Which lens for landscape photography ?! Good Evening Everyone! I recently joined this site and finally got the Nikon D7000 used after a lot of research! So my question is... I'm going...

dclifford

Good Evening Everyone!
I recently joined this site and finally got the Nikon D7000 used after a lot of research! So my question is... I'm going to be taking some landscaping pictures tomorrow just to start to get the hang of it. I'm still learning, but wanted some input on which lens would best suit the job. I have the AF Nikkor 50mm and the AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm, which would be better to use ?

jethro779 Loc: Tucson, AZ

dclifford wrote:

Good Evening Everyone!
I recently joined this site and finally got the Nikon D7000 used after a lot of research! So my question is... I'm going to be taking some landscaping pictures tomorrow just to start to get the hang of it. I'm still learning, but wanted some input on which lens would best suit the job. I have the AF Nikkor 50mm and the AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm, which would be better to use ?

Take both & use them and decide for yourself. What is too wide for me might be just right for you. Shooting with both and using all the different lengths will give you the idea of what works best for you. Also, and this is just me, wait till you get back home and can look at the shots on your computer to decide what length is best for you.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

A standard zoom makes for a fine landscape lens.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Welcome aboard. The zoom lens will probably give you better results. On your D7000 the 50 mm is effectively a 75 mm where the 18 mm end of the zoom is effectively 27 mm, a good focal length for landscape.

farsidefan1

Depends on the landscape. I often photograph Utah's red rock country. It is not unusual to need to step back, then step back again to get everything in the frame. That extra step back is sometimes over a cliff or through a rock. Your zoom solves those problems. On the other hand I know one very good landscape photographer who only uses his 50 because "that is what the eye sees. Take them both and experiment.

dandi Loc: near Seattle, WA

farsidefan1 wrote:

Depends on the landscape. I often photograph Utah's red rock country. It is not unusual to need to step back, then step back again to get everything in the frame. That extra step back is sometimes over a cliff or through a rock. Your zoom solves those problems. On the other hand I know one very good landscape photographer who only uses his 50 because "that is what the eye sees. Take them both and experiment.

He uses only 50mm? Does he have his own web page? I would be very interested to see his photos and even more interested to hear from him about using only one lens.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

RichardTaylor wrote:

A standard zoom makes for a fine landscape lens.

What is a standard zoom?

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

farsidefan1 wrote:

.....only uses his 50 because "that is what the eye sees.

A 50mm lens is not what his eye would see when it's mounted on a crop sensor D7000.

RichardTaylor Loc: Sydney, Australia

OddJobber wrote:

What is a standard zoom?

Usually it is a zoom lens that comes with an entry level (sometimes midrange body), and P&S cameras.
All the ones I have owned are not very fast (wide maximum aperture).

The Op's AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm is a longish "standard zoom".

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

dclifford wrote:

Good Evening Everyone!
I recently joined this site and finally got the Nikon D7000 used after a lot of research! So my question is... I'm going to be taking some landscaping pictures tomorrow just to start to get the hang of it. I'm still learning, but wanted some input on which lens would best suit the job. I have the AF Nikkor 50mm and the AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm, which would be better to use ?

Depending on the scope of your landscape scenes, any lens from a wide angle rectilinear to a medium telephoto may be suitable, For vistas, a 16-18 (24-27 AOV) might be appropriate; for limited view (canyons, etc.), a longer lenses may me more appropriate, i.e., photos of a slot canyon may call for a 16 or 70-200, depending on the type of scene you wish. If you could give us some idea of what type of landscapes you photograph, we might be able to be more helpful.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

dclifford wrote:

Good Evening Everyone!
I recently joined this site and finally got the Nikon D7000 used after a lot of research! So my question is... I'm going to be taking some landscaping pictures tomorrow just to start to get the hang of it. I'm still learning, but wanted some input on which lens would best suit the job. I have the AF Nikkor 50mm and the AF-S Nikkor 18-105mm, which would be better to use ?

On a full frame, I use anything from 14mm to 600mm for landscape - but looking back over my catalog of images, the majority of my landscapes were taken with focal lengths from 45 - 100mm. I prefer the perspective of a longer lens, which is normal to slightly compressed. Wide and ultra wide lenses provide medium to extreme extension distortion. Oversized foregrounds and really tiny, distant backgrounds. When I I need a wider view, I just shoot a pano.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

OddJobber wrote:

What is a standard zoom?

Not automatic,duh! Some even have overdrive.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Of the two options presented, take the 18-105.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

my take is that landscape does not have to mean wide angle. back in the 40's and 50's there were slr's and range finder cameras, we used what we had. today we have many choices, I hope that none of us try to carve any rules in stone.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I would use the 18-105.
I use my 18-200 so I can crop in camera.