Pentax SMCP-FA 645 45-85mm f/4.5 Medium Format

Pentax SMCP-FA 645 45-85mm f/4.5 Medium Format 

DESCRIPTION

  • Autofocus lens for the Pentax 645N and 645NII
  • Aperture range: f/4.5-22
  • Min focus: 0.45m (1.5 ft)

  • USER REVIEWS

    Showing 1-10 of 10  
    [Dec 02, 2004]
    gavant
    Professional

    Strength:

    Quick focusing, Push pull auto focus to manual focus, Super Sharp and contrasty

    Weakness:

    Slow f4.5 but this is what you get with a zoom

    Excellent Lens. I would rate this lens a 9 out of 10 only because of the 4.5 slow f stop. I have used this lens to shoot a whole wedding from start to finish. If you are a wedding photograher and only had money for one lens this is the lens to get.

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Nov 24, 2003]
    Stan M
    Professional

    Strength:

    Accurate AF. Well built. Quality of my pictures.

    Weakness:

    None

    Perfect lens, a dream come true. I used to think that Canon L lenses would be good enough for me. Well, I changed my mind. Now I regret even buying 35mm format and expensive Canon brand. Pentax offers me such a better quality thanks to its larger negative size and perfect lenses. My value rating is based on price I paid. I am not sure about the regular price. I think all these MF lenses are well overpriced.

    Customer Service

    Not used for MF.

    Similar Products Used:

    Bronica GS-1.

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Jan 12, 2003]
    ericvaughan
    Intermediate

    Strength:

    Build, aperature of F/32, quality of pictures in terms of sharpness, color and contrast

    Weakness:

    None that I can find

    This is one of the finest lenses I have used with any format of camera. Even compared to some of my best canon "L" series lenses on 35mm, this lens is one fine lens in terms of quality. When wide open or stopped weigh down, it delivers very sharp photo's. But set it at its prime setting like F8, the pictures are the sharpest and nicest slides I have ever seen. Even nicer than the ones from my Pentax 67II. So at the price you can pick this up for on the used market, probably one of best deals out there. Build quality seems to be very, very good as well. Overall I give this lens five stars for sure, you can't go wrong with this one.

    Customer Service

    Any time I have called with questions, they have always been very good.

    Similar Products Used:

    Pentax 67 75mm, Pentax 67 45mm

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Jul 02, 2000]
    Roy Borghouts
    Intermediate
    Model Reviewed: SCMP-FA AF 45-85 f/4.5

    Strength:

    Great and useful zoom-range. Not too heavy when used as allround standard lens. High contrast and sharpness, almost on pair with larger MF. Beautifully built. Great mechanics.

    Weakness:

    None, maybe the price. But compared with other 645-systems, the price is reasonable for the quality it delivers.

    Used as a standardlens, this zoom is extremely versatile and worth it's high price. Great travel companion and very useful for daily photography. It's capable of delivering slides with a 'golden glow'. I have only experienced this with my Leica M-lenses. It adds a special magical touch to your slides. I have traded my Nikon F5-system for the Pentax 645n with the 2 zoom-lenses. The optical quality of the Pentax zooms excells the Nikon's. Wonderfull zooms!

    Customer Service

    Pentax in the Netherlands aren't capable of answering all technical questions. Sometimes a bit arrogant.

    Similar Products Used:

    All Nikon 2.8 pro-zooms, Leica M-lenses, Mamiya 7-lenses, Pentax 67-lenses.

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Jul 01, 2000]
    Roy Borghouts
    Intermediate
    Model Reviewed: 645 Zoom 45mm-85mm f/4.5

    Strength:

    This lens is beautifully built. Heavy, but not too heavy though.Useful zoomrange,so you can use this lens as a standard-lens if you can cope with the weight. It gives your slides a special golden glow and a realistic beauty. The easy switch between af and mf is handy too!

    Weakness:

    None.

    This 'standard-zoom' beats all my previously used lenses in terms of sharpness, contrast and flare-reduction. Delivers a 'golden glow' as my Leica M-lenses did. Combined with the 80-160mm zoom, it's a great travel companion, capable for almost all daily photography too!

    Customer Service

    I find the Customer Service of Pentax in Holland a bit arrogant. And in some cases they couldn't answer my technical questions and told me to ask my dealer as they said my dealer would know the answers...

    Similar Products Used:

    All Nikon 2.8 pro-zooms, Leica M-lenses, Mamiya 7-lenses and Pentax 67-lenses.

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Feb 24, 2000]
    Otto Burgess
    Model Reviewed: SCMP-FA AF 45-85 f/4.5

    Strength:

    The 645n & the 45-85 make the perfect combination for event photography. I had my doubts about the for weddings, etc. But now it is all I use. This camera and lense combineed with a Metz 60-4 flash cannot be beat. The lense is supper sharp at all focal lengths and f/stops. It also has a close focus point for had shoots and effects.

    Weakness:

    Weight and speed. However, good for medium format. The ideal lense would be a 40-120 f/4.0 AF, dream on. Who knows, maybe Pentax will read this!

    This is the first MF AF SLR to hit the market. I ordered it during the PMA introduction. The 45-85 zoom replaces the 45, 55, 75, and 150 in my bag now. If you can take the extra weight on camera, I would suggest considering this lense. Pentax did not short the user on the quality of this lense over the fixed lenses that it can replace.

    Customer Service

    Pentax service is top notch. I have only used it a few times fix equipment damaged in use, and general check ups.

    Similar Products Used:

    Many MF & 35mm cameras of different makes and models. Mostly Pentax 67 and 645, and now 645n.

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Sep 29, 2000]
    Robert Torrence
    Professional

    Strength:

    Fast easy to use and the perfect all around focal length. Very Bright for quick focusing. Best lens I have ever used

    Weakness:

    None as it works well but could be a litter lighter

    I own both of the Zoom lenses for the Pentax 645n
    the 45-85mm and the 80-160mm and find they are the best glass I have ever used. I just bought a new 501cm kit and it is still in the box

    Customer Service

    Have not had to use them yet but dont exspect any problems

    Similar Products Used:

    Nikon Zooms, RB67 150 and 180, Hasselblad 150 and the 645 Mamiya lens

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Nov 17, 2000]
    Ralph Brinley
    Professional

    Strength:

    As a landscape & scenic photographer this lens has it all. Sharpness, color fidelity, ease of use and great range. Autofocus is fast enought for scenics. Velvia chromes are incredible.

    Weakness:

    Like all new generation zoom lenses lack of DOF scale but a minor quibble.

    If you can only afford only one lens for your Pentax 645N this is it. Focal length range is great and when stopped down delivers the goods. I've had Lightjet prints made that are incredible

    Customer Service

    No experience as yet.

    Similar Products Used:

    Mamiya 645

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Apr 26, 2001]
    O G
    Expert

    Strength:

    SHARP
    Well-made
    Zoom versatility

    Weakness:

    Not as fast as primes but this is true for most zooms

    I've had this lens for over 2 years now. Once I mounted it on the camera, I never took it off! It pretty much replaced my 45mm and 75mm as my main lens. The pictures it takes are just incredible. One of the best lenses that I have ever used.

    Customer Service

    N/A

    Similar Products Used:

    None

    OVERALL
    RATING
    5
    VALUE
    RATING
    5
    [Apr 25, 2001]
    Wilson Chow
    Casual

    Strength:

    Very practical zoom range from wide to standard.
    Very good optics even it is zoom.
    Well built lens constriction.

    Weakness:

    Its weight & price are higher than that of total of FA75/2.8+ FA45/2.8, but convenience may overcome this drawbacks.

    Provide great packing convenience and usage in travelling, but it cannot provide large aperature as like F2.8 of 75mm and 45mm lens. Anyway, you need to make the decision between the two.

    Customer Service

    No experience.

    Similar Products Used:

    No other 645 zoom lens tried before, but have FA 45/2.8, FA75/2.8. Contax AF35/3.5. EL 50/4

    OVERALL
    RATING
    4
    VALUE
    RATING
    4
    Showing 1-10 of 10  

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