Which lens for landscape photography ?! (Page 2): Take both lenses and use both lenses! Part of the fun of photography is experimenting and learning for yourself. See what feels best...

Mark Bski Loc: A sleepy little island not far from Seattle

Take both lenses and use both lenses! Part of the fun of photography is experimenting and learning for yourself. See what feels best for you.

My motto is "pixels are cheap." Take several similar pictures of the same scene. Keep the rule of thirds in mind. I take similar pictures with the horizon 1/3 up from the bottom and 1/3 from the top. It's a bummer the Nikon grid is in quarters and not thirds ~ wish they would make that an available option.

Happy shooting.

OddJobber Loc: Portland, OR

Mark Bski wrote:

My motto is "pixels are cheap."

Yup. With a D750 you get 162 pixels for a penny. My first digital point and shoot only gave me 26 pixels per penny.

crazydaddio Loc: Toronto Ontario Canada

Well said.

Rich1939 Loc: Pike County Penna.

Gene51 wrote:

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.

I have pretty much culled my lens choices down to one for landscapes. A 50mm (35 for a crop sensor) taking multiple images and then stitching in PS. There are exceptions of course depending on circumstances but that lens used in that fashion will do 80% of what I like to shoot. I've also been know to use an old 85mm ais manual lens and pretty much ignore the wide angle lenses in my collection except for situations that might require focus stacking.
Did I mention that using a 50 diminishes distortion, that it is tack sharp,light weight and is "relatively" inexpensive?

speters Loc: Grangeville/Idaho

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 ?

The one you think would better show your intend (its all a matter of what you want to show and how you see it in your mind after you found your spot, that's when you decide on your choice) Either lens is capable of taking beautiful landscapes ( but they show it diffently)!

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

speters wrote:

The one you think would better show your intend (its all a matter of what you want to show and how you see it in your mind after you found your spot, that's when you decide on your choice) Either lens is capable of taking beautiful landscapes ( but they show it diffently)!

I like to shoot with a zoom,see if I am using a dominant focal length and then switch to an appropriate prime or another zoom and compare my results. Heck of a way to accumulate primes!

farsidefan1

Duh, Obviously I was referring to another photographer. Why do you need to keep throwing rocks?

Jim Bob

OddJobber wrote:

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

Exactly right.

Leitz Loc: Solms

farsidefan1 wrote:

Duh, Obviously I was referring to another photographer. Why do you need to keep throwing rocks?

If you click on "Quote Reply" we'll know to whom you are duhing.

DaveO Loc: Northeast CT

Leitz wrote:

If you click on "Quote Reply" we'll know to whom you are duhing.

If anybody cares.

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

Rich1939 wrote:

img src="https://static.uglyhedgehog.com/images/s... (show quote)

No, Rich, but I am pretty sure you'll be happy with the results. I shot landscapes all day today with an 80-200 and a 85 PC-E. Never had a reason to go to anything wider.

Bill_de Loc: US

The nice thing about shooting landscapes is you can take your time. Before shooting anything just look at the landscape in front of you and decide what in that landscape you would like to see hanging on your wall. Now look through the camera with the zoom lens on and try to frame it as best you can. If a tall tree catches your eye shoot some verticals.

If you have a tripod use it. You may need to stop your lens down to increase depth of field, which could require a slow shutter speed.

--

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

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.

50mm is a "normal" lens for a Full Frame or Film Camera. A Crop Factor such lens is usually a 35mm. The OP has a D7000, a DX (CF) body. So a 50mm is more like a short portrait lens (@ 77mm). But you had a good concept, just not the right one here.

Peace.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Rich1939 wrote:

img src="https://static.uglyhedgehog.com/images/s... (show quote)

That's a good idea. The OP might want to try that. I do stitched panoramas often myself. Using a 50mm or 35mm on a CF body.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

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 them both and experiment with lengths from 18mm, 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 75mm, 90mm, and 105mm with the Zoom. Find out how to stitch a Panorama from many images. I'd use your 50mm lens for that.