Final advice before the purchase day.

Good Morning

Many thanks for all the comments, really really useful.

I will certainly take a look at the 17-70 lens. The only thing that concerns me with that is the SDM part as I keep reading about that failing, or is that on older models?

I had been thinking of adding filters and had the Kenko protector ones in mind as from what I have been reading they are the same as Hoya. Another forum was showing communications with Hoya which said that they were the same and that Hoya is not sold in Japan but sold as Kenko instead.

In terms of the long end of the zoom, this is mainly for areas such as the channel but you are right about how many are usable. I am going to go back through the hundreds of pictures I have taken with my old bridge camera and see how many at that range are for "archival purposes" and how many are actually decent and useable.

Thanks again

Paul

My 17-70 is an old model, I bought it when they were first released. The SDM has never been a problem on it, or any other 17-70 that I have heard of.

It was a problem on some older 50-135* lenses, but not all - mine is an old one, and again never had a problem with that either.

Don't bother with a protector filter of any sort. A circular polariser yes, worth buying, but a protector or haze filter no.

Have you ever worked with a camera in a maritime environment? I have, and have seen what salt splashes can do to lenses.

There has been a few problematic 17-70mm lenses Gwyn, I had 2 (both used) and they refused to focus on anything distant in the 50-70mm range. I bought a new one early last year when Jessops had them cheap (and with interest free credit) and that has been fine.

Would you use a UV filter (and a rain jacket) to protect the lens from adverse weather or spray from waterfalls? I bought both some time back, but they rarely see the light of day. What do others do to protect non-WR lenses against the weather?

Andrew

Not sure that is SDM related though Mike - 17-70s do have a problem with focussing at times it's true, but that is nothing to do with the SDM afaik.

My 17-70 has been out unprotected in a Pacific Northwest rainstorm, and in a -18C snowstorm or too and survived both with no problems.
The only protection I offered it was inside my jacket when the rain got too heavy to be worth taking photos, and covering the lens with my gloved hand on the dog sled. The camera and lens were covered in frozen snow at the end of the sled trip, but gave no problems and I went on to take lots more photos that day (and for the rest of the trip) with the same combination.
I don't recommend mistreating camera and lens thus, but I did and they survived.

I have a couple of OpTech raincoats for the camera. I used one when whale watching off Boston, again in the rain, but honestly it was more trouble that it was worth. I haven't used a UV/haze/protector filter on any lens for a long long time. I do always use the lens hood though.

I would certainly recommend the 17-70 - mine is virtually glued to one of my cameras. The 55-300 (cheap or posh version - optically identical) would also be a good choice - if you will need 300mm length. If you do not need to go that long - then the very under-rated DA 50-200 WR should also be considered

One thing I would add - you state your main interest as landscape - which is something I share with you. For landscape - I could not and would not be without my Sigma 10-20 - I use it for 90% of all landscape work.

So for me - to keep within budget - my choice would be K5 ii, DA 17-70, DA 50-200WR, Sigma 10-20. Some will not agree - and although I have a 35mm Ltd - the 35 is the lens I would do without - the 17-70 at 35mm takes some beating!


K5 ii body only £699 at SRS
DA 17-70 £349 at SRS
DA 50-200WR (new via ebay from UK seller) £150
Sigma 10-20 £329 at SRS

Ok slightly over budget but you could pick up a 50-200 or 55-300 used in perfect condition and bring the total within budget

Happy shopping

Carl

I would still suggest 16-50 rather than 17-70 ... and leave the 10-20 until a need is proven.

I had a 10-20 and sold it. I hated it for landscape work. I'd rather make a panorama to get a wide view than use one. To me it squashes the landscape into a single frame rather than giving a wide view.

Yes an ultra wide angle has it's place, but I'm not convinced it is for landscapes, at least not the majority of them.

I'd certainly wait with buying one until you are sure you want/need one.

17-70 - 16-50 choice is mainly personal preference - having owned both - my pref would be the 17-70, fast AF, great IQ - longer reach than the 16-50 but nothing wrong with either lens.

If the main interest is landscape - the need for the 10-20 or 12-24 is already proven - why put off the inevitable? never met a landscape photographer yet who didn't yearn for wider

I would go (have gone) with the excellent Pentax DA primes, a 3 lens kit of the 21mm, 40mm, and the 70mm and a Pentax K5 is a marriage made in heaven for sheer image quality.

Thanks for all the input guys, it is really appreciated.

Not had much time this week so far to sit down further and look at the lens in too much detail. However have managed to work out that the 17-70 and 18-135 are pretty much the same price overall with the camera, or within a few pounds and when you are spending this amount is £10-£15 really a deal breaker?

I am going to sit down this weekend and really think and decide on the larger lens, i.e. 200 or 300 max.

I thought the main K-5ii benefits were AF based - not so important for landscape work.. so perhaps save the money (by getting K-5 mk1 or K-30) and put it into glass.. good glass the main priority as bodies are like computers and will be replaced

With this sort of budget Id be tempted to get:

-K-5 mk1 body
480 refurbished on ebay uk
500 brand new ebay uk

-Tamron 17-50mm from onestop digital £222 (or the 17-70mmm pentax from srs etc.)

-Pentax DA 55-300mm ~ £230

-2nd hand Pentax 18-55mm wr (not priority to buy, merely for WR/backup)


Then a prime, probably ~30mm and fast

-Sigma 30mm f1.4 £250-300
-2nd hand Pentax 35mm f2
-Pentax FA 31mm f1.8 (much ££££) but magical by all accounts


Then later on a wide prime

-Pentax DA 15mm f4
-Samyang 14mm f2.8

Also tempting [but perhaps controversial ] could be the 2 DA*s

K-5 / K-30 body
+
Pentax SMC DA* 16-50mm f/2.8
+
Pentax SMC-DA* 50-135mm f/2.8


this might exceed budget, but might not be too far off if you can get the lenses 2nd hand


Then later when you have recovered a prime