[stevebrot]

sure, there is the TS-PC Super-Rotator MC HARTBLEI 45mm f/3.5 which is a tilt shift lens in a Pentax 645 mount. I think they also made/make these for Contax 645 and Pentacon Six mounts.

Thanks for bringing this one up. I knew that these Arsenal optics TS were available for Pentax K, but had forgotten that they were also offered for Pentax 645.


Steve

[barondla]

I do mean native mount, not adapted. Good to know about the 500mm mirror lens and the Komura telephoto. Komura also had a teleconverter for the Pentax 6X7.

Lensbaby had lenses for the Pentax 6X7, 645, and Mamiya 645. Heres the press release:
Lensbabies Introduces New Medium Format Lensbaby 3G - Outdoor Photographer.

Had the chance to purchase the 6X7 at an amazing clearance price and declined. Couldn't see using such expensive film and processing for very experimental images requiring lots of takes to get right. Now on digital it would be awesome.

Thanks,
barondla

[peggers]

I'm also wondering if a Canon to Pentax converter exists? If so it may open up other lens options to us Pentax folk

[barondla]

I'm also wondering if a Canon to Pentax converter exists? If so it may open up other lens options to us Pentax folk

Haven't seen one. There are multiple problems.

1. The flange distance for medium format is much greater than any Canon. So lenses wouldn't focus anywhere near infinity. This could be fixed with optics in the adapter.

2. Very few Canon lenses would cover the larger medium format sensor. Even if they did, edge quality would probably suffer.

3. Canon af lenses don't have a way to mechanically control aperture. The adapter would need electronics in it.

Even with all these negatives an adapter could be useful for macro. I would love an adapter to put Pentax PK lens on 645.

Thanks,
barondla

[yurihuta]

Thanks for bringing this one up. I knew that these Arsenal optics TS were available for Pentax K, but had forgotten that they were also offered for Pentax 645.


Steve

I can't remember precisely, but I thought that there were three variants of this: older glass; updated coatings; and then Schneider glass (but this last version may have only been for TS in 35mm mount and not for 645). Can't seem to find much on the later versions, so perhaps this was manufactured in a small batch in my imagination.

[stevebrot]

I can't remember precisely, but I thought that there were three variants of this: older glass; updated coatings; and then Schneider glass (but this last version may have only been for TS in 35mm mount and not for 645). Can't seem to find much on the later versions, so perhaps this was manufactured in a small batch in my imagination.

There are two Hartblei concerns, the original company in Kiev (harbleilens.com) and a newer venture operating out of Germany (hartblei.de). The former invented the super-rotator and based that product on medium format optics from Arsenal in Kiev while they were still available*. The latter has partnered with Zeiss for optics and is the only one of the two currently offering lenses. IIRC, both companies have the same principal/owners, just different products and base of operations.


Steve

* The Arsenal factory abruptly ceased operation in 2007 with both Arax and Hartblei (Kiev) acquiring residual stock and parts. Hartblei (Kiev) has apparently exhausted those resources and no longer offers lenses. Arax apparently still offers their version of the TS 35/2.8 in 35mm SLR mounts (LINK).

[barondla]

There are two Hartblei concerns, the original company in Kiev (harbleilens.com) and a newer venture operating out of Germany (hartblei.de). The former invented the super-rotator and based that product on medium format optics from Arsenal in Kiev while they were still available*. The latter has partnered with Zeiss for optics and is the only one of the two currently offering lenses. IIRC, both companies have the same principal/owners, just different products and base of operations.


Steve

* The Arsenal factory abruptly ceased operation in 2007 with both Arax and Hartblei (Kiev) acquiring residual stock and parts. Hartblei (Kiev) has apparently exhausted those resources and no longer offers lenses. Arax still offers their version of the TS 35/2.8, using in 35mm SLR mounts.

Fascinating info. Glad at least some of the companies have found ways to survive.

Thanks for sharing,
barondla

[kaseki]

... Lensbaby had lenses for the Pentax 6X7, 645, and Mamiya 645. Heres the press release:
Lensbabies Introduces New Medium Format Lensbaby 3G - Outdoor Photographer.

Had the chance to purchase the 6X7 at an amazing clearance price and declined. Couldn't see using such expensive film and processing for very experimental images requiring lots of takes to get right. Now on digital it would be awesome.

Interesting. No mention of this lens appears in the PF Third-Party Lens Reviews under Lensbaby. eBay doesn't show any examples at this writing. The referenced Outdoor Photographer link has no pictures of it. @barondla, you may be one of the few who have ever seen it. I wonder how many Pentax 6x7 versions were manufactured.

[fs999]

I have an Arsat MC 30mm f:3.5 fisheye with Pentacon Six to P645 adapter

[barondla]

Interesting. No mention of this lens appears in the PF Third-Party Lens Reviews under Lensbaby. eBay doesn't show any examples at this writing. The referenced Outdoor Photographer link has no pictures of it. @barondla, you may be one of the few who have ever seen it. I wonder how many Pentax 6x7 versions were manufactured.

Never saw it. Lensbaby rep offered it to me via phone/internet. Kicking myself for not picking it up at the ridiculously cheap price. I believe @yurihuta had the 6X7 version. I've also seen pictures by someone else here in the Lensbaby lens club.

Thanks,
barondla

[stevebrot]

I have an Arsat MC 30mm f:3.5 fisheye with Pentacon Six to P645 adapter

How is it? Any good?


Steve

[fs999]

How is it? Any good?

It's a fantastic lens, the soviet copy of the Carl Zeiss Distagon 30mm for Hasselblad sold $3400, I paid $250 !

Here you have a description and test at pentaconsix.com.

My preferred shots :






My Arsat 30mm shots on Flickr

[UncleVanya]

It's a fantastic lens, the soviet copy of the Carl Zeiss Distagon 30mm for Hasselblad sold $3400, I paid $250 !

Here you have a description and test at pentaconsix.com.

My preferred shots :






My Arsat 30mm shots on Flickr

Those are very impressive.

[fs999]

Those are very impressive.

Thank you !

[barondla]

How is it? Any good?


Steve

I also just added the Arsat 30 to the 645Z. Don't have anything close to fs999's marvelous images, but I love the lens.

Thanks,
barondla