Lomography has introduced the Joseph Petzval Métamorphose 35mm f/1.8, a manual-focus full-frame lens designed for Sony E, Nikon Z and Canon RF mirrorless cameras. The new model joins the company’s Focus-Coupled Bokeh Control series, introducing a different optical design that allows users to modify background rendering without changing focus.

Unlike the existing Petzval 35mm f/2, which primarily adjusts the intensity of swirling bokeh, the Métamorphose offers seven levels of optical distortion. At lower settings, the lens produces relatively restrained background blur with soft edges and soap-bubble highlights. Increasing the setting introduces progressively stronger stretching and distortion toward the edges of the frame, while the central subject remains comparatively sharp. The resulting effect also varies according to aperture and focusing distance.

The optical construction consists of six multi-coated elements arranged in five groups, drawing on an early Gaussian lens design associated with Carl Friedrich Gauss. The aperture ranges from f/1.8 to f/22 and uses a stepless diaphragm, while minimum focusing distance is 0.35 meters. Lomography also includes interchangeable rear aperture plates that modify the shape of out-of-focus highlights, although plates from earlier Petzval lenses are not compatible.

The focus-coupled mechanism allows the bokeh control ring to be adjusted without shifting the focus plane, making it possible to change the optical effect during video recording. The lens also features a 180-degree manual focus throw, MOD 0.8 gearing for follow-focus systems and an integrated 1/4-inch support mount. Its anodized aluminum housing accepts 67mm front filters and is compatible with 80mm matte boxes.

Here are some smample pictures, courtesy of Lomography: