Lomography has announced a groundbreaking new line of five Petzval lenses that bring 185-year-old optical designs into the modern era. The prime lens collection, ranging from 27mm to 135mm, features completely rebuilt lenses based on recalculated versions of Joseph Petzval's original 19th-century portrait lens designs. These innovative lenses combine vintage aesthetics with cutting-edge engineering to deliver the iconic swirly bokeh effect that has captivated photographers and filmmakers worldwide.
The decision to recreate these historic lenses stems from their unique visual characteristics that cannot be replicated through modern optical designs. Lomography engineers emphasize that the Petzval lenses provide distinctive character to both photographs and videos straight from the camera, eliminating the need for extensive post-processing work. The company specifically cites the iconic swirly bokeh, exceptional subject isolation, and beautiful image rendering as primary motivations for bringing these vintage optics to contemporary photo and video audiences.
This marks Lomography's second venture into Petzval lens recreation, building upon their successful 2013 Kickstarter campaign that introduced the Petzval 85 Art for DSLR cameras. The engineering team leveraged their extensive study of the original 1840 Petzval lens design, giving them deep familiarity with the complex optics involved. According to Lomography representatives, the distinctive Petzval look relies more on the field curvature created by the arrangement of optical group elements than simply the glass and coating materials used.
The new lens series incorporates revolutionary focus-coupling bokeh control technology, representing a significant advancement over previous iterations. This innovative mechanical design links the bokeh effect directly to the focus system, promising more natural transitions during rack focus operations and depth-based changes in bokeh appearance. Users can now control bokeh intensity through a dedicated chrome ring on each lens, addressing a major limitation of earlier Petzval Art lenses that required photographers to readjust focus whenever changing bokeh intensity.
Lomography engineers explain that this previous limitation was particularly problematic for videographers, creating workflow disruptions and limiting the lenses' practical applications in film production. The ability to strengthen or reduce the swirl effect represents an incredible storytelling tool that previously couldn't reach its full potential due to focus shift issues. However, implementing this solution required working around established optical designs, as modifying the core optical construction would compromise the characteristic field curvature that creates the signature swirly bokeh effect.
The development process proved extremely challenging, with each lens undergoing extensive design phases, frequent testing, and numerous revisions to maintain loyalty to the original Petzval aesthetic. Every lens requires hand calibration to ensure perfect and consistent focus-coupling bokeh performance that aligns with calculated depth of field measurements. This meticulous attention to detail ensures that users can now focus on their subjects, adjust bokeh using manual controls or cinema gear, and modify bokeh levels in real-time without worrying about focus shift problems.
Despite previous limitations, filmmakers have successfully utilized Lomography's original Petzval lenses in major motion pictures, including the award-winning 2023 film "Poor Things." True Lens Services rehoused Lomography's 58mm and 85mm Petzval lenses specifically for filming scenes in this critically acclaimed production, demonstrating the cinematic potential of these unique optical designs.
The development timeline varied significantly across different focal lengths, with the 55mm f/1.7 and 80.5mm f/1.9 lenses proving easiest to develop due to their similarity to previous Petzval Art lenses. However, creating the 35mm lens presented greater challenges, though Lomography identifies it as a logical continuation of their Petzval development strategy. The company recognizes 35mm as a versatile and highly sought-after focal length among both photographers and videographers, making it a priority for the new series.
Currently in development, the 27mm and 135mm Petzval lenses are scheduled for release later this year, with the wider focal lengths presenting particularly interesting engineering challenges. Lomography reports being "completely blown away" when testing their 35mm focal length prototype for the first time. The company explains that achieving the Petzval look for wider focal lengths requires finding the perfect balance between the sharp central area and the characteristic out-of-focus swirly regions, leading to intense daily discussions about ideal proportions between these two critical zones.
Unlike many lens families designed specifically for video applications that feature unified apertures across all focal lengths, Lomography opted for different maximum apertures throughout their Petzval series. This decision was necessary to achieve unified physical design characteristics, including consistent diameters and control ring positions across various focal lengths. After consulting with trusted community members and cinematography contacts, the team prioritized compatibility, flexibility, and efficiency to meet the needs of both amateur and professional videographers.
Lomography's strategy focuses on providing seamless switching capabilities between different Joseph Petzval focal lengths without requiring recalibration or purchasing multiple accessory sets. This approach reflects their commitment to practical usability in professional environments while maintaining the distinctive vintage aesthetic that defines the Petzval experience.
The company positions these lenses perfectly within current market trends, as vintage aesthetics have gained tremendous popularity in both photography and filmmaking. Lomography's philosophy embraces imperfections as a core part of their identity, deliberately including aberrations in each design rather than correcting them. This approach aligns with their strategy of studying ways to make optical characteristics creatively interesting, helping creators think outside conventional boundaries.
Since 1992, Lomography has maintained dedication to human-first creativity, a philosophy they believe becomes even more important in the age of artificial intelligence. The distinctive Petzval look addresses current market demand, as evidenced by its use in acclaimed films like "Poor Things" and "The Northman." The engineering team expresses hope that an entire movie will eventually be shot exclusively using Petzval lenses, utilizing the complete range of focal lengths they've developed.
The first three lenses in the series—the Petzval 35mm f/2, 55mm f/1.7, and 80.5mm f/1.9—are currently available for full-frame mirrorless cameras in Sony E, Nikon Z, and Canon RF mount options. Each lens is priced at $599 individually, with bundle pricing available at $516 per lens. The remaining 27mm f/2 and 135mm f/2.8 lenses will be released by the end of the year, completing the five-lens series. Additionally, Lomography is developing PL mount versions of each Petzval Art lens specifically for cinematographers, with interested professionals able to sign up for notifications on the company's website.
