Lens for street and landscape photography

v3lv3t_r0s3 · 10-09-2012, 05:32 AM

Need some help ... I'd like to buy a lens that can be used mainly for street and landscape photography ...
...the
Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited -
could be considered if it wasn't for the high price...
...the other option is either the
PENTAX smc DA 35 mm f/2.8 Macro Limited
or the...
PENTAX smc DA 40 mm f/2.8 Limited...
which one fits better for the kind of photography and why...
My camera is a Pentax K-30
Thanx!

westmill · 10-09-2012, 05:44 AM

I would also seriously consider the tamron 17-50 F2.8 zoom. It will allow you far more scope and is capable of superb results. It suffers from field curvature at the 17mm end so stopping down to F8 is advised at this setting. The 40mm is a great performer and can readily be used at any aprature but a 60mm FOV can be restrictive in its use. The 35mm macro has a not bad reputation and will act of course as a macro which can expand on its use. Another lens is the Pentax 35mm F2.4. Although its very very cheap and cheaply made it puts in a fantastic performance.

**NaClH2O** · 10-09-2012, 06:17 AM

If you are not adverse to used lenses I'd recommend the FA 20-35 F4.0. Light, versitile and sharp sharp sharp. Also a good close focus lens.

NaCl(it is my favorite "garden" lens)H2O

**seventysixersfan** · 10-09-2012, 06:20 AM

Why not consider DA 15 or DA 22 unless these are beyond your budget? Otherwise how about F 24-50 if you can find it used?

Sandy Hancock · 10-09-2012, 06:20 AM

Q + 01 prime

Failing that, DA21.

calicojack · 10-09-2012, 06:51 AM

I'll second the DA21 Ltd. Great small lens for general purpose & close street shooting.

GDRoth · 10-09-2012, 07:06 AM

I sold my 21mm Ltd and kept my 15mm Ltd...................that says it all for me. The 15 is a fantastic lens.

abieleck · 10-09-2012, 08:46 AM - **1 Like**

I feel like the 15mm Ltd is too wide for street if you are trying to work with people in frame. I like the 35 Ltd. macro which may be on the longer end for street photos, but also doubles as a macro which is great. I also like the 21mm Ltd as well.

jmarkku · 10-09-2012, 11:43 AM

There is actually one great lens that you might want to have a look at: Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM (No Stabilizer) Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

It has a nice price tag to it, but outperforms the Tamron and Pentax lenses in the same focal length spectrum. It's quite bulky, but it is worth every dime.

**crewl1** · 10-09-2012, 11:59 AM - **1 Like**

I like the DA35 since it is very similar to my FA35 which I love for street. (By street I mean pictures of people, not buildings.)

Small, quick to focus, sharp as a tack.

DA21 is excellent too and lets you work closer.

I don't do much landscape so can't comment. The landscapes I have done have been with a longer lens and stitching.

westmill · 10-09-2012, 12:02 PM

Originally posted by jmarkku

There is actually one great lens that you might want to have a look at: Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM (No Stabilizer) Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

It has a nice price tag to it, but outperforms the Tamron and Pentax lenses in the same focal length spectrum. It's quite bulky, but it is worth every dime.

According to photozone the Sigma appears to be rather awful lens. No where near to the Tamron or even Pentax come to that.

Sigma AF 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC HSM OS (Nikon) - Review / Test Report - Analysis

Ooops appologies ! wrong lens lol

westmill · 10-09-2012, 12:11 PM

I better put the right one in now lol

Sigma AF 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM OS - Review / Test Report - Analysis

It does look good. HSM would make a difference over the tamron for me.

**crewl1** · 10-09-2012, 12:28 PM

Sorry in my post above I referred to the da35 2.4.
The 35 macro is not as fast to focus due to the longer focus throw.

jmarkku · 10-09-2012, 12:47 PM - **1 Like**

@westmill: the Tamron is a bit "loose" compared to the Sigma, which is a solid brick. Considering the original idea of having a versatile landscape and street lens, I sure would recommend the focal range around 15mm to 60mm.

westmill · 10-09-2012, 01:09 PM

Originally posted by jmarkku

@westmill: the Tamron is a bit "loose" compared to the Sigma, which is a solid brick. Considering the original idea of having a versatile landscape and street lens, I sure would recommend the focal range around 15mm to 60mm.

I have the Tamron lens. I could not describe it as loose. Its fairly well built. Its certainly old fashioned in its design and very noisy too. It looks like it outperforms the sigma wide open too. The sigma does look a good deal. I doubt the OP would regret going with either of these. Ive not read the full review but it looks a good improvement from the previous offering. The Tamron has just one flaw.... it suffers rather badly at 17mm setting with a field curvature. Despite the MTF showing great results at F2.8 you need to stop down all the way to F8. I find this not a huge problem in the field as you genraly tend to stop down at this focal lengh anyway. The sigma does look very nicely built though. HSM is certainly a bonus too. Either would do me

10-09-2012, 05:32 AM	#1
v3lv3t_r0s3 New Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Posts: 12	Lens for street and landscape photography Need some help ... I'd like to buy a lens that can be used mainly for street and landscape photography ... ...the Pentax FA 31mm f/1.8 AL Limited - could be considered if it wasn't for the high price... ...the other option is either the PENTAX smc DA 35 mm f/2.8 Macro Limited or the... PENTAX smc DA 40 mm f/2.8 Limited... which one fits better for the kind of photography and why... My camera is a Pentax K-30 Thanx!

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10-09-2012, 05:44 AM	#2
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	I would also seriously consider the tamron 17-50 F2.8 zoom. It will allow you far more scope and is capable of superb results. It suffers from field curvature at the 17mm end so stopping down to F8 is advised at this setting. The 40mm is a great performer and can readily be used at any aprature but a 60mm FOV can be restrictive in its use. The 35mm macro has a not bad reputation and will act of course as a macro which can expand on its use. Another lens is the Pentax 35mm F2.4. Although its very very cheap and cheaply made it puts in a fantastic performance.

10-09-2012, 06:17 AM	#3
NaClH2O Site Supporter Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bronx NY Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 5,631	If you are not adverse to used lenses I'd recommend the FA 20-35 F4.0. Light, versitile and sharp sharp sharp. Also a good close focus lens. NaCl(it is my favorite "garden" lens)H2O

10-09-2012, 06:20 AM	#4
seventysixersfan Site Supporter Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 2,054	Why not consider DA 15 or DA 22 unless these are beyond your budget? Otherwise how about F 24-50 if you can find it used?

10-09-2012, 06:20 AM	#5
Sandy Hancock Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Adelaide Hills, South Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 11,272	Q + 01 prime Failing that, DA21.

10-09-2012, 06:51 AM	#6
calicojack Inactive Account Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Long Island, N.Y. Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,124	I'll second the DA21 Ltd. Great small lens for general purpose & close street shooting.

10-09-2012, 07:06 AM	#7
GDRoth Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: S.E. Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 830	I sold my 21mm Ltd and kept my 15mm Ltd...................that says it all for me. The 15 is a fantastic lens.

10-09-2012, 08:46 AM - 1 Like	#8
abieleck Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 799	I feel like the 15mm Ltd is too wide for street if you are trying to work with people in frame. I like the 35 Ltd. macro which may be on the longer end for street photos, but also doubles as a macro which is great. I also like the 21mm Ltd as well.

10-09-2012, 11:43 AM	#9
jmarkku Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Reposaari Photos: Gallery Posts: 25	There is actually one great lens that you might want to have a look at: Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM (No Stabilizer) Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database It has a nice price tag to it, but outperforms the Tamron and Pentax lenses in the same focal length spectrum. It's quite bulky, but it is worth every dime.

10-09-2012, 11:59 AM - 1 Like	#10
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	I like the DA35 since it is very similar to my FA35 which I love for street. (By street I mean pictures of people, not buildings.) Small, quick to focus, sharp as a tack. DA21 is excellent too and lets you work closer. I don't do much landscape so can't comment. The landscapes I have done have been with a longer lens and stitching.

10-09-2012, 12:02 PM	#11
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	Originally posted by jmarkku There is actually one great lens that you might want to have a look at: Sigma 17-50mm F2.8 EX DC OS HSM (No Stabilizer) Lens Reviews - Sigma Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database It has a nice price tag to it, but outperforms the Tamron and Pentax lenses in the same focal length spectrum. It's quite bulky, but it is worth every dime. According to photozone the Sigma appears to be rather awful lens. No where near to the Tamron or even Pentax come to that. Sigma AF 18-50mm f/2.8-4.5 DC HSM OS (Nikon) - Review / Test Report - Analysis Ooops appologies ! wrong lens lol

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10-09-2012, 12:11 PM	#12
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	I better put the right one in now lol Sigma AF 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC HSM OS - Review / Test Report - Analysis It does look good. HSM would make a difference over the tamron for me.

10-09-2012, 12:28 PM	#13
crewl1 Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Los Angeles, CA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 9,807	Sorry in my post above I referred to the da35 2.4. The 35 macro is not as fast to focus due to the longer focus throw.

10-09-2012, 12:47 PM - 1 Like	#14
jmarkku Inactive Account Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Reposaari Photos: Gallery Posts: 25	@westmill: the Tamron is a bit "loose" compared to the Sigma, which is a solid brick. Considering the original idea of having a versatile landscape and street lens, I sure would recommend the focal range around 15mm to 60mm.

10-09-2012, 01:09 PM	#15
westmill Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Stoke on Trent Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,146	Originally posted by jmarkku @westmill: the Tamron is a bit "loose" compared to the Sigma, which is a solid brick. Considering the original idea of having a versatile landscape and street lens, I sure would recommend the focal range around 15mm to 60mm. I have the Tamron lens. I could not describe it as loose. Its fairly well built. Its certainly old fashioned in its design and very noisy too. It looks like it outperforms the sigma wide open too. The sigma does look a good deal. I doubt the OP would regret going with either of these. Ive not read the full review but it looks a good improvement from the previous offering. The Tamron has just one flaw.... it suffers rather badly at 17mm setting with a field curvature. Despite the MTF showing great results at F2.8 you need to stop down all the way to F8. I find this not a huge problem in the field as you genraly tend to stop down at this focal lengh anyway. The sigma does look very nicely built though. HSM is certainly a bonus too. Either would do me