SMC Pentax-FA* 645 300mm F4 Sharpness Wide Open

Hart-Worx · 04-26-2016, 11:39 PM

Hello Guys,

I got my hand on the lens and tested it out the last weeks. I am not able to get a nearly sharp shot at F4. The Image is Blurry as hell. (Has nothing to do with shaking, tested with and without tripod).

Can you share the sharpest shot that you created with the lens? I cant imagine that they Produce a F4 Lens that is not acceptable before stopping down to F8.

Thanks. I Really appreciate it when you give a an advice.

Greetz,
Hartmut

-Linus- · 04-27-2016, 12:50 AM

Hallo,

Does it need focus correction? Have You tried manual focus?
I did not use mine very often - can't remember such issues. I will make some test shot if the rain stops for a few hours this weekend.

-Linus-

Hart-Worx · 04-27-2016, 01:05 AM

Originally posted by -Linus-

Hallo,

Does it need focus correction? Have You tried manual focus?
I did not use mine very often - can't remember such issues. I will make some test shot if the rain stops for a few hours this weekend.

-Linus-

Would be perfect. I tested everything. maybe mine is simply broken. at f8 it produces realy wesome results. focus is not the Problem. also tried manual focus.

mikeSF · 04-27-2016, 11:40 AM

hard to offer opinions without seeing the pics.

2351HD · 04-27-2016, 01:05 PM

I think you will find its the lens. I had it and sold it.

I even found the tripod mount to be poor as well.

Get the FA 300/5.6, much better, and lighter

Carsten_R · 04-27-2016, 02:00 PM

Original Size (Flickr)

1/1250 f:4 (handheld !)

Carsten

mikeSF · 04-27-2016, 02:19 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by Carsten_R

Original Size (Flickr)

1/1250 f:4 (handheld !)

Carsten

well, there goes that theory.

672 · 04-27-2016, 08:53 PM

I also could not imagine they would make an f4 lens that didn't look good until f8. That was in 2010 when i got the 645D , now I know that all the 645 glass except the DFA 28-45 and DFA 90mm look blurry until about f8...........

Hart-Worx · 04-27-2016, 09:43 PM

Originally posted by Carsten_R

Original Size (Flickr)

1/1250 f:4 (handheld !)

Carsten

thanks, do you have a 100% Crop?

---------- Post added 04-28-16 at 06:49 AM ----------

Originally posted by 672

I also could not imagine they would make an f4 lens that didn't look good until f8. That was in 2010 when i got the 645D , now I know that all the 645 glass except the DFA 28-45 and DFA 90mm look blurry until about f8...........

thats not true ... sure, the new lenses are far better than the old ones ( i have 28-45 55 and 90mm ) but my 150 2,8 is also sharp at 2,8 and not so blurry.

Sample image can be seen here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/pj5idppflhzl4el/20160420-Tamara_Figura_Mallorca-0098.jpg?dl=0

2351HD · 04-28-2016, 01:24 AM

The problem is that everybody's version of acceptable is different, heck just look at the sample images that the camera manufacturers put out.

mikeSF · 04-28-2016, 08:50 AM

Originally posted by 2351HD

The problem is that everybody's version of acceptable is different, heck just look at the sample images that the camera manufacturers put out.

good point!

**mattb123** · 04-28-2016, 09:05 AM

Not the first I have heard of this lens being soft which is one reason I went for the 67 300/4. Not bad wide open and pretty sharp stopped down.

Carsten_R · 04-28-2016, 10:25 AM

A picture is worth more than 1000 words...

A quick comparison of my 90Macro and 300 f4 - here we go

texandrews · 04-28-2016, 10:57 AM

Originally posted by Carsten_R

A picture is worth more than 1000 words...

A quick comparison of my 90Macro and 300 f4 - here we go

That's startling.

-Linus- · 04-29-2016, 01:43 AM

I can not trust my own eye!
Used AF and pictures look like this. (crouped 1:1 & little sharpening with LR)
With Split Screen Matte it looks like yours.

04-26-2016, 11:39 PM	#1
Hart-Worx Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Düsseldorf Posts: 32	*SMC Pentax-FA 645 300mm F4 Sharpness Wide Open** Hello Guys, I got my hand on the lens and tested it out the last weeks. I am not able to get a nearly sharp shot at F4. The Image is Blurry as hell. (Has nothing to do with shaking, tested with and without tripod). Can you share the sharpest shot that you created with the lens? I cant imagine that they Produce a F4 Lens that is not acceptable before stopping down to F8. Thanks. I Really appreciate it when you give a an advice. Greetz, Hartmut

04-28-2016, 10:25 AM	#13
Carsten_R Guest	A picture is worth more than 1000 words... A quick comparison of my 90Macro and 300 f4 - here we go Attached Images

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04-27-2016, 12:50 AM	#2
-Linus- Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Münsterland Posts: 139	Hallo, Does it need focus correction? Have You tried manual focus? I did not use mine very often - can't remember such issues. I will make some test shot if the rain stops for a few hours this weekend. -Linus-

04-27-2016, 01:05 AM	#3
Hart-Worx Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Düsseldorf Posts: 32 Original Poster	Originally posted by -Linus- Hallo, Does it need focus correction? Have You tried manual focus? I did not use mine very often - can't remember such issues. I will make some test shot if the rain stops for a few hours this weekend. -Linus- Would be perfect. I tested everything. maybe mine is simply broken. at f8 it produces realy wesome results. focus is not the Problem. also tried manual focus.

04-27-2016, 11:40 AM	#4
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	hard to offer opinions without seeing the pics.

04-27-2016, 01:05 PM	#5
2351HD Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 750	I think you will find its the lens. I had it and sold it. I even found the tripod mount to be poor as well. Get the FA 300/5.6, much better, and lighter

04-27-2016, 02:00 PM	#6
Carsten_R Guest	Original Size (Flickr) 1/1250 f:4 (handheld !) Carsten

04-27-2016, 02:19 PM - 1 Like	#7
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	Originally posted by Carsten_R Original Size (Flickr) 1/1250 f:4 (handheld !) Carsten well, there goes that theory.

04-27-2016, 08:53 PM	#8
672 Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: santa monica Photos: Gallery Posts: 486	I also could not imagine they would make an f4 lens that didn't look good until f8. That was in 2010 when i got the 645D , now I know that all the 645 glass except the DFA 28-45 and DFA 90mm look blurry until about f8...........

04-27-2016, 09:43 PM	#9
Hart-Worx Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Düsseldorf Posts: 32 Original Poster	Originally posted by Carsten_R Original Size (Flickr) 1/1250 f:4 (handheld !) Carsten thanks, do you have a 100% Crop? ---------- Post added 04-28-16 at 06:49 AM ---------- Originally posted by 672 I also could not imagine they would make an f4 lens that didn't look good until f8. That was in 2010 when i got the 645D , now I know that all the 645 glass except the DFA 28-45 and DFA 90mm look blurry until about f8........... thats not true ... sure, the new lenses are far better than the old ones ( i have 28-45 55 and 90mm ) but my 150 2,8 is also sharp at 2,8 and not so blurry. Sample image can be seen here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pj5idppflhzl4el/20160420-Tamara_Figura_Mallorca-0098.jpg?dl=0

04-28-2016, 01:24 AM	#10
2351HD Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Brisbane, Australia Photos: Albums Posts: 750	The problem is that everybody's version of acceptable is different, heck just look at the sample images that the camera manufacturers put out.

04-28-2016, 08:50 AM	#11
mikeSF Pentaxian Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: East Bay Area, CA Photos: Gallery Posts: 6,620	Originally posted by 2351HD The problem is that everybody's version of acceptable is different, heck just look at the sample images that the camera manufacturers put out. good point!

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04-28-2016, 09:05 AM	#12
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	Not the first I have heard of this lens being soft which is one reason I went for the 67 300/4. Not bad wide open and pretty sharp stopped down.

04-28-2016, 10:57 AM	#14
texandrews Moderator Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Baltimore Photos: Albums Posts: 3,390	Originally posted by Carsten_R A picture is worth more than 1000 words... A quick comparison of my 90Macro and 300 f4 - here we go That's startling.