[UncleVanya]

As some others said, K-3ii, KP are the starting point in Pentax bodies that I would suggest. The KP has the better high ISO specs due to the accelerator chip built in. Both offer super accurate color using pixel shift mode. The K-3ii lacks the on board flash but has a GPS integrated with it that permits limited star tracking to enhance night time landscapes. The K3ii also has dual SD card slots. The KP has built in Wifi. As mentioned the KP also has a tilting screen which can be helpful on shots near the ground.

As for lenses, There are a couple of third party 10mm options both prime and zoom. The Pentax 10-17 is a fisheye on the 10mm side. It goes very wide and can be defished or the fishy perspective controlled through careful composition.

The Pentax 12-24 is a fine f4 zoom, but a new weather resistant high quality DA* 11-18 F2.8 is on the roadmap and anticipated by next year. That is going to be a killer combination with a weather sealed APSC body.

The DA* 16-50 F2.8 is a fine weather sealed lens that fills the next range but the DA 16-85 has similar performance though slower aperture and a wider range. The16-50 can suffer lens motor failure but it can be converted to screw drive and often is offered with this at steep cost savings used.

The DA* 50-135 f2.8 like the 16-50 suffers drive motor failure sometimes. The lens can be converted and cheap copies can be found this way. It is a fantastic lens.

So with three lenses DA* 11-18, DA* 16-50, and DA* 50-135, your friend can cover the ff equivalent range of 16-200. Since the 11-18 hadn't shipped and is expected to be very expensive an alternate plan would be to use a 10-20 sigma or 10-24 tamron instead or the 12-24 Pentax. These options will significantly reduce the total cost.

If the friend prefers primes let us know, we can map that out also.

---

Last edited by UncleVanya; 08-29-2018 at 06:03 AM.

[normhead]

There's anew Pentax DA*11-18 coming.
I personally use the Sigma 8-16 for ultra-wide on APS_c.
I'd also go withe the K-70- or K-P for the more advanced low light performance.

My usual travel kit would be the 8-16, 18-235, DA* 60-250 or DA 55-300 PLM.

K-3 and 18-135.


The last couple of years most of my landscape has been K-1, so I'm working from memory here.

[CarlJF]

Hello everyone,

I just registered on this forum which particularly captivated me. I would like someone to help me answer my question.
I am using full frame cameras but a friend with fewer means needs recommandations on camera and lenses to do landscapes. I am not particularily aware of what is good ion the APS-C side now. I hear the 80D is good. But what about lenses to cover a full frame range from 16mm to 200mm?

It's difficult to answer precisely because "fewer means" depends on relative to what... We also have no idea on how advanced is your friend in photography.

Only looking at gear that can be bought new, I would say that a Pentax K-70 with either the DA 12-24 or DA 10-17 to cover the wide angle and either the DA 16-85 or DA 18-135 as general purpose lenses would make a fine kit while still remaining quite affordable relative to anything FF.

[follansbee]

My Pentax DA 15 is my go to lens...on my Pentax K-70 which is a very reasonably price photo tool

[superdave]

Pentax K-3II is currently the best APS-C option for landscape thx to its very useful build in GPS. For the lens, if I were you I would purchase just a transstandard lens for now, and save for the upcoming DA* 11-18mm next year. The Sigma 17-70 macro is a good option, very good IQ across the range, nice corner sharpness and very convenient. Another good option is the Pentax 16-85 but I never tried it personnally. Forget the 18-135, I owned it and it has very poor IQ.

[WillWeaverRVA]

The DA 15 Limited is an excellent landscape lens that isn't crazy expensive. It's a lot sharper than the DA 14mm despite being limited to a maximum aperture of f/4.

I like the DA 12-24 but it's pretty bulky and expensive; the Sigma 10-20 (either the current f/3.5 version or the older f/4.0-5.6 version) are cheaper and more or less just as good.

If you can find a used DA 16-45, it's a really good bargain buy that's wider than the kit lens and great for landscapes.

[UncleVanya]

Pentax K-3II is currently the best APS-C option for landscape thx to its very useful build in GPS. For the lens, if I were you I would purchase just a transstandard lens for now, and save for the upcoming DA* 11-18mm next year. The Sigma 17-70 macro is a good option, very good IQ across the range, nice corner sharpness and very convenient. Another good option is the Pentax 16-85 but I never tried it personnally. Forget the 18-135, I owned it and it has very poor IQ.

I'll take exception to the statement that the 18-135 has poor IQ:



I will grant you this isn't a landscape shot but it shows the level of detail you can get. I have the color shot also but the blue shirt didn't work well with this for reasons unrelated to the lens. There is an entire thread dedicated to the 18-135 and the pictures are astounding: DA 18-135 WR, Show us what it can do - PentaxForums.com

[UncleVanya]

The DA 15 Limited is an excellent landscape lens that isn't crazy expensive. It's a lot sharper than the DA 14mm despite being limited to a maximum aperture of f/4.

I like the DA 12-24 but it's pretty bulky and expensive; the Sigma 10-20 (either the current f/3.5 version or the older f/4.0-5.6 version) are cheaper and more or less just as good.

If you can find a used DA 16-45, it's a really good bargain buy that's wider than the kit lens and great for landscapes.

I love my DA 15 - I hadn't recommended it yet because of the initial restriction of 16-200 on FF which is around 11-135 on crop. I felt like the DA 15 - while extraordinary - was too narrow for the OP's request. But I often carry the DA 15 rather than the 12-24 despite the flexibility and range of the 12-24 due to the size of the DA 15. It pairs well with the 18-135 for example.

The 16-45 has had a reputation for lens barrel sag - but I haven't owned one. My favorite underappreciated lens in this space is the DA 17-70 f/4. It's a strong lens with great rendering but the SDM failures plagued its reputation. I have one that I bought refurbished and gave to a step-niece - she's used it as her only lens for years.

[MrB1]

Any 24MP Pentax APS-C DSLR with a DA 35mm Limited prime lens. For wider landscape photos, take several overlapping shots and make a composite high resolution panoramic image (e.g using free Microsoft ICE).

Philip

[Basie]

I'll take exception to the statement that the 18-135 has poor IQ:

UncleVanya. I have to agree with you. THe 18-135 is a great lens. superdave, maybe you had a bad copy?


As an extra the OP did mention up to 200mm. I personally think that ultrawides for landscapes is overrated and is difficult to use well. 18 mm on a APSC is quite wide and useful and I do use the 300mm DA* for landscapes, but that is quite limiting. A 200 added to the mix would be great

[Madaboutpix]

Lots of excellent recommendations already (my focus is on APS-C here). A little heavy on the wide und ultra-wide side, perhaps. Lenses like the 50-135, 18-135, and 55-300 PLM have been mentioned already. If budget is an issue, any of the digital-era 55-300s would be worthwhile having in the bag. And why not throw in the plastic-fantastic DA50 short-telephoto prime which renders beautiful-clarity intimate landscapes, yet weighs next to nothing. Have also learnt to love the inexpensive 10-17 fisheye for landscape work, but that has already been suggested.

[mikesbike]

The relatively compact Pentax KP for good portability in hiking, etc. superb low light/higher ISO performance, pixel shift, and excellent WR construction. Many fine features has this camera body- great control set and more. The Pentax DA 12-24mm f/4 is an excellent WA lens. However, a new Pentax pro-grade 11-18mm f/2.8 lens is around the corner to be released, and has WR construction as well. There's also the excellent mid-range wide-to-tele Limited zoom lens having WR construction, the DA 20-40mm f/2.8-4, and then for longer FL work, the excellent DA* 50-135mm f/2.8 which is very compact for a lens of this type, providing a similar FOV as a 70-200mm f/2.8 on a FF body.

Less expensive alternatives include the DA 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6 WR DC, which apparently is a frequent preference for landscapes by forum members, and the DA 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 WR DC.

[parinya-ekparinya]

Pentax K-3II is currently the best APS-C option for landscape thx to its very useful build in GPS. For the lens, if I were you I would purchase just a transstandard lens for now, and save for the upcoming DA* 11-18mm next year. The Sigma 17-70 macro is a good option, very good IQ across the range, nice corner sharpness and very convenient. Another good option is the Pentax 16-85 but I never tried it personnally. Forget the 18-135, I owned it and it has very poor IQ.

I agree with others that you might get a bad copy. It is true to me that 18-135mm gives the soft results for above 100mm, but it is not that bad. Anyway, I sold it because I got a 16-50mm and a 50-135mm.

[Mallee Boy]

K3, K3 ii (which I have) or KP, owned by a friend known as hobbles, who speaks very highly of it. Have the DA 14 mm, its good, wouldn't call it great; DA 21mm I do call great. DA* 16-50, I rate as good to great but the lens that I like the most is the DA 17-70 f4, have got lots & lots of great shots using this lens. Anothwer lens I have used but do not own, & rate highly is the DA 12-24......but an 80D ?? absolutely no idea...never heard of it.

[UserAccessDenied]

I'll be the odd member who doesn't suggest a wide-angle lens for landscape...

I've gone out with my K-3ii (which is the DSLR I would suggest!) with a DA15mm, DA35mm, DA70mm, DFA100mm, DA300mm...

Depending on the composition of course; I've had the most success with the DA70 and the DA300 for landscape shots.


Here's one example from the DA300: