Lomography Completes Petzval Lineup with 27mm and 135mm
Austrian company Lomography has completed its current series of Joseph Petzval Art lenses with the introduction of the 27mm f/1.7 and 135mm f/2.5 Focus-Coupled Bokeh Control models. The two new primes join the previously released 35mm f/2, 55mm f/1.7, and 80.5mm f/1.9, forming a five-lens lineup that reinterprets Joseph Petzval’s 1840 optical design for modern full-frame mirrorless cameras.
The Petzval concept predates most modern photographic optics and is characterized by pronounced field curvature, strong central sharpness, edge fall-off, visible vignetting, and a distinctive swirling bokeh effect. Lomography states that the optical formulas have been recalculated from Petzval’s original design and adapted using contemporary multi-coated glass elements.
A defining feature of the updated series is a focus-coupled bokeh control mechanism: the intensity of the swirl effect can be adjusted across seven continuous levels using a dedicated control ring. Unlike earlier Petzval implementations, altering the bokeh strength does not introduce a shift in the focal plane, thus addressing a limitation of previous designs, where changing the rendering characteristics required refocusing, complicating both still photography and video use. The lenses incorporate a 180-degree focus throw and standardized MOD 0.8 gear positions, aligning them with common follow-focus systems. Aperture rings are de-clicked, and construction is primarily anodized aluminum.
The 27mm f/1.7 represents the widest focal length in the series and focuses as close as 0.3 meters. It uses a 77mm filter thread and is designed to emphasize the Petzval field curvature at a wide-angle perspective, a configuration that required additional optical recalculation to maintain the characteristic rendering. At the opposite end, the 135mm f/2.5 extends the Petzval effect into telephoto territory, with a minimum focusing distance of 1.5 meters and a 67mm filter thread. Both lenses feature manual focus operation and stop down to f/22.
In addition to the adjustable swirl effect, the system allows users to modify the appearance of out-of-focus highlights through interchangeable aperture plates with shaped cutouts, altering the geometry of specular highlights within the frame. This feature further emphasizes the lenses’ emphasis on rendering character rather than optical neutrality.
Here are some sample pictures, courtesy of Lomography:
The 27mm and 135mm Joseph Petzval Art lenses are scheduled for staged availability in 2026, while the previously introduced 35mm, 55mm, and 80.5mm lenses are already on sale. They will be available in Sony E, Nikon Z, and Canon RF mounts and priced at $599 as each piece in the five-model lineup. Lomography also offers bundle options that reduce the total cost when purchasing multiple lenses together.
