Luminous Landscape Forum

Equipment & Techniques => Cameras, Lenses and Shooting gear => Topic started by: MattBurt on July 29, 2015, 05:12:37 pm

Title: Pentax 645 SMC-A 200/4
Post by: MattBurt on July 29, 2015, 05:12:37 pm: I'm on a tight budget but trying to build a 645 kit for general use. I'm mostly a landscape shooter but dabble in everything. I'd like a decent portrait lens for it and just bought a 200/4 from eBay, hoping it would fit the bill. It was cheap so I'm not super concerned but does anyone have any examples from that lens? I'm curious to see bokeh in particular but any kind of shot you think does the lens justice would be nice to see.
My second choice was the 150/4 but it was a bit more expensive so I just jumped on the 200.

So once it comes my 645 kit will be 45/2.8 75/2.8 and 200/4 (all SMC-A).

I'd love some purchase confirmation but if this lens is a stinker I'd want to know that too! Thanks!
Title: Re: Pentax 645 SMC-A 200/4
Post by: Jay Kaplan on July 29, 2015, 05:56:38 pm: Have you tried the Pentax Forum http://www.pentaxforums.com (http://www.pentaxforums.com)?
Title: Re: Pentax 645 SMC-A 200/4
Post by: MattBurt on July 29, 2015, 06:01:34 pm: Yes, one pretty light review "It's good!" is up there and I posted a question about it but thought I'd try here as well.

Googling a little more I see some critical words but nothing all that specific. I guess I'll find out soon enough!
Title: Re: Pentax 645 SMC-A 200/4
Post by: NancyP on July 29, 2015, 06:57:20 pm: www.mflenses.com is a good place to get info, reviews, sample photos from film vintage lenses. The forum is reasonably active.
Title: Re: Pentax 645 SMC-A 200/4
Post by: Dave Gurtcheff on August 02, 2015, 01:01:06 pm: Here is a link to another forum by "D&A", who is an expert regarding 645 lenses. I use a 645D and I book marked this link, as I refer to it often. I assume the moderators will allow the link.
I have the 200 f4, but have rarely used it: I tend to be a wide angle shooter.
Good luck
Dave in NJ

http://www.getdpi.com/forum/medium-format-systems-and-digital-backs/35577-comprehensive-testing-results-observations-pentax-645-lenses-used-645d.html
Title: Re: Pentax 645 SMC-A 200/4
Post by: ErikKaffehr on August 03, 2015, 01:56:09 am: Hi,

Lloyd Chambers has tested it on "DAP", he found it was really good.

http://diglloyd.com/prem/prot/DAP/Pentax645D/lens-A200f4.html

Best regards
Erik

Quote from: MattBurt on July 29, 2015, 05:12:37 pm
I'm on a tight budget but trying to build a 645 kit for general use. I'm mostly a landscape shooter but dabble in everything. I'd like a decent portrait lens for it and just bought a 200/4 from eBay, hoping it would fit the bill. It was cheap so I'm not super concerned but does anyone have any examples from that lens? I'm curious to see bokeh in particular but any kind of shot you think does the lens justice would be nice to see.
My second choice was the 150/4 but it was a bit more expensive so I just jumped on the 200.

So once it comes my 645 kit will be 45/2.8 75/2.8 and 200/4 (all SMC-A).

I'd love some purchase confirmation but if this lens is a stinker I'd want to know that too! Thanks!
Title: Re: Pentax 645 SMC-A 200/4
Post by: MattBurt on August 03, 2015, 12:56:37 pm: Thanks! This looks promising.

I'm also mostly a wide shooter but every now and then wide just doesn't cut it for certain landscapes. And it rarely works for portraits (which I don't do a whole lot of).
Title: Re: Pentax 645 SMC-A 200/4
Post by: dag.bb on August 03, 2015, 03:42:19 pm: I'm not sure if they changed the optical formula, but I have the 200mm FA (paid $ 180 on ebay!) and while not perfect at f4, it is very sharp at f8. I've tested it on my 645n and Sony A7. For landscape photography I prefer it to the 120mm macro. Here is an example photo with some foreground:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3851/14285552138_f40113bf81_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/nLnbX5)Ryndam in Oslo Harbour (https://flic.kr/p/nLnbX5) by dagr (https://www.flickr.com/photos/dagr/), on Flickr