Pentax SMCP-FA 645 45mm f/2.8 Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: Vince Varnas
(Professional)

Review Date
December 4, 2003

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Review 1 of 5

Price Paid: $0.00

Summary:

This is an excellent lens! It is sharp at all aperatures. Virtually no distortion. Crisp/excellent contrast. I compared it to the SMCP-FA 75mm, f/2.8, SMCP-FA 45-85mm, f/4.5 and the SMCP-A 55mm, f/2.8 lenses and found it to be just as sharp as they were at all aperatures, corner-to-corner. Perhaps Pentax has made some improvements since 2001/2000 in this lens or maybe sample variation is a problem.

Strengths:

Sharp No distortion Smooth manual focusing Reasonably fast auto focus Push/pull auto/manual focus ring Price

Weaknesses:

None

Similar Products Used:

SMCP-FA 75mm, f/2.8 SMCP-FA 150mm, f/2.8 SMCP-FA 45-85mm, f/4.5 SMCP-A 55mm, f/2.8

Customer Service:

Unknown

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Rating
Reviewed by: D. King
(Intermediate)

Review Date
May 21, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
4.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 2 of 5

Price Paid: $850.00 from Camera World of Oregon

Summary:

It's pretty tough to beat this lens for scenic landscape and waterscape pictures. Composition using the 645n viewfinder is a breeze, and tuning a polarizer's effects is easy. I've taken enlargements to 16X20 with nice sharpness (using Kodak VC 160 film). This is actually my favorite lens to use with the 645n. I also meter my 4X5 camera with a 90/8 lens mounted and 645n with the 45/2.8 does an excellent job in this capacity as well. In the wide angle area is where I've found the greatest advantage in terms of resolution and sharpness at bigger enlargements of medium format vs small format (35mm) lenses. There really is no comparison when using color reversal film. Actually this is probably true at all focal lengths.

Strengths:

Fine-Excellent optics
Excellent mechanical construction
Nice hood that comes with lens
Reasonably compact
Works nicely with circular polarizers
Reasonably quick autofocus

Weaknesses:

Optics could be perhaps a little better

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 35/2.5 "E"
Nikkor 17-35/2.8
Various third party zooms
Cal-Tar 90/8 (4X5)

Customer Service:

Haven't needed

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Rating
Reviewed by: Patrik Bjorklund
(Intermediate)

Review Date
May 10, 2001

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 3 of 5

Summary:

The lens has good value but could be sharper and crispier. It is a lens that is very easy to carry around because of the low weight. The diffraction is not so noticeable at f22 compared to other lenses at the same focal length.

Strengths:

A very lightweight lens and is delivered with a scalloped lenshood.

Weaknesses:

The sharpness could be little better.

Similar Products Used:

Hasselblad FE 50mm f2.8.
Pentax 55mm f4 for 6x7 format.

Customer Service:

No.

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Rating
Reviewed by: Wilson Chow
(Casual)

Review Date
March 4, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 4 of 5

Summary:

The distortion is hardly found and corner sharpness is still very good even at F4.
Original hood is provided without additional charges.
Handy and good out looking. AF speed is good, it is easy to change from MF and AF by push focusing ring forward and backward.

Strengths:

Light weight, small size. Reasonable price, only around US$500.

Weaknesses:

None

Similar Products Used:

6008 EL 50/4.
Mamiya 645MF 45/2.8.
Pentax 67II 55/4

Customer Service:

No experience

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Rating
Reviewed by: Andrea Solmi
(Expert)

Review Date
August 17, 2000

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Review 5 of 5

Summary:

I was quiete disappointed with this wide-angle; I expected it was more sharp and contrasty than it is. In my opinion is one of the less performing lens for my Pentax 645 AF.

Strengths:

comes with its hood; not bulky; well finished and solid; distortion ok

Weaknesses:

not so sharp; colors less vivid then i thought

Similar Products Used:

other Pentax 645 lenses

Customer Service:

never called

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