What is your chosen lens focal length for landscape.

prime60

prime60

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Michael
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Hi as above i am looking at getting a prime lens for my D60 and am wondering what Fl to go for.

Thanks Michael.
 
don't use a prime but i take most of my landscapes at 10mm on my 10-20 lens.
 
Well i would choose the Siggy 10-20mm if i had the cash, great value and a grand lens.
 
No favourite, or even most used focal length here. I work from either end I guess. See an image I want to make and choose the lens to suit, or look for images to make with the lens I've got.

I guess my point is that all lenses can shoot great landscapes from 10mm through to 400mm. The best choice will depend on your personal style of images.
 
May as well ask what's the best f-stop

It's always f-ing whatever's best at the time

However, I, as many others hereabouts, like to exaggerate/include the foreground interest as much as poss - so VERY wide I'd say as my fav is my Nikon 12-24 - and Yes, often at the 12 end

That said, a trip to the Dales a few months back yielded excellent results with my 70-200 at the 150 range

On balance though...

wide is good

wider is better

widest is best

HTH

DD



(PS - note... I managed to avoid the latter comment 'as the ladies will agree' :lol:)
 
A good lens for landscape on the D60 would be the Nikkor 18-70. Its wide enough for general landscape and when used close up for flowers etc it produces nice bokeh. You can pick them up cheap second hand.
 
Thanks for replys looking like 10 to 15mm is a good bet,Ceebs not sure about 18-70 i have 18-55 and i find i need wider angle + faster lens thanks.
Sigma 10-20mm looks interesting i know its not prime but will have a look the reviews seem good.

Thanks Michael.
 
DiddyDave said:
May as well ask what's the best f-stop
Click to expand...

Hmm, from what I understand it, if you want as much in focus as you can get, the f-stop chosen depends on two factors: 1) What f-stop is your lens sharpest at, and 2) The hyperfocal distance.

For the 10-22, I've heard that it's sharpest at f7.1-8, and there's really no reason to go above that. That answers 1).

For 2), the hyperfocal distance at 15mm and f/8 is about 5 feet. This means if you focus the camera at about 5 feet in front of you, everything from 2.5 feet to infinity should be in focus. I suppose in practice, it's worth remembering that the hyperfocal distance for 10mm, 15mm, and 20mm is about 2 feet, 5 feet, and 9 feet, respectively. So if you're going to stick at f/8 for everything, then always focus somewhere from 2-9 feet ahead.

See here and here.
 
Theo Moore said:
Hmm, from what I understand it, if you want as much in focus as you can get, the f-stop chosen depends on two factors: 1) What f-stop is your lens sharpest at, and 2) The hyperfocal distance.

For the 10-22, I've heard that it's sharpest at f7.1-8, and there's really no reason to go above that. That answers 1).

For 2), the hyperfocal distance at 15mm and f/8 is about 5 feet. This means if you focus the camera at about 5 feet in front of you, everything from 2.5 feet to infinity should be in focus.

See here and here.
Click to expand...

I'm fairly sure that what DD was getting Theo is that you don't always want max DoF. Each shot, person, style and situation is different. :)
 
dazzajl said:
I'm fairly sure that what DD was getting Theo is that you don't always want max DoF. Each shot, person, style and situation is different. :)
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Really? I didn't get that impression at all.

But it doesn't really matter. As a question of interest, what reasons would you have for not wanting to max DOF on a wide lens? I asked this very question a year back on the fredmiranda forums and nobody gave me a straight answer.

The problem is that the bokeh is so subtle at wide angles and at the usual f-stops most wide lens are capable of (f/4 on the 10-22). Unless you're doing something very close up, like blowing up a kid's face smack centre...

Basically, I have yet to see a wide lens shot of something (say, a landscape shot) which warranted anything less than a max dof...

...have you?
 
So if you're going to stick at f/8 for everything, then always focus somewhere from 2-9 feet ahead.
Click to expand...
And you only get Acceptable sharpness in other areas
 
Basically, I have yet to see a wide lens shot of something (say, a landscape shot) which warranted anything less than a max dof...

...have you?
Click to expand...

Sure I have, the nearest I have of an example to hand is this shot. Not superwide but the principle is the same.

distant_hills_1_.jpg
 
i wasnt specifically about talking about 1-4.5 feet, but infinity
 
I have(had) a Nikkor 10.5mm f2.8 and I absolutely loved it, focuses down to about 2" with your feet in the shot if you're not careful, I've recently changed to Canon due to being offered a Sigma 120-300mm F2.8 at a giveaway price, a 10mm lens is right at the top of my purchase list.

These are a couple I took with the Nikkor

DSC_1598.jpg


DSC_1467c.jpg
 
Here's an analysis of the focal lengths I've used for landscapes on my Canon 30D and 40D bodies I don't see how any single prime lens can do justice to the subject.

MWSnap010.jpg
 
I almost always use my 10-22 for landscapes. Fab lens.
 
Interesting discussion there chaps

For me, part of the beauty of superwides is that using the lens at it's best aperture for quality, pretty much means you have all the DoF you could want - and esp with a bit of hyperfocal focussing

The downside of course is that you can't isolate your subject within the landscape without doing so in post-pro; or having it inches away from the lens

That said, most fab landscapes are about max DoF - so it's rarely a problem

I love superwides
 
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