[AndyL]

Hi,

I've just been fortunate enough to buy a pristine ex-demo 645D, which came along with the D FA 55mm lens (a big thank you to everyone on this forum, it's been a gem for researching this purchase).

I'm starting to look around for a few more lenses, one of which would be to cover the 45mm mark. I've read some pretty disparaging comments about the (F)A 45mm lenses, relating to flare and sharpness - and I was wondering if people here have this lens and what they think of it? Best avoided or useful in some scenarios?

Cheers,
Andy.

[texandrews]

Hi,

I've just been fortunate enough to buy a pristine ex-demo 645D, which came along with the D FA 55mm lens (a big thank you to everyone on this forum, it's been a gem for researching this purchase).

I feel the same way---very thankful to all here.

I'm starting to look around for a few more lenses, one of which would be to cover the 45mm mark. I've read some pretty disparaging comments about the (F)A 45mm lenses, relating to flare and sharpness - and I was wondering if people here have this lens and what they think of it? Best avoided or useful in some scenarios?

Cheers,
Andy.

Well, I think the main point is that it's not that great (as opposed to horrible, which it isn't) and it is surpassed by the 45-85---the 45-85 zoom is a lot better at 45----although a lot bigger, too. I got my 45-85 FA for under $500.00, so I went ahead and trade in my 45. Here on these forums there has been a little love, though, for the lens---a couple of people actually like it.

[bull drinkwater]

if you shoot mostly from a tripod, then by all means get the 45-85mm lens. until you shoot with the 45mm f2.8 yourself, don't be quick to judge.i have been using the 45mm for 4 years, it's a joy to use. set it to infinity and get back 20 feet and everything is in focus.. my images have been sharp. I shoot a lot from hand held and a monopod, I up the iso and shutter speed to deal with camera shake.

[mikeSF]

no, not "bad" at all. I really like it's wider brother the A35, but I do not hesitate to pull out the A45 when I need it, as it is the perfect complement to my 35 and 55 FLs. And compared to the A35, it is smaller&lighter, much less expensive, just as well built, and has a slightly faster aperture, so on paper, it is a solid solution.

Here are some pics using my A45/2.8
The Gold Coast (Explore #100)

China Camp (Explore #38)

Black Diamond Sunset

[algrove]

I decided to get the 45-85 since I was lead to believe that the 45-85 was better at 45 than the 45 prime. However, the 45-85 is considered worse at the high end around 85mm. So I also got the 80-160 which is considered better at 80 than the 45-85 is at around 85.

[bull drinkwater]

no, not "bad" at all. I really like it's wider brother the A35, but I do not hesitate to pull out the A45 when I need it, as it is the perfect complement to my 35 and 55 FLs. And compared to the A35, it is smaller&lighter, much less expensive, just as well built, and has a slightly faster aperture, so on paper, it is a solid solution.

Here are some pics using my A45/2.8
The Gold Coast (Explore #100)

China Camp (Explore #38)

Black Diamond Sunset

I to have the 35mm lens also. being one who likes to tinker, I put stepdown rings on both lenses, I often use one of 3 screw on converter lenses. a .50, a .33, and a .16 for fisheye effect. the screw on's were cheap and give pleasing [ to me ] results. beats spending $5000.00 for a really wide angle.

[AquaDome]

The 645 A-45 is not a bad lens. It is my most used lens on my 645N. The 35 is the "holy grail", and the 55 may be sharper, but the 45 doesn't suck.

[bull drinkwater]

no, not "bad" at all. I really like it's wider brother the A35, but I do not hesitate to pull out the A45 when I need it, as it is the perfect complement to my 35 and 55 FLs. And compared to the A35, it is smaller&lighter, much less expensive, just as well built, and has a slightly faster aperture, so on paper, it is a solid solution.

Here are some pics using my A45/2.8
The Gold Coast (Explore #100)

China Camp (Explore #38)

Black Diamond Sunset

what the heck do the critics of the 45mm want????? i'm looking at your fotos, and it can't get much better.

[mikeSF]

what the heck do the critics of the 45mm want????? i'm looking at your fotos, and it can't get much better.

what critics? i haven't read any real disapproval for this lens. What did you read? could be someone with a bad copy sharing their experience.
Afterall, it's a $150 medium format lens - that constitutes a bargain, so if it does anything even partly well, it has value, IMO.

[Chris Giles]

I got mine today and whilst I haven't really had the chance to put it through it's paces, wide open the image quality / rendering isn't quite as good as the zooms wide open.

But stop it down to F4 and it surpasses them. Weakest prime I've used so far but a good lens all the same.

[robertchow999]

The 45 is a bargain lens. I don't usually shoot wide open so any softness at that aperture goes unnoticed. Maybe, it would make an interesting lens for medium format street photography where shooting wide open is plausible and some grittiness and imperfection are acceptible and even add to the feel of the image. I don't use mine much because I'm finding that 55mm is the more useful focal length.

[Chris Giles]

F4




F7.1

[AndyL]

Some excellent photos chaps - out of interest, do the A and FA versions share the same optical design, or are they different?

[mikeSF]

Some excellent photos chaps - out of interest, do the A and FA versions share the same optical design, or are they different?

they are both 9 elements, 8 groups, but i do not know if the optical formula is identical.

Chris, those are lovely examples!