Lomography Lens for Canon

Before there was Photoshop, before there were Instagram filters, there were Petzval lenses, an 1840 invention that captured photos with super sharp centers and swirling bokeh-ful backgrounds. The Lomography Society is reinventing the 19th-century technology by refashioning the classic lens to fit a modern SLR camera.

The Lomography Petzval Portrait Lens has already surpassed its $100K Kickstarter goal with over $371,000 in funding, and photography enthusiasts can grab their own by backing the project for $300.

The Petzval lens creates intense, dramatic portraits with a narrow depth of field and a highly stylized look. Russian optics factory Zenit is manufacturing the retrofitted, classic glass optic lens. Canon EF and Nikon F mount cameras (digital or analog) will work with the modern Petzval lens.

Like the original Petzval, the lens housing is made of brass, but unlike the first Petzval, this version has been completely re-engineered on the inside to work with modern cameras.

Thinking about picking one up for yourself? Take a closer look at the technical specifications based on the first working samples:

• Focal Length — 85mm
• Maximum Aperture — f/2.2
• Apertures — Waterhouse aperture set, up to f/16
• Image Circle — 44mm
• Field of View — 30 degrees
• Closest Focusing Distance — 1m
• Filter Thread — 67mm
• Max. Diameter x Length, Weight — 120mm x 85mm x 80mm
• Weight — 500g

Watch the Petzval lens in action after the break.