Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!

LosHollyBeach · 03-25-2010, 02:34 PM

hey , im doing a study abroad this summer in greece and i want to get a new lens to take out there and shoot with. what lens would you recommend i invest in buying that will work best with landscape and city shooting and also capturing the greek architecture and beaches , i currently have the 18-55 kit lens and the DA 55-300 lens as well but i still want another lol ... price range no more then $600 please

axl · 03-25-2010, 03:33 PM

have you seen shots form Sigma 10-20 club?
Would help with decision...

SquintyEyes · 03-25-2010, 03:36 PM

I would recommend the Pentax K 28mm f/3.5 shift (see review here). For these grand architecture shots it's important to keep the lines straight IMO.

RioRico · 03-25-2010, 03:50 PM

Yeah, people shooting architecture (inside or out) seem to favor a rectilinear 10-20 or 12-24. My fisheye 10-17 is just a bit too bend-y for that. Some also favor tilt-shift lenses, which ain't cheap, but which can be hand-made without too much trouble or cost, so I hear. (I have a cheap Loreo tilt-shift-in-a-lenscap piece. It sucks.) Tilt-shift is for perspective control, which like defishing can also be done in PP but with some loss of resolution and/or IQ.

If you're shooting architecture indoors, trying to capture entire rooms (or large portions thereof) with an ultrawide in the 10-20 region, and flash is allowed, either try to get a flash or diffuser with coverage the same as your widest focal length, or think of using a two-flash setup. The latter might be a bit bulky, but if you need it, you need it. Practice with it at home before you go traveling.

Ah, I was on the Amalfi coast (south of Monte Vesuvio) for a few weeks some time ago, just sucked up the Roman and Greek architecture, didn't have the right camera then. I'm ready to go back any time, there and all the Balkan coasts and islands, just as soon as the next inheritance rolls in.

flyer · 03-25-2010, 04:51 PM

Originally posted by SquintyEyes

I would recommend the Pentax K 28mm f/3.5 shift (see review here).

It's just not wide enough on an APS-C sensor. And you can straighten lines in PP.

creampuff · 03-25-2010, 06:52 PM

Any of these Pentax lenses would be useful for architectural work:

DA 12-24mm
DA* 16-50mm
DA 16-45mm
DA 14mm
DA 15mm Limited

Even the kit lens is usable if you stitch the image.
Too wide isn't always the best option as you need to consider perspective effects.
Keystoning can be corrected during post processing.

Jewelltrail · 03-25-2010, 09:06 PM

The Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 would do you very nicely as well.

henzo · 03-26-2010, 11:20 AM

I would suggest the sigma 10-20 as well.

Visited Athens a few months ago, and the 10-20 was great for landscapes and the archeological sites.

03-25-2010, 02:34 PM	#1
LosHollyBeach Inactive Account Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 32	greek architecture hey , im doing a study abroad this summer in greece and i want to get a new lens to take out there and shoot with. what lens would you recommend i invest in buying that will work best with landscape and city shooting and also capturing the greek architecture and beaches , i currently have the 18-55 kit lens and the DA 55-300 lens as well but i still want another lol ... price range no more then $600 please

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Travel Greek summer	gdog	Post Your Photos!	5	08-02-2010 08:15 AM
Night Star Trail Above Greek Church	Christopher M.W.T	Post Your Photos!	4	06-09-2010 02:33 AM
Landscape More Greek Panoramic Shots	Christopher M.W.T	Post Your Photos!	19	05-22-2010 05:20 AM
Greek photographer was arrested in London.	Gio645	General Talk	126	05-21-2009 03:25 AM
Greek Theater Masks	tpeace	Monthly Photo Contests	0	03-28-2009 04:31 PM

03-25-2010, 03:33 PM	#2
axl Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Nove Zamky, Slovakia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,183	have you seen shots form Sigma 10-20 club? Would help with decision...

03-25-2010, 03:36 PM	#3
SquintyEyes Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Toronto, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 100	I would recommend the Pentax K 28mm f/3.5 shift (see review here). For these grand architecture shots it's important to keep the lines straight IMO.

03-25-2010, 03:50 PM	#4
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Yeah, people shooting architecture (inside or out) seem to favor a rectilinear 10-20 or 12-24. My fisheye 10-17 is just a bit too bend-y for that. Some also favor tilt-shift lenses, which ain't cheap, but which can be hand-made without too much trouble or cost, so I hear. (I have a cheap Loreo tilt-shift-in-a-lenscap piece. It sucks.) Tilt-shift is for perspective control, which like defishing can also be done in PP but with some loss of resolution and/or IQ. If you're shooting architecture indoors, trying to capture entire rooms (or large portions thereof) with an ultrawide in the 10-20 region, and flash is allowed, either try to get a flash or diffuser with coverage the same as your widest focal length, or think of using a two-flash setup. The latter might be a bit bulky, but if you need it, you need it. Practice with it at home before you go traveling. Ah, I was on the Amalfi coast (south of Monte Vesuvio) for a few weeks some time ago, just sucked up the Roman and Greek architecture, didn't have the right camera then. I'm ready to go back any time, there and all the Balkan coasts and islands, just as soon as the next inheritance rolls in.

03-25-2010, 04:51 PM	#5
flyer Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Ste-Anne des Plaines, Qc., Canada Posts: 2,013	Originally posted by SquintyEyes I would recommend the Pentax K 28mm f/3.5 shift (see review here). It's just not wide enough on an APS-C sensor. And you can straighten lines in PP.

03-25-2010, 06:52 PM	#6
creampuff Veteran Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Singapore Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,953	Any of these Pentax lenses would be useful for architectural work: DA 12-24mm DA* 16-50mm DA 16-45mm DA 14mm DA 15mm Limited Even the kit lens is usable if you stitch the image. Too wide isn't always the best option as you need to consider perspective effects. Keystoning can be corrected during post processing.

03-25-2010, 09:06 PM	#7
Jewelltrail Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Rhode Island Photos: Albums Posts: 4,180	The Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 would do you very nicely as well.

03-26-2010, 11:20 AM	#8
henzo Junior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 37	I would suggest the sigma 10-20 as well. Visited Athens a few months ago, and the 10-20 was great for landscapes and the archeological sites.