{"id":75515,"date":"2025-09-14T09:11:52","date_gmt":"2025-09-14T08:11:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/?p=75515"},"modified":"2026-01-14T10:08:21","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T09:08:21","slug":"review-lomography-petzval-55mm-f-1-7-bokeh-control-mark-ii-art-lens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/phillipreeve.net\/blog\/review-lomography-petzval-55mm-f-1-7-bokeh-control-mark-ii-art-lens\/","title":{"rendered":"REVIEW: LOMOGRAPHY Petzval 55mm F\/1.7 Bokeh Control Mark II Art Lens"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Lomography<\/h2>\n

Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\n

Inspired by a 19th-century design with a cult following, Lomography has brought the spirit of Joseph Petzval\u2019s optics into the mirrorless era. Over the years, Lomography has released several lenses based on Joseph Petzval\u2019s original 1840s optical designs. The Lomography Petzval 55mm f\/1.7 Bokeh Control MKII is the company\u2019s first Art Lens built specifically for full-frame mirrorless cameras. It\u2019s a reimagining of the original design, aiming to replicate the aesthetic qualities of those early lenses: a sharp centre and wild, swirling bokeh that makes any merry-go-round effect fade in comparison.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve reviewed other lenses that produce a somewhat similar effect \u2014 such as the Helios 40, Helios 44, and TTArtisan\u2019s remake of the Carl Zeiss Biotar 75\/1.5 \u2014 but in terms of effect, those are more like corrected versions of this lens, taming the aberrations that create its distinctive bokeh.<\/p>\n

While I usually follow a standard testing procedure, you\u2019ll see that there\u2019s little point in doing so with this lens. After all, it\u2019s not sharpness charts or corner performance that matter here\u2014this is a lens about feel, character, and swirly chaos. So, this will be part review, part test\u2014let\u2019s dive in!<\/p>\n

\"camera-icon2\"I tested this lens on a 46 Mp<\/a> Nikon Z7ii<\/a> (Sample images were taken with a Nikon Zf<\/a> )
\n\"\"You can see this review as\u00a0a\u00a0YouTube\u00a0video\u00a0here<\/a>!
\n\"\"Sample images in high resolution here<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Sample Images<\/span><\/h2>\n
\"\"
Nikon Zf | LOMOGRAPHY New Petzval 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control Mark II | f\/1.7 | BC7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Nikon Zf | LOMOGRAPHY New Petzval 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control Mark II | f\/2<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Nikon Zf | LOMOGRAPHY New Petzval 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control Mark II | f\/1.7 | BC7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Nikon Zf | LOMOGRAPHY New Petzval 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control Mark II | f\/1.7 | BC7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Nikon Zf | LOMOGRAPHY New Petzval 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control Mark II | f\/1.7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/p>\n

\"\"
Nikon Zf | LOMOGRAPHY New Petzval 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control Mark II | f\/5.6\u00a0 | BC1<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Nikon Zf | LOMOGRAPHY New Petzval 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control Mark II | f\/1.7 | BC4<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Nikon Zf | LOMOGRAPHY New Petzval 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control Mark II | f\/1.7 | BC7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"
Nikon Zf | LOMOGRAPHY New Petzval 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control Mark II | f\/1.7 | BC7<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Most of the sample images in this review and many more can be found in higher resolution here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Lomography
Lomography New Petzval Mark II 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control on a Nikon Zf<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Specifications<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Focal Length<\/td>\n55mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Angle of View<\/td>\n41\u00b0 (BC level 1) – 47\u00b0 (BC level 7)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
# of Aperture Blades<\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Max Aperture<\/td>\nF\/1.7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Aperture<\/td>\nF\/22<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Min Focus Distance<\/td>\n\u2248 0.6 m<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filter Size<\/td>\n67mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lens Mount<\/td>\nCanon RF, Nikon Z, Sony E<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Weight<\/td>\n409 g (Z version)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Size (D x L)<\/td>\n72 x 78 mm<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Elements\/Group<\/td>\n4 elements \/ 3 groups (Petzval design)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
\"\"
Lomography New Petzval Mark II 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
Buy new:<\/strong> Lomography online store<\/a> $499 (Affiliate links)
\nBuy used: eBay<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Disclosure<\/span><\/h2>\n

Lomography kindly lent this lens for a couple of weeks for test and review purposes.<\/p>\n

Handling<\/span><\/h2>\n

This Petzval lens is fully manual: no autofocus, no aperture control, no image stabilisation, no electronic contacts, and no EXIF data. It appears to be made entirely of metal and glass. All markings, including the stylish lens name, are printed on the barrel or front collar.<\/p>\n

The lens comes in three finishes: satin brass, black painted brass for a vintage look, and black anodised aluminium for a more contemporary feel.<\/p>\n

\"Lomography
Lomography New Petzval Mark II 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are three rings on the lens. Starting from the rear (closest to the camera) is a grip-friendly focusing ring. It turns with a bit of stiffness but feels well-damped. The ring has a total physical rotation of 130\u00b0, but the actual focus throw is only 90\u00b0. This discrepancy is due to the presence of two sets of markings: one for minimum focus distance (0.6m at BC1 and 0.6m at BC7) and one for infinity (\u221e at BC1 and \u221e at BC7). “BC” stands for Bokeh Control, and at each BC level\u2014from BC1 to BC7\u2014the focus throw from minimum focus to infinity remains 90\u00b0.<\/p>\n

\"Lomography
Lomography New Petzval Mark II 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control (focusing ring and aperture ring)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are no other distance markings on the focusing ring.<\/p>\n

Next is a very thin, clickless aperture ring that turns smoothly and quietly. Unlike typical aperture rings, it has only a single marking; the aperture values themselves are fixed on the lens barrel. To set the aperture, you align the ring\u2019s marking with the desired value on the barrel. The aperture markings are not evenly spaced \u2014 the gaps are wider at larger (brighter) apertures and narrower at smaller ones. Notably, there is no marking for f\/16 between f\/11 and f\/22.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

It sits very close to the third ring, and because it turns so easily, it\u2019s easy to nudge it by mistake\u2014I did so several times without realising.<\/p>\n

\"Lomography
Lomography New Petzval Mark II 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The third ring, closest to the front element, is the Bokeh Control ring, which allows you to adjust the level of swirl. It\u2019s marked with evenly spaced values from 1 (least swirl) to 7 (most swirl). The BC1 and BC7 markings on the focusing ring correspond to the setting on this ring. Changing the bokeh level will shift the focus setting, so if you adjust it after focusing, you\u2019ll need to refocus.<\/p>\n

\"The
The Waterhouse aperture\/bokeh system<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To further control the bokeh, the lens has another trick up its sleeve: the Waterhouse Aperture System for creating experimental effects. This system uses a slot on the lens barrel, located between the focusing and aperture rings. Included in the box\u2014alongside a metal front cap bearing the stylish Petzval logo\u2014are five metal aperture plates. These can be inserted into the Waterhouse slot to alter the shape of specular highlights in the background blur.<\/p>\n

\"Lomography
Lomography New Petzval Mark II 55mm 1.7 Bokeh Control<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The round plate, the first one on the left, doesn\u2019t actually change the image\u2014it produces the same round bokeh as using no plate at all. Its main purpose is to act as a dust cover, protecting the lens when none of the creative aperture plates are in use.<\/p>\n

Optical Features<\/span><\/h2>\n

Sharpness (Infinity)<\/span><\/h3>\n

For the infinity sharpness test, we look at three areas of the image, centre, mid-frame, and corner, see highlighted areas in the image below!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Infinily Sharpness Points of Inspection<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Nikon
Nikon Z7II | Lomography Petzval 55\/1.7 II | Infinity sharpness<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I focused the lens on the centre, and the sharpness there is pretty good from wide open. Stopping down improves it, but not by much. The field curvature is pretty wild, and that\u2019s exactly what gives the lens its dreamy, exaggerated bokeh. I could have squeezed out more sharpness in the mid-frame and corners by refocusing there, but that wasn\u2019t the point of this test. What becomes obvious is that this lens just isn\u2019t built for landscapes. Where it shines is in creating a vintage mood, letting you nail focus on a single spot while everything else melts away\u2014though the corners never really sharpen up, no matter what you do.<\/p>\n

Sharpness (Portrait)<\/span><\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s look at the points of interest for portraits at the portrait distance: the very centre, the centre\u2019s inner periphery\u00a0 (1\/3 rule intersection), and the centre\u2019s outer periphery (1\/4th intersection).<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
Portrait Sharpness Points of Interest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n