[Pål Jensen]

That street price works out to about $3300 US at current exchange rates.

Yikes.

That is too cheap. My guess is at least $4000.

[Digitalis]

That is too cheap. My guess is at least $4000.

that sounds like a ballpark figure.It will be interesting to see this lens used on full frame.

[VoltMan]

Actually a Rodenstock HR Digaron-S 5.6/23mm is still the widest with an 115 degree FOV to cover full frame (70mm image circle). Granted the lens costs more than a Pentax 645D, and isnt' an SLR retrofocus design, yet it does work on Phase, Mamiya, or Hasselblad backs for professional architectural use. The compelling thing about the Pentax 25mm is SLR auto-focus at a hopefully much lower price point, albeit not a contender with the Rodenstock performance wise.

[..]It will be the widest medium format digital lens wider than any lens from Phase one, Mamiya or Hasselblad which all have 28mm lenses as their widest focal lengths.[...]

[Digitalis]

Actually a Rodenstock HR Digaron-S 5.6/23mm

quite right but I was talking about the lens in reference to the competition that the 645D has to deal with and in any case the lens is much wider than any of it's competitors. Architectural photographers in all probabilty will give system cameras such as the ones offerend by mamiya,pentax and phase one a wide berth due to the lack of T/S functionality, Hasselblad do have this functionality with their cameras but it is more limited in comparison to the degree of tilts and shifts that can be obtained by using a view camera- which is something you cannot do with a hasselblad digital back because only recently they locked the backs interface thereby making the back only usable with hasselblad medium format cameras. But in essence you are correct, this lens can be used on a view camera with digital backs from either Leaf,Phase One, Or mamiya. Secondly the Rodenstock lens is no doubt extremely well made, but neither the lens or any other camera it is designed to be mounted or are weather resistant or have auto focus. So comparing the Rodenstock lens to the Pentax is kind of like comparing a tangerine to a watermelon.

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Last edited by Digitalis; 02-01-2011 at 08:23 PM.

[ogl]

The price of the Pentax D FA 645 25mm f/4 lens will be $4999.95 according to an online store product listing
Pentax D FA 645 25mm f/4 lens price revealed | Photo Rumors

Compare
Hasselblad Ultra-Wide Angle HCD 28mm f/4.0 $4395
Mamiya 28mm f/4.5 - $4490
Phase One AF 28mm f/4.5 - $4490

[Digitalis]

The price of the Pentax D FA 645 25mm f/4 lens will be $4999.95

damn the expense....

[ogl]

damn the expense....

I don't know wider lense than DFA25/4 for MF.

[VoltMan]

Ouch - that's about ￥400,000 list here. If that rings true in Japan my dealer will have a heart attack when he's at CP+ as he's told several of us now to expect a lower price. I see a deeper discount coming

The price of the Pentax D FA 645 25mm f/4 lens will be $4999.95 according to an online store product listing

True for MF AF SLR but actually there are several MF manual focus/metering cameras and at least 5 other lenses 24mm and below that can be used with existing full frame MF backs (53x40mm) - the problem is most folks here probably can't afford them or don't need them as they're hobbyists more so than full time landscape or architectural professionals.

I don't know wider lense than DFA25/4 for MF.

The big question I have now though is how will the new 25mm perform on a FF MF sensor? Of course we won't know unless Pentax eventually releases a FF MF digital - which is a pretty big gamble in my mind.

[ogl]

The big question I have now though is how will the new 25mm perform on a FF MF sensor? Of course we won't know unless Pentax eventually releases a FF MF digital - which is a pretty big gamble in my mind.

All new MF lenses will be DFA lenses - it means - covers FF MF sensor.
DFA55 is FF MF lens.

[VoltMan]

Yep I understood ostensibly it will cover a FF MF sensor according to Pentax, but given their relative inexperience in MF digital in general as well as in digital lens design its a bit obvious that it will be a long time prior to someone really knowing how it will perform with a FF MF sensor. I think its reasonable to ponder these points at a price point of $5K.

All new MF lenses will be DFA lenses - it means - covers FF MF sensor.

[Makten]

Anyone know if this will be an aspherical lens?

Still great for Landscapes if it isn't, but for Architectural work it would be fantastic if it was.

Just because a lens features an aspherical element, it doesn't have to give low distortion. Just look at the 75/2.8 for Pentax 67.

[kuau]

here is the official link:
Pentax announces 25mm F4 lens for 645D medium format camera: Digital Photography Review
and yep 4995.00 in the USA available in april.
Wow I wish I was a better WA photographer, very challenging to me.

in comparison the Hasselblad 28mm lens is 4395.00 use to own one, but sold it when I went to the 645D and the Mamiya 28mm is 4490.00.

I am dying to see some sample from the lens.
Steven

[Yamanobori]

Wow. Only half the price of the camera body!

[Thomas]

]Pentax announces 25mm F4 lens for 645D medium format camera: Digital Photography Review[/url]
and yep 4995.00 in the USA available in april.

Very discouraging. That price makes a 35mm FA at $2000 look to be a bargain. Pentax was a company that offered good to great lenses at reasonable prices; since the Hoya acquisition, it seems they offer lenses at premium prices, even if less than stellar. I’ll be stitching wide angle shots.

[VoltMan]

Perhaps that can be attributed to the high cost of the trendy offices in downtown Itabashi for the celebrity lens designers, plus a lot of margin for rare earth after watching a Sanma special program on TV. I bet they smoke Dektol and drive 1st generation Isuzu Piazzas too.

Wow. Only half the price of the camera body!