K-70 newbie

ediewedie · 05-16-2021, 04:29 PM

I've been stalking Pentax forums for a minute & finally decided to say Hi! I've been playing with my K-70 for a while. Love landscapes, close ups of flowers & insects & architecture. However, I will be going to Iceland & hope to catch the Northern lights. Any suggestions on a lens besides the kit 18-135?

Baxter · 05-16-2021, 04:35 PM

Good luck shooting the Northern Lights in Iceland.

shyrsio · 05-16-2021, 04:41 PM

The kit lens has a good angle range, but its not exeptional in sharpness. teh top lens you could get for the northern lights is the new da* 11-18, but it will cost you some. you might want to try the 12-24, or the 16-85. Also, I would recommend investing in a sturdy tripod. I've heard the wind is strong in Iceland.

STARHUNTER94 · 05-16-2021, 06:29 PM

Welcome to the forums. I guess the only thing I did suggest is something with a large Apature (and wide) for Northern lights specifically.

archaeodude · 05-16-2021, 11:16 PM - **1 Like**

Welcome to the forums from the fenlands of England!

I don't have a specific lens recommendation, but I second the suggestion about getting a sturdy tripod. Well worth its weight in gold!

Good luck with your Iceland trip—be sure to share a photo or two!

**Michail_P** · 05-17-2021, 12:16 AM - **1 Like**

Can’t wait to see some photos! Welcome to the forum! Enjoy your K-70! A great camera... hope you find a really nice lens. The 18-55 kit is just fine, but you don’t get to see the Lights every day, so make it count!!
Greetings from Greece!

haroon88 · 05-17-2021, 01:03 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ediewedie

I've been stalking Pentax forums for a minute & finally decided to say Hi! I've been playing with my K-70 for a while. Love landscapes, close ups of flowers & insects & architecture. However, I will be going to Iceland & hope to catch the Northern lights. Any suggestions on a lens besides the kit 18-135?

Welcome. Depends on your taste. I would say go for a 17-50 f2.8 otherwise 24-70 f2.8. One prime lens also like of 30, 35 or 50 mm must give you a good photography experience for portrait shots.

ShutterPro · 05-17-2021, 02:09 PM - **1 Like**

I have the K-70 too, and it's a lovely peace of a camera. Besides the kit (18-135) I think the Samyang 12mm f2 would be great. I have the 10mm f2.8, which gave me some great keepers. The Pentax-M 50mm f1.7 is a great choice if you want super sharp pictures. I use other lenses too, but these are the landscqpe lenses I would recommend.

---------- Post added 05-17-21 at 02:11 PM ----------

Well and if price is not a concern I'd go for the new DA* 16-50, the DA *11-18 or the DA 15-30 (seems to be absolutely amazing, is big and heavy though).

DrawsACircle · 05-17-2021, 02:23 PM - **1 Like**

Welcome and congrats with your K-70, a must have lens is the 55-300mm PLM.

**caliscouser** · 05-17-2021, 04:21 PM - **1 Like**

Welcome, I'd suggest posting a new thread here Pentax SLR Lens Discussion - PentaxForums.com regarding a lens for the northern lights.

**Photos-by-Chas** · 05-17-2021, 05:23 PM - **1 Like**

Welcome to the forum from a fellow K70 owner. Sorry I don't have a suggestion for photographing the Northern Lights. Please share a couple when you return.

ShutterPro · 05-18-2021, 12:03 AM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by DrawsACircle

Welcome and congrats with your K-70, a must have lens is the 55-300mm PLM.

Absolutely

**Kerrowdown** · 05-18-2021, 03:14 AM - **1 Like**

Welcome to the forum from the Highlands of Scotland

ediewedie · 05-19-2021, 06:00 AM

Originally posted by shyrsio

The kit lens has a good angle range, but its not exeptional in sharpness. teh top lens you could get for the northern lights is the new da* 11-18, but it will cost you some. you might want to try the 12-24, or the 16-85. Also, I would recommend investing in a sturdy tripod. I've heard the wind is strong in Iceland.

Thanks for your advice shyrsio! I've got a cheapo tripod that I've had problems with already.

shyrsio · 05-19-2021, 04:57 PM - **1 Like**

Originally posted by ediewedie

Thanks for your advice shyrsio! I've got a cheapo tripod that I've had problems with already.

Get a second hand Manfrotto 190xprob or higher. its a very good compromise between weight sturdiness and price.

05-16-2021, 04:29 PM	#1
ediewedie New Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 6	K-70 newbie I've been stalking Pentax forums for a minute & finally decided to say Hi! I've been playing with my K-70 for a while. Love landscapes, close ups of flowers & insects & architecture. However, I will be going to Iceland & hope to catch the Northern lights. Any suggestions on a lens besides the kit 18-135?

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05-16-2021, 04:35 PM	#2
Baxter Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2020 Posts: 34	Good luck shooting the Northern Lights in Iceland.

05-16-2021, 04:41 PM	#3
shyrsio Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Tirana Posts: 780	The kit lens has a good angle range, but its not exeptional in sharpness. teh top lens you could get for the northern lights is the new da* 11-18, but it will cost you some. you might want to try the 12-24, or the 16-85. Also, I would recommend investing in a sturdy tripod. I've heard the wind is strong in Iceland.

05-16-2021, 06:29 PM	#4
STARHUNTER94 Pentaxian Join Date: Jul 2019 Posts: 771	Welcome to the forums. I guess the only thing I did suggest is something with a large Apature (and wide) for Northern lights specifically.

05-16-2021, 11:16 PM - 1 Like	#5
archaeodude Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Fens Posts: 524	Welcome to the forums from the fenlands of England! I don't have a specific lens recommendation, but I second the suggestion about getting a sturdy tripod. Well worth its weight in gold! Good luck with your Iceland trip—be sure to share a photo or two!

05-17-2021, 12:16 AM - 1 Like	#6
Michail_P Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Kalymnos Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,006	Can’t wait to see some photos! Welcome to the forum! Enjoy your K-70! A great camera... hope you find a really nice lens. The 18-55 kit is just fine, but you don’t get to see the Lights every day, so make it count!! Greetings from Greece!

05-17-2021, 01:03 PM - 1 Like	#7
haroon88 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2017 Posts: 143	Originally posted by ediewedie I've been stalking Pentax forums for a minute & finally decided to say Hi! I've been playing with my K-70 for a while. Love landscapes, close ups of flowers & insects & architecture. However, I will be going to Iceland & hope to catch the Northern lights. Any suggestions on a lens besides the kit 18-135? Welcome. Depends on your taste. I would say go for a 17-50 f2.8 otherwise 24-70 f2.8. One prime lens also like of 30, 35 or 50 mm must give you a good photography experience for portrait shots.

05-17-2021, 02:09 PM - 1 Like	#8
ShutterPro Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 389	I have the K-70 too, and it's a lovely peace of a camera. Besides the kit (18-135) I think the Samyang 12mm f2 would be great. I have the 10mm f2.8, which gave me some great keepers. The Pentax-M 50mm f1.7 is a great choice if you want super sharp pictures. I use other lenses too, but these are the landscqpe lenses I would recommend. ---------- Post added 05-17-21 at 02:11 PM ---------- Well and if price is not a concern I'd go for the new DA* 16-50, the DA *11-18 or the DA 15-30 (seems to be absolutely amazing, is big and heavy though).

05-17-2021, 02:23 PM - 1 Like	#9
DrawsACircle Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Ulfborg, Denmark Photos: Albums Posts: 434	Welcome and congrats with your K-70, a must have lens is the 55-300mm PLM.

05-17-2021, 04:21 PM - 1 Like	#10
caliscouser Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: SF Bay Area, CA Photos: Albums Posts: 1,037	Welcome, I'd suggest posting a new thread here Pentax SLR Lens Discussion - PentaxForums.com regarding a lens for the northern lights.

05-17-2021, 05:23 PM - 1 Like	#11
Photos-by-Chas Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Northwest Pennsylvania, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,318	Welcome to the forum from a fellow K70 owner. Sorry I don't have a suggestion for photographing the Northern Lights. Please share a couple when you return.

05-18-2021, 12:03 AM - 1 Like	#12
ShutterPro Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 2020 Posts: 389	Originally posted by DrawsACircle Welcome and congrats with your K-70, a must have lens is the 55-300mm PLM. Absolutely

05-18-2021, 03:14 AM - 1 Like	#13
Kerrowdown PEG Moderator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Highlands of Scotland... "Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand" - William Blake Photos: Gallery Posts: 57,816	Welcome to the forum from the Highlands of Scotland

05-19-2021, 06:00 AM	#14
ediewedie New Member Join Date: Aug 2020 Posts: 6 Original Poster	Originally posted by shyrsio The kit lens has a good angle range, but its not exeptional in sharpness. teh top lens you could get for the northern lights is the new da* 11-18, but it will cost you some. you might want to try the 12-24, or the 16-85. Also, I would recommend investing in a sturdy tripod. I've heard the wind is strong in Iceland. Thanks for your advice shyrsio! I've got a cheapo tripod that I've had problems with already.

05-19-2021, 04:57 PM - 1 Like	#15
shyrsio Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Tirana Posts: 780	Originally posted by ediewedie Thanks for your advice shyrsio! I've got a cheapo tripod that I've had problems with already. Get a second hand Manfrotto 190xprob or higher. its a very good compromise between weight sturdiness and price.

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