Budget APS-C wide landscape lens below $200

Gary H Perth · 02-22-2019, 08:46 AM

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Originally posted by pres589

28mm on a crop Pentax is not wide, it's almost perfectly normal, which is why I love 28's on crop.

I would be looking at manual focus primes to try and meet your cost target which I read is $100ish. Sigma Super-Wide II's are around there. The later AF versions go for more.

I have a manual everything RMC Tokina 17mm that you could find for less than $150 on the rare occasions they come up. 17mm on APS-C is wide but easy to manage, it's the cutover between wide and ultrawide for FF. My lens is sharp with great colours and for landscapes you would not be worried by the lack of half-stops in the aperture ring. It is smooth to focus, chunky and metallic in a way that suggests good engineering.

Just a thought, but as you have seen in other comments, the creative options are much better with the 16-45mm which I have also, and I bought mine for $120.

**pres589** · 02-22-2019, 08:54 AM

This may sound crazy, but, is the Tokina RMC 17mm much better than the Pentax 18-55 the OP already has? I know it's 1mm wider but that's not something I would get too worked up about. At f8 or f11 is the performance that much different? I don't think the Tokina is that horrible or that great, just average, based on reviews (which helped push me to a Tamron 17 SP from the same era).

EDIT: I found reviews! Kind of;

https://www.opticallimits.com/pentax/142-tokina-rmc-17mm-f35-review--lab-test-report?start=1

https://www.opticallimits.com/pentax/641-pentax1855f3556wr?start=1

The 18-55 was tested on a K-5, the Tokina RMC 17 on a K-10, so this isn't a 1:1 and should be taken with a grain of salt. That said, I think I stand by the above in suggesting that the 18-55 isn't losing much to the RMC 17. They even mention that the Pentax 16-45 would be a better lens to use today than the RMC 17 in the review of the 17.

**UncleVanya** · 02-22-2019, 10:28 AM

Closer to budget... but not quite there:

Tokina AF 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens for Pentax [Exc+++] w/Hood From Japan [4171] | eBay

Have you looked for the 18-50 DC? The non-HD DA-L version is better than the 18-55's but not at all out of your budget.
Pentax DA L Zoom Lenses - Reviews and Specifications - SLR and Interchangeable Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database

You will want to source some type of hood.

kh1234567890 · 02-22-2019, 11:04 AM

Originally posted by y0chang

The best budget landscape lens for crop is the 16-45mm. Its now under 200 used which for the quality of lens is amazing.

That is what I would go for, if I were the OP. SMC Pentax DA 16-45mm f4 ED AL Set

stevebrot · 02-22-2019, 02:15 PM

Originally posted by UncleVanya

Tokina AF 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens for Pentax [Exc+++] w/Hood From Japan [4171] | eBay

I bought that lens for my daughter some years ago and while it is a very decent performer with very decent build, its bulk is a pretty big penalty to pay for a 2x zoom range.

Originally posted by kh1234567890

That is what I would go for, if I were the OP. SMC Pentax DA 16-45mm f4 ED AL Set

The DA 16-45 was suggested in an earlier comment and is a very decent option, particularly as an alternative to the DA 18-55 (choose your variant). Speaking of the DA 18-55...the WR variants are excellent value in a kit zoom. The vII is often available for less than $30 and the WR for less than $75. Be sure to get the DA rather than the DAL versions.

Steve

(...used my DA 18-55 frequently right up until the day the K-3 arrived. Sadly, it is not up to the challenge of the higher resolution sensor in the same manner as the Sigma 17-70...

)

Steve

**UncleVanya** · 02-22-2019, 03:59 PM

If manual focus is your preference for some reason here's an option from the marketplace: SMC PENTAX-M ZOOM 1:3.5 24mm-35mm | M24~35/3.5 - PentaxForums.com

---------- Post added 02-22-19 at 06:14 PM ----------

Another in the marketplace:
Vivitar Series 1, 19-35mm, f3.5-4.5 - PentaxForums.com

billdotjr · 02-28-2019, 01:37 PM - **3 Likes**

So the Pentax-M 28mm f/3.5 arrived and it is not too bad...

ZombieArmy · 02-28-2019, 05:20 PM

Originally posted by reh321

That is a rather low target. Almost anything is better than that.

I don't agree. The 18-55 is remarkably good at landscapes at 20-30mm. Lots of cheap legacy glass don't come close to the contrast or sharpness.

**UncleVanya** · 02-28-2019, 06:09 PM

Originally posted by ZombieArmy

I don't agree. The 18-55 is remarkably good at landscapes at 20-30mm. Lots of cheap legacy glass don't come close to the contrast or sharpness.

The original DA version was weak compared to series ii and the wr versions.

02-22-2019, 08:54 AM	#32
pres589 Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Wichita, KS Photos: Albums Posts: 4,529	This may sound crazy, but, is the Tokina RMC 17mm much better than the Pentax 18-55 the OP already has? I know it's 1mm wider but that's not something I would get too worked up about. At f8 or f11 is the performance that much different? I don't think the Tokina is that horrible or that great, just average, based on reviews (which helped push me to a Tamron 17 SP from the same era). EDIT: I found reviews! Kind of; https://www.opticallimits.com/pentax/142-tokina-rmc-17mm-f35-review--lab-test-report?start=1 https://www.opticallimits.com/pentax/641-pentax1855f3556wr?start=1 The 18-55 was tested on a K-5, the Tokina RMC 17 on a K-10, so this isn't a 1:1 and should be taken with a grain of salt. That said, I think I stand by the above in suggesting that the 18-55 isn't losing much to the RMC 17. They even mention that the Pentax 16-45 would be a better lens to use today than the RMC 17 in the review of the 17. Last edited by pres589; 02-22-2019 at 09:05 AM.

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02-22-2019, 08:46 AM	#31
Gary H Perth Pentaxian Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Floreat Posts: 623	Staff note: This post may contain affiliate links, which means Pentax Forums may earn a small commission if a visitor clicks through and makes a purchase. If you would like to support the forum directly, you may also make a donation here. Originally posted by pres589 28mm on a crop Pentax is not wide, it's almost perfectly normal, which is why I love 28's on crop. I would be looking at manual focus primes to try and meet your cost target which I read is $100ish. Sigma Super-Wide II's are around there. The later AF versions go for more. I have a manual everything RMC Tokina 17mm that you could find for less than $150 on the rare occasions they come up. 17mm on APS-C is wide but easy to manage, it's the cutover between wide and ultrawide for FF. My lens is sharp with great colours and for landscapes you would not be worried by the lack of half-stops in the aperture ring. It is smooth to focus, chunky and metallic in a way that suggests good engineering. Just a thought, but as you have seen in other comments, the creative options are much better with the 16-45mm which I have also, and I bought mine for $120.

02-22-2019, 10:28 AM	#33
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,407	Closer to budget... but not quite there: Tokina AF 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens for Pentax [Exc+++] w/Hood From Japan [4171] \| eBay Have you looked for the 18-50 DC? The non-HD DA-L version is better than the 18-55's but not at all out of your budget. Pentax DA L Zoom Lenses - Reviews and Specifications - SLR and Interchangeable Lenses - Pentax Lens Reviews & Lens Database You will want to source some type of hood.

02-22-2019, 11:04 AM	#34
kh1234567890 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Manchester, UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,653	Originally posted by y0chang The best budget landscape lens for crop is the 16-45mm. Its now under 200 used which for the quality of lens is amazing. That is what I would go for, if I were the OP. SMC Pentax DA 16-45mm f4 ED AL Set

02-22-2019, 02:15 PM	#35
stevebrot Otis Memorial Pentaxian Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Vancouver (USA) Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 42,007	Originally posted by UncleVanya Tokina AF 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5 Lens for Pentax [Exc+++] w/Hood From Japan [4171] \| eBay I bought that lens for my daughter some years ago and while it is a very decent performer with very decent build, its bulk is a pretty big penalty to pay for a 2x zoom range. Originally posted by kh1234567890 That is what I would go for, if I were the OP. SMC Pentax DA 16-45mm f4 ED AL Set The DA 16-45 was suggested in an earlier comment and is a very decent option, particularly as an alternative to the DA 18-55 (choose your variant). Speaking of the DA 18-55...the WR variants are excellent value in a kit zoom. The vII is often available for less than $30 and the WR for less than $75. Be sure to get the DA rather than the DAL versions. Steve (...used my DA 18-55 frequently right up until the day the K-3 arrived. Sadly, it is not up to the challenge of the higher resolution sensor in the same manner as the Sigma 17-70... ) Steve

02-22-2019, 03:59 PM	#36
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,407	If manual focus is your preference for some reason here's an option from the marketplace: SMC PENTAX-M ZOOM 1:3.5 24mm-35mm \| M24~35/3.5 - PentaxForums.com ---------- Post added 02-22-19 at 06:14 PM ---------- Another in the marketplace: Vivitar Series 1, 19-35mm, f3.5-4.5 - PentaxForums.com

02-28-2019, 01:37 PM - 3 Likes	#37
billdotjr Junior Member Join Date: Jan 2019 Posts: 25 Original Poster	So the Pentax-M 28mm f/3.5 arrived and it is not too bad...

02-28-2019, 05:20 PM	#38
ZombieArmy Pentaxian Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: Florida Posts: 3,210	Originally posted by reh321 That is a rather low target. Almost anything is better than that. I don't agree. The 18-55 is remarkably good at landscapes at 20-30mm. Lots of cheap legacy glass don't come close to the contrast or sharpness.

02-28-2019, 06:09 PM	#39
UncleVanya Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2014 Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 28,407	Originally posted by ZombieArmy I don't agree. The 18-55 is remarkably good at landscapes at 20-30mm. Lots of cheap legacy glass don't come close to the contrast or sharpness. The original DA version was weak compared to series ii and the wr versions.