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Petzvalux

Ancient Optics Lomography Petzvalux

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Ancient Optics Lomography Petzvalux 27mm T1.9
Ancient Optics Lomography Petzvalux 38mm T1.7
Ancient Optics Lomography Petzvalux 55mm T1.7
Ancient Optics Lomography Petzvalux 80mm T1.9
Ancient Optics Lomography Petzvalux 120mm T1.9

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Ancient Optics Lomography Petzvalux

Prime - Spherical - Full Frame

product details

Petzvalux primes, crafted by Ancient Optics in partnership with Lomography, revive and update the 19th-century Petzval portrait lens design for modern cinema. Fast, full frame, with modern optics based on vintage optical designs, these spherical lenses come in full sets and are all user-tunable. The look is unmistakable: glowing highlights, swirling backgrounds, lower contrast, gentle center sharpness surrounded by edge softness. They expand the Petzval look to five matching focal lengths, including 27mm, 38mm, 55mm, 80mm and 120mm, from T1.7-T1.9. Available for rental or sub-rental at Cine Visuals.

Focal Length
T-Stop
Type
Format
Front Diameter
Lens Mount
Metadata
Iris Blades
Image Circle

Era / Generation
Contrast & Tonal Character
Sharpness & Resolution
Focus Fall‑Off / Transition
Iris & Bokeh Quality
Flare & Highlight Behavior
Handling & Ergonomics
Build & Modifications
Cinematic Heritage & Credits

*Refer to Technical Specifications table. Not the same for all focal lengths.

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Technical Specs Table

T-Stop

Type

Format

Front Diameter

Lens Mount

Metadata

Close Focus (ft)

Close Focus (m)

Weight (lbs)

Weight (kg)

Length (in)

Length (mm)

Iris Blades

Image Circle

Front Filter

Rear Filter

Horizontal Angle of View (Full Frame)

Horizontal Angle of View (S35)

Focus Rotation

T1.9

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

136 mm

LPL

–

12"

0.30 m

5.62 lbs

2.55 kg

–

T1.7

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

LPL

–

14"

0.36 m

4.52 lbs

2.05 kg

–

T1.7

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

LPL

–

0.61 m

3.64 lbs

1.65 kg

–

T1.9

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

LPL

–

2'9"

0.84 m

4.08 lbs

1.85 kg

–

T1.9

Spherical

Full Frame LF/VV

114 mm

LPL

–

0.91 m

5.73 lbs

2.60 kg

–

Ancient Optics Lomography Petzvalux

Image Fidelity & Focus

Contrast is low-to-medium, delivering a dreamy, romantic rendering. Sharpness peaks at the center, while edges melt away, reinforcing subject isolation. Image fidelity is artistic rather than clinical, designed to evoke nostalgia. Focus is shallow and dimensional, with falloff that creates circular depth. Swirling backgrounds draw the eye to the center of the frame – excellent for portraiture. A “3rd ring,” feature allows the user to control many characteristics, mainly spherical aberration, plus edge sharpness, fall-off, bokeh character, and even contrast. Center sharpness is excellent, with falloff in the corners. The look can be extreme or subtle based on T stop, tuning, and distance from camera to subject, and subject to background. Each lens has a tuning ring, with seven well-spaced presets to enable consistency within and between lenses.

Handling & Adaptability

Ergonomically, these are compact, lightweight primes rehoused in cine shells for Ancient Optics by GL Optics with proper focus and iris gears. The lenses are available in LPL mounts. Handling is straightforward, but the look demands deliberate use.

Flare & Bokeh

Flares are warm and lovely, with a veiling glow that enhances the atmosphere. Chromatic aberrations are present and embraced. Bokeh swirls dramatically around the subject – key to the signature Petzval look.

Image Circle

Coverage is for Full Frame sensors (43mm+), making them compatible with modern cinema cameras.

Cinematic Heritage

Introduced in 1840, the Petzval was among the first fast photographic lenses. Ancient Optics and Lomography revived the old designs to give filmmakers access to a historic rendering style that replicates antique portraiture in moving images.