Anybody had any recent updates on Petzval lens Kickstarter project

[nsurit]

I know several APUGers participated in this KickStarter project. (Dead Link Removed). Wonder if anyone has had any recent updates on the project.

 

[alienmeatsack]

The lens is available for sale via Lomography's store and all of the Kickstarter lenses I believe have shipped as well as all the first pre-order batch.

I've put 5+ rolls through mine, it takes lovely photos!

 

[nsurit]

This was a different kickstarter project. Follow the link in original post.

 

[Dr Croubie]

Yeah, I remember him, he came past here spruiking it at the time. Pity I didn't have the cash to burn or I'd have gotten one, kind of regretting it now he's put more samples up.
Last updated only 2 months ago, that's not unheard of in kickstarter land...

 

[TheToadMen]

I mailed a few times with Denys and he is working hard on getting everything together. It's a project in full progress with the "normal hiccups" for this kind of international undertaking, I guess.

You'll find the official updates here: Dead Link Removed

I backed the project too and ordered the "medium format Petzvar fine art portrait lens with Pentacon Six (P6) mount"
I'm gonna use it with an old Kiev 60 body and maybe get a Pentacon six adapter for my Nikon F5 (and D200).
Then I'm getting a setup that looks a bit like this:

(image by Denys Ivanichek from his Kickstarter project)

I'm still looking for a Hasselblad camera body for this lens, preferably a 203FE or 205fCC. But I haven't seen one of those here yet and these seem to be expensive on the internet.

Bert from Holland

 

[nsurit]

I'm planning on a Kiev/Arax body, however probably won't order until the lens is in my hands.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Do you know if he has plans to market the lens in greater quantity once the initial Kickstarter run is finished?

 

[TheToadMen]

Do you know if he has plans to market the lens in greater quantity once the initial Kickstarter run is finished?

I'll ask him next we have contact.

 

[Dr Croubie]

I'm planning on a Kiev/Arax body, however probably won't order until the lens is in my hands.

Why not just get one now? Give you a bit of time to play around with it and get used to it. A kit lens of an uncoated Vega or Volna might add $20 to use in the meantime. And it gives you time to discover any quirks with the body, and return it or get a new one if you have to, sometimes those soviet bodies have been mistreated over their lives (although that said, my P6, K60, and K88CM were all perfect when I got them)

 

[Denys]

I know several APUGers participated in this KickStarter project. (Dead Link Removed). Wonder if anyone has had any recent updates on the project.

I apologize, my last update was posted long time ago on Kickstarter. There was nothing significant to report. I'm still waiting for our parts. Our CNC supplier is backed up with larger orders and paying very little attention to this small, but fairly complicated order.
Yesterday I have received updates from them, all parts are ready and have being sent to me, except two parts. One of them still needs to be send out for anodizing, another needs to be re-made. They have made engraving incorrect, therefore I have asked to run them again, without engraving.
I will post my next update as soon as I will receive those parts.

 

[Denys]

Do you know if he has plans to market the lens in greater quantity once the initial Kickstarter run is finished?

Yes, I'm planning to order more of them after sending rewards to my backers.

 

[Denys]

I'll ask him next we have contact.

Bert, thank you very much for contacting me!
Yes, I have added some personal funds when ordered our parts, therefore, first batch will be made in quantity of 100 lenses. That will be enough to fulfill the rewards for my backers and it will give me some extra lenses for those people, who might be interested in purchasing the lens, but didn't have chance to participate in project. I keep receiving inquires about the lens very often.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

Denys- When you are ready to start selling them, would you be so kind as to post an announcement here? Much appreciated!

 

[Denys]

Denys- When you are ready to start selling them, would you be so kind as to post an announcement here? Much appreciated!

I appreciate your interest in project. Sure, I will post an announcement here.

 

[TheToadMen]

I'm planning on a Kiev/Arax body, however probably won't order until the lens is in my hands.

I've heard about Arax that they are good (and worth the extra money?). Is there anyone around here who had some experience with them?

 

[TheToadMen]

Dead Link Removed

He improved the aperture from 6 to 10 blades

 

[TheToadMen]

Another update on the Dead Link Removed
The first lenses seem to be shipped by now

 

[Texsport]

I see the lens being sold thru Camera Quest.

Texsport

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

I see the lens being sold thru Camera Quest.

Texsport

THAT is a thoroughly different lens on CameraQuest. That is the Lomo "Petzval" which is in actual fact a re-bodied FSU Zenit Helios that is not a true Petzval lens, and only mounts on Canon or Nikon 35mm/FF DSLR bodies. The Lomo "Petzval" will swirl at large apertures, but it's not the same as a true Petzval because it swirls for very different reasons. The true Petzval swirl occurs because the lens does not focus on a flat plane, but rather a curved field of focus. The true Petzval produces soft-focus effects in its out of focus areas because of lack of chromatic aberration control. A Zenit Helios will produce razor sharp images at the plane of focus even when focused close and wide open.

 

[TheToadMen]

THAT is a thoroughly different lens on CameraQuest. That is the Lomo "Petzval" which is in actual fact a re-bodied FSU Zenit Helios that is not a true Petzval lens, and only mounts on Canon or Nikon 35mm/FF DSLR bodies. The Lomo "Petzval" will swirl at large apertures, but it's not the same as a true Petzval because it swirls for very different reasons. The true Petzval swirl occurs because the lens does not focus on a flat plane, but rather a curved field of focus. The true Petzval produces soft-focus effects in its out of focus areas because of lack of chromatic aberration control. A Zenit Helios will produce razor sharp images at the plane of focus even when focused close and wide open.

I agree. And the Petzvar from Denys is a real Petzval design.
About extra lenses being available later beyond Kickstarter Denys said:

Yes, I have added some personal funds when ordered our parts, therefore, first batch will be made in quantity of 100 lenses. That will be enough to fulfill the rewards for my backers and it will give me some extra lenses for those people, who might be interested in purchasing the lens, but didn't have chance to participate in project. I keep receiving inquires about the lens very often.

I'll guess he'll be setting that project up after he finished making & sending all the Kickstarter lenses.

 

[nsurit]

I have mine in my hot little (actually big) hands. I've ordered an Arax 60 would should be here in a couple of weeks. Will post results when there are some. Bill "Happy Camper" Barber

 

[Nodda Duma]

Hey guys,

Not to get off-topic but I'm a lens designer with access to an optical shop. I know these classical optical designs very well... After seeing this thread I wonder.. Is there interest in Kickstarters for other classical camera lenses such as the Rapid Rectilinear, Dagor, etc, reviving them for use with modern cameras? That's not a question to ask in this thread so I was wondering which sub forum (or perhaps some other forum?) is best to post a new thread gauging interest and discussing the qualities of the proposed lenses?

I would love to design them and see the designs become real lenses. That is my passion and why I'm a lens designer.

 

[darkosaric]

Hey guys,

Not to get off-topic but I'm a lens designer with access to an optical shop. I know these classical optical designs very well... After seeing this thread I wonder.. Is there interest in Kickstarters for other classical camera lenses such as the Rapid Rectilinear, Dagor, etc, reviving them for use with modern cameras? That's not a question to ask in this thread so I was wondering which sub forum (or perhaps some other forum?) is best to post a new thread gauging interest and discussing the qualities of the proposed lenses?

I would love to design them and see the designs become real lenses. That is my passion and why I'm a lens designer.

I would say yes - interest is there for sure. To get as much people possible - you should make mount for nikon and canon - in that way you are targeting DSLR market as well. With plastic housing you could get price down (brass is great on Petzval, but I would prefer option with cheaper housing).
Good marketing is a must in Kickstarter projects.

 

[Nodda Duma]

Hi Darko,

Very good points which I have considered. I have an approach which will work well for supporting medium & 35 mm (and smaller) shooters and different mounts while keeping the cost down. What I need to explore is mounting for large format.. I have a design which will scale up to support 8" x 10" format. That is where the real magic of the RR comes into play

Like any design, the housing material ultimately depends on weight requirement and the need to hold the lenses in a specific position over the temperature ranges in which they will be used and within the tolerances required. Plastic may not necessarily be the best choice although I have used plastic barrels (carefully designed to be athermal) in the past.

ah! I don't want to derail. I will start a new thread.... perhaps over in the Large Format forum.

 

[TheToadMen]

ah! I don't want to derail. I will start a new thread.... perhaps over in the Large Format forum.

Please do, but also on this forum! Interesting idea. I would be interested in old style lenses for MF format, like Pentax 67' Bronica SQ-A or Pentacon Six mount.
Especially an old Wollensak Diffused Verito lens (pictorialism aera).
Bert from Holland
http://thetoadmen.blogspot.nl