[csa]

I opted for the Green Ring, for it's magnificent starbursts, but I'm sure the HD if fabulous,

Good information Cameron; I'd probably want the starbursts as well.

[csa]

Wow, you've really given me a lot to think about! I'm planning on buying one (not sure yet, which one) for Christmas.

The photos posted here have been breathtaking!

[northcoastgreg]

I vote for the DA 21 as well. Sharp, contrasty, with great colors and rendering:

[Alex645]

Well, this is a Pentax forum, not Nikon.

Yes of course. However, many of us Pentaxians also use other systems and some also use adapters for those other brands on our Pentax cameras. The hybrid can result in some unique renderings.

[ChristianRock]

I'm not nearly as good as most people here at landscapes, and I certainly don't shoot as much as I would like. But I seem to "click" with the DA 16-45mm f4. A boring choice, I know, a cheap lens from the early days of APS-C (released back when the *istD was the only Pentax DSLR in existence...)

But I like what I get from it.











As for other lenses, I also enjoy the DA 35 2.4 "Plastic Fantastic"... even though it also gets a bad rep. It's very sharp at infinity and I think the colors and contrast are great and respond very well to PP.


The M 28 3.5 has gorgeous colors, and the K 28 3.5 is supposed to be even better. I have the M, and should use it more.


I've used the DA 21 before, I had one for two weeks on a trade with the DA 16-45 and then the trade was undone, as the other person decided it was decentered when used in portrait orientation only - I haven't seen that, and it's possible that it happens because of the barrel wobble that the 16-45 is famous for. If it does it would probably happen at the wide end - but I never use it in portrait orientation at 16mm, so I wasn't going to argue with it, and I was actually glad to get my 16-45 back as I really like the lens.

Having said that, I'm thinking about swapping my Tokina 19-35, which early on did give me some nice landscape images when it was all I had, for a DA 21. I was holding on to the Tokina in hopes of winning a K-1 this summer... but obviously that didn't happen. So sometime next year I think, I'll have a DA 21 again and I'll give it another chance...

[csa]

Well, the 16-45 might be considered a "cheap" lens, but I really love the first (bridge),and the 2nd one (snow scene). You have a great eye!

[onlineflyer]

The da 20-40 limited is my go to for landscape. Oh, and the old K 30/2.8. Both deliver great rendering and color.

[AggieDad]

I really like my DA 35 f2.4 (plastic), but the DA 18-135 is my walk around, and that means it is on the camera for lots of landscapes. Here are two panos, one of 6 stitched images and 8 stitched images, and one single image all taken with the 18-135. Maybe a DA 21 is in my future.

A Six Image Pano DA 18-135 Image


The Mississippi-Missouri Confluence – An Eight Image Pano DA 18-135 Image


A Single DA 18-135 Image

[ChristianRock]

Well, the 16-45 might be considered a "cheap" lens, but I really love the first (bridge),and the 2nd one (snow scene). You have a great eye!

Thank you!

[tokyoscape]

Does urban landscape count? I like night urban shooting and deal with high contrast night scene and I count starburst effect as a very important factor when selecting a lens.

my choices are, SMC DA15, 21, FA50macro, DA*55 and DFA100macro.

- DA15 and 21 green rings are perfect for night urban shooting. I would never give up my SMC for HD version. Lens curvature's factor on DA15 is something you have to keep in mind when used with a high pixel density sensor body like K3.
- FA50macro has a surprisingly big beautiful starburst effect. A bit heavy and very ugly looking lens. in exchange of superb built quality?
- DA*55 is ... a star lens! lol yes it is, and that's mean $$$ but you can expect a lot from this lens. It will not disappoint you. However, I prefer the starburst effect from the 50macro.
- DFA100macro has ok looking starburst effect, but I love its rendering when do landscape day or night. Pentax can easily put a start on this lens and jack up the price!

I also have da10-17 fish-eye. It is very sharp and easy to use but the starburst effect is disappointing for me. It would be nice if Pentax put the odd number of the blade in there.

Out of all lenses I have ever used for night Urban Landscape, DA21 is the only one I don't have a single complaint except when it rain, I wish Pentax made all DA limited WR instead of PanCake.

[Spiritbro77]

Sigma 10-20 3.5. I love the wide shots. 15 limited is good too.

Being the only true wide angle I own at the moment the Sigma 10-20mm 3.5 would be mine as well. Was hoping to get some good wide shots this fall but unfortunately, the leaves didn't turn here until mid-Oct. and it rained and was windy since. Lousy year for fall photography in North East Ohio... Going to be a long Winter Hoping the Sigma makes a decent astro lens once I get the GPS unit for my K-3.

[pasorro]

My vote is for the fantástic FA20 2.8 . On the k1 is superb
For telephoto landscapes FA* 80-200.

[bertwert]

I'll throw in another vote for the 21 Carol, I'm really liking it so far.
Here's some shots I've got on the forum, I'll see if I can upload some from a recent trip to Scotland (the 21 is the only lens I used for the two weeks).
Sometimes I regret having the HD version (ie, no starbursts) but it was a good deal that was too hard to refuse.

This one's a multi-image stitch of 2 rows of 6:


This one's straight from the camera with the 21:

[csa]

tokyoscape , great information; thank you!

[csa]

Bertwert, beautiful photos! Hope that's not you hanging on the side of the cliff! Speaks well of the 21, being the only one you used in beautiful Scotland for two weeks!

I'm very curious about this "stitching", as I've never tried it; but that would be for another thread.