Prime lenses for landscape

minnnt

minnnt

Suspended / Banned
Messages
18,233
Name
David
Edit My Images
Yes
Hi all, just mulling over a few things in my head (as always!) and got to wondering what prime lenses people would choose for a landscape kit? I'm not really fussed on anything wider than 24mm and I'd prefer AF so they're useable for other purposes too.

Any thoughts? (FX lenses please)
 
I used 19, 30 and 50 today, but the 50 was a manual 1.4
 
Not AF I'm afraid, but Zeiss lenses are popular among landscape photographers, and the quality (image and build) is excellent. I have the 21mm f/2.8 and the 50mm f/2 makro. I may add either a 35mm or 85mm at some point.

My 24mm TS-E also gets a lot of use - even when not shooting buildings etc I find the shift is useful for getting the composition right without having to adjust the tripod. It's probably overtaken the Zeiss 21mm as my most used landscape/cityscape lens, which I only tend to use now when I need the extra width.
 
I can recommend

1. Zeiss 21mm 2.8. Lovely to use, but no weather sealing. Personally I find 21mm quite difficult to use effectively. No AF.
2. Zeiss 25mm f2. Probably my favourite landscape lens ever. No AF though.
3. Nikon 28 1.8g. I love this lens. AF.
4. Sigma 35mm 1.4. Very useful focal length I think and I prefer to anything in the 50mm range, also has AF.
5. Samyang 24mm Tilt Shift. Again a very good lens for the price. A bit fiddly with the tilt and shift function but a lot cheaper than the Nikon. No AF, but not a real pain to use.

I also like

1. Nikon 28 2.8 ai-s. Very nice, and small as well. I have used it on a d800 with no issue.
2. 28mm 2.8d - not the best image quality but small and light. AF.
 
I love the idea of a nice sharp prime like a Zeiss 21 or a Canon TSe 24mm II but looking at my usage of wide lenses I could not be without the zoom. If you shoot Canon then 16-35mm f4 IS or Nikon the 14-24 f2.8 are surely 2 of the best.
 
I have,

1. The 15 mm f/2.8 Zeiss Distagon,
2. The 21 mm f/2 Zeiss Distagon,
3. The 24mm Canon TS-E f/3.5 Mark 2 tilt shift.

If I had the money the Zeiss Otus series have received outstanding reviews but at £2-£3k a pop I need a lottery win!

Andy
 
The 24mm is my favourite angle of view for landscapes, sometimes extended into panoramas. For full frame I have the Canon TSE and for MFT I use the Panasonic 12-32. This 3 frame panorama is an example of why I like this angle of view so much...

26547817485_a7e5d939be_b.jpg
 
35mm f1.8g. I'm on lookout for another! Don't really use wide very much.
 
Sejanus Aelianus said:
The 24mm is my favourite angle of view for landscapes, sometimes extended into panoramas. For full frame I have the Canon TSE and for MFT I use the Panasonic 12-32. This 3 frame panorama is an example of why I like this angle of view so much...

26547817485_a7e5d939be_b.jpg
Click to expand...

Looks familiar, is that Clyst St Mary?
 
Zeiss Batis 25mm
Sony Zeiss 55mm
Contax G 90mm

All with Sony A7 series.
 
Another vote for the Zeiss 21mm, the 18mm is good too and the 15mm if you want to cough up loads of dough.
 
on 24X36.
28 leitz-r Elmarit, then 35 leitz-r summicron. But also 30 mm. mayer Lydith. 24......I find decent the Olympus Om, the leica 24 is not good as 28. I prefer leitz 28 to zeiss distagon 28.
I prefer 18 distagon and 12 Voigtlander, but tastes....
s.
 
Last edited:
i have a zeiss 21mm f2.8 but i really do have the nikon 24-70mm f2.8 on most of the time, for me as good as any prime with the advantage of zoooooom
 
Just one? oooh, tricky... I would probably go for a mid-tele, something around 90mm FFe.
 
Depends on budget and if it is going to be in addition to others...

I know you said AF but recent favourite of mine has been the 28mm 2.8Ais - stunning lens and a nice angle. I don't tend to go past 24 for landscapes although I do have the Zeiss 18mm and love it. Had the 21 as well but also had the 20 2.8Ais and the 24 1.4G as well so it was overkill. The Sigma 35 ART was lovely but heavy and I got some favourites with that. MF again but the 50mm 1.2Ais is a lovely lens. The lens that has probably taken more keepers than anything else has been the 85mm 1.8G. Possibly the best value for money lens I own. Fantastic lens and will work well for all sorts of other things as well. At the last count I had 12 primes and the Voigtlander 40 is en route as we speak to take it to 13 and I've sold loads more so if there was another Nikon lens you were thinking of I've likely used it.
 
I am a big fan of 24mm as well, but have to say id have the 21mm Zeiss in a heartbeat. it renders some beautiful images
 
if you mean an 85mm equivilenmt on a DX body then the nearest is the nifty fifty one of the sharpest lenses you can get and even the 1.4 is cheap (respectively)
 
heard goo results can be got with it but isnt it fully manual? not sure, the nikon primes down the 14mm range will pricey
 
cannockwolf said:
heard goo results can be got with it but isnt it fully manual? not sure, the nikon primes down the 14mm range will pricey
Click to expand...

Yes it's a manual focus lens which wouldn't bother me as I shoot landscapes. It would probably make me feel more included in the process as well. I'll have a look for some reviews!
 
I have the zeiss 21mm distagon and thats manual focus its funny how you just drop into doing it manual without thinking, it doesnt effect me oi the slightest. i must add that this is for landscape toggin so things dont move!!
 
Any wide/ultra angle with AF or non AF lenses are not hard to use, the hardest bit is getting the right composition. Buy one lens that you can afford and stick with it and learn how to compose with that lens at a single focal length. Getting sharp images with wide angle lenses are easier than you thought.
 
Sigma 24mm f2.8 Super wide II.

This lens is still a sleeper and can be found for less than £80.00 Nikon fit,I think that is what you shoot.

I have the lens and it is very good indeed. the one thing is that it sounds like a steam engine when it AF,s,but,that is a characteristic of the beast.
 
24mm tilt shift with a gonjoo holder round it for pano's
 
Thanks for everyones suggestions. I've decided on the Sigma 24mm F1.4 Art. I also have the 50mm F1.4 Art. When funds allow i may consider the 20mm also if i feel the need for a wider lens. Not exactly a lightweight kit but hopefully the performance will be worth it.

Now just to visit some interesting places!
 
My Lenses:
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4
Zeiss 50mm f/1.4
Canon EF 135.. f/2

The 24mm prime catches 95% of my landscape shots and the other 2 fill in the gaps. I find that 24mm is wide enough to capture a decent foreground without losing detail in the background.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top