Carl Zeiss Lenses...

[joe_casey5]

<p>I could use some help... I purchased the Pentax K-5 IIs last November and love the camera, only I'm looking for a good landscape lens from the Zeiss family to add to my kit. I've looked at many prime focal lengths from 18mm - 50mm. I've noticed it is hard to find Zeiss lenses that fit the Pentax K mount but I'm willing to work around this.<br>

What I'd like help with is what focal length is BEST for landscapes <strong>(WAIT, before you answer, first READ HOW I plan to use the lens...)</strong><br>

I'm looking at using this lens primarily for panoramic landscape shots where I will mount the camera on a Gimble Head (vertically) and pan and stitch multiple shots. As such, wide focal lengths like the 18mm and 21mm would be far too wide for what I'm looking to do. 50mm seems more appropriate, since the lens and camera will be on it's side and will include much more detail than a standard 2x3 composition.<br>

My main concern is if I buy a 35mm or 50mm lens, what is the best Zeiss lens (in this focal range) for maximum depth of field and sharp edge-to-edge images?<br>

Your assistance is much appreciated.</p>

[steve_t.1]

<p>The 50mm will offer the least distortion of the two lenses (35 and 50), so that would be my first choice. As to which Zeiss lens, I'm not your guy.</p>

<p>Experiment with a zoom lens. Take a few pano sets at 35mm, and a few at 50mm, and see which not only provides a less-distorted image (thus the stitching software having an easier and more successful stitching process), but which focal length meets your needs.</p>

[stemked]

<p>Joe,<br>

Many of the Pentax Limited optics are said to behave remarkably similar to Zeiss (or was it Leica?) in terms of their optical qualities. That is not from personal experience, just what others have said. I don't know if that helps at all. Most of the Zeiss I have seen on Pentax bodies have been screw mount ergo you would need an adapter for them (M42 to K).<br>

Hope you get more useful replies.</p>

[steve_t.1]

<p>Yeah, maybe the Pentax DA Limited 40mm is the way to go. </p>

[les_lammers]

<p>Zeiss did make PK mount lenses but discontinued them. For what you want to do, IMHO, a Sigma DP2 Merrill will be much better and cost about the same as an excellent lens. It's a Japanese Leica with a fixed 45mm FOV lens.</p>

[neil_vanderwolf1]

<p>I have been using my K-5 IIs for just what you are talking about. I have an RRS PG-02 Pro Omni-Pivot pano setup with my ZK 50mm f/2 MP and ZK 25mm f/2.8 Distagon.<br>

<br /> For ultimate edge-to-edge sharpness the 50mm f/2 MP is tough to beat and gets a lot of use, it's my favourite lens for a number of different applications. (the Pentax 100mm WR coming in at a very close second). The 25mm f/2.8 Distagon is excellent as well but does need to be stopped down to f5.6 to f8 for best edge-to-edge sharpness.<br>

<br /> The 25mm is fantastic for doing single-row panos as its equivalent focal length does capture the right amount considering that I inevitably crop a little bit on most of my panos. The increased DOF with the wider FOV is welcome as well.<br>

<br /> I use Autopano Giga 3 and it plays very well with these lenses.<br /><br /> All that said, I agree with what Les has said above, the DP2 Merrill is absolutely amazing, since I got it in November it has pretty much supplanted my K-5 IIs for pano photography. It makes the K-5 IIs look blurry in comparison, the detail is brings out is addictive to say the least.<br /><br /> Here are a couple of photos from that setup just cause I like sharing (shot with my K-5 IIs/50mm f2 MP lol)<br /><br /> with a RRS MPR-192 nodal rail:<br /><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AluEpGlPFjM/UNKm6eHhzxI/AAAAAAAADao/D-AJTYpT5NY/s1000/_NAV5313.jpg" alt="" /><br /> with the RRS setup, overkill for this camera but it works:<br /><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-f4DwtZTHH-k/UMfDcUhOACI/AAAAAAAADZg/kR1ofVLCRms/s1000/pano_dp2m.jpg" alt="" /></p>

[hinman]

<p>Very impressive rail. Thanks in sharing the pictures. Which place will you recommend checking out information on the rail. The <a href="http://reallyrightstuff.com/WebsiteInfo.aspx?fc=89">ReallyRightStuff</a> page throws exceptions on every links that I click and it is <strong>DoneVeryWrong</strong> in the web page. Please clue us in a page with information on the rail.</p>

[neil_vanderwolf1]

<p>Hi Hin Man,<br>

The Really Right Stuff webpage is where you can find all of the information. I just checked the site and it is working just fine on my end. You might want to try again...?</p>

 

[hinman]

<p>Thank you Neil. The site links are working fine now. </p>