645 lenses for K5?

Don't know why but every time I go to buy a replacement DSLR camera to the one that was stolen I get totally disenchanted. With recent generation DSLR being so good it certainly has nothing to do with camera quality. Film on the other hand are very intriguing (as always) so with a future eye on K5 I am planning to buy now a pentax 645 or 645n w lenses. My question for those who have used them and now using any Pentax DSLR or both are:

1. Is there a optical advantage to FA vs. A lenses when used on the 645?

2. Can the FA lenses of the 645 be used on k5 as autofocus and if so, how much cost a reliable converter?
3. How do the 645 lenses perform on a dslr body?

4. Last but not least - other than autofocus, does the 645n have any other photographic advantage over older 645

Your replies are much appreciated

Ruvy

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I have a 645 with 3 A primes and one FA prime (got it cheap).

1) I do not know of an adaptor that couples either Focus or aperature information to a K mount camera. You will use the lens as if it were a M lens. But the results can be good.

2) I dont think there is much difference between A and FA in terms of optical performance of the Primes.. Zooms may be different.

3) If you had the money, I think the 645N is a better camera for muliple reasons. I suggest going to the Pentax Forum web site where is a dedicated 645 forum.
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A picture is worth a thousand words but talk is cheap.
Best regards
Nick

Ruvy said:

1. Is there a optical advantage to FA vs. A lenses when used on the 645?

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Many of the FA lens have the same optics such as the 45mm, 75mm, 120mm, 300/4, 45-85 and 80-160. But there are exceptions such as the FA 35/3.5, which is exceptional and rare, and better than the A 35.

Ruvy said:

2. Can the FA lenses of the 645 be used on k5 as autofocus and if so, how much cost a reliable converter?

Click to expand...

No.

Ruvy said:

3. How do the 645 lenses perform on a dslr body?

Click to expand...

The stellar one such as the FA 35, 120 and 300 would perform (I estimate) wonderfully.

Ruvy said:

4. Last but not least - other than autofocus, does the 645n have any other photographic advantage over older 645

Click to expand...

The old interface of pushing buttons is rather clunky and slow.

WarrenKK

PetPeeve: posting a 800x600 to show anything other
than how soft my lens is or why I need new glasses.

I know somebody that has 3 645 lenses and the adapter to k mount to sell.
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vic.

Stop bombarding me with your facts and sciences!

The 645 Fa 200mm has a different optical formula than the 645 A 200mm. I have heard the FA is much better.
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I use a 645 300/4 A* on my K20D and K-7.

Quality is excellent. With the matched 1.4 converter, it's equal to my Canon 100-400L at 400mm.

No autofocus, of course.

But them if they're a good price...or let me know how to contact him and I will ;-)

kenyee said:

But them if they're a good price...or let me know how to contact him and I will ;-)

Click to expand...

I sent his email address to you.

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vic.

Stop bombarding me with your facts and sciences!

When I was going to use Hasselblad/Carl Zeiss lenses on my EOS 5D, all I heard was MF lenses aren't as sharp as 35mm lenses. In theory they don't need to resolve as much detail as the smaller lenses.

Maybe this is true for the very best 35mm lenses VS MF lenses, but my old CF80/2.8 Planar and C150/4 Sonnar kicked some Canon butt in my quick tests. Even wide open, the 80mm was tack sharp on the 5D. In Canon's defense, I only tested with the old 28-135/3.5-5-6 IS USM. Not the best rep for Canon perhaps.

Still.. I think 645 lenses will do fine on any Pentax.

Good to hear as the one FA I own is actually the 200.
--
A picture is worth a thousand words but talk is cheap.
Best regards
Nick

I am still not sure what to do... for the time being I ook an advice from this thread and found also good info on the Pentax forum...

Thank you all
--
Ruvy
http://www.ruvyamir.co.il
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