In recent years, Hollywood has become more open to unconventional creative choices—both in aspect ratiooverlay style or glass.
As part of this trend, we’ve seen a lot of older/obscure footage (including vintage Petzval portrait shots) pop up in major motion pictures.
I previously wrote an article about the lenses used poor thing,you can read here. In short, I love their eclectic selection of lenses—from fisheye to zoom—that are juxtaposed in the edit for eye-catching cuts.
Of all the lenses used in that film, my favorites are the 58mm and 85mm Lomography Petzval lenses, which were used for many of the close-ups.
After reading poor thingI did some in-depth research on the Petzvals to find some other films that used them. To my surprise, more and more Hollywood films are using some version of the Petzval lens.
Below I’ll briefly share some practical examples of these amazing lenses.
But first, a little history…
Petzvals: Antique Portrait Lenses
It’s remarkable that the first Petzval lenses were introduced as early as 1840, as they remain relevant nearly 200 years later.
Originally released by Voigtländer, Petzvals were the first lenses designed specifically for portrait photography. They are designed with two doublet lenses (and an aperture stop in between), which are partly responsible for the unique bokeh effect that glass is known for.
Pezval has existed in different forms over the years.
For a time, this technology was used in movie projector lenses. In addition to the original camera glass, many of the old projector lenses were later repurposed for film use.
Since 2013, Lomography has been producing new Petzval lenses, bringing antique technology into the 21st century. They have become extremely popular since then, in part because they offer a huge amount of control and customization over the bokeh produced by the lens.
Newer Lomography Petzvals have often been relocated (in many cases by TLS) to be more compatible with the PL mount and modern movie cameras.
Each iteration of these lenses is different, but they all share the same optical properties. Smooth, swirling bokeh and a surreal aesthetic.
Now, let’s take a look at some recent feature films using the Petzval technique…
everything happens at the same time
If Petzval lenses were used in one of the most famous Hollywood films of the past decade, it’s safe to say they are more than capable of mainstream use.
While the film doesn’t use Petzval glass extensively, there are a few key shots like this where it was used to great effect –
northerners
Robert Eggers seems to be a big fan of Petzval lenses, possibly in part because of their antique origins, which make them suitable for shooting such as Northerners.
Very similar to witch, These shots are used in numerous close-ups to create a dreamy, atmospheric and slightly lost look –
blonde
drama inspired by marilyn monroe blonde Known for its striking visual palette, which is fueled by an experimental approach.
It’s no wonder that the Petzval shot appears in this work as a means of further stylizing the narrative. Below are just a few of the many beautiful examples of these shots –
poor thing
As mentioned above, I recently wrote an article About the unique lens selection poor thingand how they contribute to a beautiful visual landscape.
Of all the lenses used in that film, the Petzval lenses (58mm and 85mm) are by far my favorite. They are used extensively throughout the film to capture shots like this –
Petzval Lens: Final Thoughts
These are just a few examples of antique Petzval techniques used in modern films.
I suspect we’ll only see more examples of Petzval in the next few years, especially if some bigger Hollywood movies put them back on the map.
Inevitably, we’ll also see other unconventional lens options as non-standard cinema lenses become popular.
The Helios 44-2 lens is certainly one to watch. It has been used in many feature films and provides a similar look to that of the Petzvals, albeit slightly less dramatic and less stylized.
If nothing else, this should remind us that it’s always good to think outside the box when it comes to lens selection. There are so many amazing lenses out there – some dating back hundreds of years.
There’s no need to limit yourself to kit lenses or even modern cine lenses when there are so many other options to explore.
What is your favorite non-traditional lens to use in filmmaking? Please leave a comment below!
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