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Pentax Launch 35mm Medium Format Lens

Pentax has announced the HD Pentax-D FA645 35mm f/3.5AL [IF] lens.

Posted: 12/11/2015 - 09:41

HD PENTAX-D FA645 35mm F3.5AL[IF]

Pentax has announced a new interchangeable wide angle lens for medium format cameras.

The HD Pentax-D FA645 35mm f/3.5AL [IF] is a newly designed lens based on the smc Pentax-FA645 35mm f/3.5AL [IF] which was renowned for producing crisp images. 

Thanks to the incorporation of newly designed high-grade aspherical optical elements, this lens has been optimised for digital imaging by minimising a number of aberrations. It's also been treated with the Pentax-original HD Coating. 

The lens will be available from mid December with an RRP of £1549.99.

HD Pentax-D FA645 35mm f/3.5AL [IF] Key Features: 

Optical design supporting super-high-resolution images captured with medium-format DSLR cameras

Combining a newly designed, high-grade glass-moulded aspherical element with a high refractive index low dispersion glass element and a hybrid aspherical element in its optics, this lens effectively compensates for chromatic and spherical aberrations. It also assures a sufficient peripheral brightness level, while enhancing image resolution and crisp image description at edges of the image field. The lens coating and reflective material used for the interior of the lens barrel are optimised for the distinctive characteristics of digital imaging. This allows it to draw out the optimum performance of PENTAX medium-format DSLR cameras, while minimising flare and ghost images.

Wide-angle perspective - perfect for scenic photography

This lens provides a focal length of 27.5mm (in the 35mm format; when mounted on a 645Z or 645D camera body) to capture wide-angle landscape and architectural images. With a minimum focusing distance of 0.3 metres and a maximum magnification of 0.25 times, it can also be used for close-up photography, allowing the photographer to capture subjects, like flowers, while retaining the scenery in the background to emphasise the sense of depth. Its inner-focus mechanism keeps its total length unchanged during focusing, and allows the user to maintain the ideal balance during handheld shooting.

HD Coating for high-resolution images

This lens is treated with the PENTAX-original, high-grade HD Coating.* Compared with conventional multi-layer coatings, this innovative coating assures higher light transmittance and lower reflection to deliver bright, high-contrast images free of flare and ghost images, even in demanding lighting situations

* HD stands for High Definition.

Rounded diaphragm for a beautiful bokeh effect

This lens features a nine-blade, rounded diaphragm to produce a smooth, beautiful bokeh (defocus) effect, while minimising the streaking effect of point light sources.

Other features

  • Image circle covering the entire image size of 645-series film-format SLR cameras
  • SP (Super Protect) Coating applied to the front surface of the lens to effectively repel water and grease
  • Attachment of various filters, such as a C-PL (circular polarising) filter, to the front end of the lens
  • PL filter window for easy control of a polarising filter without requiring the removal of the lens hood
Darkmunk
Posted 12/11/2015 - 11:50 Link
So. Much. Want.
I have the manual version and it's a beauty. This looks even better.
SMarsden
Posted 26/12/2015 - 13:33 Link
I've had the pleasure of using this lens, Ricoh Imaging UK , have lent me a 645z over Christmas with a collection of lenses. I put the 35mm on when I was up in London recently with a friend and did a little bit of street with it.

here are some sample images.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/simarsden/23577405959/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/simarsden/23652917350/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/simarsden/23614819449/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/simarsden/23355850993/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/simarsden/23982676625/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/simarsden/23982672595/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/simarsden/23900103491/

Overall I think this is a great Medium Format wide angle, pin sharp, it does suffer a little from chromatic aberrations in high contrast areas, but its nothing Lightroom or Camera RAW cant easily sort.
Its light, its sharp and its fast to focus...
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