Lomography Joseph Petzval 80.5mm F1.9 Bokeh Control Art Lens

The Lomography Joseph Petzval 80.5mm f/1.9 is a manual full-frame portrait prime for Sony E, Canon RF and Nikon Z. According to Lomography, it brings the 80.5 mm Petzval to full-frame mirrorless mounts for the first time, after earlier versions for SLR cameras. It is part of the Focus-coupled Bokeh Control series.

Optical design

Lomography bases the lens on the original 1840 Petzval design, with a sharp centre and softly blooming edges. The company says the focal length suits natural looking portraits with strong subject isolation. A dedicated bokeh control ring sets the swirl across seven levels, and Lomography states that the focus-coupling mechanism avoids focus shift when you change the level. The maximum aperture is f/1.9 and the closest focusing distance is 0.8 m. The glass is multi-coated.

Focusing and handling

Focusing is manual. The focus throw is 180 degrees and a Mod 0.8 gear is fitted for follow focus. The gear positions match those of the other lenses in the series. The iris is stopless from f/1.9 to f/22, and a second aperture system uses special shaped drop-in plates. The aperture, focus and bokeh rings are stopless. A 1/4 inch lens support is built in. Lomography describes the lens as optimised for videography.

Build and size

The body is anodized aluminium, the filter thread is 67 mm and the lens is designed for full-frame sensors.

Where it fits

The earlier Petzval 80.5 f/1.9 MKII was a (d)SLR lens with a helicoid focusing mechanism and a bokeh control ring. The new version moves to mirrorless mounts and adds focus-coupling and video features. In the series, the 55mm f/1.7 is the next shorter lens and the 135mm f/2.5 the longer one. Other portrait character lenses in the database include the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Biotar 75mm f/1.5 II, the Meyer-Optik Gorlitz Primoplan 75mm f/1.9 II and the Lensbaby Velvet 85mm f/1.8.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Seven bokeh levels with no focus shift, according to Lomography
• f/1.9 aperture and 80.5 mm focal length for portraits
• 180 degree focus throw with follow focus gear
• Anodized aluminium body and multi-coated glass
• Three mirrorless mounts

Cons

• Manual focus only
• Closest focusing distance of 0.8 m is the longest of the 35 to 80.5 mm group
• The swirl rendering is a deliberate effect and not a neutral portrait look

Verdict

The Joseph Petzval 80.5mm f/1.9 is the portrait lens of the series. It keeps the classic Petzval character and adds the adjustable bokeh and video controls of the newer generation. It suits portrait and video work where a strong, visible rendering is wanted.