Lomography Revives Petzval Legacy with New Manual Lens Series
Austrian company Lomography has introduced the Joseph Petzval Focus-Coupled Bokeh Control Art Lens Series, a modern reinterpretation of the original 1840 Petzval portrait lens formula. The new lineup is designed for full-frame mirrorless systems and will include five focal lengths: 27mm, 35mm, 55mm, 80.5mm and 135mm. The series combines vintage optical characteristics with updated mechanical features for contemporary photography and videography applications.
The lenses incorporate a focus-coupled bokeh control system, which mechanically links the bokeh adjustment to the focusing mechanism. This allows smooth changes in background rendering during focus pulls without shifting the focal plane, addressing a limitation of previous Petzval designs. Each lens offers seven levels of swirling bokeh intensity, adjustable via a dedicated chrome control ring. Aperture control is fully manual and de-clicked, with a stopless range extending to f/22 across the lineup.
All lenses are fully manual and constructed with anodized aluminum bodies and multi-coated glass elements. They feature standardized 0.8 pitch gears for follow-focus systems, a 180° focus throw and consistent gear positions across the range to facilitate lens changes during production. Additional features include compatibility with drop-in aperture plates for creative bokeh shapes.
Here are some sample pictures, from Lomography’s website:
Three focal lengths have been detailed. The 35mm f/2 lens uses a five-element, four-group optical design, has a 63° field of view, a closest focusing distance of 0.4 meters and a 67mm filter thread. The 55mm f/1.7 employs a four-element, three-group layout, offering a 43° field of view and a minimum focus distance of 0.7 meters. The 80.5mm f/1.9 shares the same optical configuration as the 55mm, with a 30° field of view and a minimum focus distance of 0.8 meters.
The Petzval design is characterized by a sharp central image with progressive edge softness and swirling background blur. These traits have contributed to the lens’s use in various cinematic productions, where its distinctive rendering provides an alternative to conventional modern optics.
The 35mm, 55mm, and 80.5mm lenses are available for preorder in Sony E, Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts for $499 each, while the 27mm and 135mm versions are under development. Lomography has also indicated plans to offer bundled kits including multiple lenses and accessories.
