A Review With Samples of the Lomogon 32mm f/2.5

A new Lomography lens for full frame cameras is available, but is it worth a purchase?

Lomography is a strange term, and the company by the same name have stretched and molded it into a blurry contemporary use. A long time ago, it was a term that described analog cameras — sometimes even toy cameras — taking brightly colored images with soft focus. As time passed, it has become a synonym for quirky, and Lomography (the company) produce some interesting lenses.

Their newest lens, the Lomogon 32mm f/2.5, is no different. Its aesthetics, particularly in that shiny brass shell, are great, but I always had a penchant for that brass 55mm f/1.7 Pertzval lens they make. The performance appears to be much like you'd expect: not technically impressive with regards to the usual metrics we care for, like sharpness or vignetting, but it has character. That is central to Lomography's mission, however. In fact, they describe their work in the following way: "Its trademark vignette shadowing, light-leaks, and saturated colors attracted a cult following." It puts them in an interesting position; they're almost impervious to ordinary criticism. You can stomp your feet and moan about heavy vignetting, or corner softness, and they'll wear it like a badge of honor.

The bokeh rendering does look interesting, and Frost suggests it's fun to use — and I've grown to trust his opinion on such matters — but I'm not sure I'd be willing to separate with $560 for it. Would you? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.