Ray, is the Leica f/2.5 really that much faster? Before I pass judgement, I would like to see a price. If it costs the same as the Leica, I might complain it is 1/4 of a stop slower.
1/3 of a stop. OK, not that much different, and maybe a lot less expensive. But it betrays a lack of ambition. The Pentax 645 remains the only mainstream focal plane shutter MF camera I can think of to never have a lens faster than f2.8. Bigger format cameras like the Pentax 67, Norita 66, and Hasselblad 200s, even some with leaf shutters like the Rollei 6008, managed to do it. And that focal length (long standard/very short tele) is where they all do it - it's the sweet spot where optical design constraints, practical manufacturing constraints (cost, number and size of elements), and usage constraints (size/weight/purpose) all meet.
Pentax's
645 format
FP-shutter 90/2.8 lens from
2012 goes toe-to-toe for speed with my Mamiya Press
6x9 format
leaf-shutter 100/2.8 lens from around
1969. Round of applause for Pentax!
The 645D is a phenomenal camera, it just needs a couple more phenomenal lenses. Never underestimate the importance of a "flagship" fast lens - I wouldn't have jumped to Mamiya in 1992 if it didn't have that 80/1.9. How many Hasselblad 200 users were pulled in by the legendary 110/2 lens?
Ray
