Good lens for landscapes

Seafood · 10-05-2007, 06:19 AM

I own a K110d and have a kit lens along with a 70-300 zoom.

I am finding myself drawn to landscape photography and the like and would like recommendations on a good lens for this application.

I would dont mind using some of the older classic lenses that are all manual...that can also be picked up for very cheap!

thanks for any input

Tom M · 10-05-2007, 06:45 AM

Landscape shots don't require a specific lens, any lens can be used as each lens will give a different perspective.

Popular choices for landscape lenses tend to be wide-angle, primes, and short tele's..

For a new lens I will highly recommend the Pentax DA 16-45. It has prime-like sharpness, great color and little distortion.

For older lenses I can recommend the SMC 50mm's - Really, any version but the 50mm f/2.0 in my opinion. I can also recommend the SMC 28mm f/2.8.

I'm sure everyone will have their favorites but do note that with older non-A lenses the Pentax DSLR will revert to center-weighted metering regardless of your setting.

little laker · 10-05-2007, 09:26 AM

I used the kit lens for the longest time, and still do when I'm photographing really wide valleys or mountains.
It does the job, and they still look stunning.

daacon · 10-05-2007, 09:58 AM

As already mentioned landscapes can be taken with almost any lens and the Kit lens 18-55 is indeed a decent perfromer. Wide angle shots for landscapes I use the Pentax 12-24. I find this an excellent lens , albiet it is a bit on the expensive side.

Something else to consider is software panoramics. With programs like PS and PSP and the free autostich it is relatively easy to merge sveral photos into a beautiful panoramic picture.

RoxnDox · 10-05-2007, 11:44 AM

Originally posted by Tom M

Landscape shots don't require a specific lens, any lens can be used as each lens will give a different perspective.

Popular choices for landscape lenses tend to be wide-angle, primes, and short tele's..

(cut)

For older lenses I can recommend the SMC 50mm's - Really, any version but the 50mm f/2.0 in my opinion. I can also recommend the SMC 28mm f/2.8.

Curious here, why do you recommend against the 50mm f/2 lens? I ask because I have two of them sitting around on my battered old K1000 and my wife's ME Super (which got a lot better treatment than my workhorse)...

Jim

axl · 10-06-2007, 03:23 AM

you should consider Sigma 10-20, too. Apparently it's a good performer, and it costs roughly half price of DA 12-24. Otherwise DA 16-45 is a good way to go...

MPrince · 10-06-2007, 04:26 AM

Originally posted by CycloneBandDad

Curious here, why do you recommend against the 50mm f/2 lens? I ask because I have two of them sitting around on my battered old K1000 and my wife's ME Super (which got a lot better treatment than my workhorse)...

Jim

I second CycloneBandDad's question. I have a 50mm M f/1.4 and a 50mm A f/2.0 and find them to be optically identical, or nearly so. In fact, the 50mm A is alway on my camera--when I need a different lens it is always the 50 A that has to come off.

simonkit · 10-06-2007, 07:01 AM

As an alternative to the Pentax 16-45 the Sigma 17-70 is a great choice, image quality between the 2 is pretty much identical with the Sigma having extra range at the Tele-end.

I bought the Sigma recently & have been very impressed !!

simon

Duplo · 10-06-2007, 07:20 AM

It all depends on your own preferences and what focal lengths works for you.

For me lenses like the DA14, DA21ltd and A24 are what I tend to prefer, but both the FA31ltd, FA43ltd and FA77 ltd see regular use for this too.. in fact the A24 has turned out to be a lens I use very much during daytime, while the DA14 is a favourite for aurora hunting.

I am pretty certain that the A20 would be excellent for landscapes too.

Now the reason for me to mention "A" lenses for landscape work is that manual focus is a blessing for that kind of work to me. that is also my reason for liking the limiteds so much.
They do not have the feel of a manual focus prime, but they do come close enough to be acceptable.

It would be my guess that some of the older M, K and M42 primes would do equally great for landscapes. though I have not tried that out myself.

Now what I mention is all primes and yes that is my preference, but a zoom would easily do the job too.

**NaClH2O** · 10-06-2007, 07:21 AM

I think wide is usually the way to go with landscapes and the kit 18-55 is a good first choice there. I'd like to also recommend the Zenitar 16mm f2.8 fisheye. This is a GREAT little lens and quite inexpensive. The fisheye distortion on it is on the minimal side, in fact with careful framing and a bit of judicious cropping you can't really discern much at all. Good for close up work too. One of the few lenses that is always in my bag.

NaCl(you can't go wrong with a "Z" )H2O

PaulAndAPentax · 10-06-2007, 07:28 AM

I use both the kit lens and a Sigma 17-70. For wider angles, I would recommend the Sigma 10-20 or the Pentax 10-17 Fisheye (you can use software to fan out the fish eye effect...) I have seen some excellent shots with both out on flickr and pbase. I will probably be getting one or the other here after a while myself. The Pentax 14mm prime should be a good contender as well. Really it depends on what you want, there are so many choices.

Here are some samples from the lenses I have.

Sigma 17-70:

Pentax 18-55:

little laker · 10-06-2007, 09:30 AM

Originally posted by CycloneBandDad

Curious here, why do you recommend against the 50mm f/2 lens? I ask because I have two of them sitting around on my battered old K1000 and my wife's ME Super (which got a lot better treatment than my workhorse)...

Jim

I have 1 as well, and they're great lenses.
Although I don't think that I've used mine since I got my 55mm F1.8.

They aren't as wide as I like for most of my landscapes, however at the right place they're unbeatable

Chako · 10-06-2007, 12:56 PM

I have the DA 16-45 and do not find it wide enough at times. I am thinking of getting the fisheye zoom for those times when I really need 180 field of view.

srg123 · 10-06-2007, 03:02 PM

For landscapes - 2 lenses:

SIGMA AF 18-50 mm f2.8 EX DC;
Test images: PentaxNews: Ó÷àñòíèêè: Aleksandr Bondar: Ìîè ôîòîãðàôèè

SIGMA AF 10-20 mm F/4-5.6 EX DC
Test images: Flickr: Photos from alonsodr

little laker · 10-06-2007, 03:40 PM

Taken with a Vivitar 28mm f2.8

it isn't my best, but taken with Pentax 18-55mm kit lens

An OLD Sigma 28-82

So you can see that it doesn't mater what lens you use for landscapes. My Vivitar is my personal favorite at the moment, but it isn't the best for every location.
This is where a nice zoom lens works well.

If you plan on buying a new lens anyways I'd recommend the new Pentax 18-250

Just because it'll cover 99% of your shots without changing lenses.

10-05-2007, 06:19 AM	#1
Seafood Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 53	Good lens for landscapes I own a K110d and have a kit lens along with a 70-300 zoom. I am finding myself drawn to landscape photography and the like and would like recommendations on a good lens for this application. I would dont mind using some of the older classic lenses that are all manual...that can also be picked up for very cheap! thanks for any input

10-06-2007, 07:21 AM	#10
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	My two cents I think wide is usually the way to go with landscapes and the kit 18-55 is a good first choice there. I'd like to also recommend the Zenitar 16mm f2.8 fisheye. This is a GREAT little lens and quite inexpensive. The fisheye distortion on it is on the minimal side, in fact with careful framing and a bit of judicious cropping you can't really discern much at all. Good for close up work too. One of the few lenses that is always in my bag. NaCl(you can't go wrong with a "Z" )H2O

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10-05-2007, 06:45 AM	#2
Tom M Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Lincoln Park, NJ Photos: Gallery Posts: 780	Landscape shots don't require a specific lens, any lens can be used as each lens will give a different perspective. Popular choices for landscape lenses tend to be wide-angle, primes, and short tele's.. For a new lens I will highly recommend the Pentax DA 16-45. It has prime-like sharpness, great color and little distortion. For older lenses I can recommend the SMC 50mm's - Really, any version but the 50mm f/2.0 in my opinion. I can also recommend the SMC 28mm f/2.8. I'm sure everyone will have their favorites but do note that with older non-A lenses the Pentax DSLR will revert to center-weighted metering regardless of your setting.

10-05-2007, 09:26 AM	#3
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	I used the kit lens for the longest time, and still do when I'm photographing really wide valleys or mountains. It does the job, and they still look stunning.

10-05-2007, 09:58 AM	#4
daacon Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Alberta,Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 20,914	As already mentioned landscapes can be taken with almost any lens and the Kit lens 18-55 is indeed a decent perfromer. Wide angle shots for landscapes I use the Pentax 12-24. I find this an excellent lens , albiet it is a bit on the expensive side. Something else to consider is software panoramics. With programs like PS and PSP and the free autostich it is relatively easy to merge sveral photos into a beautiful panoramic picture.

10-05-2007, 11:44 AM	#5
RoxnDox Pentaxian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Gig Harbor, Washington, USA, Terra Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,494	Originally posted by Tom M Landscape shots don't require a specific lens, any lens can be used as each lens will give a different perspective. Popular choices for landscape lenses tend to be wide-angle, primes, and short tele's.. (cut) For older lenses I can recommend the SMC 50mm's - Really, any version but the 50mm f/2.0 in my opinion. I can also recommend the SMC 28mm f/2.8. Curious here, why do you recommend against the 50mm f/2 lens? I ask because I have two of them sitting around on my battered old K1000 and my wife's ME Super (which got a lot better treatment than my workhorse)... Jim

10-06-2007, 03:23 AM	#6
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	you should consider Sigma 10-20, too. Apparently it's a good performer, and it costs roughly half price of DA 12-24. Otherwise DA 16-45 is a good way to go...

10-06-2007, 04:26 AM	#7
MPrince Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: WV Posts: 1,495	Originally posted by CycloneBandDad Curious here, why do you recommend against the 50mm f/2 lens? I ask because I have two of them sitting around on my battered old K1000 and my wife's ME Super (which got a lot better treatment than my workhorse)... Jim I second CycloneBandDad's question. I have a 50mm M f/1.4 and a 50mm A f/2.0 and find them to be optically identical, or nearly so. In fact, the 50mm A is alway on my camera--when I need a different lens it is always the 50 A that has to come off.

10-06-2007, 07:01 AM	#8
simonkit Veteran Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: North Wales, UK Posts: 645	As an alternative to the Pentax 16-45 the Sigma 17-70 is a great choice, image quality between the 2 is pretty much identical with the Sigma having extra range at the Tele-end. I bought the Sigma recently & have been very impressed !! simon

10-06-2007, 07:20 AM	#9
Duplo Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Copenhagen Photos: Gallery Posts: 924	It all depends on your own preferences and what focal lengths works for you. For me lenses like the DA14, DA21ltd and A24 are what I tend to prefer, but both the FA31ltd, FA43ltd and FA77 ltd see regular use for this too.. in fact the A24 has turned out to be a lens I use very much during daytime, while the DA14 is a favourite for aurora hunting. I am pretty certain that the A20 would be excellent for landscapes too. Now the reason for me to mention "A" lenses for landscape work is that manual focus is a blessing for that kind of work to me. that is also my reason for liking the limiteds so much. They do not have the feel of a manual focus prime, but they do come close enough to be acceptable. It would be my guess that some of the older M, K and M42 primes would do equally great for landscapes. though I have not tried that out myself. Now what I mention is all primes and yes that is my preference, but a zoom would easily do the job too.

10-06-2007, 07:28 AM	#11
PaulAndAPentax Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Jacksonville, Florida Photos: Gallery Posts: 390	I use both the kit lens and a Sigma 17-70. For wider angles, I would recommend the Sigma 10-20 or the Pentax 10-17 Fisheye (you can use software to fan out the fish eye effect...) I have seen some excellent shots with both out on flickr and pbase. I will probably be getting one or the other here after a while myself. The Pentax 14mm prime should be a good contender as well. Really it depends on what you want, there are so many choices. Here are some samples from the lenses I have. Sigma 17-70: Pentax 18-55:

10-06-2007, 09:30 AM	#12
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	Originally posted by CycloneBandDad Curious here, why do you recommend against the 50mm f/2 lens? I ask because I have two of them sitting around on my battered old K1000 and my wife's ME Super (which got a lot better treatment than my workhorse)... Jim I have 1 as well, and they're great lenses. Although I don't think that I've used mine since I got my 55mm F1.8. They aren't as wide as I like for most of my landscapes, however at the right place they're unbeatable

10-06-2007, 12:56 PM	#13
Chako Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sault Ste Marie, Ont, Canada. Posts: 563	I have the DA 16-45 and do not find it wide enough at times. I am thinking of getting the fisheye zoom for those times when I really need 180 field of view.

10-06-2007, 03:02 PM	#14
srg123 New Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Saint-Petersburg Photos: Albums Posts: 7	For landscapes - 2 lenses: SIGMA AF 18-50 mm f2.8 EX DC; Test images: PentaxNews: Ó÷àñòíèêè: Aleksandr Bondar: Ìîè ôîòîãðàôèè SIGMA AF 10-20 mm F/4-5.6 EX DC Test images: Flickr: Photos from alonsodr

10-06-2007, 03:40 PM	#15
little laker Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Photos: Gallery Posts: 5,697	Taken with a Vivitar 28mm f2.8 it isn't my best, but taken with Pentax 18-55mm kit lens An OLD Sigma 28-82 So you can see that it doesn't mater what lens you use for landscapes. My Vivitar is my personal favorite at the moment, but it isn't the best for every location. This is where a nice zoom lens works well. If you plan on buying a new lens anyways I'd recommend the new Pentax 18-250 Just because it'll cover 99% of your shots without changing lenses.