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Tatume · 08-05-2012, 09:59 AM

Hello Folks,

I’m using an 18-50 DAL that was sold with my K-50, and a 50-200 WR that I bought afterwards. The 50-200 is my “walking around” lens, and I use the 18-50 for indoor portraits and fairly close up shots. Overall I’m satisfied and I’m getting a lot of very nice photos.

However, I would like to have a super lens. I’m thinking about some of the really nice landscape shots that I get from time to time. The 50-200 satisfies my telephoto needs, as my shots are always hand held and I don’t think I can hold a longer lens. I’ve been looking at the SMC Pentax-DA 21mm F3.2 Limited, but with my limited experience, I don’t know if it would be a good lens for me or not.

So, I’m turning to you for advice. I’m open to suggestions, and not at all fixated on the DA 21 mm. For a walking around, woods and general outdoor lens, what would you suggest?

Thanks, Tom

gabro822 · 08-05-2012, 10:05 AM

For a walking around lens I suggest you the DA*16-50, but this is like a replacement for the 18-55. If you consider as a walking around lens the 50-200, I think that you can found quality in the DA*60-250.
I don't understand instead, if you want to change your 50-200 with a 21. This makes no sense! In my opinion the best for landscape are the 12-24 and the 16-50.
Gabriel

bobpur · 08-05-2012, 11:00 AM

Earlier on I would have said the 16-50 but after using the 21 for a while it is my first choice to take out. Small and very very good.
The Upper Canada Village shots are with it here.

Flickr: purbob_2000's Photostream

WightWalker · 08-05-2012, 11:07 AM

Set your 18-50mm lens to 21mm & see if this focal length covers your 'walk about' requirements; at least this way you get to experience 21mm without the cost of a Limited Lens!

Docrwm · 08-05-2012, 11:13 AM

I second the advice to take a lot of pictures at 21 with your 18-55 and see if that length works for you. Another way to go about it is to take all the landscape pictures you already have that you like and put them in a folder. Then you can have a program like Exposure Plot analyze the photos data and give you an analysis by all sorts of dimensions, one of which is focal length. You can review your previous photos and see what length you find pleasing from them that way. If you find that most are at 18mm then perhaps a 15mm Limited would be more your style? If you find them clustering around 20-24 then the 21mm is probably your choice. Good luck.

Riv · 08-05-2012, 11:14 AM

I don't have the DA21mm limited, but I have the ones on both sides of it. The DA15mm limited and DA 35mm Limited are both very nice lenses. The 35mm is also macro. Both imho render very nicely.

When I walk the nature trail, I take the 15mm and the 300mm. If Im going to the park that's more groomed and lots of flowers and ducks etc.. I take the 35mm and 300mm. All that said, if I'm taken one lens I tend to take the 15mm more than rest. I wish they were WR as well, but they not, so if it looks like rain the DA* 55mm goes with me.

Take a peek at the lens user reviews here if you haven't already.

Another good test site is http://www.photozone.de/pentax

johnyates · 08-05-2012, 09:54 PM

Originally posted by Tatume

The 50-200 is my “walking around” lens,

If that's the case, then perhaps you'd be most comfortable with a prime within that range of focal lengths. If you're OK with manual focus, there's tons of 50mm's around. They're quite sharp and very economical. Or maybe the 70mm Limited--also a very nice lens.

FrancisK7 · 08-05-2012, 09:56 PM

DA12-24 or DA15 for landscape are heartily recommended by Pentaxians.

**i_trax** · 08-05-2012, 10:11 PM

sell your DA L 18-50 and get Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 MACRO ( non HSM) they go for under $200.
I have two of them and love them, some pictures:
Sigma DC 17-70 MACRO 2.8-4.5 - a set on Flickr
I do have DA 50-200, nice, very compact lens, with this Sigma you will have very capable kit, Sigma is also excellent indoors, much faster than DA L kit lens.

Tatume · 08-06-2012, 04:25 AM

Thank you fellows.

twitch · 08-06-2012, 04:28 AM

DA12-24 + lightroom is a superb team

FrancisK7 · 08-06-2012, 11:57 AM

Originally posted by twitch

DA12-24 + lightroom is a superb team

Listen to Twitch, he knows his Pentax gear!

When I got into photography, my very first order was in early 2007. I got a K10D, Tamron 28-75, 50/f1.4, 50-200 and the DA12-24.
The DA12-24 is the only lens I kept out of those four.

It is truly a GREAT lens and has so many applications. Coupled with LR4 and its PV2012, providing you shoot in RAW, you can get amazing results.

It's not fast though, so not appropriate for low-light walkaround photography.

08-05-2012, 09:59 AM	#1
Tatume Forum Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Gloucester, Va. Posts: 76	lens advice Hello Folks, I’m using an 18-50 DAL that was sold with my K-50, and a 50-200 WR that I bought afterwards. The 50-200 is my “walking around” lens, and I use the 18-50 for indoor portraits and fairly close up shots. Overall I’m satisfied and I’m getting a lot of very nice photos. However, I would like to have a super lens. I’m thinking about some of the really nice landscape shots that I get from time to time. The 50-200 satisfies my telephoto needs, as my shots are always hand held and I don’t think I can hold a longer lens. I’ve been looking at the SMC Pentax-DA 21mm F3.2 Limited, but with my limited experience, I don’t know if it would be a good lens for me or not. So, I’m turning to you for advice. I’m open to suggestions, and not at all fixated on the DA 21 mm. For a walking around, woods and general outdoor lens, what would you suggest? Thanks, Tom

08-05-2012, 11:14 AM	#6
Riv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 142	I don't have the DA21mm limited, but I have the ones on both sides of it. The DA15mm limited and DA 35mm Limited are both very nice lenses. The 35mm is also macro. Both imho render very nicely. When I walk the nature trail, I take the 15mm and the 300mm. If Im going to the park that's more groomed and lots of flowers and ducks etc.. I take the 35mm and 300mm. All that said, if I'm taken one lens I tend to take the 15mm more than rest. I wish they were WR as well, but they not, so if it looks like rain the DA* 55mm goes with me. Take a peek at the lens user reviews here if you haven't already. Another good test site is http://www.photozone.de/pentax Last edited by Riv; 08-05-2012 at 03:41 PM.

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08-05-2012, 10:05 AM	#2
gabro822 Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Milan Photos: Gallery Posts: 339	For a walking around lens I suggest you the DA16-50, but this is like a replacement for the 18-55. If you consider as a walking around lens the 50-200, I think that you can found quality in the DA60-250. I don't understand instead, if you want to change your 50-200 with a 21. This makes no sense! In my opinion the best for landscape are the 12-24 and the 16-50. Gabriel

08-05-2012, 11:00 AM	#3
bobpur Inactive Account Join Date: Jul 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 328	Earlier on I would have said the 16-50 but after using the 21 for a while it is my first choice to take out. Small and very very good. The Upper Canada Village shots are with it here. Flickr: purbob_2000's Photostream

08-05-2012, 11:07 AM	#4
WightWalker Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: IW Posts: 113	Set your 18-50mm lens to 21mm & see if this focal length covers your 'walk about' requirements; at least this way you get to experience 21mm without the cost of a Limited Lens!

08-05-2012, 11:13 AM	#5
Docrwm Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Somewhere in the Southern US Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 12,285	I second the advice to take a lot of pictures at 21 with your 18-55 and see if that length works for you. Another way to go about it is to take all the landscape pictures you already have that you like and put them in a folder. Then you can have a program like Exposure Plot analyze the photos data and give you an analysis by all sorts of dimensions, one of which is focal length. You can review your previous photos and see what length you find pleasing from them that way. If you find that most are at 18mm then perhaps a 15mm Limited would be more your style? If you find them clustering around 20-24 then the 21mm is probably your choice. Good luck.

08-05-2012, 09:54 PM	#7
johnyates Pentaxian Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Saskatoon, SK Photos: Albums Posts: 1,345	Originally posted by Tatume The 50-200 is my “walking around” lens, If that's the case, then perhaps you'd be most comfortable with a prime within that range of focal lengths. If you're OK with manual focus, there's tons of 50mm's around. They're quite sharp and very economical. Or maybe the 70mm Limited--also a very nice lens.

08-05-2012, 09:56 PM	#8
FrancisK7 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery Posts: 474	DA12-24 or DA15 for landscape are heartily recommended by Pentaxians.

08-05-2012, 10:11 PM	#9
i_trax Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Perth Western Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,621	sell your DA L 18-50 and get Sigma 17-70 2.8-4.5 MACRO ( non HSM) they go for under $200. I have two of them and love them, some pictures: Sigma DC 17-70 MACRO 2.8-4.5 - a set on Flickr I do have DA 50-200, nice, very compact lens, with this Sigma you will have very capable kit, Sigma is also excellent indoors, much faster than DA L kit lens.

08-06-2012, 04:25 AM	#10
Tatume Forum Member Join Date: May 2012 Location: Gloucester, Va. Posts: 76 Original Poster	Thank you fellows.

08-06-2012, 04:28 AM	#11
twitch Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 4,571	DA12-24 + lightroom is a superb team

08-06-2012, 11:57 AM	#12
FrancisK7 Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Montreal Photos: Gallery Posts: 474	Originally posted by twitch DA12-24 + lightroom is a superb team Listen to Twitch, he knows his Pentax gear! When I got into photography, my very first order was in early 2007. I got a K10D, Tamron 28-75, 50/f1.4, 50-200 and the DA12-24. The DA12-24 is the only lens I kept out of those four. It is truly a GREAT lens and has so many applications. Coupled with LR4 and its PV2012, providing you shoot in RAW, you can get amazing results. It's not fast though, so not appropriate for low-light walkaround photography.

lens advice

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