Pentax SMCP 67 Fish Eye 35mm f/4.5

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 4 of 5

Price Paid:  $1200.00 from wall st camera

Summary:
I have had outstanding results with this lens, lends itself to creative persuits...beg to differ from the previous reviewer that it is not sharp...made a 16x20 color print of a tree canopy shot with outstanding results. The sky's the limit with this lens. If it's a fisheye, why pretend it's rectillinear? Minimize distortion by shooting head on. Fantastic lens rare in the medium format world.

Strengths:
compact, rear gel holder, wide angle of view, built to last, elegant construction, sharp images

Weaknesses:
older design

Similar Products Used:
pentax 67 wide angle 45, 55-100 zoom...35 mm ultra wides (14, 18, 20 mm)

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Value Rating
 2 of 5

Summary:
Buy only if you really want a medium format fish-eye and will accept so-so image quality. Buy it used if you can get a clean one, because at retail this is overpriced for the quality obtained. I use it for scenics at the shore and around lakes where it will mimic a rectilinear lens. The distortion is a bit much otherwise. (That said I'm keeping mine because I do like it.)Better value, either the 45 or the 55.

Strengths:
Well made and beautiful as a piace of art, but the lens is of average sharpness. It lacks Close Range Correction, so the image near the edges tend to go soft. I have made at least one decent B&W enlargment which is ok, but it does not produce the very fine results obtained from other lenses in the P67 line. Can be used to mimic a rectilinear lens under certain circumstances.

Weaknesses:
I am a big believer in Pentax medium format equipment,, but this is not one of their great creations. Pentax should redesign this one.

Similar Products Used:
None.

Customer Service:
None needed.