645N - Recommend a First Lens for Me!

aekn · 07-26-2011, 08:07 PM

Hi,

Just bought a gorgeous 645N off of ebay, and am looking for a first lens. I don't want to spend too much. I prefer wide to normal focal lengths for landscapes and portraits. Sharpness, contrast, and color fidelity are a priority.

Ideally I'd like an AF lens, but would make do with the "right" MF lens. Any suggestions from those who have used a variety of 645 lenses?

Thanks
Kurt

**yurihuta** · 07-26-2011, 08:17 PM

Hi Kurt,

Congratulations on the new 645N. A first lens, wide to normal... I would think the A 55mm f/2.8 - yes it is manual focus, but the 645N has focus confirmation. This lens is small, really well built and sharp.

Add an A 75mm f/2.8 and you will have a nice complementary setup for a lot less than what FA 75mm f/2.8 are selling for. There is a D-FA 55mm, but that was introduced with the 645D and it has no aperture ring and not sure if a screw drive AF system exists on that lens so older bodies can AF with it.

If you find a great deal, you could even pick up the very sharp A 150mm f/3.5 and have all three lenses for less than an FA 75mm f/2.8.

Yuri

Ole · 07-26-2011, 10:12 PM

I agree with Yuri's advice of going with the less expensive manual focus A lenses; many of them have the same optics as the FA counterpart and are much cheaper!

For landscape I like the A 35mm and A 55mm, and for portraits and street photography the FA 80 - 160mm zoom. Street photography presents itself with moving targets so I sprung for the auto-focus (FA) version of the zoom.

aekn · 07-27-2011, 08:20 PM

Thanks, guys! This is a great start for me to begin looking.

Kurt

aekn · 07-27-2011, 08:32 PM

I see what you mean about the AF lenses being expensive.

Is the 75mm leaf shutter lens very good? I can get a mint copy for under $200.

Cuchulainn · 07-28-2011, 06:22 AM

Leaf shutter is optically identical to the normal one. Only limitation is that you can't use it in auto aperture mode (though the viewfinder will display the set aperture) and it does not write the focal length to the film (the 645 leaves data info on the unexposed parts of the film). It's my only 75mm lens and I'm very happy with it.

RonHendriks1966 · 07-28-2011, 07:26 AM

Well I still have FA75mm and FA45mm for sale.

asahijock · 07-30-2011, 12:20 PM

Originally posted by yurihuta

Hi Kurt,

If you find a great deal, you could even pick up the very sharp A 150mm f/3.5 and have all three lenses for less than an FA 75mm f/2.8.

Yuri

Interesting what differences there are between U.S. and U.K. The 75mm FA is about the only reasonably priced FA there is in the U.K. and there's no way that here in the U.K. you could ever pick up 3 A's at 55, 75 and 150mm for less than the 75mm FA

asahijock

stevebrot · 07-30-2011, 12:45 PM

Originally posted by asahijock

Interesting what differences there are between U.S. and U.K. The 75mm FA is about the only reasonably priced FA there is in the U.K. and there's no way that here in the U.K. you could ever pick up 3 A's at 55, 75 and 150mm for less than the 75mm FA

asahijock

I was thinking the same thing. The 75 FA is pretty reasonably priced in the U.S. as well. I have been using a friend's 645N for the last several weeks with both the A 75/2.8 and FA 45/2.8 and have often wished that the AF were switched between the two lenses. I seldom need it with the 45, but wish I had it with the 75!

Steve

**yurihuta** · 08-01-2011, 05:33 PM

It seems the least expensive way of picking up an FA 75mm f/2.8 is with a body. Individual lenses are going as high as the $500s (not the $600/$700/$800 fantasy prices on ebay).

I purchased a Pentsx 645 (original) with the A 75mm for under $200. I found an A 55mm f/2.8 for $150 and I picked up an A 150mm f/3.5 for $160. All without scratches or any signs of fungus, great lenses for pretty decent prices.

Pioneer · 08-05-2011, 11:26 PM

I am fortunate to have some wonderful glass for my 645Nii. I love my 35mm but the most used lens I own by far is the FA 45-85mm zoom. It can be a bit pricey, especially now that the 645D is out, but it is a very high quality lens, producing excellent and very sharp results. It is also quite a versatile lens and has turned out to be a great walk around lens for me.

Oris642 · 08-16-2011, 10:02 AM

Depends on what your interest are. I shoot mostly landscapes, so I use the 35mm probably 70% of the time, the 75mm 10% of the time, and the 150mm 20% of the time. YMMV.

07-26-2011, 08:07 PM	#1
aekn Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Siberia, Russia Posts: 78	645N - Recommend a First Lens for Me! Hi, Just bought a gorgeous 645N off of ebay, and am looking for a first lens. I don't want to spend too much. I prefer wide to normal focal lengths for landscapes and portraits. Sharpness, contrast, and color fidelity are a priority. Ideally I'd like an AF lens, but would make do with the "right" MF lens. Any suggestions from those who have used a variety of 645 lenses? Thanks Kurt

07-27-2011, 08:20 PM	#4
aekn Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Siberia, Russia Posts: 78 Original Poster	Thanks for the advice! Thanks, guys! This is a great start for me to begin looking. Kurt

08-05-2011, 11:26 PM	#11
Pioneer Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Wandering the Streets Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,411	45-85mm zoom I am fortunate to have some wonderful glass for my 645Nii. I love my 35mm but the most used lens I own by far is the FA 45-85mm zoom. It can be a bit pricey, especially now that the 645D is out, but it is a very high quality lens, producing excellent and very sharp results. It is also quite a versatile lens and has turned out to be a great walk around lens for me.

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07-26-2011, 08:17 PM	#2
yurihuta Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Washington DC, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 632	Hi Kurt, Congratulations on the new 645N. A first lens, wide to normal... I would think the A 55mm f/2.8 - yes it is manual focus, but the 645N has focus confirmation. This lens is small, really well built and sharp. Add an A 75mm f/2.8 and you will have a nice complementary setup for a lot less than what FA 75mm f/2.8 are selling for. There is a D-FA 55mm, but that was introduced with the 645D and it has no aperture ring and not sure if a screw drive AF system exists on that lens so older bodies can AF with it. If you find a great deal, you could even pick up the very sharp A 150mm f/3.5 and have all three lenses for less than an FA 75mm f/2.8. Yuri

07-26-2011, 10:12 PM	#3
Ole Administrator Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Copenhagen, Denmark Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,408	I agree with Yuri's advice of going with the less expensive manual focus A lenses; many of them have the same optics as the FA counterpart and are much cheaper! For landscape I like the A 35mm and A 55mm, and for portraits and street photography the FA 80 - 160mm zoom. Street photography presents itself with moving targets so I sprung for the auto-focus (FA) version of the zoom.

07-27-2011, 08:32 PM	#5
aekn Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Siberia, Russia Posts: 78 Original Poster	I see what you mean about the AF lenses being expensive. Is the 75mm leaf shutter lens very good? I can get a mint copy for under $200.

07-28-2011, 06:22 AM	#6
Cuchulainn Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Photos: Gallery Posts: 153	Leaf shutter is optically identical to the normal one. Only limitation is that you can't use it in auto aperture mode (though the viewfinder will display the set aperture) and it does not write the focal length to the film (the 645 leaves data info on the unexposed parts of the film). It's my only 75mm lens and I'm very happy with it.

07-28-2011, 07:26 AM	#7
RonHendriks1966 Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Photos: Gallery Posts: 9,675	Well I still have FA75mm and FA45mm for sale.

07-30-2011, 12:20 PM	#8
asahijock Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Northants, England Posts: 167	Originally posted by yurihuta Hi Kurt, If you find a great deal, you could even pick up the very sharp A 150mm f/3.5 and have all three lenses for less than an FA 75mm f/2.8. Yuri Interesting what differences there are between U.S. and U.K. The 75mm FA is about the only reasonably priced FA there is in the U.K. and there's no way that here in the U.K. you could ever pick up 3 A's at 55, 75 and 150mm for less than the 75mm FA asahijock

07-30-2011, 12:45 PM	#9
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by asahijock Interesting what differences there are between U.S. and U.K. The 75mm FA is about the only reasonably priced FA there is in the U.K. and there's no way that here in the U.K. you could ever pick up 3 A's at 55, 75 and 150mm for less than the 75mm FA asahijock I was thinking the same thing. The 75 FA is pretty reasonably priced in the U.S. as well. I have been using a friend's 645N for the last several weeks with both the A 75/2.8 and FA 45/2.8 and have often wished that the AF were switched between the two lenses. I seldom need it with the 45, but wish I had it with the 75! Steve

08-01-2011, 05:33 PM	#10
yurihuta Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Washington DC, USA Photos: Albums Posts: 632	It seems the least expensive way of picking up an FA 75mm f/2.8 is with a body. Individual lenses are going as high as the $500s (not the $600/$700/$800 fantasy prices on ebay). I purchased a Pentsx 645 (original) with the A 75mm for under $200. I found an A 55mm f/2.8 for $150 and I picked up an A 150mm f/3.5 for $160. All without scratches or any signs of fungus, great lenses for pretty decent prices.

08-16-2011, 10:02 AM	#12
Oris642 New Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Posts: 15	Depends on what your interest are. I shoot mostly landscapes, so I use the 35mm probably 70% of the time, the 75mm 10% of the time, and the 150mm 20% of the time. YMMV.