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Chapters:
00:00 - Introduction to the Petzval Lens
00:43 - History of the Petzval Lens
02:20 - The Petzval Look
03:37 - How to use a Petzval Lens
06:39 - Why are Petzvals so Popular?
07:57 - Takeaways
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THE POOR THINGS LENS
A specter is haunting Hollywood– the specter of Petzval. If you're a fan of arthouse film, you've likely noticed that in recent years, filmmakers have started favoring a shot which creates a strange, swirling bokeh. This isn't something built with visual effects. In fact, it's the result of a Petzval lens: a piece of glass nearly two centuries old. In this episode, we take a look at why the lens is so popular, and how filmmakers can use it.
WHAT IS A PETZVAL LENS?
The Petzval lens was created in 1840 by Hungarian mathematician Joseph Petzval. Originally developed for portrait photography, it was one of the first lenses engineered specifically for use with cameras rather than being adapted from telescope optics. The Petzval design is characterized by its fast (for the time) aperture, which allowed for shorter exposure times in an era when most photography required several minutes. Its unique build is a direct result of the lens’s field curvature and uncorrected optical aberrations, which for a long time were considered flaws. Today, however, is a different story.
HOW TO ACHIEVE THE PETZVAL EFFECT
Using a Petzval lens requires a bit of a different technique than modern glass. Many of the contemporary Petzval-style lenses, like those produced by Lomography, are manual focus. This makes exposure and focusing a more tactile and deliberate process. To get the best results, cinematographers typically use Petzval lenses for subjects where the center of the frame contains the main focus.
LOMOGRAPHY PETZVAL POPULARITY
In a digital age dominated by ultra-sharp lenses, the Petzval lens stands out as a creative tool that offers something different. Filmmakers alike are drawn to its unmistakable aesthetic– a combination of central sharpness and peripheral smear that gives images a romantic, almost painterly quality. The imperfections that would once have been design limitations are now seen as artistic assets, providing character that’s hard to replicate with digital filters alone.
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"1986" - Angel Salazar
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"All Star" - ANBR
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