Pentax SMCP-A 645 35mm f/3.5 Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by: D. King
(Intermediate)

Review Date
May 21, 2001

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 1 of 5

Price Paid: $850.00 from Camera World of Oregon

Summary:

This lens is nice to use for ultra-wides and performs vastly better in terms of resolution and clarity in enlargements than the comparable 35mm lenses. It also seems much less distorted than the comparable 35mm lenses (especially zooms), but there certainly is some distortion - hard to avoid at 20mm (in 35mm equivalent terms).

Strengths:

Fine optics
Reasonably fast aperature
Much less distortion than comparable 35 mm lenses

Weaknesses:

Some fall-off at edges
The factory hood is a joke.

Similar Products Used:

Nikkor 20/2.8 (35mm)
Nikkor 17-35/2.8 (35mm)
Tokina 19-35/3.5-4.5 (35mm)

Customer Service:

Haven't needed

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Rating
Reviewed by: Roy Jacobs
(Intermediate)

Review Date
March 10, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 2 of 5

Summary:

This lens costs more than the other 645 wide angles and is very wide. Sometimes avaliable used on Ebay. A very wide angle is the way to go in medium format, with the larger negative, and better resolving of fine detail.

Strengths:

Excellent wide angle lens fro the 645; very sharp and fine contrast. I am very pleased with this item.

Weaknesses:

The Pentax lens hood is useless. But a cheap wide angle hood and replace yearly.

Similar Products Used:

Pentax 67 35, 45, 55.

Customer Service:

None on this item

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Rating
Reviewed by: Waldemar Haak
(Intermediate)

Review Date
November 30, 2000

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
3 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 3 of 5

Price Paid: $750.00 from second hand, germany

Summary:

one of my main subjekts is architecture and i was gravely dissapointed at the rather noticeble barrel distortion of this lens. I have switched now to the 45mm/f 4.0 for my Pentax 67, which has a similiar focal length and doesn´t show any of it. Gives you nicer slides, too.

Strengths:

small and light

Weaknesses:

barrel distortion

Similar Products Used:

45/4.0 for Pentax 67

Customer Service:

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Rating
Reviewed by: Don Satalic
(Intermediate)

Review Date
February 4, 2000

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 4 of 5

Model Reviewed:
SMCP-A 645 35mm f/3.5

Summary:

The 645 format is ideal for landscapes, and this lens offers crystal clarity. Wide open it may be a little mushy at the corners, but who ever shoots landscapes wide open. Simply outstanding!

Strengths:

The clarity of this lens is simply remarkable.

Weaknesses:

None

Similar Products Used:

None

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Rating
Reviewed by: Warren Kato
(Intermediate)

Review Date
January 15, 2000

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Review 5 of 5

Model Reviewed:
SMCP-A 645 35mm f/3.5

Summary:

A very good and useful superwide angle in a medium format. Gets view camera-like results. Compare with the Contax 645 35mm which is a little sharper (PhotoDo) but at significantly less $$$.

Strengths:

This lens is the equivalent of a 21 or 22 mm lens in 35mm. Stopped down a few stops almost everything is in focus.

Weaknesses:

Edge sharpness wide open is not too good. Should I give less stars because of this? No, because I don't use it wide open.

Similar Products Used:

Wide angles in 35mm.

Customer Service:

Not needed.

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