Forgot Password
Pentax Camera Forums Home
 
Log in or register to remove ads.

Pentax Lens Review Database » Pentax 645 Medium Format Lenses » 645 Wide-Angle Primes
SMC Pentax-FA 645 45mm F2.8 Review RSS Feed

SMC Pentax-FA 645 45mm F2.8

Sharpness 
 8.8
Aberrations 
 8.2
Bokeh 
 9.0
Handling 
 9.4
Value 
 9.4
Reviews Views Date of last review
8 52,934 Fri February 3, 2023
spacer
Recommended By Average Price Average User Rating
100% of reviewers $316.29 8.25
SMC Pentax-FA 645 45mm F2.8
supersize


Description:

Autofocus wide angle lens with a field of view corresponding roughly to 30mm in the 24x36mm film format.


smc Pentax-FA 645 45mm F2.8
© 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, 8 groups
Mount Variant
645 AF
Check camera compatibility
Max. Aperture
F2.8
Min. Aperture
F22
Focusing
AF (screwdrive)
Quick-shift
No
Min. Focus
45 cm
Max. Magnification
0.15x
Filter Size
67 mm
Internal Focus
No
Field of View (Diag. / Horiz.)

645 Digital: 63 ° / 52 °
645 Film: 75 ° / 64 °
Hood
PH-RBC 67 bayonet
Case
S90-100
Lens Cap
Plastic clip-on
Coating
SMC
Weather Sealing
No
Other Features
Push-pull AF/MF Focusing Ring
Diam x Length
76.5 x 66.5 mm (3 x 2.6 in.)
Weight
475 g (w/o attachments) (16.8 oz.)
Production Years
(in production)
Pricing
$796 USD current price
Engraved Name
smc PENTAX-FA 645 1:2.8 45mm
Product Code
26335
Reviews
User reviews

Features:
Screwdrive AutofocusAperture RingAutomatic ApertureMedium-Format SupportAdapter needed for DSLRs
Purchase URL: Buy the SMC Pentax-FA 645 45mm F2.8
Price History:



Add Review of SMC Pentax-FA 645 45mm F2.8 Buy the SMC Pentax-FA 645 45mm F2.8
Author:
Sort Reviews by: Date | Author | Rating | Recommendation | Likes (Descending) Showing Reviews 1-8 of 8
New Member

Registered: September, 2015
Location: Nevada
Posts: 12
Review Date: October 26, 2015 Recommended | Price: $379.00 | Rating: 10 

 
Pros: Small, light and F/2.8
Cons: No
Sharpness: 10    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Pentax 645Z   

Reviews not grading too high this lens. Some claiming the sharpness, others compering with zoom lenses.
I think this wide angle lens is really good for landscaping. The starting aperture is f/2.8. After f/5.6-f/8 is sharp. I like to use f/16 or f/18 for landscape anyway. I do not care to much to use wide open. The lens really light and excellent to use in handheld with relatively low shutter speed (sometimes zoom lenses are too heavy for this).
All in all, I am really happy to got this lens in my selection.
   
Forum Member

Registered: July, 2017
Posts: 51

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: October 13, 2017 Recommended | Price: $360.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: small and light, f2.8, reasonable cost
Cons: none observed
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 9    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 9    Value: 9    Camera Used: 645z   

Based on quick and dirty backyard testing, I suspect I'm going to like this lens.

Tested hand held on my 645z only at near distance and regarding center sharpness only, the lens seems sharp and contrasty from f5.6 on. Actually, not too bad wide open.

Performance is comparable with my zooms, which would be a better choice only because, well, they are zooms . If you can get by with a single focal length I can recommend this lens.

My copy on my 645Z required a -10 AF tune at a distance of 10 feet or so with an LensAlign, seems to still focus at infinity correctly, and it's the only one of my 6 lenses that required any tuning at all.

I believe this is the second lightest 645 FA lens.

Available from Japan at reasonable prices, I consider this purchase successful. I can't imagine someone buying this at the current new retail price.
   
Junior Member

Registered: January, 2015
Posts: 45
Review Date: April 9, 2015 Recommended | Price: $450.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Light, fast, cheap
Cons: None really
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 10    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: 645z   

I really like this lens. Barring the zooms and the 300mm F4+ the Pentax FA series lenses are pretty lightweight and this is no exception.

I read that this lens wasn't particularly popular but it's a good 30mm (ish) equivalent lens. It's sharp at 2.8, focuses quickly. Isn't too noisy when it does so either. Flare is handled well and there's not much to be seen in the area of CA.

Bokeh is really nice and the only downside is it's focally slap bang between the 35mm and 55mm. You wouldn't need all three but out of them it's the cheapest to buy so for a wide lens on a budget it's a sound buy. I have the 35mm and 55mm but the 45mm feels wider than it is.



   
Junior Member

Registered: December, 2008
Location: US
Posts: 30

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: November 25, 2009 Recommended | Price: $300.00 | Rating: 9 

 
Pros: Nice build, relatively compact, great for lifestyle shots
Cons: Flare

This review is based on me shooting 3 rolls with this lens.

On one Kodak 100G slide I tried autumn landscapes and some back-lighting. Not impressed due to flare. The sharpness is not there. It barely compares with a 35mm lens for your typical landscapes.

I then used it on two Kodak Portra 120 rolls, a 400NC and 800, shooting portraits and lifestyle, both indoors and outdoors in dim light. What a difference! The combination is just amazing. Most of the shooting was around F4.

The other 645 lens I have to compare it with is the FA 75mm F2.8 which while definitely sharper not as fun in terms of focal length.
   
amateur dirt farmer

Registered: December, 2014
Location: probably out in a field somewhere...
Posts: 41,257

4 users found this helpful
Review Date: February 3, 2023 Recommended | Price: $220.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: clarity, bokeh, color rendition, sharpness, build quality
Cons: barrel distortion, CA in high-contrast shots
Sharpness: 9    Aberrations: 7    Bokeh: 8    Handling: 8    Value: 8    Camera Used: 645D   

I used this lens for the January Single In Challenge - this from my end of month review there:


starting the year of with a new-to-me camera format (MF) - the camera/ens I've had for a few months, but this'll be the first time through a SIC...

firstly, the elephant in the room: size/weight....

once you get your hand/shoulder/brain around that fact, shooting with this rig is just like any Pentax DSLR you've ever used - controls are all familiar and similarly-placed, etc....

and this month's lens, the FA 645 45mm f2.8, is better than the reviews here give it credit...

the lens is sharp, colorful, contrasty, quick to focus, even nice bokeh... all the things you could want in a walk-around length prime....

I do wish it had a shorter MFD, but that's a normal complaint for me, and there is some barrel distortion if you are shooting at wide-open or close to apertures....

some of my favorite shots with this lens:

hibiscus by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr

paving bricks, street corner by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr

asters in sunrise, frosted by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr

caged by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr

sunset under the willow by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr

Valdani threads by Pepperberry Farm, on Flickr

and the rest of my flickr album for this lens:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pepperberryfarm/albums/72177720300004601/with/52178601250/
   
Pentaxian

Registered: August, 2009
Location: Wandering the Streets
Posts: 1,408

2 users found this helpful
Review Date: November 20, 2017 Recommended | Price: $180.00 | Rating: 8 

 
Pros: Light, compact, good lens speed, quick focus.
Cons: Will flare without the lens hood. Corner sharpness needs at least f/8.
Sharpness: 8    Aberrations: 8    Bokeh: 9    Handling: 10    Value: 10    Camera Used: Pentax 645Nii   

For me this has been a really good lens. I use it as my walk around lens and have always been happy with my results. Certainly not the sharpest at f/2.8, but pretty good in the center. By f4 it is pretty nice and by f5.6 I have been very happy with it. For portrait work it is terrific.

It is light and very handy on the camera. The 67mm filter size requirement may be a problem if you need to use the lens hood all the time but if not, use a step up ring to 77mm.

Overall I really like this lens but it isn't the perfect choice for everyone. If you shoot architectural photos and need good sharpness across the frame then this lens is probably not the best one for you. The corners never do get as sharp as the center, and since the center is so good from f/5.6 onwards through f/22, the corners will be obvious if you need them to be sharp.

Next, if you like shooting directly into the sun then veiling lens flare will be a problem. If you don't use the hood even shots where the sun is outside of the frame in the corners will be a problem. However, with the lens hood I have no problem with these shots.

Finally, though this doesn't seem to cause problems for me on film, I understand that people who have used this with the digital 645 see some chromatic aberrations. Like I said, it hasn't been a problem for me but if you work with digital then you may need to use the lens corrections available in Camera Raw or in Lightroom.

For my photography I have been very, very happy with this lens. The size, handling, aperture speed and center sharpness all have served me very well with my normal type of photography, consisting of walk around street and scenic shots along with those ever present family photographs. I use this lens interchangeably with the FA 645 75/2.8.

I don't really do much architectural work and when I specifically head out for landscape work I typically carry the FA 35 and the FA 45-80 in preference to this lens. About the only time I ever get careful with this lens is if the sun may show up in the frame. If that's the case I look for a different perspective.

Do I recommend this lens? Absolutely, and as long as you are aware of its minor issues I am sure you will be happy as well.
   
Veteran Member

Registered: January, 2007
Location: Hawaii
Posts: 612
Review Date: May 14, 2007 Recommended | Price: $325.00 | Rating: 7 

 
Pros: Relatively sharp for a wide angle
Cons: Not that sharp for a prime

Got this lens for my 645N from KEH (BGN rating). As usual, KEH's BGN rating is pretty darn good. Primarily got it because it have the equivalent field of view of a 28mm on 35mm format or 18mm on the APS-C format. It is acceptably sharp. Not as sharp as the 75mm that I bought with the camera. I have not used it with my K10D, and I don't think that I want to. I have a 31 Limited that serves the same function for the DSLR. I would recommend this lens because you don't really have any other choices for 645 wide primes at the same focal length other than the manual versions of this.
   
Site Supporter

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

1 user found this helpful
Review Date: March 20, 2008 Recommended | Rating: 6 

 
Pros: Nice built quality
Cons: Not so great optically. Prone to flare

Frankly, all the 645 zoom lenses covering this focal lenght are just as good or better; with the exception of vignetting and distortion.
It is also the most flare prone Pentax lens I've ever used. The zooms are better in this regard
Add Review of SMC Pentax-FA 645 45mm F2.8 Buy the SMC Pentax-FA 645 45mm F2.8



All times are GMT -7. The time now is 01:52 AM. | See also: NikonForums.com, CanonForums.com part of our network of photo forums!
  • Red (Default)
  • Green
  • Gray
  • Dark
  • Dark Yellow
  • Dark Blue
  • Old Red
  • Old Green
  • Old Gray
  • Dial-Up Style
Hello! It's great to see you back on the forum! Have you considered joining the community?
register
Creating a FREE ACCOUNT takes under a minute, removes ads, and lets you post! [Dismiss]
Top