We help you find the best lens for landscape photography, in our guide covering the finest wide-angle zooms for all systems and sensor sizes. Read on for picks from Kingsley Singleton and the AP team…
If you’re looking to get serious about your landscape photography, then picking up one of the best lenses suited to the genre is a terrific first step. In landscape, your best choice of lens is almost certainly going to be a wide-angle zoom, and these are the types of lenses we’ve focused on in this guide, with options for all the major systems and lens mounts.
Why a wide-angle zoom? Because they allow you to cram as much of those beautiful vistas into your frames as possible, while giving you a little compositional flexibility to tweak and adjust your final framing. Having a good zoom gives you much more versatility than a prime, and makes for a lighter setup than a bag full of different primes.
Given the popularity of landscape photography, pretty much every manufacturer has made it a priority to offer a range of good landscape lenses at different price points. As such, there’s a lot of choice here for all different systems, and our list is well-populated. We’ve made an effort to include options at different price points, with some budget lenses mixed in with the premium stuff. Read on for the key criteria of a good landscape lens, which we used to make our picks, and if you’re still choosing your system, take a look at our guide to the best cameras for landscape photography
How to choose the best lens for landscape photography
Wide-angle zooms come in all shapes, sizes and prices, so it can be difficult to know which to choose. What’s also often important to landscapers is a combination of light weight, ease of use, and image sharpness. Light weight because you don’t want to lug it about, ease of use because you may be wearing gloves (a good control ring is your friend here), and image sharpness because you’ll often be stopping down to capture as much detail as possible.
It’s also worth looking out for weather sealing, so that a little rain doesn’t put a premature end to your whole shoot. Also, pay attention to the filter compatibility. Many ultra-wide lenses can’t take front-mounted filters at all because of their bulbous front element, while others will require ones with a sizeable filter thread. Filters can be hugely important in landscape work, so it’s worth thinking about the filter setup when you buy a lens. Check out our guide to the best filters for landscape photography to get an idea of the kinds you might use.
Wide-angle zooms don’t always have the widest maximum apertures, which generally isn’t a problem as you’ll likely be working at narrower apertures for landscapes anyway. However, if you’re prepared to pay extra, you can get large-aperture wide-angle zooms for working in low light. There are also a few features you probably don’t need to worry about, like image stabilisation, as landscape photographers tend to work on tripods.
The best lenses for landscape photography: quick list
For a quick-reference guide, here is the full list of lenses we’ve included in this piece, along with links to pick them up for the best prices…
So without further ado, here are our recommendations for the best lenses for landscape photography.
Best Canon APS-C landscape lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
At a glance:
This wide-angle zoom is designed for Canon cameras with an APS-C sensor, like the Canon EOS 90D or EOS 250D. It gives a view similar to a 16-35mm lens on a full-frame body, so there’s plenty of options for big scenes. And being made to be compact and lightweight at only 83.5×89.8mm and 385g, it’s a great choice for landscape photographers who’re doing extensive hiking.
This doesn’t come at the expense of image quality though, with the lens using a Super Spectra coatings that combats ghosting and flare to keep images clear and contrasty. As a bonus, its minimum focusing distance of 24cm means you can achieve sumptuous foreground textures.
There are many secondhand examples of the lens available. Expect to pay in the region of £175 for one in good used condition or slightly more for an even better example.
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Best Canon full-frame landscape lens: Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM
The striking feature of the EF 11-24mm f/4L USM is the bulbous front element. Photo credit: AP
At a glance:
This is the world’s widest rectilinear zoom lens – meaning it renders straight lines as appearing straight, unlike a fisheye which will curve them. The Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM is an outstanding achievement in the field of how much you can cram into a frame, and there really isn’t a lens to match it, in or out of the Canon ecosystem. The image quality is absolutely sublime, and the build of the lens as solid as you’d expect from an L-series optic. And while that bulbous front element precludes the attachment of screw-in filters, it is possible to drop in rear filters via a dedicated adapter from LEE Filters.
Of course, that will add to the already considerable outlay you’ll incur for the Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM. There’s no sugar-coating it – this is an expensive lens. The fact that it’s such a unique proposition is likely why it has so stubbornly held onto its high price in all the years since its release. With that said, if your budget stretches this far, the Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM really is worth it. And not just for Canon DSLR users – there isn’t an equivalent to this lens in the RF range, so EOS R users should definitely consider adapting it (though again, that’ll cost you). If it’s too much, consider the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM. It’s still expensive, but you know, less so.
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To find out more about how the lens performs, read our Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM review.
Best RF-mount landscape lens: Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM
Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM
At a glance:
If you’ve moved to Canon’s stunning RF-mount cameras and want a lightweight full frame wide-angle zoom, look no further than the RF 14-35mm f4 L IS USM; a lens that really shows the benefits of the new system. The 14mm end adds incredible drama to landscapes, but step into the zoom and there’s plenty of scope for tighter framing.
With a constant f/4 aperture, it still has low-light potential, while the optical construction is exemplary with three aspherical and three ultra-low dispersion elements giving superb sharpness and distortion control.
If you need to work handheld, there’s a highly effective 5.5-stop Image Stabilizer that will increase to a heady 7 stops when fitted to a EOS-R camera with IBIS. Weighing 540g and measuring 84.1×99.8mm it’s highly portable and weather sealed, too.
For more Canon RF-mount lens options, take a read of our Best Canon RF mount lenses article.
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See more details on the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM
Best Nikon DSLR landscape lens: Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR
Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR
At a glance:
Launched over a decade ago, this full-frame (FX) lens is still a superb landscape option. It was the world’s first ultra wide-angle zoom to offer optical stabilisation and is rated at four stops, so very useful in a handheld squeeze, while the f/4 aperture is constant throughout the zoom.
The lens provides excellent sharpness and distortion free images thanks to its three aspherical and two extra-low dispersion elements, while Nikon’s legendary Nano Crystal Coating ensures superb clarity.
It also has a nine bladed diaphragm which is rounded to give softer and more natural rendering to landscape details and highlights, and at 680g and 82.5x125mm it can save size and weight in a backpack compared to the faster but larger, heavier and more expensive 14-24mm f/2.8. And still offers great build and weather sealing.
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Best APS-C Nikon landscape lens: Nikkor Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR
Nikon Nikkor Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR Lens. Photo credit: Amy Davies
NIKON Z 6_2 · f/8 · 1/60s · 70mm · ISO1250
At a glance:
This is currently the widest DX-format mirrorless lens Nikon produces, so if you’re using a smaller Z-mount camera like the Z50 or the lovely Z fc to shoot landscapes, it’s well worth picking up. Its equivalent focal range is 18-42mm, which gives you a decent amount of composition flexibility. It’s worth mentioning that the lens uses an electronic Power Zoom mechanism, which isn’t to everyone’s taste, though a nice aspect is that it can be controlled remotely via the SnapBridge app.
Performance-wise, the DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 acquits itself well. It delivers sharp results throughout its zoom range, and the built-in distortion correction works very well. Vignetting and chromatic aberration are controlled for well, too.
This is a cheap and portable lens, so it has a plasticky build, including a plastic mount. Again, not to everyone’s taste, but unlikely to be a deal-breaker for many people. For APS-C Nikon mirrorless users, this is the best landscape lens to buy.
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Read our full Nikkor Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR review.
Best Nikon Z landscape lens: Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S
The Nikon Z 14-30mm f4 S is one of Nikon’s premium wide-angles. Photo credit: Amy Davies
At a glance:
Perfectly illustrating the appeal of Nikon’s excellent mirrorless Z Series, the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S brings superb image quality in a package that’s far smaller and lighter than its FX forebears. It weighs only 485g, measures 89x85mm thanks to a retracting design and is the widest Nikon full frame lens to allow screw-on filters, taking 82mm models.
As one of the Z Series’ S line it also has top-notch optics, with no less than four extra-low dispersion and four aspherical elements, plus Nikon’s anti-reflective Nano Crystal Coat.
There’s no optical image stabilisation, but all the full-frame Z cameras have that in the body, keeping the lens’s footprint even smaller. And if you’re shooting landscapes in harsh conditions or poor weather, it’s weather sealed against drips and dust.
For more Nikon Z mount lens options, take a read of our Best Z Mount lenses for Nikon article.
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Read our review of the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4
Best professional Nikon Z landscape lens: Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S with Z7, Photo: Michael Topham / AP
At a glance:
If you’re looking for the best of the best and are less concerned with cost-saving, then the Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S should be right up your alley. The ‘S’ designation means it’s a premium Z-mount lens, designed for serious enthusiast and professional users who don’t want to compromise on optical quality. And as such, it delivers – in our review, we found the Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S to be capable of producing images with absolutely stunning sharpness, in a range of situations.
What’s more, it’s both lighter and more compact than pairing the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f2.8 G with an adapter, making it a good excuse for Z-mount users to go all in and opt for the native lens. While there is some distortion evident if you leave it uncorrected, there’s no reason you ever would leave it uncorrected, with Nikon’s automatic correction profiles ready and able to swoop in and take care of matters.
If you’re a Nikon user and want to find out much more about Nikon Z-mount lenses, take a read of our Best Z Mount lenses for Nikon article.
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Read our review of the Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
Best Sony landscape photography lens: Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G
Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G ultra wide-angle zoom lens for Sony’s full-frame mirrorless Alpha 7-series and Alpha 9 cameras
At a glance:
Offering the widest view of any Sony full-frame wide-angle zooms, you might expect the FЕ 12-24mm F4 G to be big and heavy, but not a bit of it. Like Sony’s exemplary Alpha cameras this is a lens built with a low profile, but still offers peak quality via its four aspherical, one super extra-low dispersion and three extra-low dispersion elements, plus a Nano AR coating to suppress reflections.
It won’t take front filters, so an adapter holder is required, and though there’s no optical image stabilisation, that comes as standard in the Alpha bodies. The f/4 aperture brings some starry-sky possibilities, and at 565g and 87х117.4mm it’s a great option when space is tight, while its all-weather construction means you can keep shooting in some pretty foul conditions.
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Read our review of the Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G lens
Best L-mount landscape lens: Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN C
The Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN C on test. Photo credit: Joshua Waller
At a glance:
Designed for full-frame Sony E-mount and L-mount cameras, the 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN C is an exceptionally small, light, fast and versatile wide-angle zoom.
It promises very low distortion and edge-to-edge sharpness, via five FLD and four aspherical lens elements, and uses an internal zoom mechanism, there’s no extension of the front element, perfect for use with polarising filters or holders.
It takes an affordable 72mm fit for filters. The lens is backpack ready at just 100.6mm long and weighs only 450g, while offering dust and splash resistance. We reviewed this lens recently, and were impressed more than anything by the sheer value for money it offers. Landscape shooters using L-mount or full-frame E-mount cameras really should give this lens serious consideration. Its sharpness is great right across the frame, and it’s physically well-balanced, too.
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Read our full Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN C review
Best Sony APS-C landscape lens: Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS
Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS
At a glance:
If you shoot landscapes on a Sony mirrorless camera with an APS-C format sensor like the A6400 or A5100, you’ll want an equally small, lightweight but dependable wide-angle zoom. The 10-18mm F4 OSS is just that, offering a streamlined design that’s still weather sealed. At 225g and 70х63.5mm it’s genuinely pocket sized, so can be brought along as the accompaniment to a standard zoom, and it takes 62mm filters and adapter rings, which keeps space – and cost – down, too.
Its constant aperture means shutter speed and ISO can be kept consistent across the 15-27mm equivalent range, perfect for manual working, and it has a four-stop optical stabiliser for hasty handheld landscapes if required.
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Best Fujifilm landscape lens: Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR
Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR shown here on a X-S10 Camera Body
At a glance:
Recently updated to include weather sealing, an upgraded aperture ring and more effective stabilisation, the XF10-24mm F4 R OIS WR is our pick of wide-angle zooms for X Series landscapers.
With an equivalent view of 15-36mm it’s a highly versatile package and gives a constant f/4 aperture across the range. The updated aperture ring has a lock to prevent accidental shifts in the diaphragm, while it Optical Image Stabilizer gets an additional stop over the previous 10-24mm model, and will go higher with IBIS-equipped X Series bodies like the X-T4 and X-H2S.
At 77.6х87mm and 385g it’s highly portable, but that doesn’t mean any compromise in optical quality with four aѕрhеrісаl and four extra-low dispersion elements. While this is a fairly minor upgrade on the previous version of this lens, as we pointed out in our review, landscape photographers will appreciate the addition of weather-sealing, which justifies the extra cost outlay.
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Read our Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR review
Best Micro Four Thirds landscape lens: Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH Vario
Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH Vario
At a glance:
Covering 16-36mm in old money, the Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 gives some superb low-light landscape options for Micro Four Thirds shooters, while sticking to all the things that make the format so attractive for adventure photography.
At 315g and 73x88mm it’s bag or pocket friendly, but also weather sealed. The lens has an optical construction of 15 elements іn 10 groups with one aspherical extra-low dispersion, three regular аѕрhеrісаl, two extra-low dispersion and one ultra-high refractive indех elements in the light path, all of which adds up to some beautifully sharp and distortion free results.
The minimum focus of 23cm also brings foreground details like flowers and sandy patterns up close for landscapes.
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Read more on the Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH Vario. lens
Best Olympus landscape lens: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO
Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO Lens
At a glance:
A smart, lightweight evolution of Olympus’s original Four Thirds wide-angle zoom, the ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO is a slip of a thing in comparison. At 534g and 78.9×105.8, it’s larger than some options, but still highly portable, with the benefit of a fast f/2.8 aperture setting throughout, which makes a great choice for nightscapes.
The lens delivers splendid sharpness from its 14 element, 11 group construction, and its seven bladed aperture gives beautiful sunstars.
Weatherproofed, though with a protruding front element that needs a bit of caution in use, and an adapter to mount filters, one of this lens’s trump cards is its incredible minimum fосuѕing dіѕtаnсе of just 20сm from giving some superbly exaggerated foregrounds.
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Read our full review of the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO lens
Best Pentax landscape lens: Pentax DA* HD 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW
Pentax DA* HD 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW
At a glance:
Pentax produces some great lightweight DSLRs for landscaping and models like the K-3 Mark III have superb weather sealing. To match, check out the DA* HD 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW, with its dustproof, weather-resistant construction letting you keep on shooting in atmospheric rain or mist, or close to water without worry.
Its ultra-wide view gives an equivalent 17-27.5mm and despite having a fast f/2.8 aperture it comes in at a reasonable 704g and 90x100mm, keeping load reasonable. It also has a very handy Focus Clamp mechanism which lets users lock the point of focus for multiple exposures, bracketing or starlit scenes.
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Best APS-C DSLR landscape lens: Tokina Atx-I 11-20mm F2.8 CF
Tokina Atx-I 11-20mm F2.8 CF
At a glance:
This ultra-wide zoom for APS-C bodies is available in Canon EF-S and Nikon F mounts, and with a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 it’s a great tool for low-light landscape work, including Milky Way shots and aurora shots, or for general scenes, too.
The focal lengths make it versatile, while it uses three aspherical and three super-low dispersion elements to provide edge-to-edge sharpness and excellent contrast.
The 28cm minimum focus isn’t as close as some, but it takes front filters, with an 82mm size, and has an internal focusing design, so the front element won’t rotate, which is helpful while using a polariser or holder.
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Best mirrorless APS-C landscape lens: Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD
Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD
At a glance:
A premium lightweight wide-angle zoom designed for Sony E-Mount APS-C mirrorless cameras, the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD offers a great mix of image quality image, portability and performance.
The constant f/2.8 keeps settings consistent throughout the zoom and is great for low-light work, while the lens uses two glass moulded aspherical elements, as well as one extra-low dispersion and two low dispersion elements for edge-to-edge sharpness.
Despite all this – and being weather sealed – it’s only 335g in weight while measuring 72х86.2mm. And for those who want closeups, there’s an impressive minimum focus of just 15cm at 11mm giving a magnification of 0.25x.
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Read the full spec of the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD
Text by Kingsley Singleton, with contributions from Jon Stapley & Michael Topham
Once you’ve found the best lens for your landscape photography, have a look at more guides in the latest buying advice.
Further reading
Best cameras for landscape photography
Top filters for landscape photography
Tripods for landscape photography
The top 20 best landscape photographs
Complete guide to Landscape Photography
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