[KevinE]

If you could pick just one zoom lens for landscape and nature photography, what would it be? Don't have extra money right now so need to pick one good general all around lens.

[pearsaab]

If you could pick just one zoom lens for landscape and nature photography, what would it be? Don't have extra money right now so need to pick one good general all around lens.

i think you need to give a little more info..price range...what specifically you want to take pictures of...what camera you use...whether you want WR...landscape can go as low as 10-15mm and nature could be as high as 500mm so need more specifics

[Giklab]

Umm... 18-135?

[Adam]

If you could pick just one zoom lens for landscape and nature photography, what would it be? Don't have extra money right now so need to pick one good general all around lens.

Probably the Sigma 17-70mm:
Sigma 17-70mm F2.8-4 Contemporary - Introduction - PentaxForums.com

If you need weather sealing, then the Pentax 18-135mm.

Adam
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[ChristianRock]

Yeah price range would help.

But the pentax 12-24mm f4 is an extraordinary lens for landscape and nature

There's also the old 16-45mm f4, which being longer, could be considered more of a multipurpose lens. And it excels at the wide end.

[lytrytyr]

If you could pick just one zoom lens for landscape and nature photography, what would it be? Don't have extra money right now so need to pick one good general all around lens.

I've had very good experience with the Tamron 17-50/2.8,
especially using CDAF in live view for critical focusing.

However, for wildlife, you might need something longer
(unless you get a Q with adapter to use the Tammy on).

[texaspentaxeon]

Tamron 28-300mm... Great lens that can be found used for a good price. Very versatile!

[xanis]

Sounds like a super zoom lens in the range of 18-200mm would be your ideal budget lens.
and with WR 18-135mm would be a good one.

[ChristianRock]

Ok, if you only need one lens, and want it relatively good and cheap, and want it for telephoto use as well, here's my 2 suggestions...

1. Tokina AT-X 24-200mm f3.5-5.6.

Tokina 24-200mm f/3.5-5.6 AT-X 242 AF Lens Reviews - Tokina Lenses - Pentax Lens Review Database

KEH has one right now for 115 dollars in EX condition. 24 mm on the wide end - it is not that wide on APS-C but it's a lot better than 28mm... I usually don't go wider than 24mm on my landscape pics, and a lot of them are actually in the 28 or 35mm range, so you might give this a try.

2. Other than that, the Pentax DA 18-250 actually has a good reputation (arguably a bit better than the kit lens 18-55, and way more zoom!). It can be found used for less than 300.

Now, if you want it only for landscape and nature, and don't need it to be in the telephoto range (only wide to normal), my suggestion is the one I got... Tokina 19-35mm f/3.5-4.5. Paid less than 100 for mine in excellent condition.
Took this the day I got it, it's the back of the building where I work:



Not bad for a less than 100 bucks, wide angle, AF well built lens
That blue sky is from the lens by the way. I did not use a filter (PP was done to adjust the overall levels, and to add contrast and a bit of sharpening).