M645 150mm f/3.5

[Pumal]

Is there a faster lens and what are the advantages besides the obvious.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Wirelessly posted (BBBold: BlackBerry9000/4.6.0.167 Profile/MIDP-2.0 Configuration/CLDC-1.1 VendorID/102 UP.Link/6.3.0.0.0)

Check out my article on the magazine website. It covers the original Sekor lens line that came out with the M645 (presuming 645). I can't get to it right now but if memory serves, f3.5 was the fastest 150 that was initially released. However, my 150 served me well and I really never had a need for a larger aperture than 3.5 with the lens on my M645j.

 

[cknapp1961]

I use the Bronica ETRS and their 150mm lens is F4, but due to the format being larger than 35mm film, the depth of field (DOF) at F4 is much shallower than F4 on a 35mm, if shallow DOF is what you are looking for for portraiture. As far as "fast glass" for medium format, I have not really run across any.

 

[Paul Sorensen]

There was a 2.8, I don't know about advantages other than the speed. KEH has them and they are way more expensive than the 3.5, so that would be a disadvantage.

 

[MattKing]

The 150mm f/3.5 is fairly small, uses the same filter size (58mm) as the 55mm f/2.8, 80mm f/2.8, 110mm f/2.8 and 210mm f/4.0 and is compatible, along with those other lenses, with the Mamiya focus assist lever.

The 135mm f/2.8 is larger, which means it requires larger filters and it doesn't work with the focus assist lever.

There also was a 150mm f/4.0, but rumour has it that it isn't as good as the 150mm f/3.5.

Matt

 

[Thomas Bertilsson]

The 150mm f/3.5 was my favorite lens to use when I had a 645. It's a stunning lens. But I favored a square format and had to give it up, or I would still have been using it.

Don't think the f/2.8 could be better, other than a half stop brighter.

- Thomas

 

[Greg_E]

Here is an example of one of the 150/f2.8:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Mamiya-150mm-f-...trkparms=65:12|66:2|39:1|72:1205|293:1|294:50

 

[Nige]

I have one and a 150/4. I think the 150/4 is as sharp at f5.6-8 where I use them (head shots of my kids mostly) but I've never done a proper test. I intended selling the 150/4 but I like having the same filter thread on the 55/80/150 combo for travelling simplicity (I also have a 45/2.8 but have no filters for it). The 150/2.8 is much bigger and heavier then the 150/4 and doesn't fit in the camera bag in the same slot as the 150/4, which is another reason to leave it at home (same goes for the 80/1.9... filter size and bulk). I haven't used the 150/2.8 @ f2.8 enough to have an opinion of it's performance wide open.

 

[Pumal]

Thank guys for the info. I will shoot a roll and I'll see. (Portraits)