Lomography Joseph Petzval 135mm F2.5 Bokeh Control Art Lens

The Lomography Joseph Petzval 135mm f/2.5 is a manual full-frame telephoto prime for Sony E, Canon RF and Nikon Z. Lomography calls it the longest Petzval lens ever made. It completes the five-lens Focus-coupled Bokeh Control series together with the 27 mm and is aimed at portrait and cine work with a soft, nostalgic rendering.

Optical design

The lens follows the Petzval principle, recalculated by Lomography for full-frame mirrorless cameras. According to the company, it has a large sharp area that gradually softens into a subtle swirl toward the edges, with soft, glowing highlights. The product page also mentions mild field curvature. A dedicated ring sets the strength of the swirl across seven levels, and the focus-coupled design is meant to prevent focus shift while doing so. The maximum aperture is f/2.5, and the closest focusing distance is 1.5 m.

Focusing and handling

Focusing is manual with a 180 degree throw. A Mod 0.8 gear is fitted for follow focus, and the gear positions match the other lenses of the series. The iris is stopless from f/2.5 to f/22, and special shaped plates can be dropped into a second aperture system. Aperture, focus and bokeh rings are stopless, and a 1/4 inch support is built in. The lens has a front thread of 77 mm and a second, recessed 67 mm thread. According to Lomography, the 67 mm thread accepts only standard filters and does not take step-up rings or other accessories.

Build and size

The body is anodized aluminium. Lomography lists mount specific dimensions without hood: 150 mm by 88 mm for Canon RF, 154 mm by 88 mm for Nikon Z and 152 mm by 88 mm for Sony E. With the lens hood, the lengths grow to 196 mm, 200 mm and 198 mm. The 135 mm is the largest lens of the series.

Where it fits

In the Petzval series, the 80.5mm f/1.9 is the shorter portrait option, while the 135mm f/2.5 gives a tighter field of view and more compression. Another 135mm f/2.5 option in the database is the Mitakon Zhongyi Creator 135mm f/2.5.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Longest Petzval focal length, with strong compression
• Soft, glowing highlights and a gentle swirl, according to Lomography
• Seven bokeh levels with focus-coupled control
• Follow focus gear and built-in 1/4 inch support
• Three mirrorless mounts

Cons

• Manual focus only
• Closest focusing distance of 1.5 m limits close work
• Large and long, especially with the hood fitted
• The recessed 67 mm filter thread is restrictive

Verdict

The Joseph Petzval 135mm f/2.5 is a specialised portrait and cine lens. It trades flexibility and size for a characteristic soft rendering and a tight field of view. It suits people who already like the Petzval look and want it at a longer focal length.