Is there a good reason to go for a 45 and or 55?

slackercruster · 06-15-2012, 05:09 PM

I'm getting a 35A, 75, 120 macro, 150 and 200 to feed my 645D. Is there a good reason to go for a 45 and or 55? Have not thought much about long tele's. Will probably use my smaller Pdentax for that.

I'd like something wider than the 35 and 25 is too pricey. 33 zoom does not seem that great. Wished a 3rd party made a nice super WA for the 645 in the 2K area.

What about the 45 and 55? Is there a good reason to go for a 45 and or 55? They seem too close to the 35 and 75.

Ryan Tischer · 06-15-2012, 06:16 PM

The 45 is supposed to be one of the weaker 645 lenses. It's pretty cheap used, though. I've read the 45-85 zoom is actually sharper. That lens is a good workhorse for me. You should be able to find the 45-85 FA for around $800 in good shape, maybe $700 if you look around. The A version is about $150 or so cheaper.

I can't speak for you whether or not you need something between the 35 and 75...but I sure do.

Venturi · 06-15-2012, 07:19 PM

Well, I can't speak to the 35, but I love my A 55 (I have the 75 & 120 too).

What I see through the 55mm is roughly how my eyes/brain naturally see the scene, so it's a very comfortable focal length on the 645 to compose with.

Yamanobori · 06-15-2012, 07:47 PM

I really like the D FA 55mm. My most used lens and nothing like the 35mm at all.

672 · 06-15-2012, 11:48 PM

Havent found a good 45mm yet. Tried a P67 one and a P645 A , neither were keepers. The 645 A not sharp in corners and the P67 one looked great for close and wide but was terrible for infinity and broad landscapes.

I am wondering if anyone here has tried to adapt a Hasselblad 30mm ? Seems like an ideal focal length.

arjen · 06-16-2012, 02:40 AM

I don't think we can decide whether or not you should buy a certain lens. Practically you will gain focallength coverage, but will you really take all these lenses with you on each trip? I know I will not, and I've got almost every lens in the 35mm-200mm range, except the leafshutter lenses.

But on the other hand i am able to have a good day of shooting bringing only one lens with me, or two. Sometimes I won 't touch a lens for months and then I decide to just bring that particular lens with me, and I find the nicest sweetspots with these lenses.

So this is a peronal issue I guess, and if you can afford it you should give them a try.

DandA · 06-16-2012, 02:32 PM

As others have mentioned, I too was not impressed with the FA 45mm. The 45-85mm zoom is exceptionally good but optically stronger on the wide end of it's zoom range when used at wider apertures.

Dave (D&A)

itshimitis · 06-17-2012, 03:13 PM

I have the 45 and the 45 - 85. It's te 45 - 85 that gets the use. The 45 hasn't been in my camera bag for a long time.

mrclark321 · 06-17-2012, 09:27 PM

SC you are going to love the 35mm that is heading your way but you might consider also adding the 45-85, my copy was exceptionally sharp with auto focus and I sold mine for $700. Like I said before I do miss that camera

Dan

slackercruster · 06-18-2012, 05:12 AM

Originally posted by mrclark321

SC you are going to love the 35mm that is heading your way but you might consider also adding the 45-85, my copy was exceptionally sharp with auto focus and I sold mine for $700. Like I said before I do miss that camera

Dan

You sold me on it! Will see if I can pick one up.

There is 2 models A and FA. About 300 - 400$ dif between the 2 lenses. Are they an equal with IQ? No one reviewed the A copy here?

06-15-2012, 05:09 PM	#1
slackercruster Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NE, USA Posts: 1,302	Is there a good reason to go for a 45 and or 55? I'm getting a 35A, 75, 120 macro, 150 and 200 to feed my 645D. Is there a good reason to go for a 45 and or 55? Have not thought much about long tele's. Will probably use my smaller Pdentax for that. I'd like something wider than the 35 and 25 is too pricey. 33 zoom does not seem that great. Wished a 3rd party made a nice super WA for the 645 in the 2K area. What about the 45 and 55? Is there a good reason to go for a 45 and or 55? They seem too close to the 35 and 75.

06-18-2012, 05:12 AM	#10
slackercruster Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NE, USA Posts: 1,302 Original Poster	Originally posted by mrclark321 SC you are going to love the 35mm that is heading your way but you might consider also adding the 45-85, my copy was exceptionally sharp with auto focus and I sold mine for $700. Like I said before I do miss that camera Dan You sold me on it! Will see if I can pick one up. There is 2 models A and FA. About 300 - 400$ dif between the 2 lenses. Are they an equal with IQ? No one reviewed the A copy here? Last edited by slackercruster; 06-18-2012 at 05:17 AM.

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06-15-2012, 06:16 PM	#2
Ryan Tischer Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Duluth, Minnesota Photos: Albums Posts: 458	The 45 is supposed to be one of the weaker 645 lenses. It's pretty cheap used, though. I've read the 45-85 zoom is actually sharper. That lens is a good workhorse for me. You should be able to find the 45-85 FA for around $800 in good shape, maybe $700 if you look around. The A version is about $150 or so cheaper. I can't speak for you whether or not you need something between the 35 and 75...but I sure do.

06-15-2012, 07:19 PM	#3
Venturi Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tulsa, OK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,636	Well, I can't speak to the 35, but I love my A 55 (I have the 75 & 120 too). What I see through the 55mm is roughly how my eyes/brain naturally see the scene, so it's a very comfortable focal length on the 645 to compose with.

06-15-2012, 07:47 PM	#4
Yamanobori Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Photos: Gallery Posts: 573	I really like the D FA 55mm. My most used lens and nothing like the 35mm at all.

06-15-2012, 11:48 PM	#5
672 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: santa monica Photos: Gallery Posts: 486	Havent found a good 45mm yet. Tried a P67 one and a P645 A , neither were keepers. The 645 A not sharp in corners and the P67 one looked great for close and wide but was terrible for infinity and broad landscapes. I am wondering if anyone here has tried to adapt a Hasselblad 30mm ? Seems like an ideal focal length.

06-16-2012, 02:40 AM	#6
arjen Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Rotterdam, Netherlands Posts: 31	I don't think we can decide whether or not you should buy a certain lens. Practically you will gain focallength coverage, but will you really take all these lenses with you on each trip? I know I will not, and I've got almost every lens in the 35mm-200mm range, except the leafshutter lenses. But on the other hand i am able to have a good day of shooting bringing only one lens with me, or two. Sometimes I won 't touch a lens for months and then I decide to just bring that particular lens with me, and I find the nicest sweetspots with these lenses. So this is a peronal issue I guess, and if you can afford it you should give them a try.

06-16-2012, 02:32 PM	#7
DandA Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 129	As others have mentioned, I too was not impressed with the FA 45mm. The 45-85mm zoom is exceptionally good but optically stronger on the wide end of it's zoom range when used at wider apertures. Dave (D&A)

06-17-2012, 03:13 PM	#8
itshimitis Pentaxian Join Date: May 2011 Location: All over the place Posts: 3,535	I have the 45 and the 45 - 85. It's te 45 - 85 that gets the use. The 45 hasn't been in my camera bag for a long time.

06-17-2012, 09:27 PM	#9
mrclark321 Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Sarnia, Ontario Posts: 130	SC you are going to love the 35mm that is heading your way but you might consider also adding the 45-85, my copy was exceptionally sharp with auto focus and I sold mine for $700. Like I said before I do miss that camera Dan