D-SLRs For The Landscape

Choose the best camera for your landscape photography

Pentax K20D
Landscape photos tend to look good big, and the K20D’s 14.6-megapixel CMOS sensor provides the resolution to print them that way. Featuring the most megapixels you can get in an APS-C-sensor D-SLR and a weather-resistant and dustproof body, Pentax’s flagship model lets you shoot in the harsh field conditions that accompany many great landscape photo ops without fretting about your gear. The new SDM lenses share the camera’s weather-resistance and dustproofing, so they’re great choices for such work.

Features
Sensor: 14.6-megapixel CMOS, 1.5x
LCD: 2.7 inches/Live View
Anti-Dust: High-frequency vibrations
Stabilization: Sensor-shift
ISO Range: 100-6400
Spot Metering: Yes
Estimated Street Price: $1,300

Other features of interest to landscape shooters include sensor-shift Shake Reduction that works with all lenses for much sharper handheld and monopod-mounted shooting, high-frequency vibrations that remove dust from the image-sensor assembly each time you switch the camera on and an Enlargement of Dynamic Range function that provides more detail throughout the image in high-contrast shooting situations. The 2.7-inch LCD monitor has a Live-View function that shows 100 percent of the actual image area for precise compositions and provides digital preview capability. You even can activate reference grid lines to help keep that horizon horizontal. The two-second self-timer includes a mirror-lock function that lets mirror vibration settle down before exposure is made. Unique to Pentax, the K20D (like its K10D sibling) lets you record images in either of two RAW formats, Pentax’s PEF or Adobe’s “universal” DNG. A RAW button lets you instantly switch from JPEG to RAW recording at a touch.


The LCD monitor features Live-View composition	The dial (AF point switching dial) on the camera back is used to choose the AF point. It can be set at auto, user selection or center spot. The K20D has built-in anti-shake, which you can turn on with the shake-reduction switch beneath the AF point switching dial. Because anti-shake is built into the body, it works with a range of lenses.	The body is weatherproof, which many landscape shooters will enjoy in misty or rainy conditions.	The mode-selection dial and metering-mode level are positioned on the top, right of the camera

Current Pentax lenses range from a 10-17mm fish-eye zoom (equivalent to 15-25.5mm on a 35mm camera) and 12-24mm superwide zoom (equivalent to 18-36mm on a 35mm camera) to a 300mm ƒ/4 supertele, including three 1:1 macro lenses. The K20D can use virtually all Pentax lenses, even old screw-mount models and lenses for Pentax medium-format SLRs, via adapters, albeit with the loss of some operating features.

Alternative Landscape D-SLR
Camera: Pentax K200D Sensor: 10.2 MP/1.5x LCD: 2.7 inches Anti-Dust: Vibration Stabilization: Sensor shift ISO: 100-1600 Spot Metering: Yes Estimated Street Price: $720

Lineage: The K20D shares many features with the K10D, including weather-resistant, dustproof construction and dual RAW formats, but ups the resolution to 14.6 megapixels (vs. 10.2), features a 2.7-inch LCD monitor with Live-View capability (vs. 2.5 inches) and adds new Custom Image and Expanded Dynamic Range functions.

Cool Factor: Sensor-shift Shake Reduction works with any lens mounted on the Pentax K20D, enabling sharp, handheld shots two to three shutter speeds slower than would be possible otherwise.

Page 6 of 10

« Start Prev12345678Next End »

10 Comments

Feed

G - HASSLER makes this comment

Friday, 30 October 2009

Going back to all the 2&1/4 cameras made - - - Still no digital in square format?
Steve Tracy makes this comment

Monday, 07 September 2009

Having used Just a variety of Nikons over the years before switching to the Canon EOS-1V, I still find that I think of focal lengths in a film sense. The EOS-5D Mk11 seems to fit that bill in every way, and when matched to an all-round lens like Canon's 28-300mm L series lens, there seems little need to ever remove the lens from the body unless extreme wide-angle is essential. It's a very fine camera in every way, and I have no complaints thus far. The combination produces stunning landscapes.
Michael makes this comment

Monday, 03 August 2009

I'm a recent convert to...FILM!!...for really good landscapes. In particular, a Pentax 645N (which you can get for ~$400 nowadays in pristine condition) shooting Fuji Velvia 50. North Coast Photo Services produces high-quality scans during processing....love it!
Jim Horne makes this comment

Thursday, 23 July 2009

Article
Cees van Leeuwen makes this comment

Tuesday, 21 July 2009

The 5D MII is a fine camera. It has one rather silly design flaw: The program button has no lock and its position can easily be changed. That happens me often in the heat of the photo-battle. Struggling to find the right position of the clouds' shadows, the ideal formation of the clouds. All of a sudden you see it. You slam the brakes, grab the camera, aim and shoot. A split second later the ideal situation has gone. Then you realize the program button has changed position! It happened when you grabbed the camera. Sh.t is the friendliest way to get rid of your anger.
Jack Nichols makes this comment

Thursday, 16 July 2009

the art of the photograph is in the eye of the photographer. The camera is merely the instrument used to create the image. We each have our preferences and it is always an interesting discussion to compare reasons for those preferences. I presonally prefer Nikon because I have used a Nikon, starting with a Nikon F in the late 60's. The most important characterist for me is for the designed to share a philosophy that the photographer is in control, and Nikon does a great job in that respect.
Corker2 makes this comment

Saturday, 27 June 2009

Yha know, I really don't know what the big deal is about the Nikon & Cannon DSLR Camera's. It's true that the Nikon and Canon Camera's are very good, but I don't have any trouble with my Pentax K100D. It shoots a very good Image and will do more than I will ever use. I can inter-change it with all different types of Lens. I have 4 different Lens now and use them frequently. However, since Pentax has decided to dis-continue the K100D and step up to the K10, the K20 and probably more than what I know, I don't really need a more expensive Camera. What I have is just fine for me. As far as I'm concerned, the Pentax has done an excellent job and I will stay with it, rather than change over to Nikon or Canon.
Jan makes this comment

Friday, 26 June 2009

Not knowing when the article was published, it is remarkable that the Sony A900 is not being mentioned as a camera for suberb landscape photography.
Michael West makes this comment

Friday, 05 June 2009

The Canon 5D MKII is currently the canons top image quality dslr, and I can personally swear by its capabilities as a landscape photographers best friend.
Norwood C(ady) Hazard makes this comment

Wednesday, 27 May 2009

I would add that a fully articulated hi res LCD should be among your criteria for a mid-level landscape/nature ready camera. One with a stiff or lockable hinge so that a Hood viewer, with magnifier, can be mounted on it. Like a Rollei twin-lens with snap-up lens— or going way back, to an Exakta. Which mfg will be the first to offer it? And then an artificial horizon line to compliment the grid lines you've already mentioned.

Gear

D-SLRs For The Landscape

Choose the best camera for your landscape photography

10 Comments

Add Comment

Recent OP Articles

Popular OP Articles

OP Most Popular Tags