrofocus who finally allows to assemble a Objectif great angle on a system reflex camera mono-objective.

It is in 1953, that Pierre Angénieux manages to push back the limits of the opening of an objective while managing to develop an objective with f/0,95 of opening against f/1,4 before. This exploit enables him to equip the cameras BH 70 with the manufacturer étasunien Bell and Howell and this during 35 years.

In 1956, being based on its methods of calculating of objective, it takes up the challenge to create an objective with variable focal distance or Zoom with constant development (17-68 mm). It reaches a report/ratio 10 in 1958 (10-120 mm).

The July 31st 1964, the the Moon is photographed for the first time by the space probe Ranger 7. This probe is equipped with a camera RCA and an objective Angénieux 25 mm f/0,95. This co-operation of the Angénieux company with NASA will pass by the missions Ranger, Gemini and finally Apollo to arrive the July 21st 1969 at the first steps of the Man on the Moon with the mission Apollo 11. But this co-operation does not stop there and the missions Apollo, Apollo-Soyouz, and those of the Space shuttle embark Angénieux objective each time.

In 1964, Pierre Angénieux receives with Hollywood a Oscar for the first zoom of report/ratio 10.

In France, it receives the Grand Prix of the Civil engineers in 1973.

A second Oscar, for the whole of its work will be given to him in 1990 by the Academy off Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Pierre Angénieux dies at the 90 years age, the June 26th 1998.

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