Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII SLR Art Lens

The 180th Anniversary Edition – Reinventing Petzval’s 19th Century Portrait Lens for Still and Motion Photography

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After 11 successful Kickstarter projects, and seven years of developing and refining, we are proud to present our newest portrait lens: the Lomography Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII SLR Art Lens. The New Petzval Art Lens will be compatible with Nikon F & Canon EF (d)SLRs cameras and available in three finishes including brass satin, black painted brass, and black anodized aluminum finish. An Advanced Bokeh Control Edition will also be available in black anodized aluminum, featuring a Bokeh Control ring.

Enjoy up to 35% discount on its retail price. The new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII could be in your hands starting from June 2020! Here’s why it’s unlike any other lens:

A 19th Century Aesthetic: A (d)SLR lens that celebrates the 180th anniversary of Joseph Petzval’s historical first portrait lens, optimized for still and motion photography.

A Filmmakers Dream: The New Petzval Art Lens sports a helicoid focusing mechanism and stopless aperture diaphragm, that enables you to focus and f-stop, whilst the camera is rolling.

A Watercolor Bokeh: The unique Petzval optic design renders photos with a totally different optical effect. It provides velvety watercolor Bokeh when shot wide open. When stopped down to smaller apertures, the lens displays extreme sharpness across the frame.

Seven Levels of Swirls: The Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII will also be available in an Advanced Bokeh Control Edition. This edition features a Bokeh Control ring, allowing you to adjust the amount of swirl over 7 levels, for even greater experimentation.

A Dual Aperture System: The New Petzval Art Lens features not only a stopless aperture diaphragm but also a Waterhouse Aperture System for endless creativity. Through the insertion of special aperture plates of different shapes, you will have the ability to produce rich and patterned backgrounds.

180 Years: Reinventing Joseph Petzval’s 19th Century Portrait Lens

In 1840, Vienna, Professor Joseph Petzval invented the very first portrait lens. His groundbreaking design became the most widely used in the 19th century.

In 2013, we dived into the world of Petzval and we set out on a quest to reinvent the Petzval Lens. We wanted to transform this optical design from the 19th century into a lens that would work with modern-day (d)SLRs. We vowed we would not give up until our goal was reached. First to arrive was the Petzval 85 Art Lens. The Petzval 58 Bokeh Control Art Lens followed shortly after, featuring for the first time a Bokeh Control ring.

In 2018, we embarked on another ambitious quest: creating a New Petzval Art Lens for (d)SLRs, specifically designed to function easily for both photo and video setups.

Today we are launching the new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII, sporting a helicoid focusing mechanism and stopless aperture diaphragm, that allows focusing and f-stop, whilst the camera is rolling.

“Compared to the older version of Petzval, I think this newer version of Petzval is really easy to use, with having the aperture ring inside the lens, but it also gives you the option to use the plates, to add those… different Bokeh effects.”
— Lauren Roche

“When you’re traveling the Petzval lens is amazing, because you can switch it from your digital SLR to your film and that’s incredible… that’s just a photographer’s dream.”
— Julia Khoroshilov

“The build quality is awesome. It feels great in your hand and… the aperture ring is not indexed which means it doesn’t have that… click click click that you might be used to. It has a very smooth sweep to it, so it’s great for video use, which I’m particularly excited about.”
— Marcus Russell Price

Bokeh or Not Bokeh

The word Bokeh describes one of the most important optical features of the New Petzval Lenses. But what does the word actually mean?

Bokeh: The visual quality of the out-of-focus areas of a photographic image, especially as rendered by a particular lens.

The new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII doesn’t just give you a basic Bokeh, you can get what we like to call ‘Swirly Bokeh’. Unlike modern lenses designed to minimize field curvature, thus eliminating any curve across the focal surface, the Petzval lens design embraces the curve and renders photos with a totally different optical effect.

This lens renders crystal clear in-focus images that seamlessly transition to silky smooth out-of-focus areas. It provides velvety watercolor bokeh when shot wide open. When stopped down to smaller apertures, the lens displays extreme sharpness across the frame. Combined with an 80.5 mm focal length, it creates three-dimensional portraits, evoking the style of the earliest photographs!

“I’ve never used a lens like this before. One of the key features is that it produces this beautiful Bokeh around the subjects that I’m shooting and it’s great, because I shoot tons of portraits and I think this will make the portraits look really unique and special.”
— Lanna Apisukh

7 Levels of Swirl

After years of developing and fine tuning, we became masters of the art of the Bokeh. For this reason we are releasing also an Advanced Bokeh Control Edition, featuring a dedicated Bokeh Control ring that allows you to decide on the amount of swirl with 7 levels to choose from. This lens, available in black anodized aluminum for Canon EF and Nikon F mounts, is the best choice for the more creative spirits, who want to dive deeper into the realm of Bokeh and unleash all their artistic expression.

An Engineering Breakthrough

After 7 years, never-ending cups of coffee and many sleepless nights, we did it! We worked very hard as a team, experimenting with various designs and construction methods to create a remarkable tool for filmmakers and photographers alike.

Dual Aperture System: Diaphragm Aperture f/1.9 - f/16, Waterhouse Aperture System

The new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII features not only a stopless aperture diaphragm, engineered to perfection for quick operation, but also a Waterhouse Aperture System for endless experimentation. Through the insertion of special aperture plates of different shapes, you will have the ability to produce rich and patterned backgrounds according to the shape used. You will be able to choose between a heart, a star, a diamond or a circle.

“The Petzval lens is really amazing in the sense that it can give such a diverse image because of all the effects it has on it, from the aperture wheel, to the waterhouse plates. You can do a lot with it and I think that’s really important in a photographer trying to find their voice.”
— Julia Khoroshilov

“So another cool thing about the Lomo Petzval lens here is that you have the ability to use their aperture plates which you drop right in there… almost like you’re putting a piece of toast in a toaster and that affects… your Bokeh shape to have lots of different shapes, like hearts and stars and more abstract things. But it’s cool cause it… adds an unpredictability to what you’re shooting cause, I mean, who else does that?”
— Marcus Russell Price

Meeting Modern Photographers and Filmmakers

Unlike its predecessors, the New Petzval 80.5 MKII portrait lens allows you to shift seamlessly between photography and filmmaking on your (d)SLR. Having improved the aperture system and the focusing mechanism to allow compatibility with filmmaking gears too, you can now adjust focus and f-stop while the camera is rolling, giving you greater creative freedom than Joseph Petzval’s original lens could ever dream of allowing.

“The new aperture ring is so helpful in the field. You’re able to adjust it on the fly, you’re able to stop it down, you’re able to open it up. So I was able to… go in and out of… shadowy areas or really brightly lit areas and I had that control with the aperture ring right there in place.”
— Richie Duque

“The build quality is awesome. It feels great in your hand and… the aperture ring is not indexed which means it doesn’t have that… click click click that you might be used to. It has a very smooth sweep to it, so it’s great for video use, which I’m particularly excited about.”
— Marcus Russell Price

Compatible with Analogue and Digital Cameras

The new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII is compatible with Canon EF and Nikon F bodies. It is designed for full frame sensors but will also give great results when used on crop sensor cameras. It’s compatible with a great list of systems and mirrorless cameras when using an adapter. If you are unsure whether the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKIII is suitable for your camera or which adapter is the most suitable, simply check our FAQs or write us a message on Kickstarter and our friendly customer service will check it for you.

Why the World Loves Petzval

“The Petzval takes truly extraordinary photographs, and the magic of the old-style lens comes from the unique bokeh and distortion.”
— Kinetic.ink

“The company says it’s the perfect portrait lens — its optics produce a vignetting effect that leaves your subject in focus, surrounded by a pleasingly blurry background. – They do, indeed, look beautiful.”
— TIME

“It’s just so different from the norm that in this day and age of black zoom lenses and iPhones, the Petzval really stands out with its striking looks and design.”
— Steve Huff Photo

“It’s sure to turn heads and keep them turned for years to come.”
— Brian Smith Pictures

“A new lens that brings vintage and modern together.”
— DIY Photography

“The lens is beautifully made, great to use and produces images that have a unique look and feel.”
— Black+White Photography Magazine

“Different from any other modern lens you’re going to find.”
— PCMag

“The Petzval Lens creates shots whose look is almost impossible to replicate with digital tools.”
— The Wall Street Journal

“It was beautiful… I was really taken aback by how it looked.”
— Justin Lin

“It’s my go to lens.”
— Julia Khoroshilov

“Lomography lenses have always kind of set themselves apart with… their fun, kind of unique characteristics.”
— Richie Duque

“It’s so cool. Everyone’s like, when you’re passing by people in the street, they kind of stop and take a look at it and are like, ‘Wow! That’s pretty sweet!”
— Lanna Apisukh

How to Back

Backing the new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII is easy-peasy:

1. During the campaign: Choose your tier from the exciting list of rewards we’ve put together, then select your shipping country and proceed to check-out. The money you pledge will only be booked when the campaign ends and is successfully funded.

2. After the campaign: Once the campaign is over, we’ll send you a survey confirming the details of your pledge and asking for your shipping address. Soon after that, you’ll receive an email which will allow you to choose and select add-ons/accessories with special Kickstarter discounts.

What the Hell is Lomography?

Established in 1992 by a group of footloose Viennese students, the Lomographic Society International is photography’s wild child. Fuelled by fiery passion and burning curiosity, we blasted off our free-spirited movement when we stumbled across the Lomo LC-A, the most popular Russian camera of the 1980s, now famed for its quirky aesthetic. We wasted no time at all and created our Ten Golden Rules, and we’ve dutifully followed them ever since. Today, with over 1 million creative members, Lomography is a license to let loose; an invitation to ignite your inspiration, and a platform to catapult your shots around the globe. Whether you’re a complete novice or a seasoned pro, we believe that you harness the power to create something incredible. From crazy color-shifting film to bespoke Art Lenses, innovative instants to classic analogue cameras we’re dedicated to designing and producing all the photographic tools you need.

Delivery Information

The new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII will be available for delivery to most countries around the world. As shipping, handling, local charges and custom fees vary from country to country, please select your reward to see specific details about your location. Lomography cannot be held liable for any additional customs charges that may occur in your location. We have logistics hubs in Hong Kong, Japan, New York and Hungary. This means that we can deliver to customers in the EU, USA, Hong Kong or Japan without incurring additional customs fees when you receive your reward. If you are located outside the EU, USA, Hong Kong, or Japan there may be extra import costs to pay upon delivery. Please note that we cannot ship to Russia, Belarus or Brazil. We’re offering “drop shipping” to backers in Thailand, which ensures that there will be no additional import costs to pay upon receipt of your items. The shipping rates for Thailand will vary depending on the total cost of your pledge – please find a complete list of the shipping costs per pledge in our FAQ section. These shipping rates include all import and handling fees. For all shipping and handling details, please refer to the FAQs. If you’d like to back the project but your country isn’t listed in the dropdown menu upon checkout, or if you have any further questions about shipping, please feel free to contact us.

Risks & Challenges

We’re proud to have successfully funded and completed eleven ambitious Kickstarter projects. We’re working hard to bring the new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII to life, but we’re aware that there’s always an element of risk involved in these kinds of projects. The first shipment is planned to go out in June 2020. Although we work closely with our manufacturers to ensure everything runs smoothly, unexpected delays in production and delivery can occur. We promise to keep you informed every step of the way. We’re so excited to be back on Kickstarter. We hope you’ll join us in making the Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII a reality!

FAQs

Who took all these breathtaking photos and starred in quite possibly the best three-minute film about the most exciting portrait lens ever seen?
Ah, an excellent question! Many people put in an incredible amount of work, time and dedication into this campaign and we want to thank each and every one of them. The Lomographic Society would like to say a huge thank you to the videographers, editors, musicians, testers, Amigos, longtime collaborators and staff who participated in this project: Ominayzha Alexander, Taylor Antisdel, Lanna Apisukh, Geoffrey Berliner and the Penumbra Foundation, Andreas Bischoff, Birgit Buchart, Robert Detoyato, Richie Duque, Larissa Fister, Tess Gillis, Jess Goodacre, Reggina Idiartegaray, Kathryn Jacobs, Julia Khoroshilov, Gatis Lazdans, Justin Lin, Luca Mantenuto, Raquel Metelo, Jonathan Mora, Chanuporn Pheawchana, Sunsern Poontavee, Goran Popeskovic, Lauren Roche, Markus Russel Price, Celeste Sachetti, Alex Santiago, Meghan Shadis, Moka Sheungyan Wong and Ingrid Viruel.

What’s the estimated delivery date for the new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII Art Lens?
We currently estimate that the new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII Art Lens will be ready for delivery by June 2020 for the basic aluminum version, July and August 2020 for the brass editions and September 2020 for the Advanced Bokeh Control Edition. Please note that this is an estimate only. In the case of unforeseen delays, we will inform you accordingly through update posts here on the project page.

Do you ship to all countries worldwide - without exception?
The new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII Art Lens will be available for delivery to most countries around the world. As shipping, handling, and local charges (excluding customs fees) vary from country to country, please select your reward tier and you should see specific details concerning delivery to your location. Lomography cannot be held liable for any additional customs charges that may occur in your location. We have logistics hubs in the following locations: Hong Kong, Japan, New York and Hungary. Having a hub in Hungary allows us to deliver to EU customers without incurring additional customs fees for their reward. Please be aware that there may be extra import costs to pay upon delivery, depending on your location. In order to reduce mandatory import fees we are delivering goods to backers from Turkey through our distributor in Istanbul. Due to this extra step in distribution, backers from Turkey should expect slightly extended estimated dates of delivery. For backers in Thailand, we’re offering “drop shipping”, which means that there will be no additional import costs to pay upon delivery of the reward. If you are from Russia or another country that is not listed for shipping, please contact us with a private message and we’ll try to make special shipping arrangements for you.

How much is shipping for my location?
Here are the shipping and handling details for locations around the world: for USA & Canada it’s $0. Hong Kong, China & Macau: $8. UK, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Vietnam: $15. EU: $16. New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland: $25. Australia: $30. Brunei, India, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, $35. Lebanon: $45. Philippines, Saudi Arabia: $50. United Arab Emirates: $55. Peru, Qatar: $65. Chile: $80. Columbia, Brazil: $100. Thailand - Drop Shipping Rates between $50- $245. If your country is not listed on our shipping destinations list, please contact us via private message and we’ll try to make a special shipping arrangement for you! Please note that if Turkey is your shipping address, your pledge package might take a further month to arrive than the delivery estimate given for your pledge tier. This is due to special customs requirements. If you have a specific question about shipping, handling or local charges, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Do I have to pay import fees for my shipment?
We will be distributing your pledge packages from shipping hubs in the EU, USA, Japan, and Hong Kong. As a result, backers from these regions will not have to pay additional import fees. We will ship packages to backers in South America, Africa and the rest of the world with TNT. TNT declares the goods and customs checks TNT’s declaration. The amount of tax you will have to pay will be calculated based on this declaration and varies from country to country. The value, product type and shipping method are all factors which will determine the amount of tax you will have to pay. On top of this tax, TNT will charge you “Customs Administration Costs” to pay for processing the clearance of imported goods. Please note that these fees are not included in the Kickstarter Shipping fees listed on this page! We are organizing shipment into Turkey through our local distributors. This means that there will be no import taxes on parcels to this area, but also that longer shipping times are to be expected.

What additional sales tax will there be for the USA and how should I pay them?
Due to the recent ruling of the US supreme court to allow states to collect sales taxes for online shipments to the different states. As per these new regulations backers from various states are required by state law to pay a small taxation fee on their pledge. State and City Sales taxes will be collected after the campaign. An additional payment will be necessary before we can ship our items. We ́ll send you a personalized link for this shortly before we start shipping out!

When and how do you collect the shipping information?
We’ll ask for your shipping information in a survey which is sent out after the Kickstarter campaign ends. We may send out this survey closer to the date that we begin shipping, rather than straight after the campaign in order to minimize the chance of backers changing their address between the survey being filled in and the lenses being shipped. So please don’t worry if you don’t receive your survey immediately after the campaign ends!

Can you indicate zero amount or lower value when shipping to me? I would like to avoid high customs costs.
We’re sorry, but we can’t declare your package as zero value or a gift with a donation as customs requires that this product be valued with a price. Please check the import duty fees with your local customs office as we cannot handle these types of fees.

My payment was declined but I want to be a part of this campaign. Is there any other way I can make my payment?
Normally we can only collect money through Kickstarter. If your payment has been declined, please try registering an alternative credit card to your Kickstarter account. If this doesn’t work, please contact us via direct message and we’ll help you find a solution.

Can I pay via PayPal?
This is not possible since Kickstarter only works with Stripe payments. If you are having persistent problems with payment, please send us a private message and we’ll do our best to help you sort out the issue.

When will my card be charged with my pledge amount?
You will only be charged once the new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII Art Lens is successfully funded at the end of the campaign.

What is the planned retail price for the new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII Art Lens?
The MSRPs for the basic version of the New Petzval 80.5 are currently set to 449 USD for the black anodized aluminum lens, 499 USD for the brass painted black variant and 549 for the Satin Brass Basic Version as well as the aluminum Advanced Bokeh Control Edition. You can save up to 35% on Kickstarter compared to the final retail price!

I want to pledge twice but Kickstarter won’t allow me to. What should I do?
Unfortunately, due to Kickstarter regulations it is not possible to place more than one pledge on each project per account. You can create an additional account to make another pledge or contact us directly and we’ll do our best to make special arrangements for your needs! After the end of the campaign you´ll also have the opportunity to add onto your initial pledge in a special backers deal!

What are the Kickstarter Special, Super Early Bird and Early Bird deals?
The Kickstarter Special, Early Bird and Super Early Bird Deals allow you to get the new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 MKII Art Lens for considerably less than the planned retail price. These rewards have limited availability, so don’t wait around! Please note that these rewards will not be the first to be shipped out. You can find the estimated delivery for each reward package in the reward text!

How do I send a private message?
It’s super simple to drop us a message – all you have to do is click on the “Contact” button at the top of our main project page (just under the green “Back This Project” button).

How does the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 differ from the previous Lomography New Petzval Art Lenses?
The first two versions of the Lomography Petzval Art lens (the New Petzval 85 and New Petzval 58) were created with the intent of bringing back the aesthetic of the 19th century photographs for the first time to (d)SLRs systems. With the feedback of the Community and the ever growing appreciation of the aesthetic of the lens, we have seen the need to optimize the design of the new generation of Petzval Art lenses. We wanted to create a New Petzval Art Lens, much more accessible and affordable and designed to make it easy for filmmakers to use. The New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 sports a helicoid focusing mechanism and stopless aperture diaphragm, that enables to focus and f-stop, whilst the camera is rolling. Unlike the New Petzval 85 and the New Petzval 58 Art lenses, this lens can also be purchased in durable, sturdy black anodized aluminum making it a covetable, investment piece.

Is the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 water/weather proof?
While your New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 Art Lens will survive a little sprinkling of rain, it definitely isn’t waterproof.

What is the image circle of the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9?
The image circle of the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 is 44mm.

Is there going to be an option for electronic contacts on the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9?
No, we have not designed the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 to work with electronic contacts. The beauty of the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 is that it’s entirely manual. You can feel your aperture lock into place as you dial through the mechanism, and you focus using a helicoid mechanism. Here at Lomography, we love completely manual lenses. They teach you to become adept in the subtleties of focusing and aperture, rather than relying on an automatic mechanism to set them for you. However, if you are feeling crafty and eager to modify your Petzval lens, it is possible to add focus confirmation chips to your New Petzval 80.5 MKII Art Lens at your own risk.

What materials are used on the new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 Art Lens?
Unfortunately, as is the standard practice with all lens manufacturers, we cannot disclose all of the exact materials we used to manufacture this lens. However, we can tell you we’re creating the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 Art Lens using the most suitable materials — i.e. brass and multi coated glass optics — and precise and professional engineering.

Will my New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 corrode?
We are using a special varnish on the brass versions of the lens to avoid corrosion of the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 Art Lens. The aluminum version is protected by anodization. For both variants, of course, if you use your lens every day, then eventually the lens will start to look a little aged — but it will age with beautiful patina. Your lens will look even more vintage!

What adapters work with the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9?
The New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 is compatible with a huge range of adapters. You’ll be able to purchase Sony E, Fuji X and Micro 4/3 adapters for a significantly reduced price in our special backer deal after the end of the campaign. If you are unsure whether your camera will be compatible with the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9, please check the “Let’s Get Technical” section above or send us a private message to check. We’re more than happy to help!

Can I use the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 with a mirrorless camera?
Yes! The new Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 is compatible with a great list of systems and mirrorless cameras when using an adapter: Sony E mount, Fuji X, Micro 4/3, Canon RF, Nikon Z, and more!

Can I use the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 with Black Magic Design and RED video cameras?
Yes! It is also possible to use it with Black Magic Design and RED video cameras. Please note that Black Magic Design offers Canon EF and Nikon F mounts for their cameras. RED only offers Canon mounts.

Can I also use the New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 to create videos?
The New Petzval 80.5 mm f/1.9 is perfect for shooting motion pictures. Testers around the world have used the New Petzval Art lens to create music videos and fashion advertisements. Thanks to its 80.5 mm focal length, its helicoid focusing mechanism and the stopless aperture diaphragm, it’s perfect for subject based videos.

Is the Advanced Bokeh Control Edition also available in brass and brass black too?
We decided to offer the Advanced version only in black anodized aluminum.