The P645 200s: thoughts and experiences?

**Ed Hurst** · 03-18-2020, 07:36 PM

One day, I could do a pretty nice comparison between the FA 150, the 6x7 150mm and the 6x7 165mm f2.8 late (don't have the A 150). But somewhat busy just now...

w2ck · 04-01-2020, 02:10 PM - **1 Like**

Hi,

Lately I have been shopping Pentax 645 system stuff based around a 645D. This isn't my first medium format rodeo, but is my first foray into Pentax. I have a lighthouse shooting project in mind and think 200mm is what I want to use the most. I see A 200mm lenses really cheap all over. Thanks to some reading here, I know why. So, I bought an FA 200 today. Still pretty low cost at $150. I also have an FA 80-160 zoom in case I need something shorter and an A 300mm prime in case I need something longer. A previous owner added a tripod foot to the 300, and now that it has arrived, I see why it needed one.

Anyway, thanks to the folks in the thread for helping me choose which 200 to go after.

Stan

**barondla** · 04-01-2020, 09:05 PM

Originally posted by wa2kqy

Hi,

Lately I have been shopping Pentax 645 system stuff based around a 645D. This isn't my first medium format rodeo, but is my first foray into Pentax. I have a lighthouse shooting project in mind and think 200mm is what I want to use the most. I see A 200mm lenses really cheap all over. Thanks to some reading here, I know why. So, I bought an FA 200 today. Still pretty low cost at $150. I also have an FA 80-160 zoom in case I need something shorter and an A 300mm prime in case I need something longer. A previous owner added a tripod foot to the 300, and now that it has arrived, I see why it needed one.

Anyway, thanks to the folks in the thread for helping me choose which 200 to go after.

Stan

Welcome to Pentax, the forums and digital medium format. We are on similar paths. I just got a new to me 645Z last month. Didn't realize the 300 lacks a tripod foot. Would love to see a pic of your 300 with foot. Any idea where the foot was "borrowed" from?

Thanks,
barondla

**rdenney** · 04-01-2020, 09:17 PM - **2 Likes**

Originally posted by barondla

Welcome to Pentax, the forums and digital medium format. We are on similar paths. I just got a new to me 645Z last month. Didn't realize the 300 lacks a tripod foot. Would love to see a pic of your 300 with foot. Any idea where the foot was "borrowed" from?

Thanks,

barondla

I talked about tripod mounts for the A*300 in my review of the lens, including the telescope finder mounting ring that actually works. (And a Canon mounting foot that looked good but rang likes bell.)

https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/48-pentax-medium-format/368326-grand-len...ml#post4313962

Rick “who got it from another forum member” Denney

**Ed Hurst** · 04-01-2020, 09:22 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by barondla

Didn't realize the 300 lacks a tripod foot.

Thanks,
barondla

By the way, it does depend on which 300 you get. The following does have a foot:
SMC pentax-FA* 645 300mm F4 ED [IF]

But these do not:
SMC Pentax-FA 645 300mm F5.6 ED [IF]
SMC Pentax-A* 645 300mm F4 ED [IF]

Unless, as others have said here, one is added as a custom job!

(And, in case you are considering 67 options, the SMC Pentax 67 / S-M-C Takumar / Super Takumar 6x7 300mm F4 does not have a foot, but the SMC Pentax-M* 67 300mm F4 ED [IF] does)

Ed

johnha · 04-01-2020, 11:28 PM

Originally posted by rdenney

I talked about tripod mounts for the A*300 in my review of the lens, including the telescope finder mounting ring that actually works.

Grand Lens Test 10: The 645 A* 300mm f/4 - PentaxForums.com

Thanks for the A*300 review, I've added a comment to the above link with a slightly different model number for the scope mounting rings (will report if they fit).

Given that the FA200 doesn't sound significantly better than my late 67 200, I've gone for a 6x7 150 rather than the FA150 (for double duty - P6x7 & D).

**Ed Hurst** · 04-02-2020, 02:35 AM - **1 Like**

Good call. In fact, I don't even think the FA200 is better than the late 67 200. In my experience, the latter is the sharpest of the bunch (though still not stellar). I think you already have the best option available in the Pentax medium format 200mm line.

w2ck · 04-02-2020, 04:33 AM - **1 Like**

Hi,

The one on my A 300/4 is a homemade job done with a 3D printer (by the seller I bought it from). Solid enough if not all that pretty.

Stan

johnha · 04-06-2020, 07:29 AM

Originally posted by johnha

Thanks for the A*300 review, I've added a comment to the above link with a slightly different model number for the scope mounting rings (will report if they fit).

Update: The rings arrived today, they fit the 645 A*300/4 well (as previously described by Rick). I'm a bit wary of how tight to tighten the ring around the lens barrel - have to see how solid everything feels when set-up.

Thanks again Rick for this information.

asahijock · 04-08-2020, 08:55 AM

Originally posted by Thomas

Rob:
. The text on the label gives a good illustration of sharpness and contrast. My overall conclusion: there is little to choose between these lenses. The A is the weakest and FA and Fuji the best, but the differences are so slight as to be almost meaningless for real applications. An interesting effect that I don't understand: the Fuji and FA files show some sort of chromatic aliasing or aberration in the text that is absent in the files from the other lenses. All the text should be black, but the two mentioned lenses render some of the text red or blue.

Thomas's Album: 645 150-300mm vs. 200mm primes - PentaxForums.com

Thanks for the illustrations. I have been thinking about getting a 200mm A and was glad to see your illustrations of each of the lenses. I use a P645N and thus film which I print under an enlarger so the answer to my question is hopefully that it doesn't apply but what I noticed in the picture was that what is clearly a white bottle has come out as pink in the A compared to the FA and for that matter as pink in the 15o-300mm zoom and the P 67 lens

Can I take it that this is an artefact of the scans and not caused by something in the A lens that would show up when using the RA4 process?

Thanks

asahijock

Thomas · 04-13-2020, 05:02 AM

Originally posted by asahijock

Thanks for the illustrations. I have been thinking about getting a 200mm A and was glad to see your illustrations of each of the lenses. I use a P645N and thus film which I print under an enlarger so the answer to my question is hopefully that it doesn't apply but what I noticed in the picture was that what is clearly a white bottle has come out as pink in the A compared to the FA and for that matter as pink in the 15o-300mm zoom and the P 67 lens

Can I take it that this is an artefact of the scans and not caused by something in the A lens that would show up when using the RA4 process?

Thanks

asahijock

Photos were taken under different lighting conditions. Pink tint was from tungsten light. I did not adjust WB; I was only comparing sharpness. Color rendition of the Pentax lenses is consistently good.

asahijock · 04-13-2020, 07:52 AM

Originally posted by Thomas

Photos were taken under different lighting conditions. Pink tint was from tungsten light. I did not adjust WB; I was only comparing sharpness. Color rendition of the Pentax lenses is consistently good.

Thanks for the reply I thought there might be a simple explanation that would set my mind at ease and it has but I felt I had to ask to be sure

asahijock

bull drinkwater · 06-25-2020, 07:54 AM

I own both, the 200mm fa is easy, the auto focusing is right on. the 200mm a is better than you think, with practice and careful focusing you can get tack sharp images.

asahijock · 06-25-2020, 04:36 PM

Originally posted by bull drinkwater

I own both, the 200mm fa is easy, the auto focusing is right on. the 200mm a is better than you think, with practice and careful focusing you can get tack sharp images.

Certainly when I switch to MF on my 75mm FA and use the green hexagonal as the signal that I have the correct focus and then switch to autofocus the green signal is spot on

asahijock

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03-18-2020, 07:36 PM	#31
Ed Hurst Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,657	One day, I could do a pretty nice comparison between the FA 150, the 6x7 150mm and the 6x7 165mm f2.8 late (don't have the A 150). But somewhat busy just now...

04-01-2020, 02:10 PM - 1 Like	#32
w2ck Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Raleigh, NC Photos: Albums Posts: 442	Hi, Lately I have been shopping Pentax 645 system stuff based around a 645D. This isn't my first medium format rodeo, but is my first foray into Pentax. I have a lighthouse shooting project in mind and think 200mm is what I want to use the most. I see A 200mm lenses really cheap all over. Thanks to some reading here, I know why. So, I bought an FA 200 today. Still pretty low cost at $150. I also have an FA 80-160 zoom in case I need something shorter and an A 300mm prime in case I need something longer. A previous owner added a tripod foot to the 300, and now that it has arrived, I see why it needed one. Anyway, thanks to the folks in the thread for helping me choose which 200 to go after. Stan

04-01-2020, 09:05 PM	#33
barondla Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: midwest, United States Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,714	Originally posted by wa2kqy Hi, Lately I have been shopping Pentax 645 system stuff based around a 645D. This isn't my first medium format rodeo, but is my first foray into Pentax. I have a lighthouse shooting project in mind and think 200mm is what I want to use the most. I see A 200mm lenses really cheap all over. Thanks to some reading here, I know why. So, I bought an FA 200 today. Still pretty low cost at $150. I also have an FA 80-160 zoom in case I need something shorter and an A 300mm prime in case I need something longer. A previous owner added a tripod foot to the 300, and now that it has arrived, I see why it needed one. Anyway, thanks to the folks in the thread for helping me choose which 200 to go after. Stan Welcome to Pentax, the forums and digital medium format. We are on similar paths. I just got a new to me 645Z last month. Didn't realize the 300 lacks a tripod foot. Would love to see a pic of your 300 with foot. Any idea where the foot was "borrowed" from? Thanks, barondla

04-01-2020, 09:17 PM - 2 Likes	#34
rdenney Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: NoVA Posts: 635	Originally posted by barondla Welcome to Pentax, the forums and digital medium format. We are on similar paths. I just got a new to me 645Z last month. Didn't realize the 300 lacks a tripod foot. Would love to see a pic of your 300 with foot. Any idea where the foot was "borrowed" from? Thanks, barondla I talked about tripod mounts for the A*300 in my review of the lens, including the telescope finder mounting ring that actually works. (And a Canon mounting foot that looked good but rang likes bell.) https://www.pentaxforums.com/forums/48-pentax-medium-format/368326-grand-len...ml#post4313962 Rick “who got it from another forum member” Denney

04-01-2020, 09:22 PM - 1 Like	#35
Ed Hurst Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,657	Originally posted by barondla Didn't realize the 300 lacks a tripod foot. Thanks, barondla By the way, it does depend on which 300 you get. The following does have a foot: SMC pentax-FA* 645 300mm F4 ED [IF] But these do not: SMC Pentax-FA 645 300mm F5.6 ED [IF] SMC Pentax-A* 645 300mm F4 ED [IF] Unless, as others have said here, one is added as a custom job! (And, in case you are considering 67 options, the SMC Pentax 67 / S-M-C Takumar / Super Takumar 6x7 300mm F4 does not have a foot, but the SMC Pentax-M* 67 300mm F4 ED [IF] does) Ed

04-01-2020, 11:28 PM	#36
johnha Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Lancashire, UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,155	Originally posted by rdenney I talked about tripod mounts for the A300 in my review of the lens, including the telescope finder mounting ring that actually works. Grand Lens Test 10: The 645 A 300mm f/4 - PentaxForums.com Thanks for the A*300 review, I've added a comment to the above link with a slightly different model number for the scope mounting rings (will report if they fit). Given that the FA200 doesn't sound significantly better than my late 67 200, I've gone for a 6x7 150 rather than the FA150 (for double duty - P6x7 & D).

04-02-2020, 02:35 AM - 1 Like	#37
Ed Hurst Site Supporter Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 1,657	Good call. In fact, I don't even think the FA200 is better than the late 67 200. In my experience, the latter is the sharpest of the bunch (though still not stellar). I think you already have the best option available in the Pentax medium format 200mm line.

04-02-2020, 04:33 AM - 1 Like	#38
w2ck Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Raleigh, NC Photos: Albums Posts: 442	Hi, The one on my A 300/4 is a homemade job done with a 3D printer (by the seller I bought it from). Solid enough if not all that pretty. Stan

04-06-2020, 07:29 AM	#39
johnha Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Lancashire, UK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,155	Originally posted by johnha Thanks for the A300 review, I've added a comment to the above link with a slightly different model number for the scope mounting rings (will report if they fit). Update: The rings arrived today, they fit the 645 A300/4 well (as previously described by Rick). I'm a bit wary of how tight to tighten the ring around the lens barrel - have to see how solid everything feels when set-up. Thanks again Rick for this information.

04-08-2020, 08:55 AM	#40
asahijock Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Northants, England Posts: 167	Originally posted by Thomas Rob: . The text on the label gives a good illustration of sharpness and contrast. My overall conclusion: there is little to choose between these lenses. The A is the weakest and FA and Fuji the best, but the differences are so slight as to be almost meaningless for real applications. An interesting effect that I don't understand: the Fuji and FA files show some sort of chromatic aliasing or aberration in the text that is absent in the files from the other lenses. All the text should be black, but the two mentioned lenses render some of the text red or blue. Thomas's Album: 645 150-300mm vs. 200mm primes - PentaxForums.com Thanks for the illustrations. I have been thinking about getting a 200mm A and was glad to see your illustrations of each of the lenses. I use a P645N and thus film which I print under an enlarger so the answer to my question is hopefully that it doesn't apply but what I noticed in the picture was that what is clearly a white bottle has come out as pink in the A compared to the FA and for that matter as pink in the 15o-300mm zoom and the P 67 lens Can I take it that this is an artefact of the scans and not caused by something in the A lens that would show up when using the RA4 process? Thanks asahijock

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04-13-2020, 05:02 AM	#41
Thomas Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 434	Originally posted by asahijock Thanks for the illustrations. I have been thinking about getting a 200mm A and was glad to see your illustrations of each of the lenses. I use a P645N and thus film which I print under an enlarger so the answer to my question is hopefully that it doesn't apply but what I noticed in the picture was that what is clearly a white bottle has come out as pink in the A compared to the FA and for that matter as pink in the 15o-300mm zoom and the P 67 lens Can I take it that this is an artefact of the scans and not caused by something in the A lens that would show up when using the RA4 process? Thanks asahijock Photos were taken under different lighting conditions. Pink tint was from tungsten light. I did not adjust WB; I was only comparing sharpness. Color rendition of the Pentax lenses is consistently good.

04-13-2020, 07:52 AM	#42
asahijock Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Northants, England Posts: 167	Originally posted by Thomas Photos were taken under different lighting conditions. Pink tint was from tungsten light. I did not adjust WB; I was only comparing sharpness. Color rendition of the Pentax lenses is consistently good. Thanks for the reply I thought there might be a simple explanation that would set my mind at ease and it has but I felt I had to ask to be sure asahijock

06-25-2020, 07:54 AM	#43
bull drinkwater Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: pontiac mi. Posts: 392	I own both, the 200mm fa is easy, the auto focusing is right on. the 200mm a is better than you think, with practice and careful focusing you can get tack sharp images.

06-25-2020, 04:36 PM	#44
asahijock Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Northants, England Posts: 167	Originally posted by bull drinkwater I own both, the 200mm fa is easy, the auto focusing is right on. the 200mm a is better than you think, with practice and careful focusing you can get tack sharp images. Certainly when I switch to MF on my 75mm FA and use the green hexagonal as the signal that I have the correct focus and then switch to autofocus the green signal is spot on asahijock