| Author: | | Senior Member Registered: June, 2016 Location: Paris Posts: 124
1 user found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 4, 2022 | Recommended | Price: $2,400.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | everything | | Cons: | none | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: 645Z, 645D, 645N
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This is the best zoom i've ever worked with on Pentax medium format.
I've got two. Bought the first one 8 years ago second hand for 800EUR for the 645N and the 645D.
Used it very much, so when i changed the 645D for the 645Z 5 years ago i bought a second one. Why ? because i use it so much that any mechanical or optical fault or dust in the first copy would've bothered me. Needed a replacement in case the first one failed me.
But guess what , the +10 year old copy never let me down, nor the 5 year old one. No fault, no dust, they both work like charm.
On the 645N you get a great 28-50mm equivalent.
On the 645D and 645Z you get a 35-70mm equivalent, so a great 50mm classic with very useful extra throws in angle vision on both sides.
The made in japan copy and assembled in vietnam copy are equal in every aspect.
Along with the 25mm wide angle and the 90mm macro i consider this lens the best investment for Pentax MF . You can easily forget using the 45mm, 55mm and 75mm primes once you start shooting with the FA 45-85mm.
| | | | | | | New Member Registered: January, 2021 Location: Pianezza (Torino -Italy) Posts: 23
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 5, 2021 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Extreme versatility, sharpness at all focal lengths | | Cons: | Bulky hood (but necessary ...) | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax 645D
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Bought for 400 euros in near perfect condition.
When it is mounted on the camera you never take it off ... and you wonder how it was possible not to buy it before ...
Focal lengths are perfect for many kinds of photography, from portrait to landscape.
It may not compete with the 55mm, but the versatility is priceless.
 | | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2014 Location: San Francisco Posts: 59
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: March 2, 2020 | Recommended
| Rating: N/A |
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I use my 645Z primarily for in studio publicity work. I use the 45-85 almost exclusively in that environment due to its perfect focal length for what I'm creating. I do use the 645Z on vacation for wide angle nature shots but with the 35mm lens. The handling of this lens and it's sharpness is incredible for a medium format zoom. The most recent publicity session was for a season brochure.
        | | | | | Loyal Site Supporter Registered: October, 2018 Location: Quebec City, Quebec Posts: 6,582
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 29, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $350.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Very useful focal range, extremely SHARP. | | Cons: | None | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: 645Z, 645N
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I already had the A version (manual focus) of this lens and it is a must-have tool for the landscape photographer.
Both the A and FA versions have the same optical layout and both deliver exciting results every time. | | | | | | | Junior Member Registered: August, 2019 Posts: 25
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 24, 2019 | Recommended
| Rating: N/A |
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645D
 | | | | | Senior Member Registered: October, 2018 Location: Paris Posts: 215
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: September 20, 2019 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | very usefull range for film cameras | | Cons: | big and heavy | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 7
Value: 10
Camera Used: 645D, 645N
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For now, it's my favorite 645 lens, the one i use the most.
Ok it's big and heavy (and i don't mention that enormous hood), but it produces great colors and contrasts (look at the picture above, taken with a 645N), and a very progressive bokeh : exactly what you are waiting for a medium format lens.
The range is very versatile for film camera, from landscape to portraitures. On digital 645, this lens has to be completed with a wider angle for landscapes (if you are the kind of athletic photographer who walk hours in the nature with something like a medium format + lenses in your bag).
The autofocus from the FA version is accurate and very usefull, as the depth of field could be very thin near the full aperture, but if i had to choose only one autofocus lens, i would take it for a longer focal, as the more you zoom, the more the point is hard to find manually.
Other pictures and french review on my blog | | | | | Forum Member Registered: December, 2018 Location: Melbourne Posts: 84
4 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: January 27, 2019 | Recommended | Price: $369.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Sharp at f/8, good walk around lens | | Cons: | Soft corners at f/4.5 | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 8
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax 645Z
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Having just moved into the Medium format system, I got this lens first to stick on my 645z, and after reading many hours of reviews and opinions I decided to buy one. I got mine from on of the many Japanese sellers on ebay and a pretty cheap price.
The lens is heavy, then added to the 645z body, makes it a little over 2kg. For me fine, for many maybe not. Its really best on a tripod, but I find using it in good light outside pretty fun and easy also. But still best on a tripod
Sharpness is best after f/8 without doubt, and around f/11 I find it superb. (esp for the price) If you get focus right, I find f'4.5 ok, the corners though really are soft.....
For me the lens covers a very usable focal range, having also Nikon FF it fits nicely in between 35mm, and a little over 60mm in 35mm terms... This will be one of my travel lens when I head away without doubt..
 | | | | | Site Supporter Registered: February, 2018 Location: NoVA Posts: 635
5 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 4, 2018 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Super sharp at f/8, nearly soft focus wide open at 85mm | | Cons: | None if you know what it's about | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 10
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 10
Value: 9
Camera Used: 645z, 645NII
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In short, this lens is simply stunning at f/8. My first project with this lens was a group photo at a motorhome rally. I knew this lens was sharp because I've owned it for 15 years--it's the lens I bought with my 645NII kit to use for weddings. The group photo included about 60 people standing in front of a row of classic GMC motorhomes, and the image was sharp enough to resolve the small print on in the nametags they were wearing. The 12x16" print I made for the host of the event is tack sharp, even when viewed through a loupe. I'm picky--this one is sharp, when it's stopped down.
But wide open at the long end, it's nearly a soft-focus lens. In fact, it's rather perfect for portraits on the long end--one can dial in the sharpness needed.
I've never had any issue using this lens--the focus and zoom controls are where my fingers expect them to be and I never find myself fighting the lens.
I looked at three different focal lengths, because the lens has a reputation for not being quite as good at the long end. I'll just show the center crops at each focal length, wide open and at f/8. For the wide end, I showed a couple of corner shots, too.
45mm
Here's the full image at 45mm:
And the 1:1 center crop, at f/4.5:
This is sharp enough, but it does improve at f/8 (essentially, I can't tell much difference between f/5.6 and f/16, except in depth of field):
Here's the upper corner at 1:1 and f/8:
Nope, no chromatic aberration. DXO Photolab has this lens in its database, but there's no lateral color at f/8 even without those corrections. Also, the leaves that are sharp are at the focus plane, near enough, so there's not much field curvature.
Here's the lower corner, which is about half the distance to the focal plane:
Depth of field is decent at f/8 and 45mm. Remember, these are 1:1 crops--parts of images that would be 7 feet wide at the 100 pixels/inch of most monitors.
65mm
Full image at f/8:
1:1 center crop at f/4.5:
Okay, this needs a smaller aperture.
1:1 center crop at f/8:
At 65mm, it's still getting sharper at f/8, but by then it's as sharp as you could want.
85mm
Full image at f/8:
This lens really is soft at wide apertures and 85mm, so let's look at three apertures and watch it sharpen up by f/8:
1:1 Center crop at f/4.5:
1:1 center crop at f/5.6:
1:1 center crop at f/8:
As with 65mm, it takes until f/8 to get all the way sharp, and that's the only weakness at the long end that I can see. Wide open, it's actually sort-of dreamy, with a soft-focus effect and very smooth bokeh. This would be a good portrait lens at the 85 end, though to be honest I've never used it at wider apertures. It has a similar effect to the 165/2.8 Pentax 67 lens.
Just for grins, here's a reminder of the 55/2.8 at 2.8:
So, when people say a zoom is as sharp as a prime, well, no. But it can be as sharp as a prime when used with care.
Rick "Stop. It. Down." Denney
| | | | | Forum Member Registered: July, 2017 Posts: 51
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 9, 2017 | Recommended | Price: $498.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Image quality, construction, attractive price | | Cons: | like the rest, it's big and heavy | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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Used, at a bit over $4000 cheaper than the current version, it's hard to resist  . Particularly given that the image quality appears to be high.
We don't need no stinkin shake reduction. Or at least for $4000 I'll make an effort to squeak by without it.
There are a lot of these available from the Japanese market and the seller reliability seems acceptable, although I personally think they tend to rate the condition higher than I would. This my my 3rd purchase from Japan, so take it for what it's worth. DHL is 4 days to anywhere in the USA, which is better than I get from some California sellers
My particular copy needs no Auto Focus fine tuning on my D645z, is sharp from end to end, and stopped down one stop altogether a sharp and good performing lens. A much more reliable reviewer than I says it's not as sharp on the long end. He's probably right. I don't care 'cause I think it's perfectly good enough for me. But then I don't really do tests, I just make photographs
As I don't do much in reduced illumination the max aperture doesn't matter much.
No zoom creep, controls are smooth and have a nice feel, and personally I rather like the clutch type manual focus switch.
Mine came with the RH-A collapsable rubber hood, which suits me fine. The rubber separated after the first use, but was reattached more perminently and now behaves like it's going to stay there. I also have the dedicated hard hood, but it's bit large for my taste. Damn thing's heavy for an old man to carry.
| | | | | New Member Registered: February, 2013 Posts: 11
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: May 1, 2015 | Recommended | Price: $780.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | sharpness | | Cons: | no SR | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: 645D
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It's a very sharp lens with a reasonable price that you can get it from second hand markets.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: January, 2012 Location: Whitehorse, Yukon Posts: 171
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: October 29, 2013 | Recommended | Price: $300.00
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | Takes great pictures. wide-normal focal length is massively useful | | Cons: | Heavy, hard-to-find lens hood | | Sharpness: 10
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax 645NII, 645N
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This is my go-to lens for the 645 system and consistently the lens I take the best pictures with. I find the wide-normal focal length suits me and a lot of the time I carry no extra lenses on the camera.
The focus, zoom and aperture rings are nicely set up and easy to use with your eye to the viewfinder. Despite owning the AF version I use manual focus 90% of the time but the AF certainly works well. It's quite heavy to lug around but feels great in the hand and pretty well balanced on the Pentax film bodies.
I can't rate this on sharpness or aberrations or whatever... All I can say is that it's sharp enough for me and I love the images I get with it. I own the 35mm A lens which is awesome but when I look at the negatives I have chosen to print most of them were shot on the wide end of my 45-85mm.
I bought my copy without a lens hood, they are difficult (and expensive) to track down so if you are shopping for a copy try to find one with the hood.
| | | | | New Member Registered: August, 2012 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Posts: 18
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 26, 2012 | Recommended
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | Excellent IQ | | Cons: | A bit heavy | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 8
Handling: 9
Value: 10
Camera Used: 645D
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This has become my most-used lens for landscape work on my 645D. I do miss the longer-end versatility of my old Canon 24-105L, but the jump in overall IQ in moving from the 5DII to the 645D is well worth it. Paired with the FA80-160, I find the 45-85 to be a real workhorse lens. Fast auto-focus, great contrast, minimal aberrations (immediately fixed in PS CS5).
You can see some examples of my images from the 45-85 at:
http://www.cksandbergphoto.com/cksandbergphoto/Featured_Image.html
and
http://www.cksandbergphoto.com/cksandbergphoto/Previous_Featured_Images.html.
| | | | | New Member Registered: March, 2010 Posts: 20
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: July 28, 2012 | Recommended
| Rating: 10 |
| Pros: | | | Cons: | | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 7
Handling: 10
Value: 10
Camera Used: Pentax 645n
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Good general purpose lens. Since autofocus and zoom work well together, this is a good addition to a 645n kit. Optical design is suberb, just the optical viewing system in the 645n, which is quite advanced. There is much to be said for a large, bright viewfinder! I liked this lens enough to hunt down the native lens shade, which is effective (and looks nice). With Pentax flash, and a Heliopan 81B filter, I get superb color fidelity in artificial light and the same in natural light.
| | | | | Junior Member Registered: November, 2009 Posts: 29
3 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: August 9, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $750.00
| Rating: 8 |
| Pros: | quality of images: sharp | | Cons: | size and weight | | Sharpness: 10
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 9
Handling: 8
Value: 8
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This lens was an early acquisition for my 645D. It is sharp and contrasty. At 55mm, it is very sharp and seems to be better than the latest P645 55/2.8 lens.
However, the 85mm end is not so long and the bulk of the lens is not insignificant. It therefore gets left at home. Instead, I take the 35 FA and 75 FA. By using the 35 FA, I can crop a little and still get the 45mm equivalent, while cropping the excellent and very light weight 75/FA, I can get the 85mm look if needed. And if weight is not an issue, I'd add the P67 55/4 (latest version), which is even excellent for macro work, to cover the middle 55mm range. So this zoom sits in my closet.
| | | | | Senior Member Registered: June, 2010 Location: Hamburg Posts: 267
2 users found this helpful
| | Review Date: June 15, 2011 | Recommended | Price: $800.00
| Rating: 9 |
| Pros: | relatively sharp | | Cons: | slow, not that sharp wide open and at 22/32 | | Sharpness: 9
Aberrations: 9
Bokeh: 6
Handling: 9
Value: 9
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It's a great lens for travelling, I don't find it that heavy. It's probably the only lens you need on tour. However, I rather use my 67 45mm (with adapter on 645D) for time exposure as it is way sharper than the zoom at all apertures. The bokeh could be nicer wide-open.
I am very used to the sharpness of my 67 lenses but I would still recommend this great 645 zoom.
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45 mm
65 mm
85 mm
70 mm
