After 11 successful Kickstarter projects, and seven years of developing and refining, Lomography has launched its twelfth Kickstarter campaign with its new Petzval 80.5mm f/1.9 MKII SLR Art Lens. The New Petzval 80.5 MKII Art Lens will be compatible with Nikon F & Canon EF (d)SLRs cameras and available in three finishes including brass satin, black painted brass, and black anodized aluminum finish.
An Advanced Bokeh Control Edition will also be available in black anodized aluminum, featuring a Bokeh Control ring.

This 180th Anniversary Edition of the 19th-century portrait lens features 4 elements in 3 groups, f/1.9 to f/16 aperture, 67mm filter, 0.8m minimum focusing distance, 30-degree FOV and weighs 440g.

The New Petzval 80.5 MKII Art Lens sports a helicoid focusing mechanism and stopless aperture diaphragm, that enables you to focus and f-stop, whilst the camera is rolling. The unique Petzval optic design renders photos with a totally different optical effect. It provides velvety swirly Bokeh when shot wide open. When stopped down to smaller apertures, the lens displays extreme sharpness across the frame.

The Petzval 80.5mm f/1.9 MKII will also be available in an Advanced Bokeh Control Edition. This edition features a Bokeh Control ring, allowing you to adjust the amount of swirl over 7 levels, for even greater experimentation.

The New Petzval 80.5 MKII Art Lens features not only a stopless aperture diaphragm but also a Waterhouse Aperture System for endless creativity. Through the insertion of special aperture plates of different shapes, you will have the ability to produce rich and patterned backgrounds.

The new Petzval 80.5mm f/1.9 MKII doesn’t just give you a basic Bokeh, you can get what we like to call ‘Swirly Bokeh’. Unlike modern lenses designed to minimize field curvature, thus eliminating any curve across the focal surface, the Petzval lens design embraces the curve and renders photos with a totally different optical effect.

• Focal Length: 80.5 mm
• Lens Construction: 4 elements 3 groups.
• Dual Aperture System: Diaphragm Aperture f/1.9 – f/16; Waterhouse Aperture slot
• Image Circle: 44 mm
• Weight: 440 g (Basic Aluminum Version)
• Field of View: 30 degrees
• Lens Mounting Profile: Canon EF / Nikon F
• Electronic Contacts: No
• Closest Focusing Distance: 0.8 m
• Focusing Mechanism: Helicoid
• Filter Thread: 67 mm
• Dimension: 109 mm (Height) × 78 mm (Diameter) for Canon EF mount, 105 mm (Height) × 78 mm (Diameter) for Nikon F mount

Following here some sample pictures:

The new Petzval 80.5mm f/1.9 MKII features not only a stopless aperture diaphragm, engineered to perfection for quick operation but also a Waterhouse Aperture System for endless experimentation. Through the insertion of special aperture plates of different shapes, you will have the ability to produce rich and patterned backgrounds according to the shape used. You will be able to choose between a heart, a star, a diamond or a circle.

Unlike its predecessors, the New Petzval 80.5 MKII portrait lens allows you to shift seamlessly between photography and filmmaking on your (d)SLR. Having improved the aperture system and the focusing mechanism to allow compatibility with filmmaking gears too, you can now adjust focus and f-stop while the camera is rolling, giving you greater creative freedom than Joseph Petzval’s original lens could ever dream of allowing.

The Petzval 80.5mm f/1.9 MKII Art lens will be made available in Nikon F and Canon EF mounts in black anodized, brass satin and black painted brass colors. Lomography is offering the lens to Kickstarter backers who pledge at least $290.
The lens is estimated to start shipping to backers in June.

More info on Kickstarter’s page.