LOMOGRAPHY Petzval
TecH Specs
| Lens | f | CF | ø | Weight | Sensor | Mount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35mm | 2.0 | 40cm | 77mm | 0,6kg | FF | Sony E |
| 55mm | 1.7 | 70cm | 77mm | 0,6kg | FF | Sony E |
| 80.5mm | 1.9 | 80cm | 77mm | 0,7kg | FF | Sony E |
RGB Rental offers the Lomography Petzval lens (Mark II) for rent in Berlin. A character-driven lens with strong center sharpness, swirly bokeh and a distinctive vintage rendering that stands apart from modern optics. The Lomography Petzval lens is built around a very specific optical character.
Based on a 19th-century design, it produces a distinctive image with strong center sharpness and a pronounced swirly bokeh in the out-of-focus areas. The look is highly stylized. Contrast is softer, highlights can bloom slightly, and the falloff towards the edges becomes part of the image. The swirling bokeh creates a sense of movement, almost pulling the frame inward, giving the lens a very recognizable signature.
With the Mark II version, the Bokeh Control Ring allows you to adjust the intensity of the effect, ranging from a more subtle rendering to a very pronounced swirl. This makes the lens more flexible while still maintaining its characteristic look. It reacts strongly to light. Flares can appear quickly, and the image shifts depending on exposure and light direction. This makes it less predictable than modern lenses, but also more expressive.
The Petzval isn’t designed to be neutral. It’s a lens that imposes itself on the image. Faces, textures and environments take on a slightly distorted, almost dreamlike quality, especially when shot wide open. Because of its unique rendering, it works best when used intentionally. It’s a strong tool for subjective moments, memory-like sequences or anything that benefits from a break in visual continuity.
