Lomography introduces 35mm Petzval Métamorphose lens with adjustable bokeh

Lomography has announced the Joseph Petzval Métamorphose 35mm f/1.8 Focus-Coupled Bokeh Control Art Lens for Sony E, Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts.

The manual-focus lens builds on the distinctive rendering of Lomography's Petzval range, but introduces a wider range of adjustable optical effects. Its dedicated bokeh control offers seven levels, ranging from relatively subtle edge softening and soap-bubble-like textures to a stronger effect that stretches the image towards the edges while retaining a sharper central area.

At higher settings, out-of-focus highlights can take on elongated, comet-like shapes. Close-focus subjects can combine the familiar Petzval swirl with the new stretching effect.

The lens takes inspiration from Carl Friedrich Gauss's Single Gaussian optical design of 1817, which exhibited significant aberrations including coma and astigmatism. Lomography has incorporated these characteristics into a modern lens designed to deliberately produce an unconventional image.

The Métamorphose is also aimed at videographers, with a 180-degree focus throw, MOD 0.8 follow-focus gearing and a focus-coupling mechanism designed to maintain the selected bokeh effect while focusing. The aperture and bokeh controls are manual.

It uses six elements in five groups, focuses down to 0.35m and has a 62-degree field of view. The stopless aperture runs from f/1.8 to f/22, with rear aperture plates providing additional control.

The lens has no electronic contacts and is available in Sony E, Canon RF and Nikon Z mounts.

The lens will retail for $849, and is available for pre-order now, with shipping beginning in December.