Hasta La Gadget!

When it was invented in 1840, the Petzval lens revolutionized photography thanks to its f/3.6 aperture. It’s legendary for producing images with super sharp centers and unique backgrounds with a whirly bokeh — as such it’s particularly well suited for shooting portraits. Most Petzval lenses today are defective because of age and not optimized for modern cameras, so Lomography set out to reinvent the lens for the 21st century. The company just launched a Kickstarter campaign to bring the Petzval lens back for $300 — it’s teaming up with Zenit to manufacture high-quality lenses for analog and digital SLRs with Nikon F and Canon EF mounts. Lomography’s Petzval lens is made of brass, features a gear rack focusing mechanism and comes with a Waterhouse aperture set (f/2.2, f/4, f/5.6, f/8, f/11 and f/16). Are you as intrigued as we are? Follow the source link below for the full campaign details.

Filed under: Cameras, Nikon, Canon

Comments

Source: Lomography (Kickstarter)

Vancouver artist Colin Johnson made a unique piece of furniture shaped like the AT-AT from The Empire Strikes Back. He calls it the Emperor’s Cabinet. You wouldn’t want to take down this Imperial Walker, but you would want to open it up. That’s because it’s hiding drinks behind its door.

Colin made it out of plywood, mahogany veneer, brass and glass. I wonder what a Jedi’s drink of choice would be. I assume the Sith just drink the blood and tears of their victims.

Colin is looking to sell the liquor cabinet to make room for his other projects. You can reach out to Colin on his website if you’re interested.

[via MAKE]

Here’s a coffee table that would go well with the steampunk NES. It was made by Charles Lushear of Bohemian Workbench using found items. I wouldn’t disagree if you think it’s more junkyard than steampunk, but either way it’s an impressive piece.

The cedar wood tabletop used to be part of a fence, the A and B buttons are antique clock movements and the Start and Select buttons are vintage rifle magazines. But the most intriguing part is the directional pad.

Apparently that piece of metal is a Katanga cross or a handa, a copper cross that was used as a form of currency in the Democratic Republic of Congo from the 19th to the 20th century. Katanga Katanga cross, y’all.

Lushear is selling it on his Etsy shop for $2,600 (USD). That’s a lot of Katanga crosses.

[via Apartment Therapy]

What do you get your fiancee when you are both Star Wars fans? Well, you could get her a boxed set of movies, but a steampunk AT-AT is an even better idea. Too bad it doesn’t actually spew smoke. That’s just some clever Photoshopping.

Broken Journalist made this awesome AT-AT to give to his fiance as an engagement present and thereby assaulted her cold Hoth heart. I’m sure her heart is fine, but it never hurts to present an amazing gift to the one you love.

It actually started out as a vintage AT-AT toy. I love the patina on this thing, which took a bunch of coats of paint to create. You gotta love that widow’s walk on top too.

[EPBOT via The Mary Sue]

If you’re into steampunk cosplay, you know that it’s important to have the right weapon in your arsenal. While there are plenty of manly steampunk weapons out there, there aren’t too many for the ladies. The Lady Froggy aims to change that.

This eight-barreled, wrist-mounted gatling gun is sure to take down any evil top-hatted, mustache-twirling lotharios you might encounter on your steam-powered journey through the 1890s.

The Lady Froggy Gatling gun is handmade by Arsenal Best Armory, using polished brass, plastic, a metallic lacquer coating and embellished with Swarovski crystals. Because what lady weapon doesn’t have Swarovski crystals on it?

Keep in mind that the Lady Froggy Gatling gun doesn’t actually fire projectiles, but you probably will still have some ‘splainin’ to do if you try and wear it through airport security. They do have security checkpoints for dirigible flights, right?