SUMMARY
Christopher Frost reviews the redesigned Lomography Petzval 55mm f/1.7 Bokeh Control Lens, which now includes focus coupling and a geared focus ring for improved usability. This new version features a practical metal body with manual aperture, bokeh control, and a well-damped focus ring, a departure from its previous gold aesthetic. The lens also comes with aperture plates to shape bokeh, though they reduce the effective aperture. Optically, the lens is characterized by an uneven plane of focus, making it unsuitable for flat product shots but striking for cityscapes at f/1.7. Central sharpness improves at f/5.6, but field curvature persists. Heavy vignetting and flare are also notable characteristics.
TAKEAWAYS
New Lomography Petzval 55mm f/1.7 features focus coupling and a geared focus ring.
The redesign prioritizes a practical metal body over the previous gold aesthetic.
Includes aperture plates for bokeh shaping, which reduce effective aperture.
Lens has a deliberately uneven focus plane, best suited for artistic shots, not flat product photography.