Petzval 85 is a technique in filmmakingtography.
Technical Details
The modern Petzval 85 features a maximum aperture of f/2.2 and a minimum aperture of f/16. The optical construction consists of four lenses in three groups, following the classic Petzval design: two achromatic doublets with a large air gap in between. The focus range extends from 1 meter to infinity with a 67mm filter thread. The lens weighs 738 grams and measures 103mm in length. It is available for Canon EF, Nikon F, and Pentax K mounts, as well as in a Fujifilm X-mount version.
History & Development
Lomography Society launched the first modern Petzval 85 via Kickstarter in 2013, raising $1.3 million. The production version followed in 2014, retailing for $599. The original Petzval optics from 1840 revolutionized portrait photography with their f/3.6 aperture, which was very fast for its time. Lomography initially produced only brass versions, expanded the range in 2016 with a black variant, and introduced a 58mm focal length in 2018.
Practical Use in Film
Cinematographers use the Petzval 85 for portraits with strong visual impact, as the circular bokeh literally separates faces from the background. The vignetting enhances the tunnel effect, compelling the viewer's eye to the center of the image. On the Netflix series "The Crown," cinematographer Adriano Goldman used the lens for intimate portrait sequences of Queen Elizabeth. Manual focusing requires precise pull focus, as the depth of field is extremely narrow at wide apertures.
Comparison & Alternatives
While modern 85mm lenses like the Canon 85mm f/1.4L IS or Zeiss Planar 85mm f/1.4 strive for technical perfection, the Petzval deliberately produces optical aberrations. Its swirly bokeh is fundamentally different from the creamy bokeh of modern designs. As an alternative, Lensbaby offers the Twist 60 with a similar swirl effect at a shorter focal length. The Russian Helios 44-2 58mm f/2 produces comparable circular bokeh at a significantly lower cost of under 100 Euros, but does not achieve the image quality of the Petzval 85.