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PENTAX 645Z, HD DA 645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR, 1/500, F4.5, ISO 100, Photo by M.Ito

HD PENTAX-DA645 28-45mmF4.5ED AW SR

[Zoom] Wide-zoom | Standard-zoom | Tele-zoom | High-zoom
[Fixed-focal] Wide angle | Standard | Telephoto | Macro

The HD DA 645 28-45mmF4.5ED AW SR is a long-awaited ultra wide zoom lens for the Pentax medium format digital SLR 645D/Z users and it covers focal length equivalent to 22-35.5mm in 35mm format. It was released just before Photokina 2014 in Koln, Germany and we remember it attracted so much attention from people expecting more lenses for the system. Not only it has the latest optical design, but also it's dust proof and weather resistant, and has the shake reduction mechanism up to 3.5 steps. Plus, it employs two kinds of lens coating. A wide lens can shoot vast scenes and it comes in handy where shooting position is restricted. And, it's a zoom lens, so the versatility is also very wide.

( Photography : M.Ito / Text : KIMURAX )

PENTAX 645Z, HD DA 645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR, 1/640, F4.5, ISO 100, Photo by M.Ito

It's sharp from corner to corner wide open, and it perfectly drew the soft light coming from between the thick clouds and the green carpet changing its color.

PENTAX 645Z, HD DA 645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR, 1/400, F4.5, ISO 100, Photo by M.Ito

Here's the wide-end shot. The perspective feeling lets us imagine the outside of the frame as well. Even though it's a zoom lens, it's amazingly clear and contrasty. And, the 3D quality and the texture reproduction are wonderful.

PENTAX 645Z, HD DA 645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR, 1/60, F5, ISO 400, Photo by M.Ito

Even at the wide-end, you can enjoy the bokeh if you get closer to the subject. It's big enough for 28mm. The focus peak is breathtakingly sharp and the edgeline of the flowers is natural and crisp even at the original image size.

PENTAX 645Z, HD DA 645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR, 1/1250, F4.5, ISO 100, Photo by M.Ito

The minimum focus distance is 40cm, which may sound at bit long for those who are new to medium format system. But, for a large medium format sensor, this distance is short enough for wide macro photography. Look how sharp the shells are. By the way, it has the "quickshift focus system" which allows you to switch from AF to MF instantly just by turning the focus ring. How convenient!

PENTAX 645Z, HD DA 645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR, 1/250, F4.5, ISO 100, Photo by M.Ito

It's so clear even under the backlight condition and the tonal reproduction of highlight and shadow is perfect. Trust this lens and try extreme exposure.


PENTAX 645Z, HD DA 645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR, 1/100, F8, ISO 200, Photo by M.Ito

I stopped down. The cars look like grains of rice, but at the original image, they are perfectly depicted. And, the reality and the minuteness of the built-up city and the gas are beyond what we can see with the naked eye.

PENTAX 645Z, HD DA 645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR, 1/640, F4.5, ISO 100, Photo by M.Ito

The shake reduction is powerful enough to shoot in the street. It's a bit hefty system, but it's hard to resist this stunning image quality. And, I believe the shake reduction is a message from Pentax encouraging us to be more aggressive shooting handheld. You can, of course, use it on a tripod, but why don't you also move and shoot more, as it must be so much fun. This shot was taken at the tele-end and the level of distortion at the tele-end isn't something we worry about.

PENTAX 645Z, HD DA 645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR, 1/80, F4.5, ISO 100, Photo by M.Ito

This image has an unusual sign of presence, even though the actual scene looked just ordinary. And, I believe it's because of thick 3D quality unique to medium format.

PENTAX 645Z, HD DA 645 28-45mm F4.5ED AW SR, 1/40, F4.5, ISO 400, Photo by M.Ito

Shot handheld using high sensitivity. Medium format cameras are more prone to defocusing and shake, so I appreciate the accurate AF and the powerful shake reduction. This shot is simply emotional and it demonstrates the unusual expressive power of this lens, which can't be explained just by the performance.


PHOTO YODOBASHI

( 04.03.2015 )