Landscapes ???

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GavSterry

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Gavin
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ive kinda asked this before but didnt get much of an answer. What sort of size lens you you reccommend for Landscapes? Ive been playing around with my cam and i feel this is my favorite topic in photography. And help would be appriciated? Im more drawn towards the cheaper end of the scale at the moment as im currently sorting out insurance for my cam and lenses.

Many thanks
Gav
 
I tend to use my 400D 18-55mm kit lens at around the wider settings for landscapes but I only have the choice between that and a 70-300mm. I have heard that the Sigma 10-20mm, Canon 10-24mm and some of the Tokina wide angle lenses are very good for landscapes. Personally I've got my eye on the Sigma one if/when funds allow.

Hope that helps a bit but I'm sure someone with actual experience of the ones I've mentioned will be along to clear things up.

Tommy.
 
Another vote for the 17-70 here
 
A vote for the Sigma 10-20 from me. It's an amazing lens for landscapes, but you need to be careful on your composition with that lens. It's easy to have too much empty space, or accidentally have your feet in the frame :p. But with good composition, a nice sky, a nice foreground interest, and good light, you can get dramatic results that only an ultra wide angle lens can give. But I think landscapes is down to personal preferences. Even though my 10-20 gets the most use when I shoot landscapes, I tend to go to the other end and use my 120-300 for when I need to isolate a feature in the landscape.

But back to the 10-20, a couple of examples

People seem to like this photo, so I'm posting just as an example
2851678286_d0cf056906_o.jpg


What I said before, this perspective, along with a strong sky, can give dramatic results.
2293855540_9439071d57_o.jpg
 
Hi Gav, IMHO there are no hard set rules regarding focal length for a lens for landscapes.
Some great shots have been taken with long lenses so don't get tied up with the idea that you need a wide-angle at all times.
Its important to fill the frame with interest and thats where wide lenses are difficult to use sometimes.
Just think about what you want to capture and select your lens/focal length from there.
Good luck.
 
I use a 12-24mm for landscapes - the Tokina ATX F4 model.
I rarely use 12mm as the majority of landscapes simply don't need to be that wide. 15-24 is a good range IMO.
The Tokina lens is imo without a doubt the best built in the UWA series for crop cameras and mine is definitly sharper than my Canon 10-22mm was

mastertrinity said:
as said above i read an article in a magazine regarding landscapes and apparently a telephoto is just as good and can achieve effects that a wide angle can't.
Click to expand...

You are absolutely correct. Sometimes a landscape needs details picked out of it - some of my telephoto landscapes are my favourites. :thumbs:
 
Another vote for the Sigma 10-20, really nice lens and never lets me down always impresses.
 
A short guide to landscapes.

Usually a wide lens, and a polarising filter. A few grads, like ND (grey), blue and rusty orange. An ND filter if there's running water around. If you can't get it all in, shoot a panorama. Pick out details with a longer lens.

The end.

Edit: tripod :D
 
A slightly longer guide to Landscapes...

Lenses for landscapes vary based on the shot you are after, but as a general rule of thumb for Canon users a 17-40 is a pretty good start. Or a cheaper version with a little bit more reach is the 17-85.
You can go wider down to 10mm and pick up either a sigma 10-20 or a Canon 10-22, which is a cracking lens, but occasionally too wide for landscapes.

I often use a 50mm prime and a telephoto lens, so there are plenty of choices :)
 
Personally I hardly ever go wider than 24mm for landscapes. It's difficult to fill the frame with interest at wider angles.

I use all focal lengths from there onwards and upwards. 200 is very useful. When I had a crop sensor I used to use the 200 end of my zoom as well (= 320mm).

A telephoto doesn't really create "effects" but allows you to tune in to details.
 
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