lense choices for lanscape - filter suitable. Legacy options.

Hiya in need of some advice - I spend probably 50% of my time on landscape photography, the rest mainly on street photography.

I'm off to iceland in 6 weeks, and really want to emerse myself in some lanscape photography. I also think filters are the way for me - I spend so much time artificially adding them in Lightroom now, I think it's time to try the real thing. Looking at a set of Cokins.

So I'm looking at the lenses I have and considering what would make a good combo with the filters (ND, grad), and considering the focal lengths I like the most.

currently my line-up is K5 +
18-135mm
SMC 50mm 1.7 M
FA 50mm 1.4 (currently on ebay)
Sigma 8-16mm

For whatever reason I just never took to the FA, I actually prefer the 1.7. and the whole experience (and frustrations) of the manual! So, the FA 50mm f1.4 is up for sale on ebay to fund something else. Intially I was thinking of a 40 or 70 Ltd to complement the 50. Or some more manuals (or both!)

Now - as I want something I can use for lanscape, speed doesn't matter so much for remote tripod use, but it does a bit if I'm planning to stitch panoramas on the hoof. Low light shouldn't be too much of an issue in Iceland over the summer solstace (!), but I know I will get dusky type light from previous experience. Not forgetting the low-light capabilities of the K5.

Now I'm in a quandry. Without spending silly money there's no filter options on the sigma. My last trip I took about 400 with it (out of 1400). Of these about 200 at lower than 10mm, of which I would say 40 are standouts, with maybe 20 of these also possible at say 10mm. That's a big lense to lug around normally for 20 pictures. So I am considering its future anyway.

So....

lenses I'm looking at:
40mm (XS or Ltd) or 70mm Ltd to replace the FA 50mm 1.4. (but filters?)
SMC 28mm f3.5 Manual (filters?)
24mm 2.8 Manual (filters?)

Selling the 8-16, for a sigma 10-20 (but a step down in quality?).

I think the 15mm and 21mm are out of my budget - any other legacy lenses owrth considering?

Any tips on the compatibility of filters or the quality of the legacy lenses?

I could just stick with the 18-135, but I fancy some prime quality for the trip!

Thanks

Ian

Sigma 24/2.8 Superwide II perhaps.

John.

Have you considered the DA 35mm F2.4 - only £129 at SRS, and it seems to get excellent reviews. You could then get the 21mm Ltd, and you would still be able to use a 49mm filter mount on all your primes.

Philip

If you are looking at a manual focus prime which will give you 'bang for your buck' I would look no further than a Pentax-M 28mm F3.5, or even better a K 28mm F3.5 if you can find one, although the K will cost more. I have the M version; a mint one cost me £30. It's a great little landscape lens and has a 49mm filter ring, so filters are cheap and easy to use; I often go for a polariser or 85mm Hitech ND Grads, sometimes both together and the grads are fitted in a Cokin P type holder. Very portable, very easy to use. Another advantage of the Pentax-M is its virtually non-existant distortion - ideal for stitched landscapes.

I have recently acquired a Sigma 28mm F2.8 Mini Wide, but I have to say it comes nowhere near to the Pentax-M for its landscape rendering capabilities; colour, contrast and sharpness are all lagging a bit behind, although it's by no means a bad lens.

I'm not so sure if you would consider a zoom, but if you could stretch to a Pentax DA 17-70 I think you would find that the IQ of this lens will equal or beat many of the older primes. There is distortion at some focal lengths, but it's not too big an issue. Downside is that it's more expensive; a good second hand one will cost upwards of £250, but IMO it's well worth it. This is my preferred landscape lens and I never feel short changed by the images it produces. It has a 67mm filter ring, again this is ideal for use with the Cokin P type holders.

I hope this is useful for you and that you get your ideal lens and filters soon!

Cheers
David

Thanks for the suggestions

I had a look though your landscape stuff David. Very nice. I noticed you used the 16-45 as your go to lens. The few with the 28mm stood out though, seemed really contrasty. Is that a characteristic of the lens or post processing?

35mm is a possibility too, of course, that's why I wasn't discounting the 40mm as an auto - although I don't think any filters will work with that!

Hi Ian, thanks for looking at my images.

The 16-45 used to be my 'go to' landscape lens and I loved it. However, I bought a 17-70 a few months ago and can confirm that it is better than the 16-45 (sharper, better range, less chromatic aberration, better bokeh, better build).

I do treasure my 28mm F3.5 though and use it regularly (although less than the zoom). I find that it instils some discipline as it is not an 'all rounder' like the DA 17-70 or 16-45, but it rewards when used for the right sort of shots. It is contrasty and renders colours very nicely (although it can tend towards a magenta tinge, especially on bare tree branches). It has a very '3D' quality that suits certain types of shots and seems to give 'depth' to images.

Regards
David

There's an interesting bodge here for a 12-24mm lens that you may be able to adapt to your Sigma 8-16mm.

Otherwise, as you evidently like wide, the Sigma 10-20mm f3.5 might be worth investing in. The previously mentioned Sigma 24mm f2.8 Super-Wide II is an excellent lens too, but perhaps not as wide as you'd like.

I could quite happily take just the K28mm f3.5 for landscape work in Iceland. It will be fine with filters, taking whatever system you decide on. As with other K series lenses it can be prone to cool colours and show a touch of violet sometimes.

Well I went for a 28mm 3.5

Paid about 55 quid. With a description extolling the virtues of the mecahnical quality and how it always had a UV filter on it to protect it, I was a bit surprised that the UV seemed to be in lieu of a lens cap! Surprised read pissed off. It did come with a retro leather pouch though - guess I'm supposed to hang that on the lens if I'm not using it and don't want to demount the lens.

Filter was causing major flaring, so that's already gone. Problem solved.

But...it doesn't seem able to focus to inifinity. Can I do anything about that or have i simply got en ebay lemon?

I have an old Vivitar 28mm f2.8 mf lens - cost me £20 or so - never thought I could or would take it seriously as I bought it for the hell of it - what a lens it is my main lanscape lens now

It flares if pointed into the sun but otherwise I love it

I know the feeling - I solf my 50mm 1.4, and kept my manual 50mm 1.7

I thought it would be the other way round!


But...am I expecting too much from the 28. Inifity isn't focused.

Sorry I meant to add - try focus fine tune on your camera - if that doesn't work check the lens mount on the mechanical operation of the lens to see if a bit more movement can be gained

My 18-135 and 8-16 needed -5 and -6

I tuned this one too with catch in focus and gradually turning until it fired. Not sure if this was the right way, but to my eyes it looks like a -10 (maybe more, but got no time to ender the mod menu now....)

Haven't exensively tested it, but still looks out

If you can't focus on infinity, I would ask for my money back.

Check the item description on ebay first.

If it doesn't match the description or there are faults that could not have been expected you should let the seller know you are not happy. A lot of sellers are decent people but don't know a lot about what they are selling. If you tell them about the fault they may well offer a refund. If you get no joy from the seller, open a case with ebay.

I was thinking that...

Will get some more shots off on it, and see if I can get it to work, but I shouldn't have to get my eye in for an inifity shot!

I notice he said it came with pouch, UV and rear cap. Stupid me though it would come with a lens cap - lens is actually fine since the UV is the pseudo lens cap...

Likewise he said it was mechanically sound and in a "dream condition" - he didn't say it could focus!

To be fair I hadn't realised manual lens would have a focussing issue!

He will just say it's my camera to be honest. I live in Germany, and that's what happens here - "the customer is always wrong, or at fault, and should in fact apologise for daring to question the authroity of the seller".

Will see how it goes!