I've got the M645 (manual focus) version of the 150/2.8 A ... it's a keeper for a lot of reasons. Optically, I think the design is the same, just possibly some coating variant.
I've got 45/2.8 N, 80/4 Macro C, 110/2.8 N and 150/2.8 A (previously owned 35/3.5 N) ... that I use on my DSLR's. Not likely that I'll part with them anytime soon.
If you look way off in the distance, between the rocks at the horizon,
there is a jetty & lighthouse I didn't even notice in when composing.
Detail on the sea stacks is pretty nice too.
Lee Saxon wrote:
What adapter are you using? Do you know if there's a Nikon version? I had no idea this existed!
Fotodiox Pro M645 to Nikon adapter. It's great quality (I have the Canon version). Buy from ebay (you can avoid shipping costs there) or the fotodiox site.
Lee Saxon wrote:
Thanks! Does it feel pretty snug? I tried a Fotodiox Nikon-to-m4/3 and found it had a ton of wiggle; had to upgrade to the Novoflex.
Their M645 adapters are very good -- much better than all their other adapters (for small format lenses). No appreciable play except a tiny bit of tilting forward with my Mamiya 200/2.8 APO (if I leave it unsupported) because the lens is so front-heavy.
You'll pay ~350 euros for a Novoflex adapter for a negligable gain in quality. That's nearly 6 times more than a Fotodiox Pro adapter ($80). Again: I'm just talking about the M645 adapter here. For other (non-medium format) mounts the Novoflex adapters may be worth the money.
trifilmer wrote:
What about the Mamiya 150mm f/4? How does that compare?
The Mamiya C 150/3.5 N is not nearly as good as the A 150/2.8, I've owned both. I don't know the Mamiya 150/4, which pre-dates the 150/3.5, but I can assure you that it's not as good as the A 150/2.8.
trifilmer wrote:
What about the Mamiya 150mm f/4? How does that compare?
I don't think that lens will be as good as the 150/2.8 because the latter is an A series lens (kind of like the Canon "L" equivalent for Mamiya), which means it uses special glass types (low dispersion) for better optical performance, while the 150/4 will be of the regular C type.
The 150A is an incredible portrait lens - not only deadly sharp and great CA control thanks to the ULD glass, but like most M645 glass, has awesome tonality and in thei case kicks-out great skin tones.
Bought and sold a lot of glass as I shifted over to Nikon, but my M645 120/4 and 150/2.8 A are 'never to be sold' keepers. Also, another vote for the Fotofiox Pro adapters.
No info on the 150/4, but the 150/3.5 while nice in own right and a lot of lens for very small $$, is not in the same league as the 2.8A.
Conner999 wrote:
... but my M645 120/4 and 150/2.8 A are 'never to be sold' keepers...
They're both good lenses. I suppose it just depends what you shoot and how. I have both but am only attached to the 120/4 A which I use regularly for 'product' shots, close ups of car details etc. If something happened to the 120 I would just replace it rather than search for a 'better' lens.
The 150/2.8 A gathers dust, but there's nothing wrong with it, I just don't use it much. IIRC the 150/2.8 vignettes relatively little wide open which may give it an edge over other lenses in that focal length.
My favs are the A 120/4 Macro and A 200/2.8 APO. I occasionally use the A 150/2.8 with tilt on the Mirex adapter. I almost always use the A 120/4 and A 200 APO with "straight up" Fotodiox Pro adapters.
