Jan Narciso on the Petzval 80.5 Lens Working in Unison with His Creative Visions
6Inspired by the whimsical cinematography and use of the swirly Petzval lens effects in Yorgos Lanthimos's 2023 film "Poor Things", LomoAmigo Jan Narciso is back with our magazine to share his take on the vintage aesthetics of the New Petzval 80.5 f/1.9 MKII Bokeh Control Art Lens.
Comparing his results across multiple shoots—both analogue and digital—Jan's thorough first impressions show the versatility of the experimental lens in unison with the creative mind behind the work.
Hi Jan, welcome back to Lomography Magazine! Can you fill us in on what you've been up to since your last feature?
I’ve been juggling my current photoshoots and planning for upcoming shoots that I’m really excited about. I’m also moving from Hollywood to Santa Monica! I’m excited to be near the water and go to the beach more often.
What made you decide to try out the Petzval 80.5 lens ?
Petzval 80.5 lens was one of the lenses used in "Poor Things." When I watched the movie, I was completely enamored so I did a little research and found out it was a Lomography lens?! Mind blown!
Can you tell us about what you shot with the Petzval 80.5 lens?
I tried it with different kinds of shoots. Some studio and some outdoors. I also tried it in both my medium format digital camera (Fujifilm GFX) and my 35 mm Nikon F.
What was the process like conceptualizing the shoots?
I wanted to create portraits that are my style but also show the lens’s capabilities. I knew I wanted to shoot it wide open because of the swirly bokeh so I planned a shoot with lots of lights or texture in the background.
Do you have a favorite photo that you shot with the lens?
Oddly it was the full body shot of Randy leaning on the handrail. It gave off a large format kind of look. It was a really fun shoot too. We went to Griffith Park out here in Hollywood. We didn’t have much daylight so we were running and gunning trying to find a cool background and that shot was literally him just waiting for me to get my gear and I told him to stop and took the shot.
Can you compare your experience shooting with the lens mounted on your mirrorless camera versus your analogue camera? Did you prefer one over the other?
I enjoyed both! They’re different feels and looks. The digital definitely showed the separation of the focus and out-of-focus. The film shots gave a balanced texture from the grain and softness from the bokeh.
Do you have a favorite feature of the lens?
I’m sure a lot of people can agree with me on this. I love the swirly bokeh. It’s nice to be able to get that vintage look from a new built lens!
Do you have any tips or tricks for shooting with the Petzval 80.5 lens?
I would recommend to keep the focus on the center of the photos because it softens as it gets closer to the edges. If you want to recompose it, you can play around and crop in post.
Do you have any upcoming projects or shoots that you can share with our community?
I’ve been doing lots of photoshoots and very grateful for the projects I’ve been assigned to. I really want to start shooting more commercial shoots. My goal is to shoot for GQ, Leica and Porsche. I’m manifesting it here.
Anything else you'd like to share?
Please add me on social media! My handle is "Jancsn" on all platforms.
If you're interested in keeping up with Jan and his work make sure to check out his Instagram and website.
written by eloffreno on 2024-05-21 #gear #people #cinema #historical #lens #vintage #historic #movies #lens-test #first-impressions
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