Lomography Joseph Petzval Métamorphose 35 f/1.8 Announced – Seven Bokeh Levels, Stretching Optical Warp

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by Alexandra ThompsonToday

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Lomography has announced the Joseph Petzval Métamorphose 35 f/1.8 Focus-Coupled Bokeh Control Art Lens, a manual full-frame prime for Sony E, Canon RF, and Nikon Z mirrorless cameras. Its seven-level bokeh control ring moves from a restrained soap bubble rendering at one end to a stretched optical warp at the other, and it can be adjusted without shifting focus.

We covered the launch of the Joseph Petzval Focus-Coupled Bokeh Control series last year, when it consisted of a 35mm f/2, a 55mm f/1.7, and an 80.5mm f/1.9. Lomography has since completed that lineup with a 27mm f/1.7 and a 135mm f/2.5, and we’ve previously looked at the company’s Nour Triplet V 2.0/64, another art lens with an adjustable bokeh character. The Métamorphose is the sixth lens in the Joseph Petzval Focus-Coupled family and takes a different optical route, combining inspiration from Gauss’ early single Gaussian design with the character of Lomography’s Petzval line.

The Lomography Joseph Petzval Métamorphose 35 f/1.8 is built around six multi-coated elements in five groups, housed in an anodized aluminum body. A stopless iris covers f/1.8 to f/22, the closest focusing distance is 0.35 m (1.15 ft), and the focus ring has a 180° throw. Lomography lists MOD 0.8 gears for follow-focus use, a 67mm filter thread, a built-in 1/4-inch lens support, and compatibility with 80 mm (3.15 in) matte boxes. At the time of writing this article, the weight and dimensions have not been published yet.

A discarded Gauss design as the starting point

The earlier lenses in the series are based, according to Lomography, on Joseph Petzval’s 1840s calculations for his portrait lens. For the Métamorphose, the company says it went back to the single Gaussian lens that Carl Friedrich Gauss developed in 1817. In Lomography’s account, that early design produced strong coma and astigmatism and was considered unsuitable for photography as a result.

Lomography states that it optimized the formula and combined it with the character of its Petzval line, treating the aberrations as the source of the look.

What the seven bokeh levels do

At the lower settings, Lomography describes softer frame edges and soap bubble bokeh in the background, a look close to the existing Petzval Art Lenses. Raising the level makes the effect more pronounced: the center of the image stays sharp while the edges stretch and blur outward. At level 7, the company describes a sharp center surrounded by a warp that extends out of the frame, and at the closest focusing distances the swirl and the stretch are said to appear together. Aperture and focus distance modify the result further.

A more practical account comes from Finnish cinematographer Jaakko Taavila, who shot a short film with the lens for Lomography’s magazine. He filmed the protagonist’s normal state at level 1 and switched to level 7 for the character’s heightened state. Jaakko describes level 1 as surprisingly neutral with a vintage-inspired look, and he points out that the ring selects between two different looks, whereas on the original Petzval design it fine-tunes a single swirl. For narrative work, that means one lens can cover a baseline and an effect rendering within the same scene.

Built for adjustments during a take

The focus-coupling mechanism is carried over from the rest of the series. Turning the bokeh control ring does not shift focus, so the level can be changed while the camera is rolling. The ring is stopless, and the company says it can be operated by hand or via cinema gear, which means a follow focus or lens motor can drive the transition.

A second aperture system consists of drop-in rear aperture plates that shape the bokeh. Lomography notes that plates from previous Petzval lenses do not fit the Métamorphose. The 67mm filter thread matches the 35mm, 55mm, and 80.5mm lenses in the series, so existing filters can be shared.

Focusing is manual only. The lens is designed for full-frame sensors, and Lomography says it can also be used on crop-sensor cameras. A smaller sensor records only the central part of the image circle, while the stretch effect, as Lomography describes it, builds toward the frame edges.

How it compares to the Petzval 35 f/2

The series already includes a 35mm lens. The Joseph Petzval 35 f/2 launched at $599 with a closest focusing distance of 0.4 m (1.31 ft), and its bokeh ring varies the strength of the classic Petzval swirl. The Métamorphose is about a third of a stop faster, focuses 5 cm (2 in) closer, and costs $50 more. The choice between them comes down to rendering: an adjustable swirl on the f/2, or a range that runs from near-neutral to heavily warped on the new lens.

Price and availability

The Lomography Joseph Petzval Métamorphose 35 f/1.8 is available for pre-order in Sony E, Canon RF, and Nikon Z mounts, listed at $649 in Lomography’s US store and starting at €549 in its EU store. The company gives an estimated shipping date of December 2026.

Buyers will also receive a cashback voucher that can be used toward another lens in the Joseph Petzval Focus-Coupled Bokeh Control series.

For more information, please visit the Lomography website.

Would you switch from a near-neutral look to a heavy optical warp within a single take, or build the effect in post? Let us know in the comments below!