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Pentax 645 75mm
(SMC Pentax-A 75mm f/2.8)
© 2008 KenRockwell.com. All rights reserved.

Intro   Specs   Performance    Recommendations

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Pentax 645 75mm f/2.8

SMC Pentax-A 75mm f/2.8. enlarge. I got mine at eBay. It helps me keep adding reviews of this old stuff when you use these links to get yours, Thanks! Ken.

 

December 2008        more Pentax reviews

 

Introduction

Intro   Specs   Performance    Recommendations

This is the standard manual-focus lens offered with the Pentax 645, 645N and 645N II medium format cameras. You'll usually get one of these when you get a Pentax 645 outfit.

It works in all the automatic and manual exposure modes of the Pentax 645, 645N and 645NII.

These are bargains: I paid under $300 for my Pentax 645 setup, which included the lens seen above, as well as the camera in December 2008! Back in December 1997, you'd have to pay B&H $1,500 for the naked Pentax 645 body, $175 for a film holder, and $350 just for this basic lens, or $2,025.

Pentax 645 75 2.8

Pentax 645 75/2.8. enlarge.

 

Specifications      top

Intro   Specs   Performance    Recommendations

 

Optics

6 elements in 5 groups.

Multicoated (Pentax Super Multi Coated: SMC).

 

Focal Length

75mm.

35mm equivalent: It sees an angle of view on 645 film similar to what a 45mm lens sees on 35mm film.

See also my 35mm Equivalent Focal Length Chart for other 645 lenses.

 

Diaphragm

8 blades stopping down to f/22. Arbitrary half and full-stop clicks.

 

Close Focus

2 feet (0.6m).

 

Filter Thread

58mm, metal.

Does not rotate with focus.

 

Size

2.91" diameter x 1.48" long (74 x 37.5mm).

 

Weight

8.505 oz. (241.15g) measured. 8.5 oz. (240g) specified.

 

Teleconverters

Pentax suggests the A645 2X converter, but not the A645 1.4X converter. Why bother? Buy an easier-to-find 150mm f/3.5 lens and it does the same thing, better, with the same size and weight as the converter.

Pentax 75 2.8

Pentax 645 75mm f/2.8. enlarge.

 

Performance         top

 Intro   Specs   Performance    Recommendations

The Pentax 75mm is a swell lens. It works great.

 

Bokeh

Bokeh is OK to fair, stopped-down.

Bokeh is poor wide-open.

 

Distortion

The Pentax 75mm f/2.8 has no visible distortion.

For very critical use, plug +0.5 into Photoshop CS2's lens distortion filter to correct the invisible barrel distortion.

 

Ergonomics

I love it! The focus ring feels fantastic. I can flick it with one finger. It's smooth and slick, with no play. It's perfect.

The 75mm handles great. I wish all my lenses were this good.

 

Falloff

No surprises; there's a little at f/2.8 and it goes away stopped down.

 

Focus

This is one of the best parts: focus is a dream. Just one fingertip can flick it. It's slick, smooth and perfect.

 

Mechanics and Construction

The Pentax 645 75mm is made as it should be.

Barrel: Enameled, anodized aluminum.

Focus Ring: Metal, rubber covered.

Aperture Ring: Metal.

Depth-of-Field Scale: Yes.

Infra-Red Focus Index: Yes.

Finish: Black enamel over black anodize.

Mount: Metal.

Internals: Metal, with some plastic nubbins.

Markings: Engraved and filled with paint.

 

Sharpness

As expected, it's sharp.

Unlike the Mamiya 7 80mm f/4, its not quite as sharp wide-open at f/2.8 in the corners as it is at f/5.6, but this as expected.

Stop it down a stop or two if you're on a tripod or have good light, otherwise, don't sweat it. It will cream anything in the smaller 35mm film format.

 

Recommendations        top

 Intro   Specs   Performance    Recommendations

I rarely see the autofocus 75mm f/2.8, which might be more convenient on the AF 645N and AF 645NII.

I'll let you know if I try an AF 75mm, otherwise, this is your only normal lens choice for the Pentax 645, and it works great.

 

PLUG

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Thanks for reading!

Ken

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