p.1 #1 · Pentax 645 FA 35mm Zoerk/Zork shift adapted to full frame
Has anyone used the reportedly excellent Pentax 645 FA 35mm on full-frame DSLR with a shift adaptor like the Zork and what are your findings? Please post some samples if you can.
I'm still undecided between Sony A900 and Canon 5DMKII with the only obstacle barring me from getting the Sony the unavailability of a credible shift option. The heart says Sony cos it's surely the better low ISO option, it's cheaper in the UK and boosts higher DR, but the head says Canon cos it's so easy to adapt for perspective control (PC Distagon, the new PC Nikkors, the 35mm MC shift Zuiko, you name it!).
Any info on how this lens adapts to high-res full-frame DSLR and a few samples would be wonderful!
p.1 #4 · Pentax 645 FA 35mm Zoerk/Zork shift adapted to full frame
shirozina wrote:
Who has tested the 5DII directly against the A900 for low ISO quality and DR?
No one has, as far as I know, but the gist is that the 5DII won't surpass the 1DsIII and that the A900 offers higher resolution (lines per mm) and higher DR at base ISO (provided the lenses used match the sensor). Also, a regular poster on DPReview has also conducted some sensor testing and concluded that the A900 is about 1 stop ahead in terms of DR (no time to search for the link right now, sorry).
I'm aware that there's a PC Super Angulon in Minolta mount or at least that there's one in screw mount that can be adapted to Alpha, but I've read that it's not one of Schneider's best (not when compared to the Zeiss PC Distagon), plus it's quite expensive. This is why I was wondering if the Pentax 645 35mm/Zork combination might be the holy grail of Alpha mount shift in the absence of the PC Distagon.
p.1 #5 · Pentax 645 FA 35mm Zoerk/Zork shift adapted to full frame
I have the Zoerk psa and the 33-55 pentax 645 works great on the 5D.
there is a bit of distortion with this zoom and i seem to be getting a bit of yellow CA too
but the sharpness from the lens is fantastic.
took this pic with it recently of my old FD gear . . . even though i bought it for interiors and architecture. the shift function is fantastic even though the zoerk unit is a bit cumbersome.
p.1 #6 · Pentax 645 FA 35mm Zoerk/Zork shift adapted to full frame
aoluain- I looked into the Pentax 33-55 zoom when we first moved to canon digital from medium format film. But I was scared off by the reviews and concern over distortion. How bad is "a bit"? Do you have any examples of uncorrected rooms using this setup?
p.1 #7 · Pentax 645 FA 35mm Zoerk/Zork shift adapted to full frame
Hi David,
Here are some samples of pics I ahve taken since I got this setup about 2 months ago.
Distortion is more noticable in some over others.
Descriptions to each pic is above it. and excuses
This was my first day out with the new system and I had the camera iso set at 800 from a previous shoot so they are a bit grainy.
Distortion is noticable on this but I didnt have the camera properly levelled. The glass to the extreme right is perfectly perpendicular but as you move left the angles become tilted.
p.1 #8 · Pentax 645 FA 35mm Zoerk/Zork shift adapted to full frame
Here is another sample of the CA i am experiencing but is easily fixed in PS.
both types of Ca were experienced here particularly towards the top of the building.
On another note I wanted to go for the 35mm FA version but they are really hard to find.
p.1 #9 · Pentax 645 FA 35mm Zoerk/Zork shift adapted to full frame
aoluain- Thank you for posting these, there does not seem to be as much barrel distortion as I had expected. Perhaps because the reviews I was reading pertained to using the lens on the 645 camera, it makes sense that using less of the image circle would mean seeing less distortion as well. If you have any shifted interiors I'd love to see those as well.
p.1 #10 · Pentax 645 FA 35mm Zoerk/Zork shift adapted to full frame
Hi david,
Yes there is a test i conducted of my kitchen comparing the Zoerk/33-55 to the Canon 17-40 F4 L . . . very interesting.
I will post this later on this evening.
p.1 #11 · Pentax 645 FA 35mm Zoerk/Zork shift adapted to full frame
Here is the test the stitched zoerk shot works out at about 20mm focal length.
in the 17-40 image there is quite a bit of distortion at the foreground edge and getting the same view as the zoerk results in the converging angles.
p.1 #12 · Pentax 645 FA 35mm Zoerk/Zork shift adapted to full frame
aoluain wrote:
Hi David,
Here are some samples of pics I ahve taken since I got this setup about 2 months ago.
Distortion is more noticable in some over others.
Descriptions to each pic is above it. and excuses
This was my first day out with the new system and I had the camera iso set at 800 from a previous shoot so they are a bit grainy.
Distortion is noticable on this but I didnt have the camera properly levelled. The glass to the extreme right is perfectly perpendicular but as you move left the angles become tilted.
Interesting, I don't see much distortion and surely nothing that can't be dealt with in PP. Surely much better than correcting converging verticals.
Would you mind posting some centre and corner 100% crops, just to see how sharp it is at pixel-peeping level on the 5D and if there's a substantial difference between centre frame and edges?
Many thanks! Not exceptional in the corner, but quite good for a medium format zoom. I imagine the 35mm FA will be even better, since it's a fixed focal and is reported to be the best WA in the Pentax 645 line.
I'm also more confident that the C/Y PC Distagon can be adapted to Alpha with a mount conversion. Found this company: http://www.srb-griturn.com/index.asp
And will contact them to find out about C/Y and Leica conversion to Alpha.
