Lomography Joseph Petzval 35mm F2 Bokeh Control Art Lens

The Lomography Joseph Petzval 35mm f/2 is a manual full-frame prime for Sony E, Canon RF and Nikon Z. It is the first 35 mm lens in Lomography's Petzval line and belongs to the Focus-coupled Bokeh Control series. It is aimed at photographers and videographers who want the swirly Petzval rendering with a wider field of view than the earlier 55 mm and 80.5 mm lenses.

Optical design

According to Lomography, the lens is built on a recalculation of Joseph Petzval's original 1840 optical design. The company describes a sharp centre with softly blooming edges and says the 35 mm version delivers a larger sharp image area than the other focal lengths of the series. That is meant to make off-centre framing and two-shot compositions easier. A dedicated bokeh control ring changes the strength of the swirl across seven levels, and Lomography says the focus-coupling mechanism avoids focus shift while you do so. The maximum aperture is f/2 and the closest focusing distance is 0.4 m.

Focusing and handling

The lens is fully manual, with no autofocus. Lomography specifies a 180 degree focus throw and a Mod 0.8 gear for follow focus units. The gear positions are the same across the five focal lengths of the series, so a cine rig does not need to be recalibrated when lenses are swapped. Aperture, focus and bokeh are set with stopless rings. The aperture is a stopless iris from f/2 to f/22, and five special shaped drop-in plates are included for the second, plate-based aperture system. Lomography notes that these plates are a different size from those of its other Petzval lenses. A built-in 1/4 inch support is meant to steady the lens when pulling focus.

Build and size

The body is anodized aluminium and the glass is multi-coated. The filter thread is 67 mm. The lens is designed for full-frame sensors, and Lomography says it also works on crop sensor cameras.

Where it fits

Within the series, the 35 mm sits between the 27 mm f/1.7 and the 55 mm f/1.7. Lomography's earlier Petzval 55mm f/1.7 MKII was a full-frame mirrorless Art Lens with a bokeh control ring but without focus-coupling. Other character lenses in the database include the Lensbaby Velvet 28mm f/2.5 and the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Trioplan 35mm f/2.8 II, both of which are character-driven lenses with a distinctive look.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Seven bokeh levels with focus-coupled control, according to Lomography
• Wider 35 mm perspective with a larger sharp area than the other Petzvals, per Lomography
• Close focusing at 0.4 m
• f/2 maximum aperture
• Gear positions and 1/4 inch support for video rigs
• Available for three mirrorless mounts

Cons

• Manual focus only
• The look is intentionally unusual, with soft, swirling edges
• Aperture plates do not fit other Petzval lenses

Verdict

The Joseph Petzval 35mm f/2 is a specialised creative lens for people who want a Petzval character at a moderately wide angle. The focus-coupled bokeh ring is its main selling point, and the video-oriented controls make it a good match for manual cine workflows.