Hello, from Northern California!

monkeywrencher · 01-09-2013, 01:22 PM

Hello, My name is Patrick and I live in rainy Mendocino California. I have been taking pics for thirty five years and am looking at getting a new DSLR. Through too much research I have decided on the K-5 and am now doing research on lens options. I am in a job which is out in the field most of the time and I have many opportunities for unique photos. I am hoping to focus on landscape and documentary photography. I have been lurking now for a few months and appreciate the supportive nature of the forum.

Thank you for this great resource!

furryurry · 01-09-2013, 02:12 PM

Welcome to the forums

K-5 is a great camera, I have one and I love it.

There are many threads about the lenses here, what I've learned from them is that any lens can be used for landscape photography, some people shoot landscapes with 200mm lens others with a 10mm, I guess it is all about how you compose the shot.
First lens I would recommend is a wide-to-normal zoom. Most people here recommend Tamron or Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 ($300-400 used or new). Both seem to have good IQ, Tamron is cheaper, Sigma has Hyper-Sonic Motor which is silent and would complement very quiet shutter on your K-5, some people also say it is faster to AF than screw-driven lenses. You can also get a Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, DA 17-70mm f/4 or the 16-50mm f/2.8, it depends how much money you want to spend in this focal range. You can of course opt for several primes (15mm, 21mm, 28/30/31/35mm, 40/43mm, 50/55mm, 77mm...) which will give you better image quality and better low light performance, but that's even more money and more weight in your bag.
Second lens I would buy if I were you is something that would give me more reach. People praise the DA 55-300mm lens ($200-300 used) for it's image quality. If you need something faster you can get Tamron or Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 new or used ($600-$1300). You can also add a couple of tele converters to that (1.4x or 1.7x and 2x) which will give you more reach when needed.
If you are OK with the idea of having one prime I wold look at DA 21mm f/3.2 ($400-500 used), FA 31mm f/1.8 ($750-900used), FA 35mm f/2 ($300-400used), F/FA 50mm 1.7/1.4 ($200-300used).
Some of the lenses may have front/back focus issues, others may have problems with SDM.

P.S. Manual focus lenses will cost less

P.S.S. I would also strongly recommend you getting a good tripod.

monkeywrencher · 01-09-2013, 04:17 PM

Hi Furry, Thanks for the reply. I just purchased the k-5 with the 50-200 WR. I know it's not necessarily going to be the best, but I prefer to shoot wide. For $100 new with the camera I couldn't pass it up though! I also just purchased (literally 10 seconds ago) a Pentax SMC DA 40MM F/2.8 and the Sigma 10-20 F/4 which should round it out for now. My piggy bank is just about busted, if I could just find a grip for cheap

This will be my first Pentax since my high school ME Super and my last DSLR was a EOS 40D so I am excited about trying out the Pentax..

furryurry · 01-09-2013, 05:45 PM

you are welcome.
Those are nice lenses : I love my sigma 10-20mm. DA40 is also a great lens. I'm thinking of sigma 50mm 1.4 HSM as my next lens.
Pretty sure you'll love your camera. And don't forget to post the pictures you take with it

01-09-2013, 01:22 PM	#1
monkeywrencher New Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Northern California Posts: 7	Hello, from Northern California! Hello, My name is Patrick and I live in rainy Mendocino California. I have been taking pics for thirty five years and am looking at getting a new DSLR. Through too much research I have decided on the K-5 and am now doing research on lens options. I am in a job which is out in the field most of the time and I have many opportunities for unique photos. I am hoping to focus on landscape and documentary photography. I have been lurking now for a few months and appreciate the supportive nature of the forum. Thank you for this great resource!

01-09-2013, 02:12 PM	#2
furryurry Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: NYC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 786	Welcome to the forums K-5 is a great camera, I have one and I love it. There are many threads about the lenses here, what I've learned from them is that any lens can be used for landscape photography, some people shoot landscapes with 200mm lens others with a 10mm, I guess it is all about how you compose the shot. First lens I would recommend is a wide-to-normal zoom. Most people here recommend Tamron or Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 ($300-400 used or new). Both seem to have good IQ, Tamron is cheaper, Sigma has Hyper-Sonic Motor which is silent and would complement very quiet shutter on your K-5, some people also say it is faster to AF than screw-driven lenses. You can also get a Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4, DA 17-70mm f/4 or the 16-50mm f/2.8, it depends how much money you want to spend in this focal range. You can of course opt for several primes (15mm, 21mm, 28/30/31/35mm, 40/43mm, 50/55mm, 77mm...) which will give you better image quality and better low light performance, but that's even more money and more weight in your bag. Second lens I would buy if I were you is something that would give me more reach. People praise the DA 55-300mm lens ($200-300 used) for it's image quality. If you need something faster you can get Tamron or Sigma 70-200mm f/2.8 new or used ($600-$1300). You can also add a couple of tele converters to that (1.4x or 1.7x and 2x) which will give you more reach when needed. If you are OK with the idea of having one prime I wold look at DA 21mm f/3.2 ($400-500 used), FA 31mm f/1.8 ($750-900used), FA 35mm f/2 ($300-400used), F/FA 50mm 1.7/1.4 ($200-300used). Some of the lenses may have front/back focus issues, others may have problems with SDM. P.S. Manual focus lenses will cost less P.S.S. I would also strongly recommend you getting a good tripod. Last edited by furryurry; 01-09-2013 at 05:41 PM.

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01-09-2013, 04:17 PM	#3
monkeywrencher New Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Northern California Posts: 7 Original Poster	Hi Furry, Thanks for the reply. I just purchased the k-5 with the 50-200 WR. I know it's not necessarily going to be the best, but I prefer to shoot wide. For $100 new with the camera I couldn't pass it up though! I also just purchased (literally 10 seconds ago) a Pentax SMC DA 40MM F/2.8 and the Sigma 10-20 F/4 which should round it out for now. My piggy bank is just about busted, if I could just find a grip for cheap This will be my first Pentax since my high school ME Super and my last DSLR was a EOS 40D so I am excited about trying out the Pentax..

01-09-2013, 05:45 PM	#4
furryurry Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: NYC Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 786	you are welcome. Those are nice lenses : I love my sigma 10-20mm. DA40 is also a great lens. I'm thinking of sigma 50mm 1.4 HSM as my next lens. Pretty sure you'll love your camera. And don't forget to post the pictures you take with it