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Conqueror · 11-08-2014, 04:12 PM

Your favourite lens for mountains and large hills...

What lenses do you take up mountains and large hills?

Piotrek K · 11-08-2014, 04:50 PM

Well it is difficult to answer becuse we have no clue if you prefer zoom lenses or primes. But if you plan some landscape shots do not forget a telephoto. For me it is always better to find and isolate some objects (for this small 135 could be OK). Short telephoto is also handy if you like stitch photos for panormamic effects or just to have more detailed image.

fgaudet · 11-08-2014, 05:08 PM

Kinda depends on what you are looking for...

I like my 10-20 a lot because of the fisheye'ish look. And the 50-135 for more distant mountains and a 35 when either the 10-20 or 50-135 would do the job...

A few examples. First is the Sigma 10-20mm at 10mm. Second same lens at 20mm, third is with a Sigma 35mm and the last with a Pentax DA* 50-135mm shot at 135mm

Piotrek K · 11-08-2014, 05:13 PM

One of my favourite lenses for the mountains is also Pentax SMC - DA 40XS (this is more or less the same like 40 Limited lens). It is very small, very light, has excellent color rendition and good contrast. It is also good for stitching 2 or more photos if you need a wider perspective.

**mtngal** · 11-08-2014, 05:13 PM

How far are you walking/hiking? How are you planning on carrying your stuff? This spring I tried out hiking in Bryce and Zion with a regular hydration pack and separate lens cases attached to it's hip strap. Worked a lot better than any camera bag I've tried. I took the DA*16-50, DA 35 macro, DA 55-300 and then one more lens, sometimes the DA10-17 or the FA77. That seemed to have most things covered with only one heavy lens.

One day when I knew I was going to be looking for birds I took the DA300 and 1.7 AFA, then took the 24 f2.8 instead of the 16-50.

If I'm driving more than hiking I would take more stuff. Don't forget a circular polarizer - the sun gets stronger if you are at high altitudes.

Piotrek K · 11-08-2014, 05:17 PM

It seems everybody here speaks about some premium lenses. But if you are in budget the kit lens and small 50 mm lens, like M 50/1,7 or better A 50/1,7 for low light situations could be also very nice.

myrdinn · 11-08-2014, 05:43 PM

For this kind of photography I like the Sigma AF 10-20MM F/4-5.6 EX DC F/PENTAX. I like it's sharpness, its capacity to show a lot of details and its impressive colours.

You3andme · 11-08-2014, 06:05 PM

If I carried only one lens it would be Sigma 10-20 F/4-5.6 EX DC.

**interested_observer** · 11-08-2014, 06:07 PM

Your question ultimately comes down to what lens is good for landscapes. The down and dirty answer is any lens that you have with you. If the lens is not wide enough, stitch and then use a free utility from Microsoft - called ICE to stitch them together into a single image. Just overlap each shot by 25%. You can stitch across the horizon or vertical or in both directions.

Use what you have - the kit lenses work great.

aleonx3 · 11-08-2014, 06:58 PM

Originally posted by interested_observer

Your question ultimately comes down to what lens is good for landscapes. The down and dirty answer is any lens that you have with you. If the lens is not wide enough, stitch and then use a free utility from Microsoft - called ICE to stitch them together into a single image. Just overlap each shot by 25%. You can stitch across the horizon or vertical or in both directions.

Use what you have - the kit lenses work great.

And don't forget to put everything on manual including white balance when you pan the shots.....I personally do not like too wide... 12mm on APS-C will work just fine for me YMMV.

officiousbystander · 11-08-2014, 07:07 PM

I like the 35 macro because up in alpine areas you may also find lichen, moss and ferns. These mini landscapes are also worth recording.

**clackers** · 11-08-2014, 07:10 PM

For climbing mountains, lightweight is king. The DA15, DA35 and FA77 will get the gig, along with my new K-S1. The DA55-300 will be included if wildlife is a genuine possibility.

**Canada_Rockies** · 11-08-2014, 10:02 PM

My mountain kit is the DA 12-24 and DA* 16-50. Sometimes augmented by either the M 100/4 macro or the DA 55-300 in case I see some live things up there.

Conqueror · 11-09-2014, 02:29 AM

That's interesting... I kept the question vague on purpose

I was wondering if you would find the DA* zooms and primes too heavy/bulky

The 50-135mm and 300 in particular strike me as being useful, I don't own either of these though

**Kerrowdown** · 11-09-2014, 06:11 AM

Originally posted by Conqueror

Your favourite lens for mountains and large hills

A prime that fills the frame with the subject, that doesn't involve me having to climb it first.

11-08-2014, 04:12 PM	#1
Conqueror Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: UK Posts: 440	Your favourite lens for mountains and large hills Your favourite lens for mountains and large hills... What lenses do you take up mountains and large hills?

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11-08-2014, 04:50 PM	#2
Piotrek K Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,384	Well it is difficult to answer becuse we have no clue if you prefer zoom lenses or primes. But if you plan some landscape shots do not forget a telephoto. For me it is always better to find and isolate some objects (for this small 135 could be OK). Short telephoto is also handy if you like stitch photos for panormamic effects or just to have more detailed image.

11-08-2014, 05:13 PM	#4
Piotrek K Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,384	One of my favourite lenses for the mountains is also Pentax SMC - DA 40XS (this is more or less the same like 40 Limited lens). It is very small, very light, has excellent color rendition and good contrast. It is also good for stitching 2 or more photos if you need a wider perspective.

11-08-2014, 05:13 PM	#5
mtngal Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Wherever I’m Parked Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,003	How far are you walking/hiking? How are you planning on carrying your stuff? This spring I tried out hiking in Bryce and Zion with a regular hydration pack and separate lens cases attached to it's hip strap. Worked a lot better than any camera bag I've tried. I took the DA*16-50, DA 35 macro, DA 55-300 and then one more lens, sometimes the DA10-17 or the FA77. That seemed to have most things covered with only one heavy lens. One day when I knew I was going to be looking for birds I took the DA300 and 1.7 AFA, then took the 24 f2.8 instead of the 16-50. If I'm driving more than hiking I would take more stuff. Don't forget a circular polarizer - the sun gets stronger if you are at high altitudes.

11-08-2014, 05:17 PM	#6
Piotrek K Pentaxian Join Date: Dec 2012 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,384	It seems everybody here speaks about some premium lenses. But if you are in budget the kit lens and small 50 mm lens, like M 50/1,7 or better A 50/1,7 for low light situations could be also very nice.

11-08-2014, 05:43 PM	#7
myrdinn Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: belgium Posts: 96	For this kind of photography I like the Sigma AF 10-20MM F/4-5.6 EX DC F/PENTAX. I like it's sharpness, its capacity to show a lot of details and its impressive colours.

11-08-2014, 06:05 PM	#8
You3andme New Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Canberra, Australia Posts: 6	If I carried only one lens it would be Sigma 10-20 F/4-5.6 EX DC.

11-08-2014, 06:07 PM	#9
interested_observer Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Tumbleweed, Arizona Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,707	Your question ultimately comes down to what lens is good for landscapes. The down and dirty answer is any lens that you have with you. If the lens is not wide enough, stitch and then use a free utility from Microsoft - called ICE to stitch them together into a single image. Just overlap each shot by 25%. You can stitch across the horizon or vertical or in both directions. Use what you have - the kit lenses work great.

11-08-2014, 06:58 PM	#10
aleonx3 Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Brampton, Ontario Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 3,996	Originally posted by interested_observer Your question ultimately comes down to what lens is good for landscapes. The down and dirty answer is any lens that you have with you. If the lens is not wide enough, stitch and then use a free utility from Microsoft - called ICE to stitch them together into a single image. Just overlap each shot by 25%. You can stitch across the horizon or vertical or in both directions. Use what you have - the kit lenses work great. And don't forget to put everything on manual including white balance when you pan the shots.....I personally do not like too wide... 12mm on APS-C will work just fine for me YMMV.

11-08-2014, 07:07 PM	#11
officiousbystander Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery Posts: 916	I like the 35 macro because up in alpine areas you may also find lichen, moss and ferns. These mini landscapes are also worth recording.

11-08-2014, 07:10 PM	#12
clackers Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Melbourne Photos: Albums Posts: 16,397	For climbing mountains, lightweight is king. The DA15, DA35 and FA77 will get the gig, along with my new K-S1. The DA55-300 will be included if wildlife is a genuine possibility.

11-08-2014, 10:02 PM	#13
Canada_Rockies Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Sparwood, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,385	My mountain kit is the DA 12-24 and DA* 16-50. Sometimes augmented by either the M 100/4 macro or the DA 55-300 in case I see some live things up there.

11-09-2014, 02:29 AM	#14
Conqueror Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: UK Posts: 440 Original Poster	That's interesting... I kept the question vague on purpose I was wondering if you would find the DA* zooms and primes too heavy/bulky The 50-135mm and 300 in particular strike me as being useful, I don't own either of these though

11-09-2014, 06:11 AM	#15
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,867	Originally posted by Conqueror Your favourite lens for mountains and large hills A prime that fills the frame with the subject, that doesn't involve me having to climb it first.