I'm having a hard time trying to decide between the 45mm and the 55mm,since their price and quality is so similar. I currently have the SMC 75mm f4.5 and I'm very pleased with it,using it as a "wide standard" lens for my landscape photography. Which wideangle would you choose as a companion for the 75mm?

-- Stefan Geysen (stefan_geysen@hotmail.com), June 24, 2000

Answers

If you have preferred the 21-24mm in the 35mm format, then the 45mm would be your choice. If you preferred the 28mm lens in 35 then the 55mm would suite your needs on the 67. I have the 45mm but it depends upon what you shoot. SR

-- Steve Rasmussen (srasmuss@flash.net), June 24, 2000.

Stefan, I too use the 75 as a "wide standard" and recently faced the same decision. I chose the 55. I knew from working landscapes in other formats that the 45 would encompass more than I like and exagerate near-far perspective beyond my taste. It would not match my photographic perceptions. Your way of seeing things should guide you. Reaching your conclusion based on these criteria seems like the best approach.

-- Sal Santamaura (bc_hill@qwestinternet.net), June 24, 2000.

Stefan, I have both lenses 45 and 55mm. Year ago I preferred 55 because I thought it is much sharper, but then I found that 45 performers as high as 55. Now 45 is my most used lense (I have 45, 55, 100, 200). I am thinking to trade 55 for 75. So I would choose 45, it also have the same thread size as 75 - 82mm.

-- Pavel Medek (pavel@talema.cz), June 25, 2000.

Here's yet another answer to add to the confusion. I have both the 45 & 55, and I use them in different situations. I like the 55 for a natural perspective and because it does not "push" the distant subjects even further. However, for things like architecture, I prefer to use the 45; it's slightly wider than a 24mm on 35 and is great for interiors, or exteriors where you have limited space to pull back. My kit includes 45, 55, 75shift, 135 macro, 200 and 1.4x for the 200. If most of what you shoot is purely landscape work, then go with the 55; it's quite unlike the 75 and I think you would use that lens more than any other for certain types of landscapes. I would choose the 55, 135, and 200 for pure landscape photography.

-- Charles Shoffner (Chasmn@aol.com), July 02, 2000.

I started with the 45 and then sold it after a couple years and bought the 55. For my tastes, the 45 was too extreme. I used it mainly for landscapes and even large objects at any distance seemed to become tiny specks on the print. The "wide angle" effect seemed too great. I prefer the more natural look of the 55 for the type of photography I do. If I did a lot of architccture, particularly interiors, I might prefer the 45. I haven't done anything like a scientific comparison but, FWIW, I haven't noticed any difference in the quality of the images. Both lenses seem to be very sharp.

-- Brian Ellis (bellis@tampabay.rr.com), July 08, 2000.

Just my $.02 worth. I do not own the 55, I do own and am very impressed with the 45. I think the perspective recorded by the 55 is way too similar to that of the 75. I would opt for the 45. That said I must admit that I particularly like the effect of the semi-extreme wide angle of the 45, some folks don't.

-- Patrick Drennon (sierraengineering@worldnet.att.net), July 12, 2000.

Brian Ellis has said it well from my perspective. You have to deicde on how you see things to determine which is most appropriate. In my lens testing the 55mm is superior in all aspects except in field of view. The 45mm is a "softer" lens as is common when you go to more extreme field of view in retrofocus designs. Sharpness towards the edges is a problem. I shoot a lot near infinity between f8 and fll and my choice is the 55mm. If sharpness is your thing, and you shoot like I do, then (from my tripod mounted tests) the 55mm, 75mm and 105mm lenses are the best. I have used 35mm to 600mm and prefer these three when I travel. If you want extreme sharpness and ultra- wide (and can spare a small fortune) the Mamiya 7 43mm is the best of many I have tested. Their 50mm and 65mm are rather awesome too.

-- Dave Hampton (dhph@powernet.net), August 13, 2001.