Being a current owner of the Pentax 645D system right now which I have mixed feelings about, great body, lens selection and availability terrible.
Some recent images can be seen at:
http://kuau.viewbook.com/yosemite_february_2011Anyways, though I am pleased with my FA45-85, FA120, FA150, FA200, and FA300mm lenses, which of course I purchased all used because thats really are there is now, I really wanted a 35mm lens also, I have tried 2 copies of the FA35mm lens with not very good results. Sure the center 2/3rds is sharp at F13 but the corners are all soft. SO I am left with no 35mm lens, which on the 645D is likes a 28mm lens "35mm FF"
Of course there is the Pentax 25MM coming out but for me this is to wide, so I am left with a system that to me, starts at 45mm, and that being said the 45-85mm zoom, the FA45mm prime is garbage on the 645D, confirmed by a few people including myself who owned one then sold it.
I also tried using the Pentax 67 45mm via adaptor, same results, soft, and since the 645D does not have available a split screen micro prism focusing screen MF is very difficult.
So now I am wondering if I made a bad decision on the Pentax, I know the Phase One DF is there latest body and of course you can use almost any back you want on it, but you give up weather sealing, possible cold weather operation below freezing, etc.
My question is how good is the Phase One 35mm AF and 45mm AF lenses shot at infinity or close to it for landscape work, do they suffer like the Pentax 645 lenses do at the focal range, sharp in the center then slowly fall off in terms of sharpness in the corners? Are the "Phase" version of these lenses the same as the Mamiya's? or are they new designed?
I would love to see some raw files from this combo, even with a P25+ back or maybe the Leaf Aptus II 7 33mp FF back.
I am not interested in P45+ or above backs, to expensive and I have no need for that high of resolution.
Thanks
Steven