Lomography has been celebrating the legacy of Joseph Petzval since 2013, when the first reinvention of a 19th century portrait lens was launched. We went hands-on the following year, and others have followed since. The 80.5-mm f/1.9 MKII marks the 180th anniversary of Petzval's first portrait lens.
Like the glass before it, Lomography's latest addition to its Petzval Art Lens family is the subject of a Kickstarter campaign to raise production funds. It's an appreciative nod to the genius of mathematician, inventor, and physicist Joseph Petzval – who created a portrait lens highly regarded for the sharpness, color saturation and beautiful Bokeh background effect.
Lomography says that the optic design employed in this new portrait lens provides "velvety watercolor Bokeh when shot wide open." But when images are captured through smaller apertures, photographers can expect razor sharpness across the frame. Movie-makers are treated to a helicoid focusing mechanism and stopless aperture diaphragm that allow for focus and f-stop adjustments while recording video. Users can insert different-shaped aperture plates too, to help with creativity.
It's available in Nikon F and Canon EF mounts and comes in brass satin, black painted brass and black anodized aluminum finishes. An Advanced Bokeh Control Edition is also planned, which will feature a dedicated Bokeh Control ring to adjust the swirl over seven levels.
Pledges for the Lomography Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII SLR Art Lens on Kickstarter start at US$290, quite a saving on the estimated retail price of $449. If all goes to plan, shipping is estimated to begin in June. The video below has more.
Source: Lomography
