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12-16-2013, 08:32 PM   #1
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Please suggest a good WA lens for landscape for my Pentax DSLR

Hello guys, sorry if i have to ask this question again, i know this question has been asked several times, but im kinda new to landscape photography, and the forum threads i read are somewhat outdated.
Im currently thinking of buying a wide angle lens that i will use just for landscape shots (long exposures, beach images, etc). i currently own a Pentax SMC DA L 18-55, basically a kit lens that comes along with my K30.
I would really love to "LOVE" this lens but, for landscape shots, it really doesnt impress me. Its an OK lens, decent performance, but not spectacular, hey its a kit lens.

Im looking for an upgrade (prime or zoom) lens for landscape but with tight budget.

Currently on my list:
1. DA 35/2.4 AL
2. Tamron 17-50
3. Sigma 17-70

If only Rokinon/Samyang 14mm have filter thread, id wudve definitely bought 1. Please suggest. Thank guys!

12-16-2013, 08:37 PM   #2
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My vote of the three would be the Tamron 17-50. 17mm should be wide enough. The 35mm seems like a fine lens and at a nice price, but it is too long for me when it comes to landscape.
12-16-2013, 09:27 PM   #3
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A used copy of the DA16-45 is an excellent option for tighter budgets than the two 17-50 versions. DA35 is excellent and can do 'landscapes' but it will take more work to stitch when wide views are desired. For most folks it's preferred greatly over the kit 18-55.
12-16-2013, 09:30 PM   #4
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Sigma 10-20mm Price is a bit more than the 17-50mm f2.8 though, which is also a very good lens.

12-16-2013, 09:36 PM   #5
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The Sigma 18-35/1.8, if it materializes for Pentax. Tamron 17-50/2.8, Sigma 8-16, Zeiss 21/2.8, DA15/4
12-16-2013, 09:40 PM   #6
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I have no affiliation to Samyang/Rokinon, but I am very excited about their upcoming (already announced) 10mm f/2.8.

You won't need autofocus for your intended purpose.
12-16-2013, 10:22 PM   #7
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Note the bit about having a tight budget. Not sure there's many zeiss or limiteds available at "scratch and dent sale" prices.

12-16-2013, 10:47 PM   #8
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The Tamron 17-50/2.8 is better than the 18-55, and it is not expensive. Anything much better is much more expensive, except for the Samyang prime lenses.
12-16-2013, 11:34 PM   #9
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i would love to buy samyang 14mm, but but but, its pretty useless to since i kinda like long exposure shots using square filters, yeah, samyang rokinons doesnt have filter thread in their 14mm model. Pretty disappointed!
12-17-2013, 03:00 AM   #10
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Samyang also makes a 16mm f2.0 lens, I think that one might allow filters. And a 24mm f1.4. But its a heavy lens.
I use the Samyang 14mm for landscapes (you can see some of the photos here, just scroll down. The 14mm ones are pretty distinctive), along with a tripod. I would sometimes like a polarizer, or a lens hood for APS-C, these are definitely weaknesses. That, and the focus ring calibration issue. The DA 35mm is a nice lens, but I cannot seem to use it for landscapes very well. Its probably just me, because some members uploaded great landscape photos taken with it. I prefer the DA 40mm XS for landscapes, over the DA 35mm f2.4. I don't know why, but the focal length, rendering.. just works better for me. Even though it is not as wide.
You got some great suggestions so far, though. Like the Sigma 10-20mm - have seen lots of stunning landscape photos taken with it
12-17-2013, 03:07 AM   #11
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Did you consider the DA 15 limited and the DA12-24? They both take filters, are pretty wide angle and have very good IQ for landscapes.

QuoteOriginally posted by Andr3w Quote
My vote of the three would be the Tamron 17-50. 17mm should be wide enough. The 35mm seems like a fine lens and at a nice price, but it is too long for me when it comes to landscape.
Sorry to disagree but my DA35ltd makes a formidable landscapelens, as does my tamron 90mm macro from time to time
12-17-2013, 03:20 AM   #12
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While you are deciding on things, any lens can be used for landscapes and for wider angle shooting. Stitching has been brought up here. Stitching with the kit lens is effective, and while you are mulling things over, down load a copy of Microsoft ICE (its free) and shoot some overlaps and stitch them together and see how you like it.

The 16-45 is an excellent lens. Its a bit larger than the kit, but sharper with better image quality.

12-17-2013, 03:48 AM   #13
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Meh, I still think that buying a DA 14mm or DA 15mm or DA 12-24mm, FA 20-35mm, Sigma 10-20mm, Tamron 10-24mm, Samyang 10mm 14mm or 16mm, even the DA 21mm will give you much better photos than the kit lens, even if you stitch kit lens photos. The Pentax DA L kit lenses are not as bad as some other brand's kit lenses, but a prime or higher-end zoom will still be significantly better. The best use of kit lenses is for tourism snapshots and as a flexible WR workhorse. If you want the IQ, you probably want a more specialized lens.
And its true that even though usually people use wide angle (And UWA) lenses for landscape photography, you can take great landscape photos with normal and tele lenses. You know those landscapes with a giant moon near the horizon? Those are taken with a tele lens, sometimes over 500mm. But I still wouldn't recommend a 500mm lens to a beginner, at least not as a landscape lens. But of course, the result depends on how creative and skilled you are, and both of these take practice.
Welcome to photography, where lenses matter a lot, but you'll only know if its a good fit once you have it

Last edited by Na Horuk; 12-17-2013 at 03:53 AM.
12-17-2013, 06:43 AM   #14
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For landscapes you don't really need AF and there are lots of good MF lenses in K-mount.
Get a decent 28 and 50 and you're ready to go! Stitch if you want to go wider!
And a decent tripod might inprove picture quality more than a new lens, especially with longer exposures (sunset, blue hour etc).
And a polarizing filter as well.

Rgds,
Gerd.
12-17-2013, 07:02 AM   #15
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Thank you for the suggestions so far! Some suggested are very far off my budget, btw, my budget is more or less 300usd.
Stitching is reaĺly not an option for me, this lens is going to be used mainly for landscape long exposure shots.
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