Lens for landscape
Best Lenses for Landscape Photography in 2020
- See also: Which Camera Lens to Use? An Introduction to Focal Lengths
What Makes a Great Landscape Photography Lens?
It’s a good idea to do your research before making any investments, as camera lenses can get quite expensive. These are a few things that you should look for when shopping for a new lens.
Do your research before investing in a new lens. Photo by: 'Pixabay'.
Focal LengthThere are four main types of lenses that are used commonly in landscape photography. These include wide or ultra-wide angle lenses, standard zoom lenses, telephoto lenses and prime lenses.
Wide Angle / Ultra-Wide Angle Lens
Wide angle and ultra-wide angle lenses are the most popular lenses for landscape photography. Their focal lengths usually range from 14-35mm, though some can be as wide as 10 or 12mm.
The reason that they’re so revered is that they allow you to capture a large range of view and long depth of field, which is basically what most photographers want when they set out to photograph landscapes. These two qualities mean that you’ll end up with images that are consistently sharp in focus from the foreground all the way to the background.
In addition to sharp focus, the barrel distortion of wide angle lenses also makes them quite dynamic for landscapes.
This effect allows photographers to get close to subjects in such a way that they can exaggerate and emphasise important elements within a composition.
- See also: 5 Key Reasons to Use a Wide Angle Lens in Iceland
Standard Zoom Lens
Standard zoom lenses usually range from 24-70mm. The beauty of this is that it provides a similar field of view to the human eye, which is generally accepted amongst photographers to be around the 35-50mm range. As such, you can create images that are more realistic and which will resonate with your viewer.
Standard zoom lenses are great for scenes where you might want to leave out some of the surrounding scenery. Vast amounts of empty space in the landscape around your subject can be quite distracting. By using a standard zoom lens in situations like these, you can improve your compositions by placing the emphasis back upon your subject, simply by zooming in. It can also give you an advantage when you need to get closer to your subject without disturbing the environment, such as in the case of a fence or when surrounded by fragile vegetation.
- See also: The Top Cameras for Landscape Photography in 2020
Telephoto Lens
Telephoto lenses, also known as ‘long lenses’, usually fall within the 70-200mm range.
They’re great for situations when you might want to demonstrate a sense of scale, as they allow you to compress the scene.
In landscape photography, you can use telephoto lenses to create more intimate scenes by tightening your compositions and cutting out distractions. Another way to use a telephoto lens is to concentrate on textures and patterns for more abstract imagery.
When photographing landscapes, you may sometimes run into circumstances where you won’t be able to get closer to your subject. This is where the extra length of a telephoto zoom lens can come in handy.
- See also: How to Use a Telephoto Lens for Landscape Photography
Prime Lens
Prime lenses are those with a fixed focal length – that is, they don’t have any ability to zoom. They are most often used for certain applications, such as photographing landscapes at night or when shooting stars.
- See also: Understanding Lens Flare in Landscape Photography
Aperture
These days, new cameras often come packaged with a default zoom lens. While kit lenses make it easier for photographers to get started shooting right away, they usually have a variable aperture (e.g. f/4.
5-5.6), which is not ideal for landscape photography. What you want to look for is a lens with a fixed aperture (e.g. f/2.8). Although fixed aperture zoom lenses may be expensive, they are more versatile in terms of applications – such as when you transition from daytime to night photography.
Aperture is an important thing to take note of when looking for a new lens. Photo by: 'Pixabay'.
A lens with a fast aperture is particularly useful in low light conditions, such as when shooting sunrise and sunset. You’ll also need a lens with a fast aperture to capture the stars, moon, Milky Way or Northern Lights at night. While there is no best aperture for landscape photography, the aperture of your lens should be f/4 or greater.
Many zoom lenses these days have a fixed aperture of f/2.8, which is ideal for shooting in low light. Some prime lenses have even faster fixed apertures of f/1.8, f/1.4 and f/1.2. While the quality of prime lenses is often superior to zoom lenses, they can be heavy, costly and restrictive for landscape photography.
However, a lot of landscape photographers have a dedicated prime lens just for shooting at night. If you have the budget and the physical ability to carry one, then a prime lens with a fast aperture in addition to a few zoom lenses will be a good investment.
- See also: How to Get Creative with a Fisheye Lens
Autofocus
Although landscape photography is a much slower genre than sports photography, it still pays to invest in a lens with autofocus abilities. Simply put, there will be times when focusing manually will become bothersome, such as when shooting landscapes handheld.
Switching to manual focus is best for situations when the autofocus may fail, such as when shooting in low light conditions or at night.
- See also: Condensation in Camera | How to Defog Your Lens
Image Stabilisation / Vibration Reduction
Most lenses these days come with in-built image stabilisation technology, which works to reduce camera shake. This can be handy, not just when you are shooting handheld but also in windy conditions. It’s especially useful for shooting in low light and can mean all the difference between a blurry shot or one that is sharp.
- See also: Overview of the Sony A7R Cameras for Landscape Photography
Weather Resistance
Capturing landscapes means that you’ll be spending a lot of time outdoors, in all sorts of weather conditions. To ensure that your lens doesn’t malfunction with a little bit of rain or moisture when you’re out in-field, choose one that is weather-sealed and constructed from durable materials.
- See also: Best Lenses for Night Photography
Things to Consider Before Purchasing
Buying a new lens for your camera is not as simple as it seems. Not all lenses will be compatible with your camera. For example, you won’t be able to use a Nikon lens with a Canon camera, unless you have a special lens adapter.
Even with a lens adapter, there will be drawbacks to using lenses made by other manufacturers. Features such as autofocus and image stabilisation may cease to work.
There are many lenses on the market these days, aside from Canon, Nikon and Sony. Photo by: 'Pixabay'.
Having said that, some third-party lens manufacturers – such as Sigma, Tamron and Tokina – produce lenses with specific mounts that will fit different camera brands. Whether the mount is compatible with your camera is something that you will certainly need to check before you buy a lens.
Aside from that, another thing that you will need to be aware of is whether your camera is a crop sensor (APS-C) or full frame. Camera manufacturers often produce two lines of lenses – one that is designed to be used with the former and one that is for use with the latter.
While most full frame lenses may be used with crop sensor cameras, the same cannot be said of the reverse.
Additionally, crop sensor cameras have a narrower angle of view, which reduces the effect of full frame wide-angle lenses. This crop factor will need to be taken into account if you plan on using full frame lenses with your APS-C camera.
Another important thing that you will need to consider when purchasing a new lens is which focal lengths you will need to cover.
In landscape photography, it’s best to have a small collection of “go-to” lenses that you can take anywhere with you in your camera bag. If you have a large collection of lenses, then chances are that there will be some that you’ll end up using all the time and others that you’ll never use at all.
The ideal combination of lenses for landscape photography is usually a wide-angle lens, standard zoom lens and a telephoto lens. These will usually cover focal lengths all the way from 16mm to 200mm. However, as we mentioned before, you may also like to invest in a dedicated ultra-wide angle lens with a fast aperture, particularly if you plan on doing a lot of night photography.
- See also: The Best Lenses for Wildlife Photography
Best Wide Angle Lenses for Landscape Photography
Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G EDRRP: $1,899.95 USD
The Nikon 14-24mm f/2.
8G ED is one of the best lenses on the market for landscape photography. This lens is designed to fit both crop sensor and full frame cameras. It also has a nano crystal coating which reduces ghosting and flare. The autofocus function includes the Nikon Silent Wave Motor, which means that the lens will not make a lot of noise when autofocusing.
Advantages:
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Fast, fixed aperture for shooting during the day or night.
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Well-built with dust and moisture resistance.
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Internal focusing technology enables high-speed autofocus.
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Quiet operation.
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Maintains sharpness from the centre of the lens to the corners across focal lengths.
Disadvantages:
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At 1kg (35.
3 oz), it is not very small or light, so can be cumbersome when hiking. -
Front element protrudes, so it is easy to damage and you will need a special filter holder.
- See also: The Best Lenses for Landscape Photography in Iceland
Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
RRP: $1,099.00 USD
Although Canon has released the 16-35mm f/2.8L III IS USM, the f/4 still remains one of the manufacturer’s best lenses for landscape photography. The reason for this is quite simple: it’s great value for money. Weighing in at 615g (21.69 oz), this lens is relatively light which means that it’s easy to bring along on adventures. Unlike its successor, it has image stabilisation, which makes it all the more useful for landscape photography.
Advantages:
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Image stabilisation – great for use in low light, as well as during dusk and dawn when shooting without a tripod.
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Well constructed; dust and water resistant.
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Edge to edge sharpness.
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Quiet and fast autofocus.
Disadvantages:
- See also: The Best Landscape Photography Lenses for Sony E-Mount Cameras
Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.
8 GM RRP: $2,199.99 USD
The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM lens is suitable for Sony’s range of E-mount cameras. It is known as one of the manufacturer’s sharpest lenses and produces quite a nice sunstar. The fast aperture means that you’ll be able to shoot in low light conditions without any problems. Weighing in at 680g (24 oz), it’s light and a great choice for landscape photography.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
- See also: Camera & Gear Reviews
Sigma 14mm f/1.8 DG HSM Art
RRP: $1,599.00 USD
When this lens was released by Sigma, it took the landscape photography world by storm. That’s because it is an incredibly sharp and fast prime lens that is ideal for astrophotography. When you hold this lens, you’ll realise that it’s well-constructed with dust and splash-proof materials. It’s truly a masterpiece of beauty!
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
- See also: The Best Camera Bags for 2020
Best Standard Zoom Lenses for Landscape Photography
Nikon 24-70mm f/2.
8E ED VRRRP: $2,399.95 USD
This lens is versatile and rugged. It has great edge to edge sharpness and performs well in low light conditions. With dust and moisture resistance, it’s a perfect lens to take out for landscape photography.
Advantages:
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Fast aperture.
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Quiet and speedy autofocus.
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Superb colour rendition.
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Vibration reduction.
Disadvantages:
- See also: How to Use Smartphone Camera Modes for Amazing Landscape Photography
Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM
RRP: $2,199.99 USD
This G-Master lens by Sony offers great image quality and produces quite a lovely sunstar. It’s also great for shooting at night, is quite sharp in the centre and extremely versatile. This is a good choice for landscape photography.
Advantages:
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Dust and moisture resistant.
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Sony Nano AR Coating to eliminate flare and ghosting.
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Fast and quiet autofocus.
Disadvantages:
- See also: Recommended Camera Settings for Landscape Photography
Canon 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
RRP: $1,599.00 USD
Although this lens may be considered quite old now, it still remains one of the best lenses for landscape photography on the market today.
It is durably constructed with dust sealing, water resistance and special fluorine coatings on both the front and rear lens surfaces, which helps to reduce smudges and fingerprints.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
- See also: What to Do if Your Camera Gets Water Damaged in Iceland
Best Telephoto Lenses for Landscape Photography
Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.
6 IS USMRRP: $649.99. USD
While the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS II USM is much sharper than the 70-300mm, it is also heavier and larger. The 70-300mm lens is more compact, making it superior for landscape photography – not to mention that it’s much more attractive in price!
Advantages:
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Compact. Fits easily in a camera bag.
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Lightweight (710g), so good for travelling.
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Image stabilisation.
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Great value for price.
Disadvantages:
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Variable aperture of f/4-5.6. Can’t achieve shallow depth of field.
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Not as sharp as the Canon 70-200mm f/2.
8 IS II USM. Soft corners. -
Can be slow to autofocus.
- See also: How to Minimise and Clean Camera Sensor Dust
Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II
RRP: $2,099.95 USD
This lens performs consistently well in terms of sharpness, colour production and contrast.
It is durable and weather resistant, making it a good choice for telephoto landscape photography.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
- See also: The Best Camera Gear Recommendations for Photography in Iceland
Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS
RRP: $2,599.
99 USD
The Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 is a G Master Series telephoto lens with in-built image stabilisation and great image quality. While it can be difficult to bring along for hikes due in part to its weight, it is very sharp and performs well when capturing landscapes.
Advantages:
Disadvantages:
- See also: Best Cameras for Beginners in 2020
Tamron SP 70-200mm f/2.
8 Di VC USDRRP: $1,299.00 USD
The Tamron is a great alternative telephoto lens for landscape photography. It is sharp and performs just as well as lenses produced by the “main” camera manufacturers, so don’t expect it to come with too low of a price tag.
Advantages:
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Comes in Sony, Canon and Nikon mounts.
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Vibration compensation reduces camera shake.
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Quiet and fast autofocus.
Disadvantages:
- See also: DSLR vs Mirrorless Cameras for Landscape Photography
Now that you’ve got our picks for the best lenses for landscape photography, it’s time to decide which lens is best for you. Taking into account all of the information that we’ve provided, examine your budget and think about what kinds of landscapes you want to shoot. We’ve focused on lenses that fit the three main camera manufacturers: Canon, Sony and Nikon. Keep in mind though that there are other brands out there, so be sure to do your research prior to making a purchase.
About the author: Serena Dzenis is a landscape photographer based in Iceland.
You can find more of her work on her website or by following her on Facebook and Instagram.
What are your favourite lenses for landscape photography? Do you have lenses to cover all focal lengths? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
Choosing the Best Lens for Landscape Photography
If you’re a landscape photographer, you care about lenses. That is true even if you don’t know it’s true – a good lens is arguably the most important piece of equipment you can own. It is a common saying, and almost entirely accurate, that lenses matter more than your camera. So, what lenses are best for landscape photography, and how do you pick the right ones for your needs? This article covers some of the most important considerations.
Table of Contents
Why Your Lens Matters for Landscape Photography
If you want to see what makes lenses so important in landscape photography, take a look at the photos below:
NIKON D800E + 20mm f/1.
8 @ 20mm, ISO 100, 1/4, f/16.0Wide angle, up close.NIKON D800E + 70-200mm f/4 @ 70mm, ISO 100, 0.6 seconds, f/16.0
Telephoto image of the same landscape, but standing farther back.
It takes a moment to recognize that this is the exact same landscape. Aside from differences in the light, I only changed two things here: my camera position and my lens. Those changes were enough to lead to two photos with wildly different compositions and appearances.
With a wide-angle lens (the first photo), I had to be very close to the tree in order to capture an interesting composition. The mountains, though, are tiny by comparison, and that was impossible to avoid with this landscape and lens focal length.
In the second photo, though, the mountains take up almost the entire height of the image. It is a clear difference. I captured the second perspective by walking away and zooming in with my telephoto lens. The two pictures are night and day.
Lenses matter because they change the way you compose your photographs.
Every lens has its own way of “seeing” the world, just as the examples above demonstrate. Wide angles let you emphasize different elements compared to telephotos, and other aspects of a lens – things like weight, flare performance, maximum aperture, and sharpness – also can matter significantly for the type of landscape photos you take.
When you decide to photograph a landscape, the first step is to picture the final image in your mind’s eye (visualization). Which elements of the frame do you want to emphasize the most, and how do you plan to do so? Visualize exactly how the final photo will look. Do everything in your power to make that vision a reality.
Lenses are within your power. They have a vast, foundational impact on your photos, and the proper use of lenses is one of the best tools you have to tell your story.
Searching for the Best Landscape Photography Lens
No two photographers will have the same lens preferences, which means that the concept of a “best lens” for landscape photography varies from person to person.
It’s not as if the sharpest wide lens on the market is the perfect landscape lens for every single photographer. Maybe it’s too heavy, or it doesn’t take filters. Perhaps you are more interested in a telephoto in the first place.
This is why lens manufacturers have hundreds of different options on the market right now. They announce new ones every year, and more choices are always welcome.
When you’re picking a lens, ask yourself why that lens exists in the first place. What does it do that others on the market can’t? Sometimes, two lenses may seem very similar, but they actually have very different intended audiences.
For example, a 70-200mm f/4 zoom and a 70-200mm f/2.8 zoom are far from interchangeable. Even if both have the same optical quality, there will be inherent differences simply because of the maximum aperture. The f/2.8 version will do better in low light, while the f/4 option will almost always weigh and cost significantly less. For landscape photography specifically, you need to think about which of those factors is most important to you.
(The standard answer would be light weight, but some landscape photographers find the wider aperture useful for nighttime landscapes or closeups with less depth of field.)
The same is true for all the 50mm prime lenses on the market. They’re meant for different audiences. You might prefer the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art, and someone else might prefer the Canon 50mm f/1.8. As similar as these two lenses may seem at first, they’re really nothing alike. One is geared toward light weight and low price; the other is intended for maximum sharpness wide open, but it’s heavy and expensive. If one is on your radar for landscape photography, there’s a good chance that the other shouldn’t be.
NIKON D800E + 50mm f/1.4 @ 50mm, ISO 100, 1/25, f/11.0I took this photo with the Sigma 50mm f/1.4 Art lens. Although this lens is remarkably sharp at f/1.4, it’s not much better than others on the market at small f-stops like f/8 or f/11 – the most common settings for landscape photography. So, for many landscape photographers, this lens is overkill – myself included.
I’m not saying that two different lenses cannot ever be competitors. I also am not saying that it’s wrong to compare lenses side by side if you’re interested in both.
Instead, my simple suggestion is that there is no reason to worry yourself about lens comparisons when one is not even suited for the subject you are trying to photograph. Although I know the Nikon 85mm f/1.4 is wonderful for portrait photography, I shouldn’t care that it’s better than my 70-200mm f/4 in bokeh quality, because that’s just not relevant to the landscapes I take. The only purpose of seeking out such comparisons is to get lost in a fog of mine-is-better syndrome (or, to fall into a masochistic, mine-is-worse depression). They have no bearing on photography itself.
A better way to pick a lens is to think about your goals in photography. Look around at the available lens options, and see which ones are the most relevant to your own work. Take every variable into consideration – not just sharpness, especially as a landscape photographer, since you’ll be at sharp apertures most of the time anyway.
Things like build quality, flare performance, weight, focal length, and filter capability will likely matter more.
So, how do you figure out which lens is best for your requirements? There are a few different methods.
What Lenses Do Landscape Photographers Need?
If you’re looking to photograph almost anything in the wide world of landscapes, there are about four different lenses that are especially useful:
- 14mm f/2.8: A wide-angle, wide-aperture lens for astrophotography
- 16-35mm f/4: Intended for the most important range of wide angle shots
- 24-70mm f/4: Meant as a walk-around lens for normal focal lengths
- 70-200mm f/4: Ideal for capturing distant landscapes and isolating subjects
The exact numbers here are not important at all. You can cover functionally the same landscapes with a 16-35mm f/2.8, a 50mm f/1.8, and a 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6. You can cover it all with prime lenses (14mm f/2.
8, 24mm f/1.8, 35mm f/1.8, 50mm f/1.8, 85mm f/1.8, 135mm f/2, 200mm f/2.8, or a smaller sample of those). You can cover it all with a superzoom and an astrophotography prime.
This is also not to say you need all of these lenses, or even most. Many landscape photographers don’t need or want anything more than a couple prime lenses, or a single normal zoom. For more than a year, my only lens for landscape photography was a 105mm f/2.8 prime, and, after that, I added a 24mm prime and shot with just those two lenses for another year. Some people never shoot astrophotography and have no desire to do so, while others wouldn’t ever use a normal focal length for this type of work.
Nevertheless, that is the basic kit if you want to photograph any sort of landscape you may encounter: something for nighttime landscapes, and a set from wide to telephoto. I gave the zoom lenses in the sample kit above a maximum aperture of f/4, since it saves some weight and price over an f/2.8 version, but that is a minor detail.
The direction you take your kit from here depends upon your needs, including whether or not you will use your lenses in other genres of photography as well.
So, how do you narrow things down to find the best possible lenses for landscape photography? Is there a good way to know if you’ll need less than this kit, or something beyond it (say, a tilt-shift or a supertelephoto)? Indeed there is. It all comes down to a bit of self-analysis.
Evaluate Your Old Pictures
One of the best ways to pick a good lens is to look at photos you’ve taken in the past. What trends do you see?
Personally, I like telephoto lenses for landscape photography. I’ve known that for a while. But it wasn’t until looking at my old photos that I realized just how many of my landscapes have a telephoto perspective.
Specifically, looking at my best 40 landscape photos, I took 15 with a telephoto lens, 21 with a wide-angle, and 4 with a medium lens. I clearly like wide angles, as most landscape photographers do, but more telephotos made it into the mix than I had expected.
That realization was a major stepping stone in my decision to get one that was as good as possible.
It is easy to figure out these numbers for yourself by opening a set of landscape photos in your image organization software. Just sort your best 40-60 landscape photos by focal length or lens (which nearly all software can do). Then, take a look at the data you find, and compare it to your expectations.
Don’t follow the results blindly, especially if you have yet to purchase a particular type of lens so far (which would skew your data). But if you have lenses that cover a wide range of focal lengths, this process should give you a good basis for understanding your most common landscape photography needs.
NIKON D800E + 70-200mm f/4 @ 200mm, ISO 140, 1/800, f/7.1I love the scale that telephoto lenses allow.
Try Renting a Lens (or Borrowing from a Friend)
Any time that you have the opportunity to test out a lens – even if it’s not one you expect to be useful – go for it.
Chances are good that you’ll learn something valuable.
“Try it out” doesn’t mean that you should just take the new lens, shoot for a few minutes, and capture a handful of test photos before returning it. You won’t learn much from that.
Instead, bring it on a landscape photography outing. Rely on it. Use it as if it is your only tool for the job.
When you do that, you’ll always learn something new. Years ago, I decided to test a 50mm lens on a week-long photography trip, even though I had not been interested in that focal length in the past. What did I learn? That, indeed, a 50mm wouldn’t fit my style of landscape photography, at least for now.
That’s all personal preference. Certainly, many people love 50mm lenses for landscape photography. However, because I personally tried out this focal length, I learned something valuable about the equipment that gave me a good basis for planning trips – and gear purchases – in the future.
So, try to do something like this for yourself.
You might be pleasantly surprised by a new lens, or you could realize that your old kit works perfectly for your needs. Either way, you’ll learn more about the equipment that makes the most sense for you, and that translates directly to improving your overall landscape photography.
For a recent landscape photography trip, I tried out a new wide-angle lens (the Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8) that I wasn’t sure about. Turns out, it shines in certain scenarios – especially nighttime photography – more than I expected. It’s now my primary wide-angle lens.
What Feels Right?
Sometimes, you should just go with your gut. If you can’t figure out which lens to pick, the simplest answer is to choose the one that feels right, instinctively. At the end of the day, the best lens for you is simply the one you like using the most, even if it seems like a strange choice on paper.
I will point out that this is not good advice in every situation.
Often, your “gut feeling” is something that has been influenced by outside forces – marketing, reviews, forum discussions, and so on – to the point that the lens in question could be wildly wrong for your purposes without you realizing it. The goal is to see through all that, but it is not always easy.
Still, in most cases, instinct plays a helpful role in the lens decisions you make. When you choose a lens, it’s impossible to separate that decision from what you, internally, believe to be the right choice. If there are several competing options, it is natural to base your final decision upon what feels right, at least at some level.
I could give you numerous examples from my own photography where I did a good job or a bad job following my gut. Most of the good cases come down to times when I was thinking from a more grounded perspective – basing my decisions on things like focal length rather than wide-open sharpness, or other factors that are less important for landscape photography.
I took this photo with Nikon’s brand new 70-200mm f/2.8 FL lens – an amazing piece of equipment, but not one I plan to use for landscape photography in the future (and one I was only borrowing temporarily). A lighter lens, such as the 70-200mm f/4, is better for long hikes, and it costs less as well.
Photography has a great deal to do with gut feelings. When you compose a photo, you’re doing your best to create a solid message out of a chaotic world. That’s something that takes significant creativity and instinct. Why should it be any different with lenses? If a lens seems like it ticks all the boxes, but you just don’t like the thought of using it, you’re not going to pull it out in the field, and you won’t feel inspired to use it creatively.
Some photographers enjoy using beat-up old lenses because they just feel right, or manual focus lenses simply because they enjoy the process. What’s more, they will take better pictures with “low quality” equipment than with a fancier option on the market.
If your equipment inspires or interests you, you’ll pull out your camera more often and take better pictures.
So, when you are deciding on the ideal lens to buy for landscape photography, don’t be afraid to pick the one that just feels right.
Conclusion
A lot of people find it difficult to choose the best possible lenses for landscape photography. Of course, it’s an important decision to make. Lenses are at the heart of every photo you take. They influence the creative side of photography arguably more than any other piece of equipment.
Still, you shouldn’t agonize over your decision. If you think about your style of photography, the right choice will become much clearer. Do you prefer prime lenses? Is there a set of focal lengths that matter most to you? How important is lens weight for the situations you’ll encounter?
Questions like these are generally easy to answer, and they should help you eliminate a lot of options. If all else fails, though, go with your gut.
Photography is a very personal art, and your feel for a lens can make a big difference in inspiring you to take better pictures.
Finally, be consoled by one fact: If everything goes wrong, lenses have a very good resell value!
The best Canon lenses for landscape photography
The best Canon lenses for landscape photography - Canon BelarusARTICLE
Nature photographer Walteri Hirvonen talks about his favorite Canon lenses for capturing stunning landscapes.
Nature photographer Valteri Hirvonen uses a range of Canon lenses for landscape photography. This atmospheric image of an orange sky was created during the golden hour of 11 p.m. in Finland. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM lens at 200mm, 1/2000 sec, f/2.8 and ISO100. © Walteri Hirvonen
Landscape photography often comes with harsh conditions – nature photographer and Canon Ambassador Valteri Hirvonen regularly shoots in temperatures as low as -35°C near his home in northern Finland..jpg)
“The camera and lens are my tools, and I require weather protection from them because I'm not going to be careful,” he says. The most exciting moments happen just in bad weather. When there is a blizzard outside, and people are sitting at home, something unimaginable begins to happen in nature. I want my equipment to handle these conditions as well.”
Valteri recently switched from his beloved Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and EF L-series lenses to the Canon EOS R5 with RF L-series lenses, and is now exploring new possibilities for creative landscape photography. “I can shoot handheld with a second shutter speed, and the shots come out clear - it's incredible. I like to work slowly with a tripod, but handheld shooting allows me to be as mobile as possible.”
Despite the unparalleled build quality of both Canon's DSLRs and mirrorless cameras, the move to a mirrorless system comes with a number of other benefits. “RF lenses provide better image quality, focusing closer to the subject, less noticeable focus breathing (ideal for tracking focusing), improved image stabilization, and faster autofocus,” says Mike Burnhill, specialist in professional Canon Europe products.
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Valteri's most used lens for landscape photography is the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM, but each lens in his arsenal offers him freedom of choice, opening up new creative possibilities. In this article, Valteri will talk about his range of lenses, from wide-angle lenses for creating large-scale compositions to telephoto lenses for capturing individual objects at long distances. And Mike, lens expert, explains why these lenses are so good for landscape photography.
The Canon EOS R5's Image Stabilizer works in tandem with the RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM's 5-stop Image Stabilizer for up to 8-stop effects, allowing Walteri to capture shaky-free images. “I can work differently without worrying so much about image clarity,” he says. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 24-70mm F2.
8L IS USM lens at 70mm, 1/8000 sec, f/4.5 and ISO100. © Walteri Hirvonen
1. Best all-around landscape lens: Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
The Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM is a great all-around lens. With it, the photographer gets a chance to capture the object of interest in any situation. I always take it with me and use it 80% of the time,” says Walteri. “At my favorite focal length of 50mm, I don’t see a difference in image quality compared to my prime lenses—it stays high all the way through the frame—and f/2.8 is fast enough to shoot in most situations. The significant advantage of the RF version is the image stabilizer, which is not available in the counterpart from the EF line, but at the same time the new lens has not become heavier or more bulky.
Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8L IS USM
The RF 24-70mm, one of the top three versatile lenses along with the RF15-35mm and RF 70-200mm, features fast aperture, image stabilization and a Nano USM motor for silent focus.
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For EF mount photographers, Mike recommends choosing the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM lens. “This is a great all-around lens with a great reputation and is considered one of the best lenses of any manufacturer. The f/2.8 aperture allows it to be used in low light, as well as to make individual objects stand out from others with differentiated focusing. This is an L-series lens, so you don't have to worry about weather protection. You can be sure that when shooting outdoors in bad weather, it will still deliver the best results.”
“In developing the RF analogue, we wanted to take the EF lens and create an improved version of the RF lens for use in the new decade,” continues Mike. “We had to push the boundaries even further.”
“With a telephoto lens, you have to think more about depth of field,” explains Walteri. - This is the choice of an object in focus, and the choice of aperture value. Such decisions need to be made right at the time of shooting.
I usually start shooting with a wide aperture, and then adjust it to suit the situation.” Taken on a Canon EOS R5 with a Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM lens at 124mm, 1/640 sec, f/4.5 and ISO320. © Walteri Hirvonen
2. Best lens for telephoto landscapes: Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
Telephoto lenses create new possibilities for capturing dramatic landscapes by isolating subjects against a blurred background. Walteri is very easy to work in this style. “When I work at home, I often use a telephoto lens,” he says. “The fact is that sometimes you shoot familiar landscapes, but new, interesting details appear in them.”
Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
This high-performance f/2.8 telephoto zoom is the third in a trio of new RF lenses, with a compact body and exceptional image quality to suit any shooting situation.
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The new RF lens mount creates the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM with a brand new design. “It is 35% shorter than its counterpart and weighs only 1.
07 kg. A trio of RF f/2.8 lenses take up less space in a bag than two similar EF lenses,” says Mike. - You get Dual Nano focusing, which is even faster and somewhat compensates for the "breathing" of the focus. Image quality stays the same across the zoom range, you can focus on subjects as close as 0.7m away, and the weather protection stays the same as EF. This 70-200mm model is the ideal prime lens for professional photographers of any genre.”
Mike also recommends the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM for DSLR photographers, which makes for a great mid range telephoto zoom. “Most landscape photographers work with a tripod, but if you need to shoot handheld on location, this lens will allow you to apply stabilization with an effect equivalent to 3.5 shutter speeds, which will ensure that images are sharp,” explains Mike. - As with other L-series lenses, autofocus is controlled by a ring-type ultrasonic motor, which is located on the rim of the lens and provides a very fast focusing speed.
You can also manually control the focus - to switch to manual mode, you just need to touch the focus ring. This lens has a fluorite coating that protects it from dirt. When it rains, the drops simply roll off the front element and leave no marks that can be seen in pictures.”
A super telephoto lens such as the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM or its equivalent Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lets you focus on scenery details like this bird on a branch tree. Taken on camera Canon EOS R5 with lens Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM at 500mm, 1/1250 sec, f/7.1 and ISO 5000. © Robert Mark Lehmann
3. Best long lens for landscapes: Canon RF 100 -500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
“Telephoto lenses are far from the obvious choice for landscape photography,” says Mike, “but they allow you to capture the action in a different way. The Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM lets you capture your subject with a special perspective that you can't get with any other angle of view.
The ability to compress perspective when shooting a landscape, such as a range of hills, or to isolate objects on the horizon, allows for variety in panoramic views.”
Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM
L-series build quality and 5-stop Image Stabilization make this lens an exceptional performance lens, while UD lens elements and ASC coating provide unparalleled contrast and clarity for superior image quality.
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“With a telephoto lens, you can find interesting compositions even in unremarkable landscapes,” adds Valteri. — This is a search for new details, experiments with lighting and focus on the right. With a wide angle to achieve this effect is much more difficult. What’s more, with a telephoto lens, you can include wild animals in landscapes.”
Similar to the Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM that Mike recommends as an EF super telephoto lens for landscape photography, the Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1L IS USM also has a zoom ring , while offering faster Nano USM focusing and 1 stop more effective stabilization when mounted on a range of cameras including the Canon EOS R5 and EOS R6.
“This lens is the same size as the EF 100-400mm but is lighter and offers a wider range of focal lengths,” says Mike. - When shooting with the EOS R5, you can capture crisp handheld images at shutter speeds up to 1/8 sec. at a focal length of 500 mm.
“A lot of people think this is a lens for wildlife and sports photography, but it's also very good for landscape photography,” continues Mike. — To do this, you should look at the landscapes from the other side and be able to distinguish individual details from the situation, for example, lonely trees. A very useful feature is the zoom ring - it allows you to adjust the zoom according to the subject you decide to capture. It also helps to avoid accidentally changing the focal length when you touch the lens.”
The Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM ultra wide-angle lens forced Walteri to step out of his comfort zone and look for new angles he hadn't experimented with before. “I wouldn’t have been able to get that shot with any other lens,” he says.
- The viewing angle creates the illusion that this pond is huge, and the person was just a meter away from it. I shot against the setting sun, which created a golden reflection.” Taken on a Canon EOS R5 at 14mm, 1/3200 sec, f/4 and ISO320. © Walteri Hirvonen
4. Best Wide Angle Landscape Lens: Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM
Smaller than the competition - Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM and Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM - The Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM lens also provides a wider-angle perspective at the cost of one stop. “It can be great to mount a lens like the RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM on a camera because it allows you to work with interesting angles, like looking for water reflections,” says Walteri. “Of course, there are also situations where it is simply necessary, for example when shooting in tight spaces.”
Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM
Working in tight spaces? This compact ultra-wide-angle zoom lens is ideal for capturing wide-angle compositions. It's ideal for shooting landscapes and architecture, as well as professional-quality video, thanks to its silent autofocus, too.
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Mike says: “Traditional landscape photography uses a large depth of field, which is achieved by using apertures around f/8 or f/11. Overpaying to get a heavier lens with an extra f / 2.8 aperture is not advisable. The main reason for the success of the Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM is the wide angle of view, as well as the presence of UD and aspherical elements, which are designed to compensate for a number of aberrations inherent in such a compact wide-angle lens.”
For EF mount users looking to add a wide-angle zoom lens to their arsenal, Mike still recommends the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM. “The clarity of the images produced with it is simply incredible, and this is especially noticeable when working with a focal length of 16mm and maximum aperture, and the ability to shoot at 16mm itself allows you to create shots with coverage that you rarely see in other shots. It is an excellent choice for capturing images with a lot of detail, such as cityscapes, and the wide field of view is similar to that of the human eye.
”
The Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro STM is a compact and versatile lens for landscapes, environmental portraits and city shots. “I am not a macro photographer, but this lens makes me think and look for new ideas,” says Walteri. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 at 35mm, 1/80 sec, f/10 and ISO100. © Walteri Hirvonen
spontaneous moments that happen at the most unexpected times,” says Mike. Taken on a Canon EOS R5 at 35mm, 1/400 sec, f/3.5 and ISO200. © Walteri Hirvonen
5. Best short distance landscape lens: Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
The only prime lens in this selection is the inexpensive, versatile, compact and discreet Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM, which allows Walteri to focus on individual objects in the scene and experiment with new shooting techniques. “Having a fixed focal length makes you look at your surroundings differently,” he says. “For example, it's unusual to work with a wide-angle lens that can focus at such a close distance. I use it to find subtle details in the forest, but it also allows you to shoot wide angle and create shots where you can make out the trees in the background.
I'm always looking for details to focus on, and often avoid showing the viewer the whole environment at once."
Canon RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM
Wide-angle, fast f/1.8 prime lens with macro capabilities.
More information
In addition to having an adjustable control ring for adjusting exposure, the RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM also features a new optical design. “If you take the design of a DSLR, any lens with a focal length of less than 40mm should be retrofocus,” says Mike. - RF lenses have a reverse optical design, and the largest RF 35mm F1.8 Macro IS STM element is located at the back. Along with a larger RF lens mount, this allows light to reach the image sensor without refraction, and improves image quality at the edges of the frame due to less distortion from chromatic aberration and light attenuation. What’s more, the 0.5x magnification makes it possible to photograph objects almost point-blank, which can also be used to capture dew or cobwebs.
”
For landscape photographers looking for an affordable and lightweight EF 35mm prime lens, Mike recommends the Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM, which offers 4-stop image stabilization, fast f/2 for low-light shooting and a minimum focusing distance of 0.24 m for close-up subjects. “The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is a great and small lens that offers a compact and lightweight design along with high performance,” says Mike. - This is one of my main lenses; its versatility makes it the perfect travel companion, capturing both cityscapes and nature.”
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Best landscape lenses for 2022: Canon, Nikon, Sony
Here's my pick of the very best landscape lenses from top brands: Canon, Nikon and Sony. When choosing models, I was guided by my experience, as well as the opinion of the most reputable photographers.
How to choose the right landscape lens: myths and reality
There is an opinion that there are special "landscape" lenses. In fact this is not true. Very often, wide-angle optics are used to shoot landscapes, which allows you to fit the maximum number of surrounding objects in one frame. But this does not mean at all that landscapes cannot be shot on lenses with a standard focal length of 50 mm. or even telephoto 200mm lenses. or even 400 mm.
In fact, the choice of focal length for a particular shot depends on many different factors: the location of objects, the angle, your goals and your "vision" of the landscape.
It often happens that for a good shot you need a focal length from the tele-range. This is especially true for shooting in the mountains.
That's why, when I was selecting suitable lens models for my rating, I did not only give preference to wide-angle lenses, but also included several universal models with a very wide range from 18 to 150 mm.
In addition, I've also added some extra wide focal length (fisheye) models that allow you to take very effective shots with rounded lines. This is especially useful when shooting architecture.
Comparative table
Bayonet lens:
Canon EF/EF-S
Focus distance:
-55 mm
diaphragm:
F4.0; 5.6-F22 0
Zoom ratio:
3.1x
Lens stabilizer:
yes
All specifications...
Rating:
Wide-angle lens suitable for Canon readers.
Designed for use by beginners in photography. It is versatile due to the range of focal lengths. Compact and lightweight. Good build quality.
Autofocus is fast and quiet. Thanks to the implementation of internal focusing, it is possible to use polarizing and gradient filters. Good image quality for a lens of this price range and characteristics, imperfections are easily corrected during post-processing. Users note the perfect value for money.
Benefits
- versatility;
- internal focus;
- optical stabilizer;
- low cost;
- effective image stabilization.
Disadvantages
- presence of chromatic aberration, vignetting at wide aperture;
- noticeable distortion at minimum focal length;
- low aperture.
Lens mount:
Canon EF
Focus distance:
28 mm
diaphragm:
F2.
8-F22
Zuma:
Fixed object 9000 9000 9000 9000
All specifications...
Readers' rating:
A wide angle lens used with Canon cameras. Made of plastic with a metal mount. Build quality. The front lens extends but does not rotate when focusing, allowing the use of gradient filters. Suitable for amateur photographers due to the versatility of the focal length.
Autofocus is quiet and silent. The shooting quality is good, aberrations and vignetting that are present under certain conditions can be corrected in editors. Users note the possibility of using the lens for various tasks, the stable operation of the stabilizer.
Benefits
- effective image stabilization;
- good resolution;
- nice blur;
- relatively high cost.
Faults
- presence of chromatic aberration;
- moderate vignetting;
- drop in sharpness after F8.
0.
Bayonet lens:
Nikon F
Focus distance:
10-20 mm
diaphragm:
F4.5; 5.6-F29 9000 9000
The delay of zum
Lens stabilizer:
yes
All specifications...
Reader rating:
Wide-angle lens suitable for Nikon cameras manufactured after 2013. Has a compact size, light weight. Housing and bayonet made of plastic. amateur optics. Autofocus and stabilizer are controlled through the camera menu.
Focusing is very fast and quiet. Works well in video format. The picture quality is good: the sharpness is decent both in the center and at the edges of the frame. Chromatic aberration and vignetting are minor and easily corrected. Users note ease of use due to low weight and dimensions, good picture quality. Of the shortcomings - a small luminosity.
Benefits
- effective operation of the optical stabilizer;
- good picture quality;
- wide viewing angle.
Flaws
- noticeable barrel distortion;
- drop in sharpness after F11.0;
- insufficient aperture.
Lens mount:
Nikon F
Focal length:
35mm
diaphragm:
F1.8-F16
The multiplicity of Zuma:
Fixed lens
Lense stabilizer:
NO
All characteristics ...
Readers rating:
broad-angled wide-angle Designed to work with Nikon DX format cameras. Compact and lightweight. Plastic body with metal mount. The design allows internal focusing, which removes the restriction on the use of any filters. There is a focus mode switch. The lens is suitable for amateurs who want to improve the quality of images in comparison with the whale version. Versatile with respect to shooting scenes.
The lens aperture allows you to take high-quality and sharp pictures in low light conditions.
Focuses quietly thanks to the ultrasonic motor, the speed is medium. Autofocus is accurate. The picture quality is satisfactory: high sharpness, good color reproduction. However, aberrations and distortion under certain conditions are noticeable. Users note good sharpness of photos, among the shortcomings - uncertain blur, aberrations.
Benefits
- large aperture;
- internal focus;
- versatility;
- high sharpness.
Disadvantages
- chromatic aberration at wide aperture;
- noticeable distortion.
Bayonet lens:
Minolta a
Focus distance:
11-18 mm
diaphragm:
F4.5; 5.6-F29 9000 9000
The delay of Zuma:
1.6x
Lens stabilizer:
no
All specifications...
Reader rating:
This is a wide angle lens for Sony DSLR-A100 cameras.
Designed for shooting buildings, landscapes, indoors. It has small size and weight. The design provides built-in focusing by keeping the front lens fixed.
Optical stabilizer not included and not required as it is built into compatible cameras. The resulting photos are clear due to the design features. Users are satisfied with the quality of the resulting picture, no significant shortcomings have been identified.
Benefits
- internal focus;
- high definition image;
- good color rendering.
Disadvantages
- average AF performance in terms of speed and noise;
- slight geometric distortion.
Lens mount:
Sony E
Focal length:
16mm
Aperture:
F2.8-F22
The multiplicity of the zoom:
Fixed lens
Object stabilizer:
NO
All characteristics .
..
Readers rating:
Wide-angle object for without mirrorless crop cameras Sony belonging to the NEX and ILCE family. Very light and small. The case is made of metal, assembled with dignity.
Image quality is average: resolution suffers, especially at the periphery of the frame. The moment is especially noticeable at an open aperture. The same goes for vignetting: it is noticeable and only moderately weakens towards F11. Autofocus is accurate. Users note its convenience in terms of size and weight, among the shortcomings is a decrease in image quality, which is especially noticeable at the edges of the frame.
Advantages
- low price;
- small size and weight;
- accurate autofocus operation
Disadvantages
- low resolution, especially at the edges of the frame;
- vignetting;
- insufficient background blur;
- geometric distortion.
Lens mount:
Canon EF
Focal length:
8-15 mm
diaphragm:
F4-F22
delays of Zuma:
1.
9x
Stabilizer of the lens:
All characteristics ...
READING OF READINGS: Evaluation of readers: Readers Evaluation
Suitable for Canon cameras, full frame or not. One of the most versatile ultra wide angle lenses. Suitable for advanced users who love artistic effects in photography, architecture and landscape photography. The lens has a zoom limiter. The kit comes with a hood to which the lid is attached. You should be aware that at a focal length of less than 15 mm, it will fall into the frame.
Depending on the used focal length and sensor, the fisheye of this lens can be either circular or diagonal. Provides high quality footage. Focusing distance - 15 cm. Autofocus is fast. Users note the high quality of the pictures, of the minuses - an unsuccessful lens hood solution.
Advantages
- dust and moisture protection;
- high sharpness;
- pronounced contrast;
- good glare protection;
- close focusing distance.
Disadvantages
- high cost;
- relatively small aperture;
- Chromatic aberrations on high-contrast frame fragments;
- inconvenient design of removable elements: covers and hoods;
- inability to use filters.
Lens mount:
Nikon F
Focal length:
10.5 mm
diaphragm:
F2.8-F22
Zuma multiplicity:
Fixed lens
Lens Stabilizer:
All characteristics ...
Evaluation of readers :
Super wide angle lens suitable for Nikon DX format cameras. There is no focusing motor in the design, so for work it is better to purchase cameras with support for AF-optics. Autofocus with carcasses without a motor will not work. The use of the lens is designed for professionals.
Autofocus with the corresponding camera is fast but noisy.
The front lens pops up. The focusing distance is short - 14 cm. Gives high quality shooting, not counting aberrations under certain conditions, which are correctable during post-processing. Users appreciated the high contrast, sharpness. Of the shortcomings, the most often noted is the lack of an autofocus motor, high cost, the presence of aberrations and vignetting.
Benefits
- close focus distance;
- good aperture;
- compact dimensions;
- High image sharpness.
Disadvantages
- no focus motor;
- high cost;
- lack of internal focus;
- filters must not be used;
- Chromatic aberrations in areas of contrast.
Lens mount:
Canon EF/EF-S
Focus distance:
18-150 mm
diaphragm:
3.5-6.3
The density of Zuma:
8.3x
Lens Stabilizer:
.
.. Reader's score:
Another zoom from Canon, but for "mirrorless", covering a decent range of FR. Good equipment for an amateur, but hardly for a professional due to the small aperture capabilities. Such a lens will allow you to shoot beautiful landscapes and good portraits.
4-stop IS delivers impressive results at slow shutter speeds, smooth and quiet focusing, great for video shooting. Lenses for mirrorless cameras with such a mount and FR are no longer on the market, and these are only suitable for their own cameras.
This model is recommended because of beautiful bokeh, fast and accurate autofocus, picture sharpness, good stabilizer, light weight, which is very convenient for traveling.
Benefits
18-140 mm
diaphragm:
3.5 :
A great option for amateurs, they can replace a kit lens, as it is more interesting. Naturally, this option is only for Nikon owners.
According to users, this is a great choice for travel, it can shoot both landscapes and portraits, it is versatile.
