Modern reissue of historic Petzval lenses — delivers characteristic swirl bokeh caused by spherical aberration at the image edges.
Technical Details
The Lomography Petzval 58mm f/1.9 has a minimum focusing distance of 0.68m and weighs 520g with dimensions of 83×110mm. The optical design follows the historical model with four lenses in three groups, resulting in the characteristic 44-degree field of view with a sharp center and circular vignetting. Mounts are available for Canon EF, Nikon F, Pentax K, and Sony E-mount. The 85mm f/2.2 model measures 95×116mm at 580g and has a minimum focusing distance of 0.85m. Both lenses deliberately forgo modern coatings and automatic functions to preserve the historical look.
History & Development
In 1840, Joseph Petzval developed the first mathematically calculated lens in photographic history for the Viennese optics company Voigtländer. The original Petzval lens revolutionized portrait photography with its aperture of f/3.6 – 16 times faster than contemporary alternatives. Lomography launched a Kickstarter campaign in 2013, raising $1.2 million for its reissue. The 85mm model followed in 2014, and in 2019, Lomography expanded the series with special Art Lens versions featuring interchangeable aperture plates.
Practical Use in Film
The Lomography Petzval produces bokeh with characteristic "soap bubble" patterns and strong edge darkening, which create dramatic isolation effects, especially in close-ups. Image sharpness is concentrated in a circular area of about 25% of the frame. Cinematographers use the lens for dream sequences, flashbacks, or emotional climaxes, as its optical properties create an unreal, nostalgic atmosphere. The lack of a distance scale requires precise follow focus and external measuring tapes, which slows down the workflow but promotes artisanal precision.
Comparison & Alternatives
Unlike modern Lensbaby systems or tilt-shift lenses, the Petzval exclusively produces circular out-of-focus areas without perspective distortion. Historical Petzval lenses from manufacturers like Dallmeyer or Voigtländer often cost over 5,000 Euros as collector's items, while the Lomography model is priced at 450 Euros. For comparable bokeh effects without edge darkening, the Helios 44-2 (58mm f/2) or the Meyer-Optik Trioplan 100mm f/2.8 are suitable, although they exhibit different characteristics in their rendering of blur.