Phase One Announces 40mm-80mm f/4–5.6 Lens for Its Digital 645 System

When it comes to medium format photography, prime lenses are the norm. The size, weight and quality of construction of lenses are all areas of constraint for medium format over DSLRs or mirrorless, and so zoom lenses are more of a rarity.

However, there are always impressive exceptions to the rule, which is exactly what Phase One has done with its second-ever zoom lens for the 645 digital medium format system.

The new Schneider Kreuznach 40–80mm f/4–5.6 lens features a leaf shutter and 15 glass elements in 11 groups, two of which are aspherical. Designed with the best quality in mind, Phase One said via press release that the lens offers, “excellent optical qualities throughout the zoom range,” reassuring those looking for convenience that there won’t be a massive trade-off in quality as compared to primes.

The press release reassurances might have been unnecessary, however, because the price tag alone should suffice in allaying any fears — this beast comes in at approximately $9,000 USD.

If you’d like to find out more about the lens, check out the official press release by clicking here. Alternatively, to see the high-end glass in action, check out the video above featuring Los Angeles-based car photographer Richard Thompson III putting the beast to the test by shooting an extremely rare Ford GT40 in the desert.