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SMC Pentax-FA 645 120mm F4 Macro Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax-FA 645 120mm F4 Macro

Sharpness 
 10.0
Aberrations 
 9.8
Bokeh 
 9.6
Handling 
 9.6
Value 
 10.0
Reviews Views Date of last review
10 73,546 Sat June 13, 2020
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Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $705.50 10.00
SMC Pentax-FA 645 120mm F4 Macro
supersize


Description:

Autofocus macro lens. The lens is also a fine short tele/portrait lens.


smc Pentax-FA 645 120mm F4 MACRO
© www.pentaxforums.com, sharable with attribution
Image Format
645 film
Lens Mount
Pentax 645
Aperture Ring
Yes (A setting)
Diaphragm
Automatic, 8 blades
Optics
9 elements, 7 groups
Mount Variant
645 AF
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F4
Min. Aperture
F32
Focusing
AF (screwdrive)
Quick-shift
No
Min. Focus
40 cm
Max. Magnification
1x
Filter Size
67 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

645 Digital: 26 ° / 21 °
645 Film: 32.5 ° / 26 °
Hood
PH-RBD 67 bayonet
Case
S120-150
Lens Cap
Plastic clip-on
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Focus Range Limiter,Push-pull AF/MF Focusing Ring
Diam x Length
82.5 x 110 mm (3.3 x 4.3 in.)
Weight
735 g (w/o attachments) (26 oz.)
Production Years
(in production)
Pricing
$1546 USD current price
Engraved Name
smc PENTAX-FA 645 MACRO 1:4 120mm
Product Code
26735
Reviews
User reviews

Features:
Screwdrive AutofocusAperture RingAutomatic ApertureMedium-Format SupportAdapter needed for DSLRs
Purchase: Buy the SMC Pentax-FA 645 120mm F4 Macro
Sample Photos: View Sample Photos
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax-FA 645 120mm F4 Macro Buy the SMC Pentax-FA 645 120mm F4 Macro
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Ascending) Showing Reviews 1-10 of 10
Forum Member

Registered: July, 2011
Posts: 72

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: August 11, 2011 Recommended | Price: $900.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharpness
Cons: none
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10   

This lens is very sharp on a 645D. I only can recommend to buy it. You will not be dissapointed.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: February, 2008
Posts: 434

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: March 10, 2009 Recommended | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: sharp, sharp, sharp
Cons: heavy and not great at infinity

I'll join the chorus singing of the sharpness of this lens. I have both the A and FA versions of this lens; I will sell one of them at some point, but it's hard to do. The 120mm macros in either version are the sharpest close focus lenses I own.
   
Inactive Account

Registered: July, 2011
Location: www.flickr.com/photos/aseel
Posts: 7

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: November 15, 2011 Recommended | Price: $1,000.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp,balance well with 645d.
Cons: slow focus (acceptable for portrait)
Sharpness: 10    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 8    Value: 10   

yes guys i see what you mean by sharp ,i used it with 645D, i was amazed at the details i got in portrait. it was like a macro scan.
   
Junior Member

Registered: November, 2009
Posts: 29

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: August 8, 2011 Recommended | Price: $750.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharp
Cons: A little heavy
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10   

This lens, while a little heavy (the 75mm and the 150mm seem so light weight in comparison), is exceedingly sharp. Once you see the detail using it on the 645D body, the weight issue disappears.

Auto-focus is reasonably fast and definitely accurate. Bokeh is excellent, giving a 3D effect to near objects isolated against a smooth, blurred background.

Pentax has a well-deserved reputation for macro lenses and the 120/4 FA is no exception.
   
Site Supporter

Registered: February, 2009
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 423

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: August 31, 2010 Recommended | Price: $300.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Sharpness, build quality, colors
Cons: none

I use this lens with the Pentax adapter on my K-7.

This is definitely one of the sharpest lenses I have used. I tend to use it for flowers/plant closeups. I rarely ever use it for any extreme macro (full 1:1) or at apertures smaller than f/4.5. The bokeh at close focus is great as well. I absolutely love it. It has a nice substantial feel to it and the build quality is superb. The hood is very nice and protects the barrel when it extends.

I have never used this lens on a 645n so I cannot comment on the auto focus capabilities.

Here is a link to my photos with this lens. All shots are either f/4 or f/4.5.

(Non working link removed)
   
Site Supporter

Registered: December, 2007
Location: Norway
Posts: 4,371

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: March 20, 2008 Recommended | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Incredibly sharp
Cons: Awful bokeh

Very sharp at all apertures. One of the sharpest lenses ever made for medium format by anyone. Few lenses for 35mm systems at similar focal lenghts can match it.
Bokeh is very harsh. Excellent metal built quality.
.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: January, 2007
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 612

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 22, 2007 Recommended | Price: $500.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Extremely sharp.
Cons: Big, then again most 645 lenses are big.

It's sooooo sharp. I bought this lens because the A version I had was becoming kind of frustrating to focus at times. This lens is everything the A version is, with autofocus. Mind you, AF with a 645 is not as fast as on my K10D, but I think it's acceptably fast with even this lens.
   
Loyal Site Supporter

Registered: October, 2018
Location: Quebec City, Quebec
Posts: 6,493

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: November 30, 2019 Recommended | Price: $440.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Extremely sharp, very well-made, not too heavy, usable for landscapes.
Cons: None
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Pentax 645Z   








   
Senior Member

Registered: June, 2016
Location: Paris
Posts: 124

3 users found this helpful
Review Date: November 6, 2019 Recommended | Price: $1,399.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: iq, af, size, weight, hood
Cons: none
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 10    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: 645Z   

best macro 1:1 lens for Pentax 645 system.
if you need a more versatile telephoto lens with macro 1:2 go for the 90mm (weather sealing.. etc)
i ve been using the 120mm macro for the last 2 years for indoor & outdoor macro & semi macro product shots (jewelry, tissues, plastics) and can't see any flaws.
it is a perfect 1:1 macro lens with a very affordable price tag for its quality and usefulness.
   
Loyal Site Supporter

Registered: March, 2014
Location: California, 93004
Posts: 196

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: June 13, 2020 Recommended | Price: $355.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: sharp, price, handling
Cons: none

I have had this for 1 year and many of my favorite pictures for the year are from this lens. It produces great images. I also have the A version of the lens so expected good things. But it surpassed my expectations. It is light but not too light and handles very well. I have not reviewed since I have not done an objective analysis of the lens compared to other lenses. But on seeing that that there are only two reviews in the last year I thought I should let anyone know that this lens is definitely one to have with the 645Z. It is quite versatile and I've used it for landscape, portrait, still life and product photos.

I may update this after doing more formal comparisons and searching the archives. But if you have the 645Z and don't have this lens you won't go wrong buying one.

Volleyball - What do I do now-6457134 by Jim, on Flickr
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