What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography

What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography depends on factors such as the photographer’s preferences, shooting style, and the specific characteristics of the landscapes they intend to capture. Landscape photography requires a lens that has a focal range between 14mm to 35mm.

 Wide-angle lenses allow photographers to capture expansive landscapes, emphasizing their vastness and detail. Prime lenses such as the 24mm and 35mm are very popular because of their sharpness. They also produce images with high quality. A lens with a large aperture (f/2.8 and wider) can also be beneficial for low-light conditions, as it allows you to adapt your shooting style. 

It is also beneficial to have image stabilization, especially if you are shooting in difficult environments. Canon EF16-35mm f/2.8LIII USM, Nikon AFS NIKKOR14-24mm f/2.8G ED, and Sony FE16-35mm f/2.8 GM are popular lenses for landscape photography. What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography will ultimately depend on the photographer’s personal preferences, landscape requirements, and individual preferences.

What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography?

Choosing the best lens for landscape photography depends on various factors, including personal preferences and shooting style. However, a popular and versatile choice among landscape photographers is a wide-angle lens. Typically ranging from 14mm to 35mm, wide-angle lenses allow for capturing expansive scenes and emphasizing foreground elements.

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM and the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED are examples of highly regarded wide-angle lenses in the industry. What kind of lens are you looking for? What is the best lens for landscape photography? This buyer’s guide will help you select the best lenses for landscape photographs.

A wide aperture is also advantageous for landscape photography, enabling photographers to shoot in low-light conditions or achieve a shallow depth of field for creative effects. What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. Prime lenses with wider apertures, such as the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM or the Sigma 35mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art, can be excellent choices for capturing sharp and detailed landscapes.

Recommended Lenses For Landscape Photography

Most landscape photographers reach for a wide-angle lens first. The best landscape photographers carry lenses with different focal lengths so that they can capture scenes as they wish. What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. Let’s review some basic lens principles before we discuss the best lenses for landscape photographers.

Standard Lens

Standard lenses are in the range of 18-70mm. As part of their „kit“, most beginner cameras include an 18-55mm zoom lens. These lenses are inexpensive, versatile, and a good way to start in landscape photography. Do not feel compelled to buy a new lens. You can use what you already have, and you will know when the lens is limiting your growth.

The 24-70mm zoom is another popular standard lens. What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. These lenses have improved glass and are fast lenses that are popular among wedding and event photographers.

Telephoto Lens

A telephoto has a focal distance of 85mm and longer. These lenses bring the scene closer. These lenses are useful for taking distant shots of landscape images such as a mountain peak, tree, and cabin or rock formation. You can create intimate scenes that show a sense of scale.

Wide Angle Lenses and Ultra Wide Angle Lens

Wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle lenses are defined by a focal distance of 35mm or greater. They are ideal for capturing large areas in a scene. What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. These lenses are perfect for capturing a wide area and giving your audience an idea of how the scene appears on a large scale. These are the most common lenses used for landscape photography.

Prime Lens

Prime lenses have a fixed focal distance. Because you can’t adjust the focal length of your lens without moving physically, you’ll need to „zoom“ with your feet. What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. These lenses are great for landscapes because they’re sharp and high-quality. Try using a lens you like for portraits or landscapes.

What Makes A Great Landscape Photography Lens?

Why were the lenses below included in this list of best landscape lens? All of them share a few key qualities. Remember these qualities when selecting future equipment. Understanding the unique features of each lens helps photographers make informed decisions about what is the best lens for landscape photography, taking into account factors such as distortion control, image stabilization, and low-light performance.

Focal length

Above, we discussed the different types of focal lengths. Why are focal lengths important? The focal length is important because it determines the amount of landscape or scene that you can capture in your image.

Telephotos offer a smaller field of view compared to wide-angle lenses. The focal length also impacts the depth of field or how much your scene is sharply focused from front to rear.

Wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle versions offer greater depths of focus. What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. Telephotos compress the scene from front to back and can isolate your subject. The wider angle lenses provide more.

How To Choose The Best Focal Length For Landscape Photography

The focal length you choose depends on the landscape photography goals that you have and which lenses are already in your collection. Choose a focal length that is wide or ultra-wide if you like to capture large images. Consider a standard or zoom lens if you prefer to focus on fine details and create tighter compositions.

Aperture

The aperture controls the amount of light that enters your scene as well as your depth-of-field. Opt for a lens that has a fixed rather than a variable aperture. You will be able to shoot with more consistency and in low-light conditions. You can get plenty of light with lenses with apertures such as f4, f2.8, f1.8 or f1.4.

Wide apertures are often a compromise between cost and size. What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. Lenses for landscape photography that have f1.4 apertures are usually large and expensive. You can only decide what you need and prioritize it.

Autofocus

Check that your camera’s autofocus is compatible with the lens. You can use manual focusing, but I tend to prefer autofocus most of the time, especially when I’m shooting handheld. As my eyes get older, I find that my AF is much more reliable than what my vision can do.

Weather Sealing

Some lenses are designed to resist the elements. Some lenses are built to withstand the elements, while others are not. Weather sealing protects your lens from moisture, dust, and other unwanted elements. A lens that is either weather-resistant or weather-sealed can be an excellent investment if you will be spending time in wet, yucky weather.

These lenses are designed to be more rugged and able to withstand even the most rugged terrain.

Image Stabilization/Vibration Reduction

Image stabilization compensates for camera shake, allowing you to use a slower shutter speed than you would be able to without the technology. It’s not a necessity but can be very helpful with heavy lenses and telephoto lenses for landscape photography.

This is useful when shooting handheld or from a platform that vibrates (such as on a boat, bridge, etc.). This feature could be essential for the best landscape lens.

Size And Weight

Consider the size and weight of your lens. What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. You might want to choose a lens that is lighter and faster to carry because you will be carrying your gear for miles.

Sensor Size

You will have a different field of view if you use a crop sensor camera. Consider how the crop factor will impact the focal length of the lens you choose.

A 24mm f2 is a 36mm on my Nikon D500. When choosing the best landscape lens, always keep in mind your sensor size.

You can still use full-frame lenses for landscape photography, but you won’t get the most out of them. You don’t need to pay extra for features that you won’t even use with the best landscape lens!

Compatibility

Check that the lens you’re considering for landscape photography is compatible with your camera. Nikon, Canon, and Sony all have their lenses designed for landscape photography. For example, you can’t use Nikon lenses on Canon bodies without an adaptor.

Manufacturers such as Tamron, Sigma, and others offer third-party landscape lenses built specifically for their brands. You should only buy Tamron lenses that are specifically designed for Canon bodies.

Mirrorless lenses designed for landscape photography do not work with DSLR cameras. Be sure that your lens is designed for your camera.

Use And Price

You’ll also need to consider whether the cost of the equipment will be worth it in terms of how much you’ll use it. The fact that we have rated these products as the best does not mean that they are suitable for you. Do not spend a lot of money on a lens that you will only use occasionally, or cannot afford.

Best Nikon Lenses For Landscape Photography

When it comes to capturing stunning landscapes with a Nikon camera, the choice of lenses can significantly impact the outcome of your photographs. Several Nikon lenses stand out for landscape photography, providing exceptional optical quality and versatility. One such lens is the Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR. This wide-angle zoom lens offers a broad focal range, making it ideal for capturing expansive vistas.

Nikon 50mm f/1.8G

This lens is lightweight, small, and affordable. This lens is easy to carry around because it takes up little space and can produce some great landscape photos. The glass is very sharp, can take some abuse, and has a great bokeh.

Prepare yourself to use more of your feet to compose your shots. This focal length will challenge you to be creative. This lens is not fancy. There are no switches for vibration reduction or focus limitation. This is a great little lens for any budget. Cost – around $200

Nikon 14-24 F2.8 ED

It’s no wonder that landscape photographers love this wide-angle lens…it is sharp! The lens is sharp throughout the range and has minimal distortion even at 14mm. It’s no wonder landscape pros use this lens. Only the price is a downside. The price of this lens is around $1,800.

Nikon 24-70mm f2.8 ED AF-S

Nikon has a great lens that is wide-angle to standard length. The zoom’s versatility is great for landscapes, and its bokeh and contrast are stunning. The lens is flat-sharp and performs well in low-light situations. The lens is available in two versions: one with vibration reduction, and the other without. You can select which version best suits your needs. This lens can also be used as a portrait lens and an event lens. If you are looking for something versatile, you should consider this lens. Cost – around $1900.

Nikon 24-120mm F/4G ED VR

This is the „cauliflower“, of landscape lenses. Although it looks clunky and ugly, this lens is quite good for you. This is great because I can use it for wide-angle landscapes and close-up telephotos. You can also get 3-4 more stops by using the vibration reduction.

It’s cheaper and the bokeh doesn’t look as good as the 24-70mm version. It’s what I take with me when I travel because I know that I can use it for a variety of situations. Cost – around $1,000

Nikon 70-220mm f/2.8G VR II

Nikon 70-200 f/2.8 ED VR II, a lens that I rarely leave in my bag. This lens is not a wide-angle, but it makes a good telephoto for landscapes.

This allows you to make some creative and up-close compositions. It’s a good idea for photographers who like a mixture of landscapes and wildlife pictures. The quality is excellent and you will not regret owning it. Cost – around $2,000

Do you want to improve your landscape photographs? Learn more about the equipment and techniques you need to create breathtaking vistas with our Landscape Photography A-Z Course.

Best Canon Lenses For Landscape Photography

When it comes to landscape photography, choosing the right lens is crucial for capturing the breathtaking beauty of nature. Canon, a renowned brand in the photography industry, offers a range of lenses that excel in landscape photography. One standout option is the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM lens. This wide-angle lens is ideal for capturing expansive scenes with remarkable sharpness and clarity.

Canon EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM Or Canon

This wide-angle lens is ideal for landscape photographers as it covers a range of focal lengths. Canon landscape photographers love this lens because it is fast, sharp, and versatile. It also has stunning color and contrast. It’s also a large investment, just like the Nikon 14-24mm. The cost is about $2,200.

Canon EF 10-18mm f/4.5 – 5.6 IS STM

Canon’s ultra-wide zoom lens is among the smallest, lightest, and least expensive lenses available. This lens has a variable aperture, which is perfect for experimenting with perspective and getting close or far away from your subject. This is a great lens for beginners to landscape photography. It won’t cost you a fortune.

Canon EF100-400mm f/4.5-6.6L IS II USM

When 200mm is not enough, this 100-400mm focal length will do. This 100-400mm is the answer. This lens gives you an incredible amount of reach to compose landscapes up close. With its excellent image stabilization, you can also hand-hold the camera at slower shutter speeds and still get great results. The lens is lightweight but powerful in every other way!

Canon’s Other Best Landscape Lenses:

• Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L USM
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.4 USM
• Canon EF 70-300mm f/4.5.6 IS USM
• Canon 24-105mm f/4L IS II
• Canon 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Mark II

Sony 10-18mm f/4 G OSS (APS-C)

We haven’t forgotten about Sony users! This widest zoom lens from Sony is designed for APSC cameras. This wide-angle version is compact, sharp, and perfect for photographers who like to travel light.

Sony 70-200mm f/4 G OSS

Sony makes a 70-200mm lens for landscape photography. The f4 version won’t give you a shallow depth of focus like an f2.8, What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. but you can still get great compression to focus on fine details and tight compositions.

Sony 35mm f2.8 ZA

A 35mm lens is another landscape photography lens that you can’t go far wrong with! This lens is small, lightweight, and ultra-fast, so you can capture beautiful landscapes and travel light.

Other Sony Lenses For Landscape Photography

• Sony 24-70mm f/4 OSS
• Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G
• Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5-5.6 GM OSS
• Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM

Best Sigma Lenses For Landscape Photography

In the past, third-party lenses were not recommended for landscape photography. The photographer who was left with a cheap Tamron or Sigma 35mm lens when I worked for our college student newspaper would be in a bad situation. What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. In the past decade, Sigma and Tamron not only have closed the gap between their Canon and Nikon equivalents, but they’ve also surpassed them in certain areas.

Try these Sigma versions. They are great lenses for landscape photography and you can save money. Many portrait and landscape photographers trust the Art series.

• Sigma 12-24mm f/4.5-5.6 EX DG
• Sigma 24-105mm f/4
• Sigma 14-24mm f2.8 Art
• Sigma 35mm f/1.4 Art

More Landscape Photography Favorites

You can find a lens for landscape photography that’s perfect for you, even if the recommendation isn’t the most popular. What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. A Nikon 24mm f/2 is one of my favorites for landscape photography because it’s small, sharp, and lightweight.

Professionals often consider weather-sealing and build quality when evaluating what is the best lens for landscape photography, ensuring their equipment can withstand the rigors of outdoor shooting in diverse conditions.

It’s not on any list of must-haves, What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. but its small size and low price were just what I needed to get serious about photography. Some people have a larger budget and only want the best glass. Others have a special camera that needs a matching lens.

Consider adding these lenses to your kit for landscape photography. Check the compatibility of your camera.

• Fujifilm XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
• Fujifilm XF 16mm f1.4R WR
• Tokina 14-20mm f/2 PRO DX
• Tokina FiRIN 20mm f/2 EF MF
• Olympus M.Zuiko ED 17mm f1.2 PRO
• Tamron 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III VC
• Panasonic Lumix G 35-100mm f2.8 Power OIS
• Olympus 12-100mm f/4 Pro M.Zuiko Digital ED
• Pentax 18-135mm F/3.5-5.6 AL DC SMC D WR
• Tamron SP 70-200mm f2.8 Di VC USD
• Summaron-M 28mm f/5.6
• Leica SL 24-90mm f/2.8-4 ASPH
• Zeiss Batis 18mm f/2.8
• Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm F2.8-4.0 ASPH Power OIS
• PanasonicLumix G Leica DG Summilux 12mm f/1.4 ASPH
• Fujifilm XF90mmF2 LM WR
• Tamron SP 150-650mm F/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2
• LAOWA 12mm f/2.8 Zero-D lens
• Zeiss Touit 2.8/12
• Rokinon 14mm F2.8 IF ED UMC

Conclusion

The „best“ lens for landscape photography is something of a journey. Your landscape photography style will depend on budget, experience, and camera brand. When seeking advice on what is the best lens for landscape photography, experienced photographers often recommend wide-angle lenses for their ability to capture expansive scenes and emphasize the depth and details of the landscape.

The best advice I can give is to first identify your needs and priorities, then choose the lens that best meets your needs AND your budget. What Is Best Lens For Landscape Photography. It should also be a lens you will use! You should choose a lens that you can afford and one that you will use frequently to improve your skills. Grab your landscape photography camera, and lens, and go out and enjoy landscape photos in your favorite locations!