FA-Series 645 Lenses to be Sold in the US

Pentax's medium format lineup increases from 3 to 16 lenses

By PF Staff in Pentax Announcements on Apr 10, 2014

The number of available Pentax 645 medium format lenses in the US market skyrocketed today, as we've just learned that 13 FA-series lenses will soon be complementing the current 3 lenses in the DA- and DFA-series. This change means that in addition to the 25mm, 55mm, and 90mm lenses, users of the 40-megapixel Pentax 645D will also be able to choose from a variety of other lenses including wide-angles, macros, zooms, and telephotos.

All the new FA lenses are now available for pre-order at B&H Photo. While some of those have been around for nearly two decades, they are still in production and form a key part of the Pentax 645 system in other markets. They were available in the US during the film era. FA lenses feature autofocus and auto exposure support, but they lack modern features such as full-time manual focus override (quick shift) and weather sealing compared to the DA/DFA series. The 13 FA lenses are now priced between $699 and $4799.

The diagram below shows the complete Pentax 645 mount lens lineup in the US before and after this announcement. Note that the FA* 645 300mm F4 is the only FA autofocus lens that won't be going on sale in the US.

Current Pentax 645 medium format lineup (click to enlarge)

We are happy to hear this news, as it will undoubtedly strengthen the appeal of the upcoming Pentax 645Z launch outside of Japan. The successor to the 645D will be announced next week and is rumored to feature a 50-megapixel sensor with video capabilities.

Read on for a complete pricelist for the lenses being introduced.

Want to order one of the 645-mount FA lenses? Click here for purchase links, which are found in our comprehensive Pentax lens database. The database also includes dozens of user reviews as well as complete specifications for each lens.

In general, the pricing of the FA lenses is much more affordable than that of the DA 25mm and DFA 90mm, which are both in the $5000 range. However, many of the FA lenses are available for much less on the used market, albeit without warranty.

Prototype of the 645D's successor

The Pentax 645 medium format camera system is designed for professionals working primarily in studio or landscape photography applications. The current Pentax 645D DSLR was launched in 2010 and features a 40-megapixel CCD sensor measuring 44x33mm, which requires larger lenses than the Pentax K-mount DSLRs. The camera currently retails for $6999 in the US.

For more details on the 645D, visit our in-depth reviews (vs. Nikon D800E and vs. Nikon D3x) and stop by our medium-format forum. Also, stay tuned for the announcement of its successor next week.