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Petzval, Josef
© Copyright Josef Petzval, photo Petzval, Josef, b. Szepes Béla (Spišska Belá, Slovakia), Jan. 6, 1807, d. Vienna, Sept. 17, 1891, mathematician and engineer, pioneer of photography. From 1837 professor of mathematics and mechanics at the University of Vienna, calculated mainly lenticular systems of optical devices, including in 1840 the first portrait lens with P. W. F. von Voigtländer, also a landscape lens ("Orthoskop") of high intensity and photographic lenses with 40-fold luminous intensity ("P.-lenses"), with which the first snap-shots were made. P. made calculations for efficient binoculars and constructed new spotlights. Good sportsman (Vienna´s best fencer, wrestler). Eccentric and very belligerent, he lived with his horse on Kahlenberg (dispute with Voigtländer and C. Doppleron problems of acoustics). Literature: ÖBL.
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