travel trip lens

Best lenses for travel photography in 2024: perfect all-in-one superzooms

The best lenses for travel will let you shoot almost anything, and save some space in your bag!

• Best for Canon
• Best for Nikon
• Best for Sony
• Best for Fujifilm
• Best for L-mount
• Best for MTF
• Best Canon DSLR
• Best for Nikon DSLR
• How we test

Best for Canon Best for Nikon Best for Sony Best for Fujifilm Best for L-mount Best for MTF Best Canon DSLR Best for Nikon DSLR How we test

The best lenses for travel photography will enable you to take amazing photos without weighing you down. Travel photography lenses are often versatile zooms that allow you to pack just one lens such as a superzoom but it all comes down to your shooting style and how much you want to carry.

With most of your bases covered, you can focus on snapping gorgeous landscapes, stunning sunsets or captivating portraits and the best part is if you choose to just take one lens with you, you'll never have to faff with changing it. 

When picking a superzoom lens, it’s tempting to go for the biggest zoom range you can get your hands on. However, such lenses tend to be quite large and weighty. They’re generally more convenient and less heavy than a combination of standard and telephoto zoom lenses but, when you want to travel light or go on walkabout, it’s nicer to have something smaller and more lightweight dangling off your camera strap.

Considering the 1.5x crop factor of most APS-C cameras (1.6x for Canon ), a zoom range of around 18-200mm is generally ideal. This gives you similar wide-angle coverage as from a standard zoom, while stretching your telephoto reach to 300mm in full-frame terms (320mm for Canon).

Best lenses for travel photography in 2024

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Best travel lens for Canon mirrorless cameras

1. Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM

Our expert review:

Specifications

Reasons to buy, reasons to avoid.

If you're an EOS R-series shooter and want something with a longer focal range than the Canon's two 24-105mm options, then you're in luck as there’s also a superzoom option that isn’t overly big and heavy, and doesn’t cost silly money. It comes in the shape of the RF 24-240mm, which squeezes a very useful 10x zoom range into a reasonably lightweight and weather-sealed build. Further attractions include a Nano USM autofocus system which is super-fast for stills and enables smooth and virtually silent focus transitions during movie capture, and a highly effective 5-stop image stabilizer. At the short end of the zoom range, color fringing can be noticeable and barrel distortion is massive, but both of these aberrations are corrected in-camera by default, and when processing raw files. With this lens, Canon is combining optical and digital corrections rather than relying on optical corrections alone.

Read our full Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM review

Best travel lens for Nikon mirrorless cameras

2. Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR

The list of travel-friendly credentials for this soon-to-be-launched lens is long and impressive. It’s particularly compact and lightweight for a full-frame lens that boasts such an extensive zoom range, yet has a sturdy construction that includes comprehensive weather-seals and a fluorine coating on the front element to repel moisture and grease. Image quality benefits from the inclusion of two aspherical elements, one aspherical ED (Extra-low Dispersion) element and two further ED elements. Nikon ’s high-tech ARNEO coating is also applied to minimize ghosting and flare. Not just for stills, the stepping motor-driven autofocus system enables smooth focus transitions during movie capture, along with minimal focus breathing and focus shift when zooming. Ideal, for full-frame Z-series cameras, the lens is also an interesting travel choice for the Z 50 , where this camera's 1.5x crop factor gives this lens an effective zoom range of 36-300mm. 

Read our full Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR review

Best travel lens for Sony cameras

3. Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS

Although fully compatible with Sony ’s APS-C format E-mount cameras, on which this lens has an effective focal length of 36-360mm, this lens really comes into its own on full-frame bodies. It’s typically weighty for a full-frame format superzoom but doesn’t feel overly large and has refined handling. The 10x zoom range kicks off at 24mm, enabling a generously wide maximum viewing angle, and there’s good telephoto reach at the long end. Based on a stepping motor, the autofocus system is quick and quiet, while Optical SteadyShot gives a benefit of around 3-stops in beating camera-shake. The optical path includes no less than five aspherical elements, plus one ED (Extra-low Dispersion) element. Image quality is mostly very good for a superzoom lens although corner-sharpness is a little lacklustre at the short end of the zoom range, and overall sharpness drops off at the long end.

Best travel lens for Fujifilm cameras

4. Fujifilm 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 WR LM R OIS

From Fujifilm ’s acclaimed XF stable of lenses for its APS-C format mirrorless X-mount cameras, this one has an impressive string of letters after its name. It’s a WR (Weather-Resistant) lens with no less than 20 areas of sealing in its construction. It features a fast and virtually silent LM (Linear Motor) autofocus system that’s super-fast for stills and smooth for movie capture. Handling is enhanced by the ‘R’ control ring, and it has a particularly effective 5-stop OIS (Optical Image Stabilizer). Quality glass includes four aspherical elements and two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements. The 7.5x zoom range is a little limited compared with some other travel lenses on the market but this helps to enable a relatively compact construction. Image quality is very impressive overall, although corner-sharpness is a little mediocre towards both ends of the zoom range.

Best travel lens for L-mount cameras

5. Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 Macro O.I.S.

If you're in search of a versatile travel lens for your Lumix S5, the Lumix S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 O.I.S. fits the bill perfectly. This lens stands out as the most compact and lightweight 7x superzoom lens available for any system, making it an ideal companion for travel without adding bulk or weight to your carry-on. Covering a range of commonly needed focal lengths, it's a must-have addition to any Panasonic photographer's gear collection.

While the focal length falls slightly shorter compared to other brands, limiting its versatility for sports and wildlife photography, the trade-off for its compactness is reasonable and easily accepted.

There are no compromises on image quality to be found here – the 28-200mm lens performs admirably, with only minor inconsistencies at the extreme end of the zoom. While it may not match the sharpness of prime or professional lenses, Panasonic has achieved commendable results for a lens of this category.

The standout feature of this Lumix S 28-200mm lens is its Dual I.S.2 image stabilization, combining optical stabilization with in-body stabilization. This system is among the best available, significantly enhancing stability for both still photography and particularly impressive results in handheld video shooting, even at 200mm.

Read our full Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 Macro O.I.S. review

Best travel lens for Micro Four Thirds

6. Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 II ASPH Power OIS

Micro Four Thirds format travel zooms from Olympus include the budget-friendly 14-150mm II and the up-market 12-200mm. They’re both very desirable lenses but we prefer this Panasonic option, which splits the two Olympus zooms for selling price, while adding a highly effective 4-stop optical image stabilizer. Thanks to the 2x crop factor of Micro Four Thirds cameras, the effective zoom range is 28-280mm in full-frame terms, thereby nearly matching 18-200mm lenses on APS-C format cameras. It delivers this in a remarkably compact package that weighs a mere 265g. That’s only about half the weight of some APS-C format 18-200mm lenses, making the Panasonic particularly travel-friendly. Even so, it packs a fast autofocus system and quality glass, including three aspherical elements and two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements. For a superzoom lens, sharpness is both very good and highly consistent throughout the entire zoom range.

Read our full Panasonic LUMIX G VARIO 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 II ASPH Power OIS review

Best travel lens for Canon DSLR cameras

7. Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM

Canon does make a proper full-frame superzoom travel lens - the EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM - so why have we picked this 24-105mm instead? Quite simply, this is a better travel lens. At 795g, it's less than half the weight of the 28-300mm, so is much more travel-friendly, and it's also about half the price. That still doesn't make it cheap, but at least you can feel a little less conspicuous.

The new Mk II version of the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS has been redesigned to be tougher and more resistant to shock and vibration, and it features fluorine coatings on the front and rear elements. More importantly, the optics have been revamped, with the aim of improving sharpness across the whole image frame, throughout the zoom range.

Barrel distortion from the preceding 24-105mm lens was notoriously bad at the short end of the zoom range, but the Mk II performs a little better. It’s also a bit sharper, autofocus is a little quicker and bokeh is smoother, thanks to the fitment of ten, rather than eight, diaphragm blades. Overall, however, each of the improvements is quite subtle rather than making a hugely noticeable difference.

Read our full Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM review

Best travel lens for Nikon DLSR cameras

8. Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

Nikon and Tamron have both manufactured 28-300mm superzoom lenses for many years, offering a travel-friendly option for Nikon full-frame SLRs. There’s not a lot to choose between them for handling, image quality and all-round performance. Both are good rather than great. To make the most of Nikon’s recent full-frame SLRs, it pays to set your sights rather lower in terms of zoom range, and to go for quality instead. The latest edition of Nikon’s 24-120mm VR is our first choice. It’s relatively compact and has excellent handling characteristics. It also gives you more a generous wide-angle perspective at the short end of the zoom range. The flipside, naturally, is that you’ll lose out on powerful telephoto reach, but that's often less useful than you expect anyway.

Read our full Nikon AF-S 24-120mm f/4G ED VR review

How we test travel lenses

We test lenses using both real world sample images and lab tests. Our lab tests are carried out scientifically in controlled conditions using the Imatest testing suite, which consists of custom charts and analysis software that measures resolution in line widths/picture height, a measurement widely used in lens and camera testing. We find the combination of lab and real-word testing works best, as each reveals different qualities and characteristics.

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Matthew Richards is a photographer and journalist who has spent years using and reviewing all manner of photo gear. He is Digital Camera World's principal lens reviewer – and has tested more primes and zooms than most people have had hot dinners! 

His expertise with equipment doesn’t end there, though. He is also an encyclopedia  when it comes to all manner of cameras, camera holsters and bags, flashguns, tripods and heads, printers, papers and inks, and just about anything imaging-related. 

In an earlier life he was a broadcast engineer at the BBC, as well as a former editor of PC Guide.

Related articles

10 Best Lenses for Travel Photography (in 2024)

A Post By: Jeremy Flint

Travel photography is a highly rewarding pursuit, but if you’re serious about getting the best shots, it pays to carry the right equipment, including a lens that can handle a broad range of travel subjects: astrophotography, architecture, landscapes, people, food, and more.

That’s where this article comes in handy. Below, I use my experience as a professional travel photographer to rank the 10 best travel photography lenses on the market in 2024, including options for plenty of budgets, brands, and camera systems (including models for the latest and greatest mirrorless lineups).

So whether you’re new to travel photography and looking to purchase your first lens, or you’re a travel-photography veteran looking to invest in some pro-quality glass, this article will give you everything you need to get started.

Let’s dive right in!

1. Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 S

The Z 24-120mm f/4 S is our all-time favorite travel photography lens – and for a whole host of reasons, too. For one, it provides an impressive range of focal lengths, which is perfect for those seeking a single high-quality lens for all their travel needs. At 24mm, you can capture beautiful travel landscape shots; at 50mm, you can shoot portraits; and a 120mm, you can capture detailed photos of distant landscapes and architectural features.

The 24-120mm f/4 S is impressively sharp, so even if you’re hoping to create magazine-quality files or large prints, it’ll be up to the task. And while the lens only features an f/4 maximum aperture, this should be enough for all but the most demanding conditions, especially if you’re willing to carry a good travel tripod .

The elegant and attractive design, compact size, and solid build make it a great choice for amateur and pro-level travel photographers alike. It’s not the cheapest lens on the market, but the price is reasonable compared to f/2.8 alternatives, and you certainly get a lot for your money.

2. Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Regarded as one of the heavyweights of the photography manufacturing industry, Canon offers some of the best travel photography lenses on the market – including the impressive EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM, an absolute travel classic that combines a versatile zoom range with built-in image stabilization.

This lens is great for all-around shooting; it covers a broad range of focal lengths, and you can capture everything from expansive cityscapes to architectural details, which makes the lens suitable for travel photographers of all stripes. No, it can’t quite go toe to toe with the Nikon Z 24-120mm f/4 in terms of versatility, but the price is significantly less, and the extra 15mm on the long end won’t make a huge difference for most shooters.

The 24-105mm f/4 boasts impressive sharpness, though the f/4 maximum aperture isn’t as fast as f/2.8 options (and therefore less than ideal for astrophotography and handheld photography in low light). But if you’re in need of a do-everything lens for serious travel shooting, the 24-105mm is a great pick.

3. Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM

If you are using Canon’s latest mirrorless cameras – such as the EOS R5, R6, or R7 – then the RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is a great introductory lens, particularly if you travel frequently and wish to minimize gear weight.   This handy little unit is remarkably compact, and you can slip it in a bag, a backpack, or a purse without issue (though you’ll want to make sure you protect it from bumps and scrapes!).

The lens is also excellent for travel shooting thanks to its expansive focal-length range and outstanding versatility; with wide, standard, and telephoto focal lengths, you can capture pretty much any subject, including landscapes, cityscapes, detail shots, and street portraits.

The 24-240mm is also reasonably well priced, making it a decent choice for beginners (compared to other RF-mount lenses, anyway!). Unfortunately, the lens does include some disadvantages – the maximum aperture is relatively narrow for low-light shooting, the optics aren’t on the same level as Canon’s L-lens lineup, and no lens hood is supplied – but if you’re looking for a do-everything lens to get started with travel photography, it’s a solid choice.

4. Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR

The Nikon Z 24-240mm f/4-6.3 is a solid mirrorless lens for travel photography; the zoom range makes it capable of handling nearly any situation, and the quiet autofocus is great for capturing people and even wildlife unobtrusively.

The lens boasts plenty of travel photography possibilities thanks to its impressive portability and great design. Optically, expect to capture clear, sharp, and vivid images at every focal length, though you may encounter some softening toward the image corners.

The weather sealing prevents dust and moisture from entering the lens, and even serious travel photographers will appreciate the wide-to-telephoto zoom range, ideal for pretty much any type of travel photography, including landscapes, architecture, flowers, portraits, and more. The variable maximum aperture isn’t great for folks who often work handheld in low light, but you can handle most difficult scenarios by carrying a tripod, so this shouldn’t pose too much of a problem.

5. Sony E PZ 18-105mm f/4 G OSS

Sony offers an excellent lineup of APS-C mirrorless cameras, many of which are perfect for travel photography thanks to their compact size and impressive image quality. Of course, every travel camera needs a good lens, and the Sony 18-105mm f/4 is our first choice; it combines solid build quality, great optics, and a good price for an all-around impressive package.

While not a superzoom, the lens spans an impressive 5.8x zoom range from ultra-wide to short telephoto. It works especially well for street photography and even landscapes, where you can zoom in and out to frame shots accordingly, though it’s certainly a capable portrait and architecture lens, as well.

Autofocus is smooth and quiet, plus the lens also boasts Optical SteadyShot technology, which reduces camera shake and prevents blur when working handheld in low light. The f/4 maximum aperture isn’t ideal for shooting in the dark, but it’s not terrible, either, and even serious shooters will manage to make do. Finally, the lens is a Sony pro-quality lens, yet despite the excellent image and build quality, it’s surprisingly affordable, so it’s a good pick for serious photographers who are on a budget.

6. Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS

The Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS is an impressive all-around lens for travel photography; use it to photograph landscapes, architecture, people, and even (at 135mm) the occasional wildlife. Note that the lens is compatible with Sony’s E-mount APS-C mirrorless cameras but will not give great results on Sony full-frame models.

One of the lens’s key features is the built-in OSS (Optical SteadyShot) technology, which is great for low-light handholding. And if you frequently capture detail shots, you’ll love the short minimum focusing distance. The 18-135mm is lightweight and compact, too, which makes it perfect for the amateur photographer in search of a first travel photography lens. You can easily store it in a backpack or bag, and thanks to its small size, you can leave it on your camera for days of shooting and you’ll hardly even notice.

It’s not the most optically impressive lens, and the variable maximum aperture is a bit of a letdown, but for casual travel photography, the 18-135mm is certainly worth a look.

7. Fujifilm XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 WR LM R OIS

If you’re a Fujifilm shooter, then look no further; the XF 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is one of the best travel lenses on the market, and it’s certainly an outstanding option for Fujifilm camera users. It’s great for capturing a wide range of travel subjects, from landscapes and cityscapes to wildlife and people, while the 5-stop image stabilization will keep you shooting crisp handheld shots in low light.

You can get in close to your subjects thanks to a short minimum focusing distance (always handy for detail shots). And solid weather resistance, not to mention impressive image quality, are both welcome features of this amazing lens. As with a number of other models on this list, the variable maximum aperture is somewhat limiting, and the lens is on the expensive side, but the great optics and useful focal length range make this handy lens our favorite Fuji pick.

8. Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmarit 12-60mm f/2.8-4 OIS

If you’re a Panasonic shooter, then this 12-60mm f/2.8-4 lens is one of the best travel lenses you can buy; it delivers a superb focal-length range on Four Thirds cameras , spanning from 24mm to 120mm. You’ll get plenty of travel photography opportunities, and you can expect to capture breathtaking wide landscapes, standard street shots, and even mid-telephoto portraits. Thanks to the telephoto reach on the long end, you can even zoom in to highlight specific features, or you can hunt for architectural abstracts and the like.

This lens is lightweight, compact, and delivers sharp image quality even at 60mm. And don’t forget about the built-in image stabilization, which lets you shoot in low light without a tripod, always helpful for travel shooters. Unfortunately, the maximum aperture does narrow as you zoom from 12mm to 60mm, but you can still work with a decently wide f/4 aperture, even at 60mm.

9. Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM

The Sigma 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 is a great travel lens for Canon and Nikon APS-C users, and it boasts an impressive combination of features, from a lightweight, compact design to an expansive zoom range. The price is highly reasonable for beginner travel photographers, too, which makes it a great budget lens (especially compared to standard Canon and Nikon options).

Note that the Sigma 18-200mm is designed for APS-C DSLRs, so you can expect focal-length reach spanning from around 27mm to 300mm, which is absolutely outstanding for basically any type of subject, be it landscapes, portraits, street scenes, or wildlife. You’ll also like the included lens hood, which lets you block out sunlight in impressive conditions for improved optical performance.

And although the lens is missing weather sealing, the built-in image stabilization offers improved performance in low light and is ideal for nighttime street photography, interior scenes, and more.

10. Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC

If you need a versatile travel photography lens for Sony APS-C mirrorless cameras, then check out the Tamron 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3, which offers an impressive zoom range for landscapes, cityscapes, architectural details, people, and pretty much everything else.

The built-in image stabilization system will keep your photos sharp in low light, while the advanced design delivers extraordinary image quality (even if sharpness falls off toward the telephoto end of the zoom range). Often lengthy zooms like this one suffer optically, but we’re quite impressed overall by its capabilities, and it offers enough detail for printing and high-quality displays.

The lens body is lightweight and compact, so you won’t feel weighted down by gear as you shoot, and the price is highly affordable – in other words, it’s yet another outstanding option for travel photographers on a budget.

The best lens for travel photography: final words

Ultimately, the best lens for travel photography depends on your camera setup, your image requirements, and what you plan to shoot. At the end of the day, it’s a personal choice – and as long as the lens you choose is compatible with your camera system, covers the zoom range you require, is within your budget, and delivers the right image quality, you can’t go wrong.

So good luck choosing a travel lens!

Now over to you:

Which lens will you purchase? Which is your favorite? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Read more from our Cameras & Equipment category

Jeremy Flint is an award-winning photographer and writer, specialising in travel, landscape and location photography and is known for documenting images of beautiful destinations, cultures and communities from around the world. Jeremy has won awards including the National Geographic Traveller Grand Prize and the Association of Photographers Discovery Award, besides being commended in Outdoor Photographer of the Year. He has also been a finalist in the Travel Photographer of the year and British Photography Awards several times. He has been commissioned by commercial and editorial clients worldwide including National Geographic Traveller, Country Life, Discover Britain, USA National Parks and Visit Britain and has travelled extensively to over 65 countries.

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The Best Camera Lenses for Travel Photography

Last updated: April 7, 2024 . Written by Laurence Norah - 71 Comments

As a professional travel photographer, I’m often asked about camera gear, and in particular, folks contact me to ask me what the best camera lens for travel photography is. Often people have bought a camera with an interchangeable lens, like a mirrorless or DSLR camera, and are looking to upgrade their kit to meet their needs.

I’ve already written a guide to the best cameras for travel photography , but as that only covers camera and not lenses, I thought it would make sense to follow up with a regularly updated guide to the best camera lenses  – specifically for travel photography purposes. After all, a camera is not much good without a lens!

Of course, this guide does assume you have a camera with interchangeable lenses, so that means a mirrorless camera or a DSLR camera . Within those two groups though there are myriad camera and lens manufacturers. And for the most part, lenses made for one camera system won’t work on another system.

So for this post, I’ve first put together a general overview of what to look for when picking a travel lens, which will give you some pointers in terms of features to consider. That way no matter what brand and kind of system, you’ll know what to look for when shopping for a camera lens.

I’ve then provided specific recommendations for the more popular camera systems out there, including Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, and Sony. Even if your particular manufacturer or camera mount isn’t mentioned, you should be able to get a good idea from this post of what to look for in a travel lens, which specifications matter, and an idea of price.

Speaking of price, as well as a guide to the best lens for travel photography for each camera brand, I’ve also suggested a couple of options for the best budget travel lens for each camera system. I know that lenses are expensive, and not everyone has a huge budget to spend! Let’s get started.

What to think about when picking a lens for travel photography

Picking a lens to travel with is a bit different to picking a lens for other situations. Not only will you be concerned with image quality, but also size and weight.

Whilst it would be wonderful to have a wide range of expensive lenses to take with us on all our trips, the reality of travel is that there is only so much we can take with us, and when you’re out and about all day sightseeing, you probably don’t want to be carrying too much.

So for travel photography, it’s better to try and focus on getting a smaller number of lenses that work well in a wide variety of situations. That way you are likely to actually take them with you and use them.

Of course, there are always going to be compromises – it’s hard to find a lens that does everything well, doesn’t cost too much, and is lightweight! But for travel photography, I think there are some good travel lens options out there.

You have a few options for lens types. My suggestion would be to invest in two lenses – a walkaround lens and a fast prime. An f/1.8 50mm would be the ideal.

Some manufacturers sell a travel kit, like this bundle from Canon , which can be a great value way to get some good lenses.

If you only want to invest in one lens because you don’t see yourself changing lens often, or carrying more than one lens, then you will want a good walkaround lens, and that’s what this guide will be focusing on.

What is a walkaround lens you ask? Well, it’s a lens that “does everything”. It covers a good range of focal lengths, meaning you can get wide angle shots as well as zoom in on further away objects. It’s basically a one size fits all lens for your travel photography needs.

You will often find that if you invest in a camera that it will come with a lens that will suffice as a walkaround lens. These will work fine but tend not to be the top quality lenses.

If you are more serious about photography and your budget allows, I’d recommend that you buy your preferred camera “body only”, and then invest in a nicer walkaround lens, such as the ones I recommend, rather than the standard kit lenses. Don’t be surprised if the lens is more expensive than the camera either – good lenses are expensive, and a worthy investment.

Price considerations – how much to spend on a camera lens for travel photography.

Speaking of money, I’ve done my best to provide a range of lenses across various price points. More expensive lenses tend to be more capable, but can also be heavier, so aren’t always the best solution for travel photography.

For the budget-conscious reading this, I’m also providing my suggested best budget travel lens for each category. I appreciate that not everyone has a big budget for a new lens, so I want to provide some good value options too.

If none of the lenses in this post fit your budget, my advice would be to either stick with the kit lens that comes with your camera, or to check out the second hand lens market on either Amazon on eBay . For more on buying second hand camera equipment, see my guide to buying used camera equipment .

Now, before we dive into individual travel lens recommendations, let’s take a look at some of the key terminology and other considerations you need to be aware of when looking for a lens for travel photography.

Inside a lens, there’s a hole that lets the light through to the camera’s sensor. This hole is referred to as an aperture. An aperture can change in size, with a bigger aperture letting more light in, and a smaller aperture letting less light in.

An aperture can be thought of as the pupil of your eye. When it’s bright outside, it is smaller so less light gets in. When you’re in a darker environment, perhaps at night, it opens really wide to let more light in.

The important number for lens apertures is how big the hole goes, which will dictate how well the lens will perform in low light situations. A wider aperture also allows for greater control over depth of field. See my guide to depth of field for more on that.

When you look at the specifications for a lens, it will always have the widest aperture listed as one of the key specifications. It will be a number, something like 2.8, 4.0 or 5.6. It may also be written as f/2.8, which is the formal way of denoting aperture. The smaller the number, the wider the hole.

Some lenses, and in particular the walkaround lenses we are going to be looking at, will have what is known as a variable maximum aperture. This means that the aperture will actually change as you zoom in and out, or change focal length. This is because as the lens barrel gets longer, the maximum aperture get smaller.

So for example, you might see a lens with an aperture of f3.5-5.6. This means that at the wide angle, the aperture is f/3.5, but when you zoom in, the aperture will drop, down to f/5.6 when you are fully zoomed in.

For travel photography, as with most photography, the wider the aperture the better – more light getting in means better low-light performance, making the lens more versatile for a range of photography situations. This is particularly useful for situations like taking photos of the stars , or shooting the northern lights .

The trade-off is that wider aperture lenses tend to be bigger, heavier, and more expensive. This will be considered in the lens selection.

Focal Length

The focal length of a lens is directly related to how much magnification it provides. It’s a number that’s measured in millimetres (mm), with the general rule being that the higher the number in millimetres, the more magnification you get, and the smaller the number in mm, the less magnification you get.

If you’ve previously used a compact camera (aka point-and-shoot), you’ll be used to this being described in terms of optical zoom – for example, a camera might have 10x optical zoom. That means that the difference in magnification between the most zoomed out setting and the most zoomed in setting is 10x.

In focal length terms, each doubling of the focal length results in a doubling of the magnification. So a 100mm lens will essentially make everything twice as big as a 50mm lens.

Unfortunately, matters get a bit confusing after this, because focal lengths have a different effect on different cameras. This is because camera’s have different sensor sizes, which affects the focal length, in what is known as a crop factor.

To take the example of the Canon DSLR camera systems. There are two main types of cameras available, the APS-C size cameras such as the consumer Rebel line, and the full frame size sensors in more professional cameras like the Canon 6D or 5D line.

Some of Canon’s lenses will work on both of these camera systems, but they will give different focal lengths. On the full frame cameras, the focal length will be as expected. On the APS-C sensor, there is a “crop factor” of 1.6, because the sensor is smaller. So a 100mm lens on an APS-C sized sensor will give the same result in terms of the image as you would be able to achieve with a 160mm lens on a full frame camera.

Thankfully, lens manufacturers all use the same focal length standard, so when buying lenses for your particular system, all you need to know is the crop factor. You can then multiply this by the focal length to get the equivalent focal length.

Don’t worry if this isn’t quite clear, for the lenses I recommend I will list both the focal length and the equivalent focal length where relevant. Equivalent focal length is what you need to really worry about, as it will let you compare lenses more effectively.

For travel photography, you want a lens that goes from fairly wide (16mm – 30mm) on the wide end, through to fairly zoomed in (70mm – 150mm) on the narrow end. This will give you good flexibility, letting you shoot wide scenes such as buildings on city streets, through to zooming in on the details. A good benchmark lens is a 24-70 f/2.8, which is generally known as the walkaround lens of choice for professional photographers.

There are some walkaround lenses which offer much greater focal lengths, well past 200mm, including some of the recommendations in this guide. Just be aware that there are always trade-offs to consider, and whilst these can offer tremendous versatility, it’s often at the expense of weight and image quality, and in particular, image sharpness, at the longer end of zoom range (beyond 200mm usually).

I’m not saying not to invest in these lenses, just to be aware that there’s no such thing as a perfect lens for all situations!

Filter Thread

When you buy a lens, it’s always a good idea to pick up a UV filter  to protect the front. You may also want a polarising filter  (read about polarising filters here ), or a neutral density filter  (see my guide to neutral density filters here ).

You’ll notice that these filters come in different sizes, and the filter thread size on the lens, measured in millimetres, tells you what that size is. It’s basically just a measurement of the diameter of the lens, which is the end you put the filter on. Ok, that was an easy one.

Image Stabilisation

Camera lens manufactures have all kinds of fun terms they use for image stabilisation. These include IS (Canon), OIS (Panasonic), VR (Nikon), OS (Sigma), VC (Tamron) – the list goes on .

Whilst the names and underlying technology vary, the aim is the same – to compensate for any movement introduced by the person holding the lens (that’s you), to help you shoot at lower shutter speeds without getting blurry photos.

As a general rule of thumb, the minimum shutter speed you can hand hold a lens for is the inverse of the focal length. So if you have a 200mm lens, you would not want to shoot at shutter speeds slower than 1/200th of a second. A 50mm lens would be 1/50th of a second.

Image stabilisation technologies exist to help you get shots at lower shutter speeds than that, and they are usually rated in terms of how many extra “stops” they give you to play with. A “stop” is photography dialog for a halving, or doubling, of the light.

So if you went from 1/100th of a second to 1/50th of a second shutter speed and didn’t change anything else, that would be 1 stop.

Modern image stabilisation technologies offer between 3 and 5 stops of stabilisation. To put that in practical terms, if you are shooting with a 200mm lens at 1/200th of a second, 3 stops would let you hand hold down to 1/25th of a second. 5 stops would let you hand hold and still get sharp images as slow as 1/6th of a second!

As you can see, image stabilisation can make a huge difference, and it is definitely worth thinking about when looking for a lens. Of course, as with everything, there are tradeoffs, and an image stabilized lens will often be more expensive and slightly heavier than an equivalent non-stabilized version.

Weight is a pretty key consideration when it comes to picking a travel lens, as the idea is that you’re going to be using the lens for travelling. I don’t know about you, but the less I have to carry the better, especially if I’m going to be on my feet all day. So definitely keep the weight of your purchase in mind.

As well as weight, you’re going to want to factor in the size of the camera lens. Portability can be an important factor for a travel photography lens, particularly if you’re travelling and prefer to pack carry-on only. So consider how big the lens is in physical terms when making a decision.

Mount Compatibility

When you attach a lens to a camera body, obviously it has to fit in place. It’s like a puzzle with two pieces – the lens has to be the right shape to fit into place and lock tightly.

In addition, because the camera needs to communicate with the lens to set things like aperture, focus and zoom, the electronic connections between the lens and the camera body need to line up and be compatible.

The system that is used is known as a lens mount. You basically “mount” the lens onto the camera. Most camera manufacturers have their own lens mount system or systems, so when you buy a lens, you need to make sure it is compatible with the mount type on your camera.

Many manufacturers have multiple lens mounts, depending on the type of camera. For example, Canon cameras can have an EF-S mount, an EF mount, an EF-M mount and an RF mount.

It is very important when buying a lens to ensure that it has a compatible lens mount for your camera. Note that some lenses will work with multiple lens mounts – for example, an EF lens will work on both an EF and an EF-S mount. However, an EF-S lens will only work with an EF-S lens mount, and not with an EF mount.

Usually the mount type is made clear in the name of the lens. For example, the Canon EF 16-35 f/4L IS is an “EF” lens, which you can see in the name of the lens. So this will work with an Canon EF or Canon EF-S camera body.

If you are buying a lens from a third party manufacturer such as Tamron or Sigma, be aware that they usually make multiple versions of each lens, with different mounts. So always make sure you buy the version that will fit your camera.

Well, that sums up some thoughts on the various factors, features and terminology you need to consider when looking to buy a travel lens.

Now, let’s dive into some specific recommendations across various camera systems to give you some idea of what’s available at different price points.

Note that these are primarily walkaround lenses that are suited for travel, rather than for a specific function like macro photography or astrophotography. If you are interested in the latter, see our guide to northern lights photography , which has some specific lens recommendations for night situations.

The Best Micro Four Thirds Lens for Travel Photography

Micro Four Thirds camera are a popular choice for photographers. These mirrorless systems are lightweight and portable, yet offer everything you would expect from a bigger SLR style camera, including full manual controls and great image quality.

There are a number of manufacturers, with the most popular being Panasonic and Olympus. We use and love our Panasonic GX8 which is a staple part of our travel photography gear .

Both of these manufacturers have their own proprietary lens stabilisation system that takes advantages of stabilisation technology in both the camera body and the lens. This means that whilst lenses will work across different micro four thirds cameras, to take full advantage of the stabilisation technology you need to match brands – so a Panasonic lens needs to go on a Panasonic camera body for the best results.

In terms of crop factors micro four thirds cameras have a 2x crop factor, so you need to double focal lengths to get the equivalent focal length.

1. Panasonic Lumix G Leica 8-18mm F2.8-4.0

With a 16-36mm equivalent focal length, this is the lens to get if you love shooting really wide. Personally, my wide angle lens is the lens I use the most, so this is what I’d go for on this camera system, even if it’s not quite as flexible across shooting situations as something with a greater focal range. It doesn’t have image stabilisation, but as the lens is so light that’s less of an issue, and image stabilisation on a wide-angle isn’t as critical.

Weight: 11.11 oz / 315 g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here 

2. Panasonic Lumix G Leica DG 12-60mm Power O.I.S. F2.8-4.0

As a walkaround travel lens, it’s hard to argue with this 12-60mm lens from Panasonic, which offers a 24-120mm equivalent focal length and sharp results throughout that focal length, even shooting wide open. The aperture stops down a bit as you zoom in, but this is a lightweight lens that will do pretty much everything you could want, and includes image stabilization (Power O.I.S).

Weight: 11.29 oz / 320g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

3.  Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8

My choices for the Olympus micro four thirds system are essentially their versions of the Panasonic lenses above. This is the wide angle, with a focal length equivalent of 12mm – 28mm.

With a fixed f/2.8 aperture this is a very fast lens at all focal lengths, although this does make it a little bit heavier.

It also comes with dust and weather sealing. It doesn’t have lens based image stabilisation, but the majority of Olympus MFT cameras have in-body stabilisation which makes up for this.  

Weight: 1.17lb / 543g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

4. Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-100 F4.0 IS PRO

With a focal length equivalent to 24-200, this is pretty much the perfect walk around length for travel photographers. It is water and dustproof, and features image stabilisation equivalent to an incredible 6.5 stops when used with a compatible Olympus camera.

That added focal length does add some weight and bulk though. If you’d prefer a lighter lens and a faster aperture at the expense of focal length, check out the cheaper  Olympus M.ZUIKO Digital ED 12-40 F2.8  instead.

Weight: 1.23lb / 561g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

Best Budget Micro Four Thirds Lens

1. panasonic lumix g vario 12-60mm f/3.5-5.6 power o.i.s.

This is essentially a slower version of the Panasonic 12-60mm lens above, at half the price. It’s also significantly lighter than that lens. Impressively for a lens at this price point, it comes with image stabilisation as well as a splash and dust-proof body, making it ideal as a travel lens.

At a similar price point there’s also the slightly heavier  14-140mm f/3.5-5.6 lens from Panasonic, but whilst you gain a lot in focal length, you lose out on that weather resistance, so it’s up to you.

Weight : 7.41oz / 210g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

2. Olympus M.Zuiko ED 14-150mm f/4-5.6 II

Weight: 10 oz / 284g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

The Best Mirrorless Lens for Travel Photography for Sony Cameras

For the purposes of this guide, I’m going to be talking about Sony’s E-mount lenses, which work on their mirrorless camera systems including APS-C models like the a6600 as well as full frame mirrorless models like the a7 range.

Note that there are two types of E mount lenses, “FE” lenses, which will work on both full frame and APS-C sized Sony cameras, and non FE lenses which are designed for APS-C sizes sensors only. While you can use a non-FE lens on a full frame camera, it will reduce the image resolution and field of view to be equivalent to an APS-C sized sensor, so I’d advise against that.

There are also “G” series lenses, which are Sony’s more professional lenses – similar to Canon’s “L” series. These offer greater image quality and performance, usually with a higher price tag to match.

Some Sony cameras offer in-body image stabilisation, but ideally you’ll want it in the lens. Sony’s image stabilization technology is known as OSS (optical steady shot).

1. Sony 18-105mm f/4 OSS G

With an equivalent focal length of 27mm – 158mm, and a fixed aperture throughout that focal length, this lens is ideal for travel photography. It’s also a G series lens, which means it is higher quality lens compared to their standard, non G lenses. It’s primarily designed for Sony’s APC-C sensor cameras, so not really recommended for their full frame bodies, but it is very well priced.

Weight: 15.06oz / 427g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

2. Sony E 18-135 f/3.5-5.6 OSS

With an E mount lens for APS-C camera compatibility, this lens is firmly aimed at travel photographers wanting a great Sony walkaround lens at a price that won’t destroy the bank. With image stabilization and good performance across a good focal length, this lens is a great bargain if you’re looking for an easy upgrade from the kit lens.

3. Sony FE 24-70mm f/4 OSS

Covering the classic focal length of 24-70 on a full-frame camera (36-105mm on an APS-C), this is a relatively fast lens that offers excellent image quality and portability at a relatively affordable price point. There’s also an f/2.8 “G” version of this lens which is approximately twice as expensive and also heavier, but may be worth it if you need that extra stop of light.

Weight: 15.03oz / 426g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

4. Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5 – 6.3 OSS

Covering a truly staggering focal range of 24-240mm (36-360mm APS-C), this Sony FE lens is perhaps the ultimate walkaround lens for the Sony system. It may have a variable aperture, but given how well Sony’s cameras perform even at high ISO ratings, you probably won’t notice that too much.

If you want a lens that can shoot everything from far away wildlife to portraits to landscapes, this is a great choice at an excellent price point. Just be aware that it is heavier than the other options due to that extended focal length.

Weight: 1.72 lb / 780g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and A dorama here

5. Sony FE 16-35 f/4 OSS

If you’re after something wider, then this is the lens to go for, especially for full frame cameras (APS-C owners should instead consider the cheaper 10-18mm f/4 for wide angle work).

With a relatively fast fixed aperture, super-wide capabilities and even image stabilisation, this is the lens for landscape and architecture photographers to look at.

Weight: 1.14lb / 518g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here  

6. Sony 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 OSS

If you’re on Sony’s APS-C sensor system, then you might want to consider this lens instead of the 24-240mm lens above, as it offers a wider 27mm equivalent at the wide end. It’s also a relatively light lens given the focal range, making it a good choice for travel photographers trying to keep the weight down.

Weight: 1.16lb / 524g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

Best Budget Mirrorless Lens for Sony

1. sony fe 28-70mm f3.5-5.6 oss lens.

Being an FE lens, this will work on both full frame and APS-C sized Sony bodies – on the latter it would offer an equivalent focal length of 38 – 105mm, which is useful for many situations except particularly wide work. A good value lens.

Weight: 10.41 oz / 295 g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

2. Sony 55-210mm f4.5-6.3 OSS

If you’re looking for a bit more range, perhaps to compliment the kit lens that came with your Sony camera, this is one of the better priced telephoto zoom lenses from Sony that is also incredibly light for the focal range on offer.

Of course, it’s not the sharpest lens in the world, especially at the 200mm end (315mm equivalent), but it does feature image stabilisation and is a bargain to boot.

Weight: 12.16 oz / 345g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

The Best DSLR Lens for Travel Photography for Nikon Cameras

For the longest time, the two main choices for photographers looking for camera gear were Nikon and Canon. That has certainly changed, but these two manufacturers definitely account for the highest percentage of cameras sold today.

Because they’ve both been around for so long there are literally hundreds of lenses to choose from for each system, both made by the manufacturers themselves, and lenses made by third parties.

Sifting through these choices to find the perfect travel lens is definitely a challenge, but I’ve narrowed down the various options to some of the best options to help you make an informed decision.

1. Nikon 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G VR

An ideal walkaround lens at a good price point for Nikon full-frame users (known as FX in Nikon speak). This lens covers a very wide focal range with a reasonable fast aperture, and offers image stabilisation (Nikon calls it VR, for vibration reduction).

Owners of Nikon’s APS-C sized sensor camera bodies (DX format) should consider either the 18-300mm lens below, or the Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 , which will give a bit more flexibility on the wide end.

Weight: 1.76 lb / 800 g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

2. Nikon 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3G VR II

There’s also an 18-200 version which can be found marginally cheaper, but as it weighs the same I’d go with this one.

Weight: 1.21 lb / 550g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

3. Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E VR

Nikon’s 24-70mm f/2.8 lens is one of the most popular lenses for photographers of all types, particularly on full frame bodies. Its fast aperture throughout the focal length makes it great for low light photography and portrait work, and the relatively wide angle makes it a great landscape lens.

It even has image stabilization! It is expensive and heavy (consider the Sigma equivalent too), but if it’s the only lens in your bag you might not mind so much.

Weight: 2.35lb / 1070g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

4. Nikon DX 16-80mm f/2.4-4E VR

This lens is only for crop sensors, but it offers an excellent range of focal lengths, a fast aperture range and it is known for producing very sharp images. It’s also very light, making it a great option for travel photography, and features image stabilisation at a reasonable price.

Weight : 16.93 oz / 480g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

Best Budget DSLR Lens for Nikon

1. nikon 18-140mm f/3.5-5.6 vr.

For a DX camera, this is an excellent Nikon lens that covers a wide focal range, has image stabilization, and produces sharp images. It’s very well priced for what you get, is relatively light, and will serve you well as a travel photography walk around lens.

Weight: 1.08lb / 490g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

2. Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G VR

FX format users on a tighter budget should definitely consider this lens, which offers reasonably fast performance and a good range of focal lengths in an affordable and lightweight package that also includes image stabilisation.

Weight:  1.02 lb / 465 g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

The Best DSLR Lens for Travel Photography for Canon Cameras

Like Nikon, the Canon camera system has been around for a long time, and there’s an incredible selection of lenses to choose from, both directly from Canon, and from third party manufacturers like Sigma and Tamron. This huge amount of choice can be overwhelming, but I’m going to do my best to provide a few options to get you started.

Note that Canon has three main lens mount systems – EF, EF-S, and RF. The first two are for their DSLR cameras, the latter is for their new full frame mirrorless camera system. This is a new mount, launched in 2018. I mention it because there is a Canon adaptor meaning all EF and EF-S lenses will work on RF mount cameras.

EF lenses will fit on all Canon’s cameras (RF with an adaptor), whilst the EF-S lenses will only fit EF-S mount cameras (and RF cameras with the adaptor).

EF-S cameras are essentially all the consumer focused models such as the Rebel series. Canon has its own stabilisation system, which it calls IS (image stabilisation).

1. Canon EF 16-35 f/4L IS

This ultrawide Canon lens is incredibly sharp, and an excellent choice for landscape and architecture lovers. It’s our current go-to lens for these purposes in our travel photography bag.

Whilst the f/4 aperture isn’t too wide, this lens features image stabilisation technology that promises up to four stops of stabilisation, which makes this a great choice for low-light work. It’s also not too heavy. APS-C owners should consider the cheaper and significantly lighter 10-18mm IS instead .

Weight: 1.35 lb / 615 g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

2. Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L II

This is the walk around lens of choice for many full frame Canon professionals as it offers sharp performance and a fast fixed f/2.8 aperture across the frame. This lens is great for everything from portraits to landscapes, and is one of the most popular lenses amongst Canon shooters.

This lens is quite pricey and fairly heavy though, so do also consider the Sigma equivalent which is significantly cheaper and includes image stabilisation, which is notably absent from this Canon lens.

Weight : 1.77 lb / 805 g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

3. Canon EF 24-105 f/4 L IS II

If the Canon 24-70 above is a bit pricey, or you’d prefer image stabilization and a slightly longer focal length, then the excellent EF 24-105 f/4 L is a great choice. Despite the longer focal length, it’s actually a slightly lighter option.

This lens will work with both full frame and crop sensor cameras, on the latter it will have an equivalent focal length of 38 –  168mm.

Weight: 1.75 lb / 795g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

4. Tamron 28-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di VC

There are lots of third party options for Canon, with Tamron being a popular choice for value oriented buyers. This Tamron covers an excellent focal range in a relatively lightweight, low-cost design.

This 28-300mm is a great walkaround lens choice covering a wide focal range, especially for full frame shooters who don’t want the weight or cost of Canon’s L series lenses.

Weight: 1.19 lb / 540 g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here  

5.  Tamron 18-400mm f/3.5-6.3 VC

Owners of APS-C Canon cameras should definitely consider this incredible Tamron lens, which offers a mind blowing focal length (29 – 640mm equivalent) on Canon’s crop sensor cameras. It also has image stabilisation and an aperture range which is not too bad considering that incredible zoom. It’s also very well priced, and less heavy than you might expect for the focal length.

If you’d prefer a first party lens walkaround lens for your Canon APS-C camera, another option is the Canon EF-S 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 IS , which is a tiny bit lighter, but loses a lot of that lovely focal length, and is also slightly more expensive.

Weight: 1.56 lb / 710 g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

Best Budget DSLR Lens for Canon Cameras

1. sigma 18-300 f/3.5-6.3 dc os.

If you’re looking for a lens that covers a very wide focal range, produces sharp images, and won’t break the bank, look no further than this excellent Sigma. This will only work on Canon’s APS-C range such as the Canon Rebel line, or Canon SL2, but it offers excellent performance, image stabilization and an incredible focal range (29mm – 480mm equivalent) in a well priced and lightweight package.

Weight: 1.28 lb / 584 g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here  

2. Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8 PRO DX

Lovers of wide-angle photography should shortlist this Tokina lens for Canon’s EF-S camera mount. With a very wide f/2.8 aperture, and a superwide focal length, this lens is perfect for landscape photography, low-light photography, and even taking pictures of the stars . Well priced too!

Weight: 1.23 lb / 560 g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

The Best Mirrorless Lens for Travel Photography for Canon Cameras

Canon also makes mirrorless cameras, which come in two mount types, EF-M and RF.

The EF-M mount launched in 2012, and is for Canon’s EOS M range of cameras. These mirrorless cameras feature an APS-C sized sensor, and are primarily aimed at consumers and prosumers.

The RF mount launched in 2018, and is Canon’s newest mount. This features on Canon’s full frame and APS-C mirrorless cameras, including the R5, R6, R7 and R10.

It’s worth noting that Canon produces an RF mount adaptor and an EF-M mount adaptor for both EF and EF-S lenses. This means you can use EF and EF-S lenses on the Canon EF-M mount cameras, as well as Canon RF mount cameras.

So if you have an EF-M or RF mount camera, you might still prefer to buy one of the previously mentioned EF lenses, as these have the widest compatibility, and will work across all Canon’s cameras.

That said, an EF-M lens will be smaller and lighter, whilst the RF lenses take full advantage of the wider size of the mount, meaning these lenses can offer wider apertures. RF and RF-S lenses also have additional control rings on the lens itself, which can make for fast on the fly settings adjustments.

Whilst there aren’t currently as many EF-M, RF or RF-S lenses on the market as there are EF and EF-S lenses, there are still plenty to choose from. Here are some options that should work well for travel photography, across a range of budgets.

1. Tamron 18-200 f/3.5-6.3 Di III VC

Given the focal range, the lens is relatively lightweight, and you get good performance for a reasonable price. Definitely one to consider if you’re looking for a native EF-M mount lens.

Weight:   1.55lb /  459g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

2. Canon EF-M 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

Weight:   4.6oz / 130 g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

3. Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM

Moving onto the RF lenses for Canon’s full frame mirrorless cameras, and the first in our list is this versatile 24-240mm option. This offers an excellent focal range for travel photography, making this a good choice as a walkaround lens. You get a fairly fast f/4 aperture at the wide end, although this does drop off to f/6.3 as you zoom in.

You also get Canon’s image stabilization and fast, silent autofocus system. It’s also relatively light and compact for a full frame lens with this range, and the price is good for what you get.

Weight:   1.65lb /  750g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

4. Canon RF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

Naturally Canon also has a range of their premium “L” lenses available for the RF mount. The 24-105 f/4 is an excellent RF mount lens for travel photography, offering a useful focal range as well as a fixed f/4 aperture throughout the whole focal length.

You also get image stabilization, fast and silent autofocusing, in a relatively compact and lightweight lens.

Weight:   1.54lb /  700g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

5. Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM

If, like me, you love wide angle photography, then you are definitely going to want to check out Canon’s awesome 15-35mm wide angle lens for the RF mount. The RF mount has allowed Canon to go all the way to 15mm with their wide angle zoom, and you get a fast f/2.8 aperture through the focal length as well.

You also get image stabilization and fast and silent autofocusing. It’s not cheap by any stretch of the imagination, but performance is superb.

This lens is the part of what photographers refer to as the “holy trinity” of lenses that professional photographers aim to have in their kitbag. They are all expensive, but image quality and performance can’t be beaten. If you are looking for the rest of the “holy trinity” of RF lenses, Canon also has the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L IS USM and the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM available for purchase.

Weight:   1.85lb /  840g Check price on Amazon here , B&H here and Adorama here

6. Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

In 2022, Canon launched the first of their mirrorless APS-C sensor cameras with an R mount, the EOS R7 and the EOS R10. These cameras actually come with an RF mount, meaning they are compatible with RF lenses and EF & ES-S lenses. For RF and EF lenses, you do get a 1.6x crop factor.

Canon has also launched RF-S lenses. Despite the name, the RF-S mount is the same as the RF mount, the only difference is that these lenses are designed for the new cameras, meaning they are smaller and lighter as they don’t need to produce such a large image.

The lens we recommend you consider as a walk around lens is the RF-S 18-150mm. On a R7 or R10, this has an equivalent focal length of 28.8-240mm, which is ideal for most travel photography situations.

You also get built-in image stabilization, and the maximum aperture of f/3.5 is very good. It’s also remarkably light.

Weight:   10.9oz / 310g Check price on  B&H here and Adorama here

Further Reading

Well, that sums up my guide to the best travel lenses for travel photography! I hope you found it informative and useful in your quest to find the perfect travel lens for you. Before you head off, I want to share with you a few more resources that will help you on your photography journey.

• My guide to picking the best travel camera – after all, a lens isn’t much good without a great camera to pair it with! We also have guides to the best point and shoot cameras , the best mirrorless cameras , the best cameras for hiking and backpacking , the best action cameras , and the best DSLR cameras for travel photography .
• Photos need editing to get the best out of them. See our guide to the best photo editing software for our suggestions. If you’re looking for something to edit your photos on, see our guide to the best laptops for photo editing
• If you’re looking for something for someone else, see our guide to the best gifts for photographers for ideas
• My series of  Photography Tips , which I am always expanding and updating with posts like this one
• My always expanding series of  Photography Location Guides , to help you get the best shot in locations around the world.
• An overview of my  Travel Photography Gear , in case you wondered what a professional photographer has in his bag
• A  Beginners’ Guide to Improving your Travel Photos for those starting out in travel photography. We also have a guide to how to use a DSLR to help you if you are starting out with this type of camera system.
• Our reasons why you need a travel tripod

Looking to Improve Your Photography?

If you found this post helpful, and you want to improve your photography overall, you might want to check out my  online travel photography course .

Since launching the course in 2016, I’ve already helped over 2,000 students learn how to take better photos. The course covers pretty much everything you need to know, from the basics of how a camera works, through to composition, light, and photo editing.

It also covers more advanced topics, including astrophotography, long exposure photography, flash photography, and HDR photography.

You get feedback from me as you progress, access to webinars, interviews and videos, as well as exclusive membership of a Facebook group where you can get feedback on your work and take part in regular challenges.

It’s available for an amazing one-off price for lifetime access, and I think you should check it out. Which you can do by  clicking here .

And that’s it for my guide to picking the best camera lens for travel photography. I’ll be keeping this post updated as new lenses are released for the various systems, so you can always check back for advice if you need it. I’m also happy to answer your specific questions about picking a lens for your camera system – just pop them in the comments below and I’ll do my best to give my thoughts and advice!

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Vladielna says

4th October 2023 at 6:31 am

Hi Laurence,

Hope it’s not weird to get a comment on this post in 2023. I have a sony Alpha 6400 that I got earlier this year and I was wondering about the 55-210 e-mount lens you mentioned. My dad bought it for his 5N back in the day and I was hoping to use it for my camera however I have noticed that the AF is much worse on the 6400 than it is on the 5N where it will take multiple times to try and find the right focal length over the span of 3 seconds and yet still not be in focus I am not sure why that is and I was hoping you could provide some insight into this behaviour.

Thanks, Vladielena

Laurence Norah says

4th October 2023 at 8:10 am

Hi Vladielna

Of course, you are welcome to comment. I do keep our content up to date, so even if a post was originally published a while ago I do my best to keep to relevant 🙂

On to your question. So the 6400 should have a pretty good focus system, but it’s hard to diagnose the issue without knowing the focus mode in use and what scenario you are taking photos of. Some focus situations are more challenging for a camera to work in, such as lower light scenes or scenes where there isn’t much to focus on (like a plain surface). If you could let me know what you are struggling to photograph and focus mode you are using I can do my best to offer some input!

20th August 2022 at 11:50 pm

I’ve been looking to get into photography for a bit. Pretty settled on getting the 6D Mark II. Any recommendations for lens? I do a good bit of hiking, some traveling through the city and museums, some international travel, and a good bit of stuff outside. Any help is appreciated!

22nd August 2022 at 5:59 pm

Sure thing. So a lot will obviously depend on your budget. A good walk around lens with the 6D might be the Canon 24-105 f/4 L, which covers a useful focal range. If you want more range and are on more of a budget, Tamron’s 28-300 is a good option, although it isn’t quite as wide. Personally I prefer a wide angle lens, but it’s a personal preference. You can always shoot more frames and stitch them together of course.

If you wanted to give me an idea of budget, I’m happy to give some more ideas. Just one thing to bear in mind is that there’s always some sort of trade off when it comes to gear, be it maximum aperture, weight, cost or reach. No-one has come up with the perfect lens that does everything yet!

26th August 2022 at 11:28 pm

Hi Laurence! Thanks for the response! I think the 24-105 is purchasable with the body. For budget I’d probably like to stay under 2k for lens as I’m just getting my feet wet. I’ve seen a canon 50mm f/1.8 stm recommended, any thoughts on thus lens ?

27th August 2022 at 12:35 pm

My pleasure! Yes, the 6D Mark II does usually have the option for the 24-105 as a “kit” lens, but it’s definitely more than your standard kit lens and worth adding on in my opinion.

The 50mm f/1.8, or nifty fifty as it’s often referred to, is a fantastic lens, especially for the price. I recommend everyone has one. It’s not necessarily a “travel” lens because most folks looking for a travel lens want something that covers a range of focal lengths. However, I always suggest people pick one up because it’s a great option for portrait work and anything else where you want a nice shallow depth of field. It can also work as a travel lens, you just have to get used to moving yourself around rather than using the zoom, which is actually not a bad thing.

Let me know if you have any other questions, and enjoy your new gear!

Arijit says

19th July 2020 at 3:46 pm

Great article! Hope you would be able to help me take my decision.

I own a Nikon D5200 (DX) and looking for a single lens which covers all or most aspects of photography (wide angle, portrait, zoom, etc). I had filtered down to 3 lenses- Nikon 18-300 mm (best for Nikon cameras as per your article), Sigma 18-300mm with Macro, Tamron 16-300 with Macro. I had Tamron 18-400 mm in my mind as well but then I thought that additional 100mm is not something I would fancy, as 300mm is still good enough for me and with the Sigma 300mm lens I am getting macro function.

All these 3 lenses are in same price range. But what I researched and understood was that Sigma lenses have best image quality of the three. Undoubtedly, Nikkor has the best overall optics but with Sigma I am also getting a macro feature which I feel I might use more than the 300mm though it is still good to have range.

I also heard that with Sigma 18-300, we might experience stabilization issues at higher mm for video. My requirement is to have the best of image and video quality with a single lens.

Would be grateful if you could share some thoughts on what should I consider.

Thanks in advance!

19th July 2020 at 8:18 pm

Thanks very much! So the lenses you list have some differences. Between the Tamron and the Sigma the Sigma as you say should have the best image quality, specifically sharpness, which is definitely important. Overall though the Nikon is generally better. I would also say that the Macro designation of the Tamron and Sigma is a bit misleading. Whilst they have a slightly closer minimum focus distance than the Nikon, neither are true macro lenses. A true macro lens would allow you to shoot an image with 1:1 magnification, meaning that the size of the image in real life is the same size as it’s reproduced on the sensor. The Tamron and Sigma both only offer a 1:3 magnification.

The reason these two lenses have the macro name is because they can both focus on objects that are within 39cm of the camera, whilst the Nikon has a minimum focus distance of 49cm. Honestly, this is not a big difference, and you will not get a real macro experience from any of these lenses, certainly not enough to make a difference. Usually a macro lens can focus on objects that are 30cm or less from the end of the camera.

So for this reason I would probably recommend the Nikon for overall best performance 🙂

I hope this helps!

Debasis Goswami says

27th February 2020 at 3:44 pm

You never want to put a UV filter for a digital camera. Useless and makes any lens perform poorly. That was such a put off right at the beginning.

27th February 2020 at 3:50 pm

Hi Debasis,

I have to respectfully disagree. A UV filter has protected my lens from damage on a number of occasions, where the filter has been destroyed but the lens is fine. In addition, a good quality UV filter is just a piece of glass, as is the rest of the lens. Studies have shown minimal to no impact in image quality, and it’s generally not noticeable either unless you’re pixel peeping.

In addition, the majority of “weather-sealed” lenses are only truly weather sealed with a filter on.

Of course, I don’t advocate putting a $10 filter on a thousand dollar+ lens. But I do think they are worth it. That said, each to their own. Whatever works for you is best 🙂

Thanks for your comment,

10th November 2019 at 1:14 am

I own a Canon 80D with 10-18 lens, 15-85 Aps-cl ens (probably selling),55-250 (never used probably selling) and Tamron 18-400. I just purchased 24-70 f/4L lens and am thinking of purchasing Canon 6D mark II. I use the 80D for everything and I am thinking the full frame 6DMII will help me get nice crisp pictures in low light and other shots. Do you think this is a good idea to have the crop and get a FF camera? I am not a beginner and not advanced photographer in between the two and still learning

10th November 2019 at 12:05 pm

The 6D Mark 2 is a great camera and will compliment your crop sensor nicely. I always have two bodies, although they are both full frame, it just makes it easier to get shots sometimes without having to mess around switching lenses.

6th September 2019 at 2:31 pm

Hello Laurence, We enjoyed your very well written article. We are getting ready to leave on safari and are looking at purchasing a mirrorless camera. We are very intermediate photographers. We currently use a Canon EOS 7D. We were contemplating staying with Canon due to familiarity. However, your article, as well as others, is pointing toward Sony. What is your recommendation? Lenses, etc? The Sony A7III sounds like the best set up (battery life, etc). What about ease of use? Also, I suppose a need a 200mm or longer telephoto lens, correct. I’m not sure I wanted to invest $5,000 in a camera as we are far from avid photographers. We are traveling more though and expect to get more into photography as we travel. Looking forward to your feedback. Thank you!

6th September 2019 at 3:37 pm

Thanks very much. I would say that if you are happy with the Canon 7D, you should stick with it and spend the money on a lens. A crop sensor camera is a good option for wildlife photography as it gets you closer to the action with the same focal length lens compared to a full frame camera. I would also add that if you are used to the Canon menu system, the Sony will take some getting used to, and many Canon photographers are not keen on the color of the images that Sony cameras produce.

I would instead suggest that you invest in a decent lens for wildlife photography for your Canon, or at least look to rent one. I’d advise something like the Canon 70-200 f/2.8 + a 2x doubler (quite a flexible setup), or the Sigma 150-500. The latter is a bit slower, but the zoom range is pretty amazing!

I hope this helps, let me know if I can help further,

EllenH says

4th September 2019 at 2:19 pm

I have one more question…if I rent a lens or two for my vacation to try out… which ones you choose to shoot Athens Greece and Paros Greece… I have only been in photography 6 months and have a canon EOS rebel T7i

EllenM says

4th September 2019 at 12:17 pm

I have a Canon Rebel T7i… on my next travel we are going to Greece… I will be taking pictures of sunsets, archeology sites, views of the acropolis, Parthenon, mount lycabetta; views of boats and white houses… what is your suggested lens? Sigma 18-300 or the canon 50?

4th September 2019 at 7:06 pm

I would definitely go for the 18-300 which would give you a lot more range and choices for your photography. The 50mm is a great lens, but having a fixed focal length will definitely restrict you!

4th September 2019 at 8:15 pm

I am considering renting… should I stay with this option?

5th September 2019 at 8:08 am

It’s up to you! Are you renting because you want to trial a lens for a future purchase, or just as a one-off? I’d say the Sigma lens you previously mentioned would be a good option in general, but you could rent a more premium lens. I don’t think it would make a huge difference – normally I’d recommend renting for more specialised trips like safaris or other wildlife encounters, where a really nice expensive zoom lens will make a huge difference – but it’s not a lens you’d really use very often otherwise.

I hope this helps 🙂

4th September 2019 at 1:36 am

Hello from Puerto Rico!

I currently own a Canon 6D Mark II eith a 24-105 mm f4 II Lens. I also own a Rokinon 14mm f 2.8 AF and a Tamron 35-105 mm f2.8. I have some traveling planned for November to Spain, France, Italy and Portugal. What should I bring in? Do I need a better Zoom lens such as a 70-200 mm ? I currently have a 75-300 mm f3.5-5.6 crop sensor lens from a previous Canon Camera. Can’t wait for your recommendations!

Best Regards!

4th September 2019 at 7:04 pm

it really depends what you want to photography and how much weight you want to carry! If it’s primarily landscapes and street photography, and you only want one lens, then the 24-105 would be my suggestions. If you want wider shots, then the Rokinon would be the best option.

It’s less likely you will need the extra zoom – it can be useful in some specific situations like wildlife and for candid portraiture from a distance, but it’s a lot of additional weight that you probably won’t use that often!

I hope this helps – have a great time in Europe!

4th September 2019 at 8:41 pm

Thanks! ????

30th August 2019 at 12:37 am

I travel with the Canon 24-70 f/4 on a 6D. Compared to both the 24-70 f/2.8 and 24-105, it weighs less, cost less, and has a sort-of macro mode (.7x) for flowers and any strange bugs one meets. The extra 35mm on the long end I hardly ever miss. I either need no more than 70 or go straight to wishing I had 400.

30th August 2019 at 6:07 am

Great to hear that you have found the right lens for you 🙂 It’s certainly an excellent lens, and a great lighter option for sure. You are right, those few mm don’t make that much difference, especially with how many megapixels most cameras give you these days and the power of cropping!

Happy photography!

Usama Zulfiqar says

14th August 2019 at 10:41 am

Great article and fully endorse your views. I am enthusiastic photographer and have Nikon D750 with 24-120mm f/4, 50mm 1.8 and 85mm 1.8 lens+Godox Flash. I am planning for a short trip to my home town with loads of indoors gathering and few outdoors gatherings as well, but wanted to carry only two lens max.due to weight issue.

I had previously used 24-120mm for shooting a wedding and it went very well as my photos were as good /sharp as photos taken by professional photographer. I am quite comfortable with this lens, despite losing bokeh compared to 50mm and 85mm.

I will also take some portraits and shots of toddlers and kids running around. My question, which lens you recommend to pack in my carrying bag?

14th August 2019 at 8:01 pm

Thank you very much 🙂 So I would say that if you are happy with the performance of the 24-120 f/4, then that would be a great option as it’s going to be pretty versatile. For the other lens (I think you wanted two), I’d personally go with the 85mm as it’s going to be better for portraits, and will be easier for candid work as you will be able to get photos of people with them noticing less. The 50mm is a great lens too, but it’s harder to get those candid moments if you have to stand closer.

I hope this helps. If you really only wanted to take 1 lens I’d probably pick the 50mm as you could always crop, and it will be a bit more versatile for more situations.

31st July 2019 at 2:53 pm

Hi.. On my weekend travels i normally use NIkon 18-55 VR. And Nikon 35mm 1.8G for low light situation. I don’t take Nikor 55-300 and Tamron wide angle in my bag for travel. It’s a little inconvenient to swap the lens for telephoto or wide angle in some situation since travelling with family (we have 2 year old kid) and the weight of the bag carrying too many lens..!

I’m thinking to buy a good walk around lens (Nikor or third party) and sell both NIkor 18-55VR and 55-300 (or at least keep my first lens 18-55VR).

Do you have any suggestion on my situation? what should be the walk around lens i should go for?

31st July 2019 at 3:02 pm

Obviously it will depend on your budget. I’d suggest either the 18-300mm in the list above, which would be a good all around option. Alternatively if you want a wider aperture for lower light, then you might consider the 24-70 2.8. However it has much less focal length and is also quite expensive, so I think the 18-300 would be a better walkaround option, and would replace your two other lenses you mention.

18th July 2019 at 4:31 am

Thanks for your great articles Laurence, I have found them very informative and clearly explained, which is most helpful to a beginner photographer trying to learn more about the key features of the camera/lens setup and how they impact picture quality. Please forgive the newbie question, but in describing the lenses, you talk about a lens being faster or slower than another? What does that mean in layman’s terms, ie. how is a lens faster than another ? does it refer to the time the light takes to reach the sensor and hence how quickly you can take multiple shots or something else ?

18th July 2019 at 6:08 am

My pleasure. That is a great question, and I should definitely explain it in the article. However, first I’ll tell you 🙂

So, a fast lens is so called because it will have a wider aperture. A wider aperture lets more light in, which means you can use a faster shutter speed, compared to a lens with a smaller aperture (in the same light conditions). Hence, a “fast” lens. The aperture, shutter speed and ISO are all linked in the way a camera works, which I explain in much more detail in my guide to exposure, which you can see here:

https://www.findingtheuniverse.com/exposure-triangle-photography/

Let me know if that doesn’t make sense. It’s not a totally obvious concept I’m afraid, but with a bit of practice it should start to make sense 😉

10th July 2019 at 12:33 pm

Hi Lawrence,

Thank you so much for such nice explanations about different features of camera and lenses. I truly loved the details. I am just wondering in the sentence below, which you wrote

“So a 100mm lens on an APS-C sized sensor will give the same result in terms of the image as you would be able to achieve with a 160mm lens on a full frame camera.”

Shouldn’t it be the other way around? That is a 160 mm lens on APS-C camera will give same result for 100 mm lens on a full frame?

Thanks again, I look forward to your answer.

10th July 2019 at 12:46 pm

Just wondering if what you wrote is correct, does it mean that for a wide angle picture (for a given lens), a full frame sensor is better than APS-C? Whereas, for a magnified/zoomed image an APS-C sensor is better?

12th July 2019 at 4:23 am

For a zoomed image, an APS-C sensor is often preferred as it gives more “zoom” to the lenses, hence why wildlife photographers like crop sensors 🙂

12th July 2019 at 4:22 am

What I wrote was correct 🙂 A 100mm lens on an APS-C sensor has a crop factor applied. You multiply the lens focal length by the crop factor (for most APS-C lenses this is 1.6x), giving an equivalent of 160mm.

Liz Hetherington says

5th May 2019 at 6:01 am

Hi I recently moved from full frame Nikon to Nikon mirrorless and bought the standard z6 kit with 24-70 f4 for less weight while travelling. I did trade in my F 2.8 🙁 . I’m now a bit worried I’m not going to be happy with this new lens in comparison. Your thoughts? Also do you think it’s worth getting the 50mm 1.8 prime? I’m off to Alaska hiking and kayaking. I love taking landscapes, macro and wildlife Liz

5th May 2019 at 9:39 am

To be honest, unless you are doing a great deal of low light work, or shooting events like weddings, I think the lighter nature of the f/4 lens will make up for the loss of one stop of light. For travel, personally as a landscape photographer I rarely find myself shooting wide open, except for the odd portrait or wildlife shot. And the one stop I don’t think is hugely significant for wildlife photography. When I’m shooting wildlife, even though I have a 70-200 f/2.8 lens, I usually have a doubler on it, so it ends up being an f/5.6, and I’ve not had any problems!

For what you are shooting, I’m not sure the 50mm prime will be much use. It’s usually a nice way to get great portraits on the cheap, but I’m not sure you’d find yourself using it all that much 🙂

I hope this helps – I think you’ll be happy with your lens choice!

Image Earth Travel says

28th March 2019 at 1:44 pm

Great write-up and comparisons – lots of food for thought!

I have to mention that I don’t totally agree with your view on the Nikkor 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G VR lens. I’ve been using this lens on my Nikon D600 since 2013, but travelling full time since 2014. The lens diminishes my D600’s 24.3 MP to only 10P-MP. A testing link you may be interested to check out: https://www.dxomark.com/Lenses/Nikon/AF-S-NIKKOR-28-300mm-f-3.5-5.6-ED-VR-mounted-on-Nikon-D600__834

In addition, the distortion the lens creates when taking architectural images is much higher than my previous cheaper Canon EOS550D+Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 that I used on my 2011, 10-month trip. (Prior to these 2 models, I used a combination of film cameras and lenses.)

Overall, I’m disappointed with my decision to swap from Canon to Nikon – not only much more expensive, but not optimal for travelling as the camera+lens weighs around 3kgs.

I’m yet to discover the best travel camera+lens combination to handle candid and landscapes (including architecture) photography. I like the idea of just having one camera body+one lens – for me, it’s always going to be a zoom lens. So, I understand that the optics of the zoom will never be as good as a fixed lens and always a compromise, but for the money I spent back in 2013 on my Nikon kit I expected better quality. Only as good as the lens right? 😉

28th March 2019 at 3:33 pm

So I am a little confused – this is an FX lens on an FX body, so there should be no reduction in megapixel and it should be able to use the full sensor frame. I don’t understand how it would cause the images to go down to 10MP – that would normally only happen if you used a DX lens on an FX body.

Lens distortions are always going to be an issue for sure, although they can be often fixed in Lightroom or other photo editing software. But yes, the greater the focal range of the lens in my experience, the lower the image quality and the greater the distortion. It’s just a reality unfortunately.

I think you might overall be better off with a different system entirely in weight is more important. Perhaps one of the mirrorless systems. There are many to choose from, especially if you don’t mind stepping down a bit in sensor size. Ultimately though, you are right, good glass is critical to great images – but it tends to come at a price (and weight!).

Saikat Sen says

26th August 2019 at 4:42 am

Disappointed to see that you have not considered the Tamron 16-300 VC f/3.5-6.3, which according to my experience is a great walk around travel lens, weighing just about a pound, cheaper than any other lens you have mentioned here and providing 16mm at the wide end, which roughly equivalent to 24mm at the APS C sensor. Needless to say that it has full-time manual override, which is very useful to those who really like to use it manually with the library to get the auto focus as and when required.

26th August 2019 at 7:25 pm

Thanks for your comment, and I’m delighted you’ve found a lens that works for you. There are lots of great lenses out there! I think the 18-400 Tamron I recommend is a good option, but of course, if folks would prefer something a little lighter and don’t mind trading off a bit of focal length on the zoom end, then the 16-300 is a great option too 🙂

Lucas Peters says

11th February 2019 at 8:08 pm

Thank you for taking the time to put this article together. I’m sure it’s a ton of research. For the next one, really consider the Sony 24-105mm G OSS f/4. I’ve been using it for travel (England, Iceland, France, Spain and Morocco) over the last few months and am super happy. On a full-frame, you can crop to get an equivalent 150mm or so range for a nice little punch-in. Nice colors. Solid sharpness (though a tad softer at 105, but not too bad), an overall better performance than the SonyZeiss 24-70mm with a larger range. Check it out when you can.

12th February 2019 at 5:42 pm

Thanks for the input, that’s much appreciated. I will certainly take a look at that lens and consider including it 😀

12th February 2019 at 9:07 pm

If you liked the Canon L 24-105, you’ll probably like this a lot.

Curious why you are adverse to small primes. I probably do the vast majority of my shooting with the Sony-Zeiss 35mm 2.8 (you can get them 2nd hand pretty consistently for 300-400 now, making it a great budget option). It’s an awesomely light weight walk around kit.

13th February 2019 at 9:11 pm

I’m not adverse to them at all, I think they are awesome bits of kit. However, for this post the goal was picking lenses that the majority of folks would use without having to carry too many lenses, and whilst I love primes for their sharpness and speed, I think the majority of folks reading this guide are looking more for a one size fits all solution 🙂

Alicja Abela says

30th January 2019 at 12:44 am

I am a beginner photographer and am wanting to buy a Canon 80D for a trip to NZ in November. What lense/ lenses would you suggest for getting landscape shots but also wildlife? much appreciate your advice.

30th January 2019 at 7:28 pm

So for landscapes I’d recommend a wide angle lens like the Canon EF-S 10-18mm. That’s a really good value lens, and the ultrawide angle will let you get some great landscapes. The logical lens to pair it with would be the Tamrom 18-400, which would be great for pretty much everything else, including portraits and wildlife. These are not super expensive lenses, which also makes them lighter for travel, but if you wanted to spend more for some reason, I can recommend more expensive lenses too of course!

Have an amazing time in New Zealand 🙂

1st February 2019 at 8:48 am

Thank you for the recommendation. After looking at the pricing of both 80d and lenses I think I will have to look for a cheaper model such as a 200D. Are there a couple of lenses that I could take that would do a good job on landscapes, action and wildlife that would add up to around $1000 Aus doll ars max?

1st February 2019 at 6:43 pm

So you could get away with just the Tamron lens, and not getting the wide angle. It will work for the majority of shots. Or you could get the Sigma 18-300 and the Canon 10-18, which should come in to $1000.

I am assuming the $1000 doesn’t include the camera purchase. If that is included then you will likely be best buying that body only, and then getting the Sigma 18-300.

Alicja says

2nd February 2019 at 12:44 am

Thank you so much. That was so helpful!

12th December 2018 at 12:57 pm

You have the details wrong on the Lumix wide zoom, it is 8-18 not 8-14

12th December 2018 at 1:06 pm

Good catch! Thanks very much, I’ve updated the post 🙂

26th October 2018 at 3:53 pm

Great article..!

I have Nikon D3400 camera with kit lens amd 35mm Nikon prime lens. Normally i use 35mm lens when we go for family trip. Even if it is a good lens i miss many good shots since it is not wide enough. I am thinking about buying a wide angle lens for travel photography (weekend road trip with family 🙂 ). I considered Tamron 10-24mm VC and Nikon 10-20mm VR. What is your suggestion on my situation ? Should i stick with my kit lens for travel or buy any other walk around lens like Nikon 18-300 or Tamron 18-400?

26th October 2018 at 6:10 pm

Thanks! It’s hard to know exactly what to advise as I’m not sure if you are into wildlife photography or any other types of photography where you will be using the extra length of a longer zoom. So whilst the 18-300 or 18-400 or certainly good options, I think if your main issue is currently not being wide enough, and wide angle photography interests you more, then a 10-24 or 10-20 would be a better choice.

Another option is to try the 18-400 or 18-300 and see if it is wide enough for your needs. The difference between 10mm and 18mm is quite a lot, but you might find it suits what you want to do with, plus gives you a lot more flexibility and choice of focal lengths.

16th October 2018 at 8:34 am

Hi, Great article! I am planning to upgrade from 550D to an 80D, and was wondering about the lenses I could pair it up with. I have a canon 50mm f/1.8 STM prime which I love (and so does the rest of the world, it seems!). I ditched my 6 yrs old canon 18-55 IS II for a sigma 18-35 f/1.8. And on the telephoto end, I am aiming for the Tamron 100-400. Have read some good reviews about it, and its probably the lightest and most easy-to carry telephoto of that range (though not the best w.r.t. IQ, but would be a huge improvement over my notoriously soft canon 55-250 IS II). I shoot birds at times, and so need a good telephoto range. I am slightly worried about losing the mid range (50-100), but was analysing my pictures, and realised I don’t shoot very often in that range. Would love to hear your opinion as well.

17th October 2018 at 7:45 pm

So the good news as you no doubt already know is that the 550D and the 80D have the same sized sensor and mount, so all your lenses will just work across the cameras. I would say that you would be fine without the middle focal length. We usually travel with a 17-40 and a 70-200, and we’re usually shooting either very wide at 17mm or 100mm+, so don’t miss that middle range too much! It all depends on the kind of photography you do, and it sounds like you have a solid idea of what it is you want to shoot, as well as the focal ranges you use most regularly. So if that lens suits your budget and needs, I would say to go for it!

julie anne says

3rd October 2018 at 6:00 pm

hello I just want to ask what camera lens is compatible with canon m50? thanks

4th October 2018 at 4:00 am

Hey Julie! Great question. So you have two main options – there’s a range of EF-M lenses made by Canon for the camera, which I haven’t included here as they are quite specific to the EOS M range. The other option is to get the adaptor which will let you use any EF-S or EF lens, which you can get here: https://amzn.to/2DV5fy5

In which case, the Canon lenses listed here, as well as various third party lenses from brands like Sigma and Tamron will work. Hope this helps!

Caitlin says

25th August 2018 at 1:17 pm

Thank you so much for this informative post. I am starting out on my travel photography journey across the Middle East and was overwhelmed by where to begin with cameras. This was very helpful!

25th August 2018 at 1:33 pm

My pleasure! Let us know if you have any questions 🙂

Ira Sockowitz says

9th August 2018 at 8:15 pm

Laurence, thanks for a very thoughtful and in-depth discussion of options for a wide range of shooters.

As an owner of two bodies, Canon 5D and 5D Mark II respectively, I already own some of the lenses you reference. As I am planning a 9-15 moth RTW trip, I have a couple of questions for you: 1. My everyday lens is the 24-70 f2.8L so covered there. If you are willing to bear the wight, should I carry my 70-200 f.28L? I think I see it in some of your photos and wonder of its uses – close ups of nice architecture as well as long landscape shots. If not, what lighter weight alternative do you use/recommend? 2. Should I consider a smaller, more pocket-sized or easily managed camera for urban travel? I note that you use a mirrorless and again ask about the utility of doing that versus carrying my larger DSLR everywhere.

Appreciate all that you and Jessica do to aide us travelers and look forward to your reply.

9th August 2018 at 8:36 pm

Hi Ira. My pleasure, and thanks for your kind words.

So I normally travel with a 17-40 and a 70-200. So you could say I’m missing that classic middle ground, but I find the other two lenses cover enough to make up for it. If I was going on a round the world trip, I think I would lean more towards leaving the 70-200 at home. It is massively heavy, and unless there are really specific shots you want, you might find yourself doing fine with the 24-70. I would perhaps look at investing in a 2x extender instead and using that with your 24-70. It won’t be quite as amazing as the 70-200 in terms of sharpness and autofocus speed, but if you’re not shooting fast moving subjects, or planning on selling your photos to be printed on the side of buildings, I don’t think you’ll notice 🙂

We do travel with a Lumix GX8, which is a great camera. However, if I was to start over, I think I’d likely look at one of the larger sensor compact cameras for more casual use. These are really quite compact and portable, shoot in RAW, and have decent manual controls. The later Sony RX100 models, or the Panasonic Lumix TZ100 / TX200 would be my choice I think, purely so I can have a simple solution that doesn’t come with its own lens ecosystem to worry about!

I hope this helps, happy to expand more of course 🙂

1st August 2018 at 1:51 am

Thanks so much for the very helpful article.

I’ve been using a T3i and the 18-200mm for years, and am upgrading for my latest trip. I just got the Canon 77D and am contemplating whether to get a new lens as well. Realistically, I usually only carry one lens since it is a pain to switch; the 18-200 has done a great job covering both landscapes and far off subjects, but lately I’ve been more aware when it isn’t crisp. Do you think it is worth it to go for something like an 18-55 (similar to the 24-70 full frame on an APS-C I think) or similar? I’m not sure how much better the image quality would be (obviously some with the smaller range, but unclear the degree of improvement).

1st August 2018 at 11:45 am

First, I’d definitely ask if you need the extra range of something like the 18-200 – if you often find yourself at the more zoom end of the lens, then you will likely be unsatisfied with a shorter focal length.

Second, a newer camera body with a better sensor is definitely going to highlight the issues with your existing lens, so if you are noticing problems on the T3i with your existing lens, these will only be more apparent with a better body unfortunately. Of course, it also depends on what you are using your photos for – whilst images can look bad when we inspect them close up, if your shots are mostly for social media or relatively small images, you might not really notice, but for larger use, and especially for printing, you will likely want a higher quality lens.

Without an idea of your budget, its hard to give an exact recommendation, but generally higher quality means higher cost unfortunately!

One good option would be to rent a couple of the lenses you are looking into to see if you can really tell the difference, and go from there 🙂

4th August 2018 at 10:27 pm

On past trips I’ve definitely found myself using the range of the lens to take portraits of people from far away, and get far off statues etc., though the majority of my use is landscape and smaller zooms.

For now, my pictures are mostly just stored on my computer, but eventually I would like to print larger versions of them (though more likely in the 16×24 range, not huge). I’d like to keep expenditure <$1000 on the lens – I think the rental idea is a good one!

Rick Petersen says

18th June 2018 at 3:11 am

My camera system and lenses are pretty set, but it was informative article. Like seeing others opinions on gear which is how I found this.

Currently shooting a Lumix GX8, with the Leica 12-60mm and Leica 25mm. Love this combo and concur with your recommendation of a standard zoom and fast prime.

19th June 2018 at 11:23 pm

Thanks Rick! We also have the GX8, it’s a lovely camera, and we have it with the Lumix 12-35 f/2.8 which is a great walkaround travel lens too. Sounds like you have the perfect set up for travel, light and discreet 🙂 HAppy shooting!

16th June 2018 at 8:21 pm

After reading all that you still don’t come up with a good travel lens??????? Whats the point????

16th June 2018 at 10:17 pm

Hey Max! The goal of the article is to help folk navigate the fairly overwhelming choice of travel lenses, with suggestions given for different camera systems and budgets. Most folks should have an idea of what their camera system is, and then what their budget is, and from that it should be easy to use this post to decide which is going to be the best lens for them 🙂

Thomas FISCHER says

31st May 2018 at 1:31 pm

Great great article.

I am wondering for MFT what do think about thoses lenses for travelling: – 14-140 II F3.5 – lumix 7-14 F4 – lumix leica 15 mm F1.7 – lumix 42.5 F1/7

31st May 2018 at 7:27 pm

Thanks very much. I do love prime lenses because you get that lovely shallow depth of field effect, and they tend to be really sharp. I didn’t recommend any in my post because, well, I would have been writing forever, but with a micro four thirds system they make good sense because the whole system is smaller, so for travelling you can still have some prime lenses. I’d say your selection is ideal for travelling, with a focal range to cover pretty much everything from landscapes to animals, plus some nice lenses for portraits. So yes, I think you’ve picked some excellent choices!

13th May 2018 at 8:33 am

Hi Scott, and thanks for your comment. THe post is definitely new, although we do of course update old posts to ensure they are still relevant. In this case though that isn’t the case, I just missed that lens. I’ll take a look and see where it would fit, and thanks again for your input. Cheers, Laurence.

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• Lenses Travel

17 Best Lenses for Travel Photography

• Jonathan Jacoby

Last updated:

• March 11, 2024
• See comments

Travel photography can be physically and technically demanding. Not only do you need to stay on the move and maintain a certain awareness of your surroundings while utilizing your knowledge of composition to your advantage to really bring your travel destinations to life. You also need the right gear to pull it off!

This includes carrying only the greatest and best lens for travel photography. But what makes or breaks a good travel photography lens, apart from superior image quality?

Ultimately, it’s a matter of taste. Still, there are some qualities that experts and pro photographers prefer over others.

For instance, travel photography often necessitates carrying as little gear as possible and working only with natural light. That’s why excellent low-light performance is a hallmark of any high-end lens for travel photography. And that’s just one example!

In this guide, I’ll explain many of the key features and attributes that make up a perfect travel lens. Further down below, I will also make some recommendations on the top lenses for travel photography available today for different camera systems.

The Meaning of Focal Length in Travel Photography

Focal length affects the effectiveness and usability of a camera lens for travel photography in just about every way. The most fundamental of these is ergonomics.

Too long of a lens will be unwieldy to use in tight spaces. At the same time, a wide angle lens might not offer the kind of secure grip and stability that you’re after.

But the tradeoffs between focal lengths go much deeper than that! Let’s take a look at how and why in the following segments.

An Intro to Crop Factors and Sensor Sizes

You’re probably already aware of the term “crop factor” in relation to different digital sensor sizes and their effects on images. But what exactly is the crop factor about? And how does a crop sensor camera render photographs differently from a full-frame camera?

The answer is actually pretty simple. Focal length being equal, a larger sensor will always render photography with a wider field of view, greater dynamic range, and a shallower minimum depth of field than a smaller sensor.

The most important takeaway from this is that a 50mm prime lens on a full frame body will produce a different (more “normal”) perspective than on APS-C format (where it will be more like a short telephoto lens).

The “crop factor” is just a factor by which you multiply your lens’ focal length to arrive at the focal length you would need to use on full frame to achieve the same perspective and FOV.

For APS-C, the factor lies at an easy-to-remember 1.5. Because a Micro 4/3 sensor is even smaller than that, its crop factor is 2.0. Hence, a 50mm lens behaves as a 100mm would on full-frame, and so on.

Here is our guide to understanding the difference between crop sensors and full frame cameras .

Pros and Cons of Different Sensor Formats

All of that can be both a boon or a burden depending on your needs.

Travel photographers who specialize in wildlife or event photography, for instance, might prefer the more “zoomed-in” look that smaller sensors provide. It allows them to carry a shorter lens to get the same level of reach that they would with a larger camera body.

This also cuts down on bulk, making for a more luggage-friendly setup.

On the other hand, working professionals who often have to dabble in landscape photography, street photography, or similar genres might find it difficult to achieve truly ultra-wide angle shots with the limited FOV that comes with a crop sensor.

Take a note to assess the benefits and disadvantages of this fact yourself to see which sensor size is best for your travel photography needs.

Using a Telephoto Lens for Travel Photography

Lenses with longer focal lengths are commonly used in travel photography, where portraiture , animal photography, and faraway subjects play a key role.

This mostly includes 80mm and above on full frame bodies and 50mm and above on APS-C.

Telephoto lenses are great for their ability to home in on distant details. They also flatten out and minimize certain optical features and distortions, which again makes them preferable for portraiture.

The downside is that dedicated telephoto lenses are large, bulky, and more difficult to carry than other kinds of lenses. Longer lenses are also much slower on average than shorter ones – finding that elusive 200mm f/2.8 is possible, but it’s going to cost you an arm and a leg, whereas 28mm f/2.8 options are plentiful and relatively cheap by comparison.

In practice, this means that using a telephoto lens for travel photography in low natural light can be very difficult without the help of a flash gun or other additional equipment.

The Value of a Wide Angle Lens

The complete opposite of longer camera lenses is a wide-angle design, generally of a focal length of 35mm or less on full-frame sensors.

These lenses can be produced in an extremely compact form factor which makes them handy and perfect for candid, fast-paced travel photography. They also cover a very wide field of view which can be useful for documenting landscapes and cityscapes and even for close-up portraits on location outdoors.

In the past, a moderately fast wide angle prime lens, in addition to a normal lens of about 50mm (full-frame FOV equivalent) and telephoto was an absolute must-have in every serious travel photographer’s camera bag.

Nowadays, there is an alternative that has seriously challenged that traditional paradigm.

The Convenience and Usefulness of Zoom Lenses for Travel Photography

The zoom lens is a fairly recent innovation, having only been in mass production since the 1960s and only having really supplanted the use of many different prime lenses since the beginning of the century.

The reason why the market eventually swung in favor of zoom lenses is self-explanatory. They combine the fields of view and perspectives of multiple lenses into one, saving a lot of space from any travel photographer’s camera bag.

However, there is also an equally good reason why this shift has taken so long.

First of all, zoom lenses that cover a very wide focal length spectrum (sometimes called a superzoom lens) are optically very hard to design. This is because the more a lens is capable of zooming, the more artifacts, distortions, and other optical flaws creep in, which have to be corrected.

The most straightforward way of implementing such corrections is by the inclusion of more specialized glass elements. Oftentimes especially nowadays, these elements will be specially coated, cut in an aspherical fashion, and made with rare earth-based materials.

Optically, this can bring amazing results. However, it dramatically increases bulk and cost. It gets even worse when a superzoom design has to be both optically stable and provide a fast aperture.

Therefore, the classic choice has always been between the cheap and small do-it-all zoom that optically pales in comparison to even bargain bin prime lenses, or alternatively the jack-of-all-trades professional superzoom that drains both the muscles and the wallet.

Thankfully, the advancement of modern optical science and technology has allowed for many zooms to be practical enough to serve as frontline lenses for working travel photographers, and I included some of the best of these in today’s roundup below!

Choosing the Best Camera Lens for Travel Photography is a Personal Matter

Before we dive right into the specifics of what makes certain lenses a better choice for travel photography than others, I would like to reiterate the value of personal preference.

Simply put, nobody can tell you what the “best lens” of any kind really is in objective terms. Travel photography simply covers too broad of a scope, with way too many disciplines and skill sets to focus on.

Maybe you mostly shoot landscapes on your travel adventures. In that case, super-fast apertures and lightning-fast autofocus probably won’t interest you.

However, the opposite is true should your needs and workload overlap more with those of classic photojournalism .

Some may say that all personal preference aside, optical quality, or the balance between optical quality and price, should be the main concern when choosing a travel lens.

That is a valid point, of course. The problem is that throughout the history of photography, what constitutes “good” optics has changed a lot!

You might not want your favorite, go-to travel lenses to be the sharpest in the whole world, and that’s okay. You might not need a super-compact pancake prime. In fact, I know plenty of photographers who purposely tend to go for larger, bulkier lenses because they prefer those kinds of ergonomics.

In the end, I am just a guy with a camera like anybody. So take my advice with a grain of salt and try to apply it to your own needs and requirements first before acting on it!

Top Wide Angle Prime Lenses for Travel Photography

To kick off this round-up, I am going to take a look at some of the finest wide angle prime travel lenses by lens mount and camera system. No matter where your brand loyalties lie, there is going to be a top-ranking pick for you!

While wide angle primes are becoming a less common sight, they still serve an important purpose for the discerning travel photographer.

They capture a wide field of view and do so while being many times more compact and lightweight than their wide zoom lens counterparts.

Often, their maximum aperture is also much faster than that of comparable zooms, which makes them the only serious option for outdoor photography in low light.

Sony Zeiss Distagon T* FE 35mm f/1.4

With a mouthful of a name like that flaunting none other than Zeiss’ magic fingers involved in its design, it’s no wonder that the Sony Zeiss Distagon T* FE 35mm f/1.4 is a top-flight performer.

Thanks to excellent sharpness, wonderful bokeh rendition at larger apertures, class-leading low-light performance, and very few if any real optical flaws, this is a universally appreciated and desirable lens considered one of the best primes in the Sony FE lineup.

The main downsides of this lens are that it is quite bulky, heavy, and expensive.

The more compact Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 is a similar though much more portable lens at two stops slower of a maximum aperture and can often be had for half the price of its bigger brother.

Sony Zeiss Sonnar T* E 24mm f/1.8

Just as with Sony’s flagship FE full frame lenses, the cream of the crop of its E-series APS-C lineup is also designed in collaboration with Carl Zeiss.

The optical characteristics of this 24mm Sonnar-type lens are very similar to the 35mm-focal length variant I mentioned above. It features an extremely close minimum focusing distance of only 18cm while incorporating all the optical goodies of its full frame brethren like ED and aspherical glass and fully internal focusing.

However, the fast aperture combined with a much wider focal length (equivalent to the FOV that a 35mm lens gives on full frame) makes this the better choice for an APS-C camera.

If you really want to maximize the carry-anywhere factor and aren’t opposed to going wider than 24mm on a crop sensor, then take a look at the Sony E 20mm f/2.8 .

A truly fast pancake ultra-wide angle lens like this is rare, and Sony’s example is even relatively affordable! No wonder it’s quickly becoming a darling among travel and street photography pros worldwide.

Nikon 28mm f/1.4E ED

One of the shining jewels of the swansong era of Nikon’s legendary F-mount lens lineup, the 28mm f/1.4E ED is a revamp of the similar 28mm f/1.4D from the 1990s.

Like its predecessor, it’s an optically stunning and physically massive wide angle lens suitable for travel photography and documentary genres in every lighting condition.

Its super-sized maximum aperture has also made it popular among portraitists who don’t favor the traditionally more common choice of a short telephoto lens, preferring to get up close and personal with their subjects.

Those who would prefer to pack light should instead look at the Nikon AF-S 24mm f/1.8G ED . Smaller, much easier to carry, just a smidge wider, and just two-thirds of a stop slower, it’s an excellent alternative, particularly for beginning photographers who don’t want to invest too much into a relatively niche wide angle prime travel lens right away.

Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S

The Nikon Z mount is the youngest among the mainline mirrorless camera lens lineups today, and as such it is understandable that the Japanese giant chose to focus on quality over quantity instead of playing catch-up with its competition.

What that mindset has created is a fine lineup of a few outright excellent wide angle prime lenses for Z mount. The most lauded of them all is the Nikon Z 20mm 1/1.8 S , an expensive but optically stunning fast prime with extremely snappy autofocus capabilities and a focal length that is very usable on both full frame and crop sensor bodies.

For street photography aficionados who prefer something a bit more incognito, I recommend the Nikon Z 28mm f/2.8 . It’s neither as ultra-wide nor as hyperfast as its bigger brother, but it excels in cramming a ton of good glass into a minuscule package that you can keep on your camera all day long.

Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM

With a fast aperture and a perfect middle-of-the-road focal length that is perfectly suited to crop sensor as well as full frame cameras, the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM is designed as the flagship wide angle prime lens of the EF DSLR line.

It succeeds in this role thanks to excellent sharpness, low light capability, and real class-leading build quality and ergonomics that rival the best that Nikon and Sony can offer.

Like other superfast wide angles, it is a bit on the larger side. Those who would like to achieve a similar FOV with a lot less metal sticking out of their camera should take a look at the EF-S 24mm f/2.8 STM .

A real pancake, it’s only two stops slower and features similar optical characteristics, making it one of the most useful Canon lenses in its focal range.

Top Normal Primes for Travel Photographers

Unlike wide-angles, whose optical formulas need to be quite complex to maintain distortion-free high image quality, a normal prime is one of the most ancient and simplest formulas to produce.

This makes normal primes many things – cheap, plentiful, fast, exceedingly sharp, and easy to handle. I’m of the opinion that any travel photographer should own a little “nifty fifty” as the simplest kind of walkabout lens.

Not only is it fun to use, but a fixed 50mm (full frame equivalent) is also a hugely versatile lens, perhaps one of the most versatile you can spend your money on!

Nikon AF-S 50mm f1/.8G

Descended from a long line of similar f/1.8 “nifty fifties”, the Nikon AF-S 50mm f/1.8G is not just one of the stalwart brand’s best. It is also their cheapest.

For about 50% more, you can invest in the similar AF-S 50mm f/1.4G . However, I would only recommend the move if you have the money to spare and you really need the extra light that the wider aperture gives you.

The basic 1.8 model is just about excellent in terms of optics and deserves its title as one of Nikon’s most popular lenses ever!

Fujifilm XF 35mm f/2R WR

The Fujifilm X System is chock-full of amazing prime lenses, and the XF 35mm f/2R WR is one of the best examples of that fact. Because the X System is APS-C-only, a 35mm lens is a much better choice for a walkabout normal prime than a 50mm.

This particular lens excels because it ticks every imaginable box at a more than reasonable price point. It’s small, light, and exceptionally well-made, with snappy controls and quick, silent autofocus.

What’s more, it’s plenty fast for its focal length, making it a good choice for portraiture and moderate low-light photography, too! As a nice bonus, this lens also features full weather sealing for use on any of the pro-grade Fujifilm X System bodies.

Sony FE 50mm f/1.8

Though it’s not as tiny as some alternatives, Sony’s 50mm f/1.8 more than makes up for that fact with its fast aperture, excellent sharpness, and low price.

There is little to fault with this lens, optically or otherwise. Despite its entry-level nature, it feels just as nice in the hands as any of the brand’s more upscale models, making it the perfect gateway into the Sony mirrorless system.

Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

When the Canon EOS R mirrorless camera system came out, it made a big splash in the world of photography.

Much of that had to do with the inherent innovation and high performance of the new design, but unfortunately, Canon R lenses and cameras also acquired a reputation for being prohibitively expensive.

To fix this problem and allow more young photographers to switch from existing DSLRs to the new R lineup, Canon devised a classic, cheap nifty fifty in the form of the RF 50mm f/1.8 STM .

There’s nothing more to say about the lens other than that it worked on every level that Canon was hoping for. It’s sharp, it’s fast, it’s genuinely affordable, and it does everything it’s meant to do while looking good, being reasonably well-built, and having fun. Bravo!

The Top Telephoto Primes for Travel Photography

As with wide angle lenses, the advantages of telephoto primes over a zoom lens are mainly that they are capable of the same (or superior) image quality at a lower cost and weight as well as at a smaller size.

This makes them particularly relevant to the modern travel photographer who might only require the telephoto end for a few occasional portraits or other specialist shots, not for the bulk of their work.

Sigma 56mm f/1.4 DC DN C

Available for both Micro Four Thirds, Sony E, and Fuji X Mounts, this telephoto lens by Sigma stands out as one of their recent best.

Its excellent sharpness, wide aperture, and sturdy construction are impressive on their own. But what really sets the bar high with this lens is how affordably Sigma manages to market it while making it available for multiple different camera systems, no less!

Yes, there are some higher-quality options with slightly faster apertures of f/1.2. But for the vast majority of photographers who need a reliable, (somewhat) pocketable, and optically solid telephoto lens for travel, this is it.

Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S

One of the more affordable recent offerings for Z-mount, the Nikon Z 85mm f/1.8 S is a mid-size telephoto prime with a fast aperture that’s perfect for portraiture on the move.

Its autofocus system lags a bit behind that of its more expensive siblings, but for anything short of very demanding use in sports and action photography, it should suffice.

Simply put, this is a no-nonsense portrait telephoto option for anyone working with the Nikon Z mount in APS-C format or full frame.

Sigma DG HSM Art 50mm f/1.4

Available for multiple lens mounts, including Nikon’s F mount, Canon’s EF, and Sony’s E and A mounts, the Sigma DG HSM Art 50mm f/1.4 is a benchmark for modern crop-sensor telephotos.

It’s a complex optical design with a whopping 13 elements in 8 groups, giving it an incredibly balanced optical profile nearly entirely devoid of aberrations or distortions.

The main thing that the Sigma DG HSM Art 50mm f/1.4 sacrifices in favor of these admirable qualities is price – that might sound a bit counterintuitive for a 3rd party lens like this, but those are the times we live in!

Sigma has since expanded on the high-end performance of this 50mm with a whole family of similar “Art” lenses, many of which are also great choices for travel photography.

The Top Zoom Lenses for Travel Photography

With all that I have said about fixed focal length camera lenses so far, there is no denying that the real deal in convenience lies with zooms.

Whether just to cover the tricky wide end to save on glass or to replace an entire camera bag all at once, a well-made zoom lens with an appropriate zoom range for your needs can very well be one of the best lenses for travel photography, period.

Nikon AF-S FX 24-120mm f/4G ED VR

The modern successor to the original 24-120mm f/3.5-5.6D from the 1990s aka “the Streetsweeper”, this jewel carries on the mantle of one of Nikon’s most versatile walkabout zooms.

Now equipped with built in image stabilization (Vibration Reduction or VR in Nikon lingo) and a constant maximum aperture, the 24-120mm is niftier than ever. Optical performance remains above average to excellent as before, depending on which part of the zoom range is most important to you.

Note that this isn’t meant to be a benchmark lens in terms of optics but rather a usable do-it-all that combines its impressive zoom range with enough character and extra features to stay on your camera all day.

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM

This is Canon’s spin on the “Streetsweeper” lens concept. Compared to the Nikon alternative, this lens is built tougher, larger, and heavier, with a zoom range that tops out a little bit short.

On the other hand, optical quality is a lot more uniform here, with fewer distortions, especially towards the ultra-wide end.

Thanks to the same f/4 constant aperture, image stabilization, and silent, worry-free autofocus as its rivals, the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM manages to be a serious contender in this tightly packed field of travel camera lenses.

Fujinon XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR

Equivalent to a 24-120mm on full frame, the Fujinon XF 16-80mm f/4 R OIS WR is a perfect showcase of how to adapt a formula like the above to an APS-C lens.

Small, lightweight, yet loaded with all the goodies you would expect from larger pro lenses, such as a constant max aperture, it’s among Fujifilm’s most usable do-it-all lenses for travel.

Unlike some of the faster constant-aperture zooms by Fujifilm, this one is also fully stabilized – another bonus that many travel photographers will surely appreciate!

Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM

Travel-friendly ultra-wide zoom lenses are difficult to design and manufacture, but Sigma managed to wow the industry with its fast 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM .

It’s not the most affordable lens by a stretch, but you can’t fault its quality whatsoever.

The big names like Nikon and Canon have their own in-house 14-24mm designs, but the Sigma manages to be fairly competitive in terms of optics while costing a notch less than any of them.

That, and its easily hand-holdable form factor combine to make it probably the single best ultra-wide travel camera lens at the moment.

Sony FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS

Typically, travel lenses zoom within a range of somewhere between 3x and 6x to balance out complexity and optical stability with size and bulk. Nikon’s 24-120mm set the template with a 5x range that has been copied countless times by now.

With one of their latest FE-mount gems, Sony chose to double that and make a 10x superzoom lens that can replace an entire camera bag on its own.

Sure, it hasn’t got a fixed maximum aperture – that would involve ludicrous amounts of overengineering, given the number of focal lengths this thing covers.

If you can make that one concession though, Sony’s FE 24-240mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS is one of the greatest excuses to pack fewer lenses (or maybe just one, in fact) on your next trip.

I hope you enjoyed this take on the best travel-ready camera lenses available in 2024!

The selection included in this guide should contain a good fit for a whole lot of different shooting styles, camera systems, and experience levels.

However, remember that each and every photographer is different. I suggest to just trying out one lens at a time until you find one that fits you , even if what you end up with is not on this list.

Bon voyage, and don’t forget to enjoy your travels!

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10 Best Canon Lenses for Travel Photography in 2024

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Choosing the best Canon lenses for travel photography will significantly improve your photo quality when you’re globe-trotting. You need something that’s portable, inexpensive, and captures any scene in all it’s glory. 

The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM and Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM are our top choices for travel photographers. They are both nifty-fifty lenses that are lightweight, compact, and versatile. They also have sharp picture quality and a wide aperture range. And they are both affordable lenses you can take anywhere.

If those aren’t the lenses you’re looking for, our guide has all the best travel lenses for Canon mirrorless (RF) and DSLR (EF) cameras. We’ve made it easy to find the best Canon lens for your next international trip. 

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What Is the Best Canon RF Lens for Travel Photography?

When selecting the best Canon RF lens for travel photography, you need to look at weight, versatility, and optical performance. Each lens offers unique advantages, from lightweight designs to wide focal ranges, ensuring travelers can capture stunning images no matter where they are.

• Exceptional low-light performance with f/1.8 aperture
• Compact and lightweight, ideal for travel
• Produces beautiful bokeh for portrait photography
• Sharp images with minimal chromatic aberration
• Affordable option for high-quality photography

• Versatile zoom range for diverse photography needs
• Effective image stabilization for sharp handheld shots
• Lightweight design enhances travel photography ease
• Quick, precise autofocus perfect for dynamic scenes
• Customizable control ring for intuitive adjustments

• Broad focal range for versatile shooting scenarios
• Compact, lightweight design perfect for travel
• Image stabilization enhances low-light performance
• Quick, silent autofocus ideal for video and stills
• Affordable entry into Canon's RF lens ecosystem

• Ultra-wide angle perfect for landscapes and architecture
• Bright f/2.8 aperture enhances low-light shooting
• Compact, lightweight design ideal for travel photography
• Fast, accurate autofocus system suitable for video
• Affordable entry into ultra-wide RF lens lineup

• Expansive 18-150mm zoom range for versatile shooting
• Built-in image stabilization for sharper handheld images
• Compact design ideal for travel and everyday use
• Smooth, silent autofocus perfect for video recording
• Excellent magnification for close-up photography opportunities

Our Favorite Canon RF Lenses for Travel Photography

Let’s take a closer look at our favorite Canon RF lenses. From wide angles to telephoto zooms, there’s a lens here for every traveler. Explore these options to find the perfect fit for your travel camera backpack. 

1. Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM

The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM stands out for its lightweight and compact design. This makes it easy to carry around all day or carry in your backpack. It’s also an affordable lens, so there’s less stress about carrying expensive gear in unknown places.

Its fixed 50mm focal length offers a natural perspective, suitable for a variety of shots, from portraits to street scenes. Special coatings also reduce glare, giving you cleaner images in testing lighting conditions. 

However, its prime nature means less flexibility compared to zoom lenses like the Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM , which gives you wide-angle to telephoto focal lengths.

The RF 50mm f/1.8 STM delivers excellent image quality, with sharpness improving when stopped down to f/2.8 or f/4.

Its f/1.8 aperture is great in low light, allowing you to shoot at all times of day. There’s no image stabilization, but you don’t need it with a fast aperture on a standard-angle prime. It also gives you excellent depth of field control, helping you achieve a smooth bokeh background in your travel portraits. 

The AF stepping motor (STM) is quick and accurate in good lighting, capturing fleeting moments effectively. The lens’s simplicity keeps it affordable and straightforward. The lack of weather sealing is one frustration. But overall, the Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a brilliant option for an enthusiastic traveler with a Canon mirrorless camera.

2. Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM

The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM is the best zoom lens for Canon mirrorless cameras. The wide 24-105mm zoom range allows you to shoot anything from wide landscapes to detailed portraits without needing to switch lenses. It’s an all-in-one lens that gives you excellent flexibility. 

Optically, the lens offers good sharpness and uses aspherical elements to control chromatic aberration. Glass coatings also help to reduce imperfections like flare and vignetting.

The aperture range is limited. And you only have a max aperture of f/7.1 when fully zoomed in at 105mm. Thankfully, the lens does have image stabilization. This gives you up to five stops of exposure compensation. 

Light and easy to carry, the lens fits easily into any travel camera backpack . Its build is sturdy despite being made mostly of plastic, and it handles well on Canon’s mirrorless cameras. The lack of weather sealing is a downside, so you’ll need to take care in bad weather.

The Canon RF 24-105mm f/4-7.1 IS STM is a lightweight, versatile zoom lens. It has some limitations, but it’s an affordable lens that allows you to travel light. It’s a great option for young travelers or older beginners. 

3. Canon RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM

The Canon RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is another versatile zoom lens for travel photography. Its focal range from wide-angle to normal view allows you to adapt to new environments. You can shoot broad landscapes or more tightly framed street-style images.

The image quality is excellent, with two aspherical elements that reduce aberrations. Canon’s special Super Spectra Coating (SSC) also keeps flare and ghosting at bay. 

It doesn’t have the fastest maximum aperture, especially when you’re zoomed into 50mm. f/6.3 is ok in daylight, so you’ll have no problem in sunny destinations. But there is an image stabilizer to help you in lower light. It gives you an extra 4.5 stops of compensation.  

Weighing only 210 g, this lens won’t add much bulk to your travel bag. Its plastic construction keeps it light, though it lacks weather sealing.

While the Canon RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM may not boast the widest aperture or the longest zoom, its stabilization, versatility, and portability make it a practical choice for travelers. It’s also an affordable travel lens you can take anywhere. 

4. Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM

The Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is a wide-angle prime some travel photographers will love. It isn’t as versatile as the previous RF lenses. But it’s the best option if your travel photography involves landscapes and architectural shots. 

Picture quality is reliably sharp from corner to corner. And a 13 cm minimum focus distance allows you to capture impressive close-ups. 

Its f/2.8 aperture helps you shoot in low-light conditions, allowing for clearer shots at dawn, dusk, or when shooting indoors. A circular aperture also gives you super-smooth boken when using a shallow depth of field. 

The light weight and compact design makes this lens is a dream for those on the move. Its construction is sturdy enough for a traveler’s life. But a lack of weather sealing means you’ll need caution when the weather turns bad. 

Its autofocus is quick and reliable, making very little noise in operation. The lack of image stabilization might be a drawback for some. But additional features like the custom control ring improve usability, giving photographers more hands-on control. 

Ideal for landscape and architectural photography, the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM offers a unique view of the world. The ultra-compact design means it takes up no space in your pack. And the price tag makes it a suitable option for beginners.

5. Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM

The Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens is a versatile zoom lens for travel photographers. Its lightweight design ensures it’s not a burden when traveling. And the wide zoom range gives you incredible flexibility. It’s an all-in-one lens that allows you to travel light. 

Zoom lenses with such large focal ranges are not known for their picture quality. But this lens really holds its own. You might experience some distortion at the extremes. But generally, the images are sharp and clear. 

The variable aperture might limit its use in low light, pushing photographers towards higher ISOs or slower shutter speeds. But thankfully, the built-in image stabilization gives you an extra 4.5 stops of exposure compensation. 

Built from high-quality plastics, the lens is durable yet light, ideal for on-the-go shooting. The lack of weather sealing is a downside, so you’ll need to take care if it rains. 

While the Canon RF-S 18-150mm may not have the fastest aperture or professional-grade features, it is versatile and affordable. It’s also reliable, helping you capture stunning images from all over the world. It’s a top option for travel photographers with a Canon APS-C mirrorless camera.

What is the Best Canon EF Lens for Travel Photography?

We now turn to Canon EF lenses for DSLR cameras. These lenses are chosen for their light weight, versatility, and ability to capture stunning images in various settings. From wide landscapes to detailed portraits, each lens offers unique advantages for travel, ensuring photographers can easily adapt to changing environments without compromising image quality.

• Quick, smooth autofocus perfect for candid shots

• Consistent f/4 aperture across all focal lengths
• Professional-grade build with weather sealing
• Effective image stabilization for sharp results
• Fast, quiet autofocus with manual override option

• Flexible zoom range for versatile shooting scenarios
• Constant f/4 aperture ensures consistent exposure
• L-series build quality with weather sealing
• Hybrid IS for superior stabilization in macro mode
• Fast, silent autofocus with full-time manual override

• Exceptional low-light capability with f/1.4 aperture
• Superior image sharpness and clarity
• Robust L-series construction with weather sealing
• Smooth, aesthetically pleasing bokeh effect
• Fast, accurate autofocus with silent operation

• Broad focal range for versatile shooting options
• Smooth, silent STM autofocus ideal for video
• Built-in image stabilization for sharper images
• Lightweight design enhances portability for travel
• Compatible with Canon's APS-C DSLR cameras

Our Favorite Canon EF Lenses for Travel Photography

Let’s take a closer look at our favorite Canon EF lenses. These Canon lenses provide a range of options to enhance your travel photography. Whether you’re looking for the versatility of a zoom lens or the low-light capabilities of a prime lens, there’s something here for every travel photographer.

1. Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a brilliant travel lens for photographers with a Canon DSLR. A nifty-fifty is one of the most popular types of lenses. That’s because the 50mm focal length gives you a natural, versatile field of view. And the fast f/1.8 max aperture gives you excellent exposure control. 

Its fixed focal length limits versatility compared to zoom lenses like the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM . But you have gifted sharper optical quality than most zoom lenses. Even on a budget-friendly lens like this, there’s very little chromatic aberration or distortion. 

Thanks to the STM motor, the autofocus is quick and accurate in well-lit environments. And the 35 cm minimum focus distance allows you to shoot detailed close-ups. A rounded 7-blade aperture diaphragm also gives you smooth bokeh for those close-up shots. 

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is versatile, reliable, and affordable. It’s an absolute dream for any travel photographer. 

2. Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is a versatile zoom lens Canon users will love for travel photography. The zoom range range allows photographers to capture everything from wide landscapes to detailed portraits without needing to switch lenses.

It’s light for its class, making it less of a burden when you’re traveling with a camera backpack. And it’s both durable and weather-sealed, giving you peace of mind when traveling abroad.

The f/4 maximum aperture isn’t the fastest. But it is constant throughout the zoom range, meaning you don’t lose any stops when zooming in. It also allows you to control the depth of field at any point in the zoom range. 

You’re also helped by the lens’s built-in image stabilization. This is a big help when shooting in low light or at slower shutter speeds. The IS can help keep photos sharp even when shooting from hand. That means you can travel lighter by leaving your tripod back at base.

Autofocus is quick and reliable, capturing moments as they happen. The lens’s minimum focusing distance and magnification ratio are adequate for close-up shots, adding to its versatility.

A wide zoom range and pro-level features make the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM a top choice for travel photographers. It’s reasonably priced and still available brand new. 

3. Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM

The Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM is a versatile lens for travel photography, offering a focal range that covers wide-angle to short telephoto shots. This makes it easy to capture vast landscapes and detailed portraits without swapping lenses.

With two aspherical and two Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) elements, the optical quality is fantastic. There’s very little distortion at any point in the focal range. And Canon’s special lens coating prevents glare and improves light transmission. 

Its constant f/4 aperture provides consistent exposure, which is handy in changing light conditions. It’s not as wide as some lenses, meaning it might struggle in very low light. But you get an additional 4.5 stops of exposure control with the image stabilization.

 Its autofocus is quick and reliable, ensuring important moments are not missed. The superior USM drive gives you fast focusing that’s also near silent in operation. 

It’s relatively light for its class, reducing fatigue during long days of exploration. The lens is also sturdy, with weather sealing that protects against dust and moisture. This durability, combined with its optical performance and flexibility, makes the Canon EF 24-70mm f/4L IS USM a solid choice for travelers.

4. Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM

The Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM is a brilliant wide-angle prime for travel photography. This lens excels in capturing expansive landscapes and architectural structures with clarity.

It doesn’t give you the flexibility of a zoom lens. But you can’t question the picture quality. The barrel contains several specialist elements, including UD glass, that deliver edge-to-edge sharpness and clarity. 

Its low-light ability is a significant advantage, allowing photographers to shoot in a variety of lighting conditions without compromising on quality. A f/1.4 aperture also gives you fabulous depth of field control, allowing for a lovely blurred bokeh background. 

It isn’t the lightest prime lens, but it won’t add much bulk to a travel bag. The lack of image stabilization is mitigated by the wide aperture, which gives you better exposure control. Its quick, accurate autofocus ensures that fleeting moments are captured sharply.

Durability is a key feature, with weather sealing protecting against the elements. This makes the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM a reliable companion for outdoor and adventure photography. While not as versatile or affordable as the 50mm prime, it delivers pro-level results for travelers wanting a wider angle of view. 

5. Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM

The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is the best travel lens for Canon APS-C DSLR cameras. This lens allows photographers to capture everything from sweeping landscapes at 18mm to detailed close-ups at 135mm. It’s an all-in-one lens that allows you to travel light thanks to its versatility.

One UD and one PMO aspherical element give you clean picture quality throughout the zoom range. The sharpness doesn’t match some of the prime lenses, especially at the edges. But it doesn’t disappoint for a lens in this price bracket. 

Its variable aperture isn’t the fastest, with only an f/5.6 at 135mm. But you are compensated by effective image stabilization, crucial for sharp images in varied lighting conditions.

The STM motor ensures autofocus is both quick and quiet, perfect for capturing spontaneous moments.

It’s lightweight and easy to carry around for long periods. Though it lacks weather sealing, its solid build and good optical performance make it a reliable choice for outdoor adventures.

The Canon EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS STM is a good option for travel enthusiasts looking for flexibility. Its combination of a broad zoom range, image stabilization, and portability offers a practical tool for capturing diverse travel experiences. While professionals might seek lenses with faster apertures or specialized features, this is a great starting point for beginners with an itch to travel. 

Conclusion: The Best Canon Lenses for Travel Photography

Our article on the best Canon Lenses for Travel Photography has showcased a variety of lenses that suit any traveler. From lightweight primes to versatile zooms, each lens offers unique benefits for capturing stunning travel images. The key takeaways emphasize the importance of considering factors like weight, focal length, and aperture when choosing a lens for travel.

The Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM and Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM both stand out for their compact design and excellent low-light performance. These lenses are ideal for travel photography, offering a great balance of portability and image quality. They are must-have lenses for travel photographers with Canon cameras. 

Best Travel Lens – How to Select the Right Travel Lenses for Any Brand

If you are looking for the best travel lens to bring on your next vacation or once-in-a-lifetime hiking adventure, you have come to the right place. 

In today’s article, I will share how I approach lens selection for my travels. I developed a particular lens selection method that worked for me when I shot with Canon and Sony. It works for me today as I shoot with the Fujifilm brand. 

First, the key point when selecting the best lens for travel photography is to align your selection with the type and style of travel photography that you enjoy the most. 

I am confident that my travel lens selection method will help you. 

Defining the Best Travel Lens

If you ask 10 different travel photographers to define what constitutes the best travel lens, you will likely get 10 different answers. 

For example, someone who is leaving for a two-week hiking trip in the mountains will have a different lens selection than a photographer exploring Iceland in a camper van. 

The Holy Trinity Lens Selection Approach

There is a popular approach to lens selection called the “Holy Trinity.” 

If you assemble three lens kits with the following characteristics…

• 16-35mm f/2.8
• 24-70mm f/2.8
• 70-200mm f/2.8

…the kits will work for pretty much any type of photography. 

The “Holy Trinity” kit covers an incredible focal range from 16mm to 200mm. And, since the kit includes fast f/2.8 lenses, you can easily increase the zoom range by using Lens Teleconverters. The 1.4X teleconverter will extend the reach of the 200mm lens to 280mm and the 2X teleconverter will extend it to 400mm. 

You can use a kit like this for any type of photography—from astrophotography to wildlife, sports photography, and everything in between. 

I call this a “just in case” lens selection approach.

The “Holy Trinity” approach does not work for me because I am a minimalist about my photography equipment. I prefer to bring only essential gear with me and leave “just in case” items at home. 

Here is my straightforward strategy for lens selection for my travels. 

Travel Lens Selection Questionnaire 

I ask myself a simple question:

“If I had to go on an extensive two to three-week trip and could only bring one lens, what lens would I take?” 

When you set such strict boundaries for yourself, the answer about what constitutes the most versatile and valuable lens for your travel photography becomes straightforward. 

Once you define your number one travel lens selection, you move to the next step of the selection process. 

You ask yourself another simple question:

“If I had to go on an extensive two to three-week trip and could only bring two lenses, what lenses would I take?” 

Since you pinpointed your first choice in step one, all you need to do is select a second lens. 

Finally, you repeat the same exercise once more by asking yourself:

“If I had to go on an extensive two to three-week trip and could only bring three lenses, what lenses would I take?” 

I usually stop at this point because I rarely take more than three lenses on my travels. 

My Travel Lens Selection

Let me demonstrate how my travel lens selection method works for me. 

• In my travels, landscapes are the most critical part of my photography. 
• Cityscapes are my second choice. 
• Street photography and environmental portraits are the third most important part of my travel photography. 

When I select my ideal travel lens, I ensure it covers all areas of my travel photography: landscapes , cityscapes , street , and environmental portraits . 

My Travel Lens Selection #1

This makes lens selection very obvious, regardless of what camera brand I use: 

• For a full-frame camera, it would be a 24-105mm f/4 lens.
• For a crop sensor camera, it would be a 16-70mm f/4 lens. 

The 24-105mm (16-70mm) lens is wide enough to shoot landscapes and cityscapes. If I need to shoot a much wider scene, I can shoot multiple frames at 24mm (16mm) and combine them into a wide-angle panorama . 

This type of lens covers the following focal lengths—24mm, 35mm, and 50mm—which are perfect for street photography. 

Finally, I can achieve a decent bokeh effect when shooting portraits at 105mm f/4. 

My Travel Lens Selection #2

My second choice would be a wide-angle zoom lens that would be used exclusively for landscape photography. 

• For a full-frame camera, it would be a 16-35mm f/4 lens. 
• For a crop sensor camera, it would be a 10-20mm f/4 lens. 

My Travel Lens Selection #3

My third choice would be a fast, prime lens that I can use in low light conditions for portraits and street action. 

• For a full-frame sensor, it would be a 50mm f/1.4 prime lens.
• For a crop frame sensor, it would be a 35mm f/1.4 prime lens. 

Please note that my lens selections are very similar regardless of the camera brand I use.

General Requirements for the Ideal Travel Lens

Since I do not know what specific camera brand you use, I want to give you a few general requirements to look for when selecting a travel lens. 

Later, I will provide specific lens recommendations and we will run them against the requirements. 

1. Compact Size and Weight

Ideally, you want a travel lens that does not break your back and does not attract unwanted attention. For that reason, I never switched to a full-frame setup. Even though I love Sony’s full-frame cameras for their versatility and image quality, the size and weight of full-frame lenses were always a prohibitive factor for the switch. 

2. Useful Zoom Range

For my ideal travel lens, I always choose a zoom lens over a prime lens. I refuse to fiddle with multiple primes. I prefer to have one zoom lens that covers the most useful focal length and stick with it. 

Plus, in recent years, zoom lenses have drastically improved in optical quality, making them almost as good as prime models. 

3. Good Image Quality

When you bring only one lens with you for a once-in-a-lifetime travel adventure, you must ensure your lens does not compromise the quality of your captured memories. 

4. Effective Optical Image Stabilization

Most of my landscapes are shot on a tripod using aperture values between f/8 and f/11. As a result, I do not carry faster f/2.8 lenses because f/4 is good enough for me. But, in case I need to shoot handheld in low-light conditions, optical stabilization becomes indispensable. 

In general, efficient image stabilization extends the usefulness of any lens. 

5. Suitable for at least Three Types of Photography: Landscapes, Street, and Portraits 

This point is self-evident. You do not want a “one-trick pony” as your primary lens. 

6. Wide Enough for Vast Landscape Scenes 

I find that, for my photography, the sweet spot is 24mm on a full-frame sensor or 16mm on a crop sensor camera. 

I would not go any narrower than a 28mm and 18mm. 

Even though I like ultra-wide-angle lenses (15-20mm on full frame and 10-15mm on APS-C), at such a focal length you reach an area of perspective distortion where the foreground elements of the scene appear much larger than in reality. At 24mm, the distortion is minimal and almost unnoticeable.  

See also : Best Nikon Landscape Lens

These days, I often use a 20-24mm focal length to shoot ultra-wide scenes instead of using a 15-18mm. Since I cannot fit the entire composition into one shot, I take multiple shots with 24mm and combine them into a wide-angle panorama in Lightroom. 

I find these wide-angle panoramas look more natural without the distraction of a perspective distortion. 

7. Durability

This is another self-evident point. When you are in the middle of nowhere, the last thing you want is to lose your main lens. 

8. Weather Sealing

One of the reasons I switched from Sony to Fujifilm is to have a true travel setup. For a long time, I dreamed of having a full weather-sealed camera and lens combo. This was impossible to achieve with Sony APS-C cameras. 

See also : Weather Sealed Cameras – a Complete List

After traveling to the Pacific Coast of the United States and Hawaii on many occasions, I realized that my equipment was always at risk of being ruined by the saltwater dust that is always present in the air. Since then, weather sealing became one of my top priorities for cameras and lenses. 

What is the Ideal Travel Lens?

There is no such thing as the perfect lens. There is always a compromise on certain aspects. So, you simply select the model that checks most of the requirements and ignore the lesser-important details. 

The Best Fujifilm Lens for Travel Photography (My Setup)

For two years, my primary lens was the Fujifilm 18-135mm. 

If you run the lens against my nine requirements, it checks most of the boxes. Where it falls short for me is in the area of size and weight. It is a bit too big and heavy for my taste. 

Another issue where I was not wholly content is that it is 18mm at the wide end rather than 16mm. 

1a. Fujinon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS WR

• Compact Size and Weight: I wish it was smaller and lighter (490g; 76 x 98 mm)
• Useful Zoom Range: Yes (27mm-200mm equivalent)
• Good Image Quality: Yes
• Effective Optical Image Stabilization: Yes (5 stops)
• Versatility: Yes
• Wide Enough for Landscapes: Yes, but 16mm would be ideal
• Durability: Yes
• Weather Sealing: Yes

For that reason, I am currently testing Fujifilm’s new 16-80mm f/4 lens. It has the potential of becoming my primary travel lens. I am willing to sacrifice a zoom reach at the long end (135mm) to get a smaller, lighter, and wider lens. 

1b. Fujinon 16-80mm f/4 OIS WR

• Compact Size and Weight: Yes, barely (440g; 78 x 89 mm)
• Useful Zoom Range: Yes (24mm-120mm equivalent)
• Good Image Quality: Still in process of testing
• Effective Optical Image Stabilization: Yes (6 stops)
• Wide Enough for Landscapes: Yes

My second choice is the ultra-wide zoom Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 lens. I really, really love this lens. It is relatively compact for such a focal range and offers unparalleled image quality. 

2. Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 OIS

• Compact Size and Weight: Yes (410g; 78 x 87 mm)
• Useful Zoom Range: Yes (15mm-36mm equivalent)
• Good Image Quality: Yes (exceptional)
• Weather Sealing: No

The only shortcoming with this lens, from my perspective, is the lack of weather sealing. In harsh weather conditions, I find myself switching it with the Fujifilm 18-135mm. 

See also : How Select the Best Fujifilm Lenses

My third lens in my travel setup is the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 prime. It is a unique lens. It is one of the oldest lenses in the Fujifilm lineup and it shows. It has a very noisy and slow autofocus, but I live with it because of the image quality it offers. 

3. Fujinon 35mm f/1.4

• Compact Size and Weight: Yes (187g; 65 x 55 mm)
• Useful Zoom Range: Fixed (50mm equivalent)
• Effective Optical Image Stabilization: No
• Versatility: Barely (street, portraits)
• Wide Enough for Landscapes: Barely

According to Fujifilm’s lens engineer, when designing the 35mm f/1.4 prime, they had the choice of making it optically perfect or optically distinctive. They chose the latter. From an optical perspective, it is one of my favorite lenses of all time. I hope Fujifilm introduces the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 M2 with modern autofocus soon. 

The main shortcoming of this prime lens for traveling is its lack of weather sealing and image stabilization. 

Bonus Selection

I have another lens that I use fairly often. It is a specialty lens that I keep for one purpose—astrophotography. 

The Samyang 12mm f/2 is a manual focus lens that is tiny, inexpensive, and offers surprisingly good image quality. 

4. Samyang 12mm f/2

I never hesitate to bring it with me even on demanding trips because it takes up almost no space in my bag and its weight is next to nothing. 

Best Travel Lens for Sony APS-C Cameras

I’ve shot with Sony APS-C cameras for almost 4 years and here is travel lens kit I used:

1. Sony 16-70mm f/4

• Compact Size and Weight: Yes (308g; 66 x 75 mm)
• Useful Zoom Range: Yes (24-105mm equivalent)
• Effective Optical Image Stabilization: Yes

2. Sony 10-18mm f/4

• Compact Size and Weight: Yes (225g; 70 x 64 mm)
• Useful Zoom Range: Yes (15-27mm equivalent)
• Versatility: Yes (not long enough)
• Durability: No (made of plastic)

3. Sigma 30mm f/1.4

• Compact Size and Weight: Yes (265g; 65 x 73 mm)
• Useful Zoom Range: Fixed (45mm equivalent)

Best Travel Lens for Sony Full Frame Cameras

1. sony 24-105mm f/4 g oss.

• Compact Size and Weight: No (663g; 83 x 113 mm)
• Useful Zoom Range: Yes

2. Sony 16-35mm f/4 OSS

• Compact Size and Weight: Almost (518g; 78 x 98 mm)

3. Sony 50mm f/1.8

• Compact Size and Weight: Yes (186g; 67 x 60 mm)
• Useful Zoom Range: Fixed
• Versatility: Yes/No (not f/1.4)

Best Travel Lens (EF-S) for Canon APS-C Cameras

It is not easy to find quality lenses for Canon crop sensor (APS-C) cameras. Canon treats the APS-C system as an entry-level format and trying to push photographers toward a more expensive full-frame system.

1. Sigma 17-70mm f/2.8-4

• Compact Size and Weight: No (465g; 79 x 82 mm)

2. Canon 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5

• Compact Size and Weight: Almost (385g; 84 x 90 mm)

3. Canon 35mm f/2.8 Macro IS

• Compact Size and Weight: Yes (190g; 69 x 56 mm)
• Versatility: Limited (not fast enough)

Best Travel Lens (EF) for Canon Full Frame Cameras

1. canon 24-105mm f/4l is.

• Compact Size and Weight: No (795g; 83 x 118 mm)

2. Canon 16-35mm f/4L IS

• Compact Size and Weight: Almost (615g; 83 x 112 mm)

3. Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM

• Compact Size and Weight: Yes (290g; 74 x 50 mm)
• Durability: No

Best Travel Lens (DX) for Nikon APS-C Cameras

1. nikon 16-80mm f/2.8-4.

• Compact Size and Weight: Yes (480g; 80 x 85 mm)

2. Tokina 11-20mm f/2.8

• Compact Size and Weight: Almost (560g; 89 x 92 mm)

3. Nikon 35mm f/1.8

• Compact Size and Weight: Yes (200g; 70 x 53 mm)

Best Travel Lens (FX) for Nikon Full Frame Cameras

1. nikon 24-120mm f/4g.

• Compact Size and Weight: No (710g; 84 x 103 mm)

2. Nikon 16-35mm f/4

• Compact Size and Weight: No (680g; 82 x 125 mm)

3. Nikon 50mm f/1.4G

• Compact Size and Weight: Yes (280g; 73 x 54 mm)

Articles Related to “Best Lens for Travel Photography”

• Prime vs Zoom Lens: Understanding the Difference
• What Is a Nifty Fifty Lens and Why You Absolutely Need One
• Wide Angle Lens: The Ultimate Guide
• Why Are Camera Lenses So Expensive?

What to Read Next:

by Viktor Elizarov

2 thoughts on “best travel lens – how to select the right travel lenses for any brand”.

It’s too bad you didn’t look into Olympus cameras and lenses. They have incredibly good IS (so good that pros are leaving tripods at home unless they are doing long exposures!), the best weather sealing in the industry, and minimal weight.

A have a fuji system and use exactly the same lenses as a travel kit. I think the whole point of Fuji is staying small and light so the big 2.8 lenses don’t really make a lot of sense – for that I have full frame Sony. When you test the XF 16-80mm lens make sure you have updated the firmware. It makes an incredible difference with the focussing and sharpness.

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February 26, 2022

ACT NOW! SAVE UKRAINE. DEFEND DEMOCRACY.

Team Skylum

Photography

At 5 am on February 24, Russia began the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. They are violently trying to steal our country.

Russian forces have invaded Ukraine, confirming our worst fears. At this very hour they are attacking us on the streets of many Ukrainian cities.  We are at war.

Skylum was proudly founded in Ukraine, and our core development center is based in Kyiv. At this harrowing time, unfortunately we cannot guarantee the on-time delivery of updates to Luminar Neo. We strive for excellence in everything we do, and we will make sure to further develop and improve Neo and to keep you updated on any news. 

However, today we ask our community for help and support. Here are some details on what has happened and how you can support Ukraine in this difficult time.

!   At 5 am on February 24, Russia began the full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. They are violently trying to steal our country.

! Right now, there are missile strikes and bombardment of peaceful Ukrainian cities.   We must hide our families in bomb shelters and protect our land with weapons in our hands as part of the territorial defense forces.

! This disastrous and entirely unprovoked Russian war has already taken the lives of 198 civilians. 33 children have been injured, and 3 have been killed.

! The Armed Forces of Ukraine, young and brave heroes, are fighting all over the country not only for Ukraine but for Peace and Clear Skies in Europe. 

As we write to you from a city under attack, we want to be very clear: This war is not just something you see on TV. It is not happening in some distant lands. It is happening right now here in Ukraine, and the Russian forces who are invading our lands and threatening our families may come to your doorstep one day too if we do not stop them.

Sanctions that world governments are currently imposing are not enough. Russia must be completely isolated from all spheres of the civilized world: the financial system, technologies, sports, culture.  

Here is a list of simple actions you can take to help Ukraine. We MUST unite to quite literally save the world before it’s too late:

- Contact your local representatives and pressure them to provide more support for Ukraine and stricter sanctions on Russia. We need military and humanitarian aid and Russia must be cut off from SWIFT.

- Donate money to humanitarian aid organizations. Find a full list over here:  https://how-you-can-support-ukraine.super.site/  

- Follow the news from official channels. Avoid fake news and disinformation!

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa  

https://twitter.com/DmytroKuleba  

https://twitter.com/Hromadske  

https://twitter.com/DefenceU  

https://twitter.com/backandalive  

Telegram:  https://t.me/Forbes_Ukraine_official  

- Support the Ukrainian Army —  Official Account of the National Bank of Ukraine

We stand together

Please share this information with your community.

#Ukrainians #NATO #Ukraine #StandWithUkraine

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10 Best Canon Lenses for Travel Photography in 2024 (Top Picks)

Table of Contents

Your lens can make or break your shots; that’s why we’re going to discuss the best Canon lenses for travel photography in this article.

With Canon’s extensive range of lenses, it can be a daunting task to choose the best one for your needs.

Whether you’re shooting wide landscapes or capturing intricate details, there’s an ideal Canon lens just waiting to enhance your images.

This roundup focuses on the battle between Canon’s EF and RF lenses, two leading choices among Canon travel photographers worldwide. We’ll provide top-notch recommendations for both types that cater specifically to travel photography enthusiasts.

So, if you’re keen on upping your photography game and capturing stunning travel memories with ease, scroll down as we unveil our top picks in this category.

Canon EF vs RF Lenses for Travel Photography

Canon EF and RF lenses are both excellent choices for travel photography, each with their unique features and benefits.

EF lenses , introduced in 1987, are Canon’s lens mount standard for their full-frame DSLR cameras . They are renowned for their wide variety and high-quality performance. EF lenses are also compatible with Canon’s APS-C DSLR and mirrorless cameras , making them a versatile choice for photographers.

On the other hand, RF lenses are the newer generation, designed specifically for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras.

The RF lenses have a larger mount and shorter back focus distance, which allows for a greater optical design freedom. This results in lenses that are typically sharper, faster, and with less distortion than their EF counterparts.

However, it’s important to note that while RF lenses are only compatible with Canon’s RF-mount mirrorless cameras, Canon’s EF lenses can be used on RF-mount cameras with an adapter. This gives photographers the flexibility to use their existing EF lenses on new RF-mount cameras.

In terms of performance, both EF and RF lenses deliver high-quality images.

A quick note on other Canon lens mounts

In total, there are four Canon lens mounts: EF, EF-S, EF-M and RF .

EF-S and EF-M are more niche, so I won’t be talking about them in this round up, but they are worth knowing about.

• EF lenses are designed to be used with BOTH Canon’s full-frame and APS-C DSLR camera bodies without an adapter, and with an adaptor they will also work with full-frame (EOS R) and APS-C (EOS M) mirrorless bodies.
• EF-S lenses are for APS-C DSLR bodies, but will also work on APS-C (EOS M) mirrorless bodies with an adaptor.
• EF-M lenses ONLY work with Canon’s APS-C (EOS M) mirrorless cameras.
• RF lenses ONLY work with Canon’s range of full-frame (EOS R) mirrorless cameras.

Canon “L” lenses

When you see the letter “L” in the title of a Canon lens it means it’s part of the exclusive club of Canon “L” series lenses . “L” lenses are considered to be some of the best currently available, not just from Canon but all manufacturers. You can spot an “L” lens from the signature red ring that runs around it near the focus ring.

Canon currently only make L lenses for the EF and RF range but since the EF range can be adapted to work on all Canon cameras, it shouldn’t be a problem for anyone wanting some crispy L lens goodness no matter which body you have.

In this roundup, I will only be recommending EF and RF lenses.

Each has its own strengths and can be the best choice depending on the specific needs and photographer’s equipment.

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or a budding enthusiast, both EF and RF lenses offer excellent performance and versatility for travel photography.

Best EF Canon Lenses for Travel Photography

Canon ef 50mm f/1.8 stm lens, compact, affordable and versatile.

If you’re on the hunt for a compact camera lens that won’t break the bank, look no further than the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens . This baby is perfect for capturing those stunning portraits, action shots, and nighttime scenes when you’re out exploring.

The best part? It’s got a stepping motor (that’s what “STM” stands for) that ensures near-silent continuous Servo AF. That means you can snap away without disturbing your subjects or getting unwanted noise in your video footage.

And guess what else? Its minimum focusing distance is only 1.15 feet (0.35 meter). Yeah, you heard it right! You can get up close and personal with your subjects without losing focus or detail.

Now let’s talk about its effective focal length – it varies between APS C and full-frame cameras. So whether you’re shooting with an entry-level DSLR or a high-end professional camera, this lens will give you fantastic results.

But here’s the kicker: despite its compact size and affordable price tag, this Canon EF lens doesn’t skimp on quality. It features dual pixel CMOS AF for fast and accurate autofocus in live view mode, making it ideal for vlogging or streaming.

With all these killer features packed into one compact size, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM lens truly gives other lenses in its category a run for their money!

Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L II USM Lens

The perfect all-rounder.

If you’re into travel photography, the Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L II USM lens is your all-purpose buddy. This high-performance standard zoom lens comes with a constant f/4L aperture. This means whether you’re capturing the Eiffel Tower at sunrise or snapping shots of bustling night markets in Bangkok, this baby will deliver consistent light throughout the entire focal length.

The lens sports an Air Sphere Coating that seriously cuts down on flare and ghosting. No more worrying about those annoying spots ruining your perfect shot! Even in tricky lighting conditions, this lens has got your back.

But wait, there’s more! The image stabilizer corrects up to 4 stops of shake. That’s right folks, say goodbye to blurry images due to shaky hands or moving subjects. This feature ensures sharp images even when you’re on the go.

One cool thing about this lens is its new optical design which improves peripheral brightness. In simple terms, it means your photos won’t have dark corners anymore. Your pictures will be evenly lit from center to edge giving them a professional look.

The Canon EF 24–105mm f/4L II USM lens is like having multiple lenses packed into one without lugging around extra weight in your bag – a dream come true for any would-be or successful travel photographer !

This bad boy isn’t just versatile; it’s also built tough for rugged use while maintaining top-notch image quality. It’s a no-brainer choice if you want stunning photos without breaking a sweat (or your bank).

Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L USM Lens

An excellent wide-angle zoom for landscapes.

Get ready to be blown away by the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L USM lens . It’s a real game-changer, folks!

I mean, who doesn’t love a lens that offers full-time manual focus in AF mode? Talk about precision! This feature is a lifesaver when you’re trying to capture that perfect shot and need just the right amount of focus.

But wait, there’s more. The color balance on this bad boy is top-notch. You won’t have to worry about your photos looking too warm or too cool. They’ll come out just right every time.

And let’s not forget about the rounded 9-blade diaphragm. This little gem helps create beautiful bokeh effects in your photos. It’s like having your own personal photo editor built right into your camera!

The focal length range on this lens is also worth raving about. With its wide-angle zoom, you can capture everything from stunning landscapes to intimate portraits with ease.

One of my favorite features of the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L USM lens is its compatibility with various Canon models. No need to worry if it will fit your camera body – chances are it will!

Finally, we can’t ignore the Dual Pixel CMOS AF that covers approximately 100% area. This means fast and accurate autofocus for all your travel photography needs.

To sum up, this lens has got it all – versatility, precision, excellent color balance and a broad focal length range. Best part? It’s all packed into one durable piece of equipment ready to hit the road with you.

So whether you’re an experienced photographer or just starting out, I’d say give the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L USM lens a shot (pun intended!) . It’s a solid investment that will take your photography game to the next level.

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

Best telephoto lens.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM lens is your go-to gear. It’s a lightweight champ that doesn’t skimp on quality.

So what makes this lens stand out? For starters, it’s got Optical Image Stabilization with up to five stops of shake correction. This means even if you’re bouncing around in a jeep on safari or cruising on choppy waters, your shots will still be crystal clear. No more blurry zebra stripes or fuzzy dolphin fins!

But the features don’t stop there. This lens is also dust and water-resistant making it perfect for any adventure – whether you’re trekking through a sandy desert or caught in a tropical downpour.

You know how some lenses struggle when tracking moving subjects? Well, not this one! The Canon EF 70-200mm has three Image Stabilization modes that ensure excellent results when capturing motion. So whether you’re shooting a bustling cityscape or an action-packed sports event, this lens has got you covered.

And let’s not forget about its reduced minimum focusing distance from previous models. You can get closer to your subjects without losing any image quality – great for intimate portraits or detailed close-ups!

In terms of weight and length, this lens is surprisingly compact considering its capabilities. It won’t weigh down your camera bag but will definitely punch above its weight in performance.

Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens

Best ef macro lens.

If you’re all about capturing those tiny details that make your travel snaps pop, then this bad boy is for you! The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro lens is a top-notch gadget for macro photography.

Its focal length of 100mm means it’s got a superzoom that’ll let you get up close and personal with your subjects, without having to invade their personal space. You’ll be able to capture the intricate patterns of exotic flowers or the intricate architecture of historic buildings with ease.

Now, let’s talk about its inner focusing system with USM (Ultra Sonic Motor). This feature ensures rapid autofocus without making a racket. Plus, there’s also a full-time manual focus option if you prefer to take control and fine-tune your shots yourself.

One thing I absolutely love about this lens is its maximum close-up magnification of 1x. It literally lets you fill your frame with small subjects as if they were larger than life!

But what about blurry images? Well, worry not my friend! The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro lens comes equipped with sophisticated Image Stabilization technology that compensates for camera shake and helps deliver clear, sharp images even at slow shutter speeds.

Whether you’re shooting indoors or shooting in low light conditions outside, this lens performs brilliantly thanks to its maximum aperture of f/2.8 which allows plenty of light in.

Setting up this lens on your APS-C or full-frame Canon camera is easy-peasy too! So no matter where in the world you are, whether inside locations like museums or outdoors exploring nature, whipping out this lens and getting ready for some serious photography won’t be an issue.

In short, the Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro lens is your go-to tool for capturing stunning close-up shots on the move.

Best RF Canon Lenses for Travel Photography

Canon rf50mm f1.8 stm lens, best grab-n-go option.

This little dude is compact and lightweight – the Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM is just what you need when you’re traveling with photography gear and want to keep things light. No more lugging around heavy gear, this lens is as portable as they come. It fits snugly into your camera bag or even your pocket!

But don’t let its size fool ya. This baby packs a punch with its large F1.8 aperture that’s ideal for low-light photography. So whether it’s a beautiful sunset or an indoor event, this lens has got you covered.

Now let’s talk video recording – it’s smooth sailing all the way with the stepping motor in this lens offering quiet continuous AF during video recording. No more annoying motor sounds ruining your videos!

And here’s where things get really cool – the control ring on this lens allows direct setting changes without having to fiddle around with your camera settings.

So, if you’re looking for a versatile travel companion that can handle both photos and videos like a pro, Canon RF50mm F1.8 STM Lens is worth checking out.

Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L Lens

Perfect for all scenarios.

Hey shutterbugs! If you’re in the market for a new lens, check this out. The Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L lens is like the Swiss Army knife of camera lenses, ideal for just about anything you throw at it.

What’s so special about this RF lens? Well, let me tell you – it’s all about that bright f/2.8 aperture and optical image stabilization up to 5 stops. This means even if your hands are a bit shaky from too much coffee (or excitement), your photos will still come out crisp and clear.

Now, let’s talk autofocus because nothing ruins a great shot like blurry subjects. Thanks to the Nano USM technology in this baby, you get high-speed, smooth, quiet autofocus. That means no more awkward moments when everyone hears your camera focusing during that hushed sunrise shoot.

One thing I totally dig about this rf lens is the control ring. With it, you can make direct setting changes without having to fiddle with your camera body – super handy when you’re on-the-go and need to adjust quickly.

And guess what? This canon rf is compatible with various Canon Mirrorless Cameras! So whether you’ve got an EOS R or an RP sitting at home, this lens will fit right in.

In short, if you’re looking for a versatile lens that can handle everything from landscape shots to portrait photography with ease and precision, then look no further than the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L Lens.

Canon RF 15-35mm Lens

Best wide-angle zoom for landscapes.

Nothing beats a versatile wide-angle lens. Say hello to the Canon RF 15-35mm lens . This bad boy is not just big; it’s a beast in the world of wide-angle lenses.

Now, if you’re thinking, “What makes this lens so special?” Well, let me tell you. It’s got an impressive f/2.8 aperture that lets in loads of light for those early morning or late evening shots when natural light is low.

But here’s where it gets even cooler! The lens features optical image stabilization up to 5 stops. So even if your hands are shaking from the cold (or excitement), your photos will still come out sharp and clear.

And let’s talk about autofocus for a second because this lens has some serious game there too! Thanks to Nano USM technology, focusing is quick and smooth as butter.

Another neat feature? You can get super close with this lens – its minimum focusing distance is just under one foot (0.92 ft./0.28M). Perfect for capturing all those intricate details in nature without disturbing the peace!

This lens works great on both full-frame cameras like Canon R5 and crop sensor cameras. No matter what sized camera you use, you’ll be able to capture stunning wide-range photos with beautiful 4k image quality.

Bottom line? If you’re into travel photography and love shooting large format landscapes scenes or need various focal lengths at your disposal, then the Canon RF 15-35mm should definitely be on your radar.

Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L USM Lens

A powerful telephoto option.

Let’s talk about the big gun in travel photography, the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L USM lens . This bad boy is compact and lightweight, making it a breeze to carry around on your globe-trotting adventures.

Its design is top-notch, just what you’d expect from a high-end telephoto lens. It’s like having a whole bag of lenses in one neat package!

But don’t let its size fool you. This lens packs a punch. With its bright f/2.8 aperture, this zoom lens can capture stunningly sharp images even in low light conditions.

And here’s the kicker – it has optical image stabilization that offers up to five stops of shake correction! That means you can say goodbye to blurry photos caused by shaky hands or moving subjects.

One more thing I absolutely love about this telephoto lens is its dual Nano USM technology, which ensures smooth and quiet autofocus. Whether you’re capturing wildlife in action or shooting candid street photography , this feature will come in super handy.

In short, the Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L USM Lens offers excellent image quality without weighing down your camera bag.

Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro USM

Best rf macro lens.

Ready for a lens that’ll knock your socks off? You gotta check out the Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro USM , my friends. This bad boy is the world’s first medium telephoto macro lens with a maximum magnification of 1.4x. Yeah, you heard it right!

Now, what does that mean in plain English? Well, this usm lens can get you super close to your subject and still keep things crystal clear. Perfect for capturing those tiny details on your travels.

But wait, there’s more! Ever had a shot ruined by shaky hands? We’ve all been there, dude! But with this lens’ optical image stabilizer, those days are history. It compensates for both angular and shift camera shake during macro shooting. So even if you’ve just downed three cups of coffee (not that I’m speaking from experience or anything), your shots will be steady as a rock.

One thing I absolutely love about this usm is its Spherical Aberration (SA) control ring. This nifty feature lets you adjust the bokeh shape and character to suit your creative vision. Want soft, dreamy backgrounds? You got it! Prefer something sharper and more defined? No problemo!

And let’s not forget about the bright, fixed f/2.8 aperture on this rf mm prime lens! Even in low-light conditions (think dimly lit street markets or dusky landscapes), you’ll get high-quality images every time.

Plus, with firmware updates regularly released by Canon, this lens just keeps getting better over time.

In short (or should I say “in focus”?), the Canon RF100mm F2.8 L Macro USM is a top-notch choice for travel photography – whether you’re an old hand at it or just starting out. It’s got all the features you need to capture your adventures in stunning detail.

Buyer’s Guide to Selecting a Travel Photography Lens

First things first, think about what you’ll be shooting most. Love capturing sprawling landscapes? Or are you more into street photography? Maybe both? If landscape photography is your thing, consider a wide-angle lens. For street snaps or portraits, a prime lens might be your best bet. You’ll also have to jump into the zooms vs primes debate and decide whether you value versatility and cost-effectiveness or pin-sharp images the most.

Now let’s get real about size and weight. You’re gonna be lugging this thing around on your trip, right? So it better not weigh a ton! Look for something compact and lightweight but doesn’t compromise on optical quality.

And lastly, let’s talk moolah! Lenses can cost a pretty penny but remember: you don’t always have to go for the priciest option. Compare features across different price ranges and find one that gives you the biggest bang for your buck!

There obviously a lot more to it, but remember these tips when shopping around and I guarantee you’ll find the perfect companion for your camera! Check out which three lenses I recommend for travel photography ; in the article, I talk about types of lenses rather than the manufacturer, but it should give you a better idea of the kinds of lenses you’ll get to capture the different scenes you’ll likely come across.

Concluding Thoughts on Best Canon Lenses for Travel Photography

So, you’ve made it this far. You now have a solid understanding of the top Canon lenses for travel photography. Whether you’re capturing sweeping landscapes or intimate portraits, there’s a lens here that’s perfect for your needs. The versatility of the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L USM Lens, the affordability of the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens, and the all-around excellence of the Canon RF 24-70mm F2.8 L Lens are just a few examples.

But remember, these are just tools to help you capture your vision. The best camera is always the one you have with you – so don’t let gear hold you back! Now it’s time to get out there and start shooting. And if you need any further advice or information about these lenses or other photography equipment, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We’re here to help make your travel photography dreams come true.

The best Canon lens for travel photography can depend on your specific needs and shooting style. However, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L USM Lens is a versatile option that offers excellent color balance and full-time manual focus. For those interested in portraits or low light photography, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM Lens could be ideal.

Canon RF lenses such as the RF 24-70mm F2.8 L Lens, RF 15-35mm Lens, RF 70-200mm F2.8 L USM Lens, and RF100mm F2.8 L Macro USM are designed to be compatible with Canon Mirrorless Cameras including EOS RP, EOS R, EOS R5, and EOS R6.

Image stabilization in Canon lenses works by correcting camera shake to produce sharper images at slower shutter speeds. Some of the Canon lenses offer up to 5 stops of shake correction like the RF 24-70mm F2.8 L Lens or even Hybrid IS that compensates for angular and shift camera shake during macro shooting like in the case of RF100mm F2.8 L Macro USM.

Yes! Many of these lenses feature technologies like stepping motor (STM) or Nano USM which ensure near-silent continuous Servo AF making them suitable not only for still photography but also for movie recording.

Absolutely! The Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro Lens allows you to get really close to your subject offering a maximum close-up magnification of 1x while maintaining high-quality images thanks to Canon’s sophisticated Image Stabilization technology. Alternatively, the RF100mm F2.

More useful travel photography resources

• Best mirrorless cameras for travel photography
• How to become a successful travel photographer
• Selling stock photography isn’t impossible
• 8 ways to turn your passion for travel photography into a business 
• Why it’s crucial for travel photographers to develop a brand 
• XF 10-24mm f4: Best Fuji Landscape Lens?

I’m a professional travel photographer, and I’ve been living the digital nomad lifestyle since 2016. I make money by working on client assignments, selling stock photography and helping other photographers by sharing my experiences on this website. I move around at my own pace (I hate fast-paced travel) and like to spend a few months getting to know each place I base myself in.

My writing and photos have been featured on industry leading websites such as Digital Photography School , Atlas Obscura and the world’s leading underwater photography resource The Underwater Photography Guide . I authored an eBook called “ Breaking Into Travel Photography: The complete guide to carving out a career in travel photography ” that has been published on Amazon. My stock images have also appeared in ads promoting destinations and companies that sometimes has been a surprise, even to me. But I guess that’s the nature of stock photography, you never know who will license them!

I’m always happy to connect, so feel free to reach out!

9 BEST Canon Travel Lenses – Complete Guide & Review

Searching for the BEST Canon travel lens?

Canon is one of the best brands in terms of camera and photography equipment. It goes without saying that the best Canon travel lenses are some of the greatest on the market today.

There are many different types of glasses to choose from and this is your full guide to the best Canon travel lens for both DSLR and mirrorless cameras.

The best lenses are high-quality pieces of equipment that enhance a photographer’s vision by providing impeccable detail and clarity for their subject matter.

One problem with choosing the best Canon travel lens is that there are many different types on offer, each with its own unique benefits and drawbacks.

To help you choose the right one, here are 9 specific travel photography lenses that may be perfect for your needs.

Table of Contents

WHAT IS THE BEST CANON LENS FOR TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY?

To keep things short, these below are the best Canon travel photography lenses on the market today.

Whether you need an ultra wide-angle lens for travel or a prime lens to shoot fast-moving subjects, you surely won’t be disappointed with these glasses:

• Canon EF 24-105MM f/4.0 L IS USM – from $999
• Tamron 28-75MM f/2.8 XR Di LD – from $249
• Canon 50MM f/1.8 STM – from $149

Make sure to read on to know all the details about each of them and more.

WHAT IS THE BEST CANON CAMERA FOR TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY?

The best Canon travel lens would be nothing without a great camera. In fact, you can have the best glass on the market, but if you don’t attach it to a good camera for landscape photography , you won’t be able to get the dreamy shots you have in mind.

These are the best Canon cameras available today for traveling:

• Canon EOS R – from $1,599
• Canon EOS 6D Mark II – from $1,399
• Canon EOS R6 – from $2,499

While these aren’t the cheapest devices, they are remarkably better than other cameras on the market in terms of resolution, size, video quality, and battery life.

Combined with the right accessories for photography , you will get outstanding results all the time.

WHAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WHEN GETTING A CANON TRAVEL LENS

A camera lens is the most important accessory that you can purchase for your camera. When comparing lenses, you should keep in mind that each has its own pros and cons as well as other important factors.

LENS SIZE AND WEIGHT

If you have a small camera bag or prefer to remain light when traveling, the size of the lens is an extremely important fact. Take notice of how much a lens weighs and how big it is before deciding how much you’re willing to carry.

In plain words, if you’re going to be bringing a lot of stuff with you, invest in a decent travel camera bag or simply consider a zoom lens to bring less glass.

Aperture is another crucial element to consider when choosing your best Canon travel lens. The exposure triangle , which must be considered if you want to take good images, comprises three components: shutter speed, ISO, and aperture.

A fast aperture (less than or around f/2.8) is always preferable because it allows for more light into the camera during a single exposure.

FOCAL LENGTH

The lens’s focal length determines the field of view, which in turn influences the photo’s compositional frame.

The wider the focal length, the more you can capture in a photograph; depth is also affected – foregrounds and backgrounds appear closer together when photographed with a longer lens and further apart with a wider lens.

Focal length is the millimeters part you see in every lens’ description (12mm, 50mm, or 70-200mm, for instance).

IMAGE STABILIZATION

Image stabilization (usually listed as IS) corrects for camera shake caused by hand-holding. Unless you’re using a tripod, this shakiness is usually unavoidable and can show up as blurring in photographs, making them sometimes unusable.

Handheld shooting becomes much easier when you don’t have to worry about steadying your hand since image stabilization prevents blurring.

PRIME LENSES OR ZOOM LENSES – THE DIFFERENCES

One of the most significant distinctions between a zoom lens and a prime lens is the focal length.

Prime lenses have a constant focal length while zoom lenses have a wider and changeable focal length. Prime lenses are usually smaller, and lighter, and provide superior low-light performance than zoom lenses.

But to help you understand more in-depth, these are the pros and cons of both prime and zoom lenses.

PROS AND CONS OF PRIME LENSES

The most apparent benefit is picture quality. Professionals employ prime lenses to take the highest-quality photographs from their cameras.

The following are the criteria on which image quality is evaluated;

The test results in all of these Canon prime lenses indicate a high rank for sharpness and low values for distortion and chromatic aberration.

On the other hand, the fixed focal length is the biggest disadvantage of choosing a prime lens over a zoom lens.

In fact, it is only when you begin shooting with a prime lens that you notice its limits. There is no zoom, so you’ll need to compose your shot by moving further away or closer to the subject.

PROS AND CONS OF ZOOM LENSES

Of course, there are also advantages of choosing a zoom lens over a prime one;

• Different focal lengths in one lens
• You have more room for creativity
• Zoom lenses are great for wildlife photography

Apart from that, the disadvantage of carrying a zoom lens is that they are heavier. But, if you plan to carry multiple prime lenses, then the total weight of a zoom lens might just be less.

9 BEST CANON LENSES FOR TRAVEL

It can be difficult to know what the best travel lens is the one for you, especially if you’re looking at every single specification.

Let’s go through the travel photography lenses that you should consider when going on a trip.

CANON EF 24-105MM f/4.0 L IS USM – OVERALL BEST CANON TRAVEL LENS FROM $999

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4.0 L IS USM is the perfect lens for various purposes like cityscapes, wildlife, and nature photography.

This lens offers a large focal range and delivers pictures of exceptional quality with its high-quality optics and construction. With a constant f/4 aperture, you will be able to be creative with a nice depth of field.

PROS AND CONS OF THE CANON EF 24-105MM f/4.0 L IS USM

• Good zoom range
• Shoots incredibly sharps photos
• Optimum image stabilization
• Very expensive

TAMRON 28-75MM f/2.8 XR Di LD – MOST AFFODABLE CANON TRAVEL LENS FROM $249

The Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di LD Aspherical IF lens, while not being an official Canon lens, is a fantastic choice for your camera.

This stabilized lightweight lens offers superb image quality and fast, accurate autofocus for both stills and video work.

Delivering sharp images at any focusing distance, this affordable lens is the perfect solution for photographers who need to balance performance with their budget.

PROS AND CONS OF TAMRON 28-75MM f/2.8 XR Di LD

• Great price for such a good lens
• Light-weight and ideal for traveling
• Fast lens great for low-light travel photography
• Slow autofocus compared to the other best Canon travel lenses

CANON 50MM f/1.8 STM – BEST PRIME LENS FROM $149

The Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM is an affordable, fast, and light lens for your camera. The 50mm focal length is the “normal” lens that mimics what you see with your own eyes, so this lens is perfect for everyday shooting.

Plus, it has a bright f/1.8 maximum aperture that’s ideal for low-light shooting situations wherever you are in the world.

Lastly, it is one of the best full-frame lenses that is adaptable to ASP-C sensors too.

PROS AND CONS OF CANON 50MM f/1.8 STM

• Very fast last
• Affordable price
• Adaptable to both ASP-C and Full-frame sensors
• Not weatherproof

SIGMA 18-200MM f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM – BEST ULTRA WIDE ANGLE LENS FROM $399

For only $399, the Sigma 18-200mm lens is perfect for everything from close-ups to long-distance shots, giving you the ability to capture just about any photo.

The 18-200mm focal length is perfect for landscapes or buildings, and fast enough when shooting at 18mm at night.

PROS AND CONS OF SIGMA 18-200MM f/3.5-6.3 DC MACRO OS HSM

• Compact and light-weight
• Image stabilization is top-notch
• Great zoom range for both wide and zoomed shots
• Not super sharp at the maximum aperture

CANON RF 24-240MM f/4-6.3 IS USM – FROM $899

The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is another of the best Canon travel photography lenses. The 24mm wide-angle will offer up a more dramatic perspective from closer to the subject, while the 240mm telephoto will zoom in on your subject from afar.

This lens has been designed for use with APS-C-sized sensors and offers a range of shooting situations with its versatility and sharpness.

PROS AND CONS OF CANON RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM

• The 10x zoom capacity is impressive
• The build quality is sturdy
• Quiet and fast autofocus
• Sharpness isn’t great on wide photos

CANON EF-S 17-55MM f/2.8 IS USM – FROM $429

With its remarkably fast aperture for an affordable price, the Canon EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM is considered the best Canon travel lens for many reasons.

This lens gives you a great focal length, perfect for landscape photography , portraits, and everyday shooting. The lens also has an image stabilizer which helps reduce camera shake by up to 4 stops making it easier to handhold at slower shutter speeds — allowing you to achieve sharper images that are free from blur caused by camera shake.

PROS AND CONS OF CANON EF-S 17-55MM f/2.8 IS USM

• Image Stabilization
• The constant 2.8 aperture
• Photos are bright on both wide and zoomed ranges
• The lens extends when focusing

SIGMA 17-50MM f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM – FROM $319

SIGMA 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM is a high-quality zoom lens with a fast maximum aperture that is perfect for taking low-light shots or candid shots without flash.

It has an optical stabilizer system to help compensate for camera shake and it’s lightweight so it’s easy to carry around all day long!

PROS AND CONS OF SIGMA 17-50MM f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM

• The price is great for this fast lens
• Image stabilization is very decent
• The lens is able to shoot bright photos quickly
• It isn’t weatherproof

CANON 70-200MM f/4.0L USM – FROM $1,199

The Canon 70-200mm f/4.0L USM lens offers a five-stop aperture range, and it allows photographers to get up close and personal with their subjects without sacrificing quality or sharpness.

Durable construction will withstand the bumps and bruises of travel photography, while a circular aperture produces a natural-looking background blur. Photographers of all levels will appreciate this lens!

PROS AND CONS OF CANON 70-200MM f/4.0L USM

• The sharpness is first-class
• The image stabilization is fantastic
• Fairly light for the amount of glass
• The edges tend to get soft when fully zoomed

CANON 10-18MM f/4.5-5.6 IS STM – BEST WIDE ANGLE CANON TRAVEL LENS FROM $249

If you’re looking for a great Canon lens that will stand the test of time, you might want to consider their 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM lens.

This is one of the best travel lenses that Canon has and it’s also one of the most popular lenses on the market!

PROS AND CONS CANON 10-18MM f/4.5-5.6 IS STM

• The price is very attractive
• Photos are sharp throughout the whole range
• Ultra-wide angle – Great for travel photography
• The lens is made out of plastic

MORE PRODUCT GUIDES

If you are planning a road trip or an international adventure, be sure to check out these other product guides that will make your life easier abroad:

• Best Camera Gear For Travel
• 9 Must-Have Camera Accessories For Photographers
• Best Affordable Camera For Landscape Photography
• 25 Essential Things To Bring On A Road Trip

CONCLUSION – THE 9 BEST CANON TRAVEL LENSES

This list of the nine best Canon lenses for travel is a great starting point if you’re looking to purchase a new set.

These lenses are all compatible with your favorite mirrorless or DSLR camera, which makes them easy to use on the go or in-studio.

To conclude, these Canon travel lenses will be able to handle any situation, from wide shots of landmarks and expansive landscapes to close-up portraits of people or animals.

They can all do a great job at capturing images that accurately represent what is happening around you to share with friends on social media or your audience on your blog.

If you have any further questions, please leave a comment below and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

For a quicker response, be sure to join Jonny Melon’s Travel Tribe on Facebook and post your questions or recommendations to our awesome community.

TRAVEL RESOURCES FOR YOUR NEXT TRIP

Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or it’s your first trip overseas, here are some useful travel resources to help you kick-start your next adventure!

Search and book accommodation worldwide.

Compare and book cheap flights to anywhere.

Find tickets, tours, and experiences around the world.

Book buses, trains, and transfers online in advance.

Search all rental cars in your next destination.

Need travel insurance for your next trip?

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The Only 3 Full-Frame Lenses You Need for Travel Photography

For the photographers whose studio extends far beyond the four walls, and for jetsetters and road warriors who are called to a life of travel photography, full-frame lenses are all but essential. Photography is like any passion or hobby — there are so many new, amazing, and shiny tools including the best travel lens that can get a job done and suit anyone’s liking.

But when you’re traveling, it’s not all about having the lens with the best performance. Weight, durability, and versatility all play a significant role during traveling. As a travel photographer , you can’t just pack up everything including the kitchen sink. You have to choose your tools wisely when shooting photos while on the road. So here is a list of the top travel lenses for photographers ready to capture and photograph the world.

But before I go into discussing the list, I want to give a quick tip that I’ve learned over the years when I travel: unless your job requires it, leave the prime lenses at home. While there are some fantastic options out there, especially for portrait photography, prime lenses lack the versatility and range of a zoom lens. Every trip I’ve gone on, I’ve always brought a prime, and every time, it’s gone unused because I have more reliable and more versatile lenses that I grab and use first. Save yourself the extra weight and skip the prime lenses when doing jobs on the road and opt for these full-frame lenses instead.

How to choose the best travel lens: 6 features to look for

While there are exceptions to the rule, typically, a great lens for travel photography will have these six features.

Portability

If you’re a photographer who travels often for work, you typically don’t want to be lugging around camera lenses that are big, bulky, and heavy. You want to focus on lenses that are lightweight, and compact in design. You want a best travel lens that is easy to carry, store, and transport, whether you’re spending all day at the airport or in the field at your destination.

The best travel lens is built to be durable. Look for lenses that are weather-sealed and designed well. While it’s easy to grab the least expensive lens on the market, investing in lenses that are well-built and sealed to protect against elements like water, dust, and sand will provide peace of mind when traveling to new locations with variable, challenging weather conditions.

Versatility

As a travel photographer, it’s important to invest in lenses that offer the most versatility. You want to avoid carrying unnecessary lenses and weight. Whether you prefer primes or zoom lenses , focus on focal lengths and zoom range that can handle a variety of locations and can capture different photography types .

A wide, fixed aperture

Having a wide, fixed aperture, like at f/2.8 or f/4, which are both popular fixed apertures for zoom lenses, allows you to shoot in variable lighting conditions while keeping that wide aperture throughout your focal range. This means greater low-light performance and control, so you can photograph throughout the day in a variety of locations as you travel.

Fast autofocus

When it comes to travel photography, beautiful moments happen so fast. In a blink of an eye, they can change. Having a lens with a fast, reliable autofocus is important, so you can confidently capture those rare, fleeting moments before they disappear.

In-lens stabilization

Last, look for lenses that have in-lens stabilization built-in. This allows you to shoot hand-held more confidently at slower shutter speeds. Pairing good lens stabilization with in-body camera stabilization makes for a fantastic “run-and-gun” travel kit. This allows you to move quickly and capture more on the go.

The Best Full-Frame Travel Lens for Travel Photography

1. the ultra wide zoom lens.

Wide-angle lenses are the ultimate go-to lens for any photographer looking to capture the beauty of landscapes, cityscapes, hotel buildings, or residential properties. These lenses are great for tight spaces or wide-sweeping vistas. They capture a perspective that the human eye simply cannot see without assistance. This added depth creates wonders when you have a suitable FX body attached.

Below are some of the best ultra-wide zoom lenses on the market. These lenses are well constructed, have a lower aperture range, and create sharp, beautiful images with little to no barrel distortion or fish-eye effect. And while these lenses tend to be bulkier and heavier than conventional lenses, their capabilities are worth their weight in gold.

Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G ED-IF AF-S NIKKOR Lens

Canon ef 16-35mm f/2.8l iii usm lens, sony fe 16-35mm f/2.8 gm (g master) e-mount lens, sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 dg hsm art wide-angle zoom lens, sony 16-35mm f/2.8 vario-sonnar t* za ssm ii zeiss a-mount lens, 2. the “do it all” lens.

All-around lenses are in the middle of the spectrum in terms of usability. Most lens manufacturers have these full-frame lenses. A 24-70mm lens is the jack of all trades or the Swiss Army knife of lenses. It’s wide enough for landscape photography , yet it has the range to get tight for portraits or close-up shots. If I had to choose one lens to take with me on a trip, I would pick the 24-70mm lens. While they are expensive (and good glass is always expensive), this type of lens is worth every penny.

I always tell people to invest in quality, not quantity. This mentality should be the first lens you invest in if you want to get serious about photography. It can cover the majority of photography work and will become your best friend. Most of the 24-70mm lenses are incredibly sharp with creamy bokeh throughout the zoom range. They’re also high performing, fast, and silent. Here are fantastic lens options on the market right now:

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens

Nikon af-s nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8e ed vr lens, sony fe 24-70mm f/2.8 gm (g master) e-mount lens, tamron sp 24-70mm f/2.8 di vc usd g2 lens, nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5g ed af-s vr nikkor lens, sigma 24-70mm f2.8 dg os hsm if art lens, 3. the telephoto lens.

Having the best telephoto lens in your travel kit is a must if you wish to dabble in landscape photography. The ability to add greater reach to your camera’s focal length is vital, especially when you’re shooting wildlife photography or detailed landscapes like mountain photography .

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started with my 24-70mm, then switched to a 70-200mm or something higher. This helps me get tighter and more detailed shots that frame a beautiful section of mountain or ridgeline. You get to capture the true character and personality of a landscape when you do this. It can really add some stunning results to your portfolio. Normally, I recommend a 70-200mm telephoto zoom lens because of its versatility and ability to shoot events, weddings, portraits, or street photography without being intrusive to others, while adding on the focal range for landscape.

Some people choose something that’s a little longer, like a 100-400mm. However, that can add weight and get even more expensive. So here are top choices for 70-200mm telephoto lenses, with a lower F/2.8 aperture, quick performance, and silent functionality. Below are some of the best telephoto full-frame lenses available in the market today. Any of these options should yield fantastic results and provide a reliable telephoto lens for travel:

Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM Lens

Nikon af-s nikkor 70-200mm f/2.8e fl ed vr lens, sony fe 70-200mm f/2.8 gm (g master) oss e-mount lens, tamron sp 70-200mm f/2.8 di vc usd g2 lens, nikon nikkor z 70-200mm f/2.8 vr s lens.

Now, a downside to telephoto lenses is their weight. They are the heaviest full-frame lenses on the market due to the size of the glass and metal needed for the extra focal length. However, if you aren’t shooting events or using your telephoto lens in a dark or dimly lit location, you can aim for a lens with a higher aperture — say an F/4 — and cut down weight and cost significantly. Here are lighter models that can really help while traveling. They are a better alternative if weight and cost are important:

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM Lens

Canon rf 70-200mm f/4l is usm lens, sony fe 70-200mm f/4.0 g oss e mount lens, panasonic 70-200mm f/4 lumix s pro o.i.s. l-mount lens.

In conclusion, these three lens types should be the three amigos in your travel kit. With an ultra-wide zoom lens, “Do-It-All,” 24-70mm, and telephoto lens by your side, there is nothing you can’t photograph well, and you won’t have extra lenses that weigh you down and fill up your camera bag while on the road. If you want to shoot simply and travel smartly, these are the best lenses to own and invest in.

Nathan Lee Allen

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The Best Canon Lenses for traveling in 2024

Travel photography is a genre that requires a versatile set of tools to capture the beauty and essence of different destinations. Whether you’re a professional photographer or an amateur enthusiast, selecting the right lens for your camera can make or break your photography experience. As one of the most popular camera brands in the world, Canon offers a wide range of lenses to meet the needs of photographers in different niches. In this article, we’ll be focusing on the best Canon lenses for traveling in 2024.

When it comes to travel photography, weight and size are significant factors to consider. Too heavy or bulky lenses can weigh you down and make it harder to move around with your camera gear. A good travel lens should be compact and lightweight, making it easy to carry around and pack into your backpack. A good travel lens should also have a versatile focal range, allowing you to capture different types of scenes, from wide landscapes to close-up portraits.

Another critical factor to consider when selecting a travel lens is image quality. You want a lens that can produce sharp, vibrant, and high-resolution images, even in low-light conditions. A lens with a wide maximum aperture can help you achieve this, allowing more light to reach the camera sensor and creating a shallow depth of field effect for more creative control. Additionally, image stabilization is crucial for reducing camera shake and producing sharp images, especially when shooting handheld or in low-light conditions.

In this article, we’ll explore some of the best Canon lenses for travel photography in 2024, considering their focal range, weight and size, image quality, and other features that make them ideal for capturing beautiful images on the go. Whether you’re planning a trip to a bustling city or a remote wilderness, we’ll help you find the perfect Canon lens to take your travel photography to the next level.

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Canon lens mounts

A lens mount is what connects a camera body and a lens together. It’s like a puzzle piece that needs to match the shape and size of the spot it’s meant for. Different camera makers have their own unique lens mounts, and Canon is one of them.

Over the years, Canon has used several different types of lens mounts, and each mount works with a specific set of lenses. For example, the FD mount was Canon’s first popular lens mount, introduced in 1971, but the EF mount eventually replaced it in 1987. The EF mount is still in use today and is compatible with popular cameras like the Canon 5D Mark IV .

Canon’s newest lens mount is the RF mount, which was introduced in 2018. It’s used on Canon’s mirrorless cameras, which have a shorter flange distance than DSLRs. The RF mount allows for faster autofocus and improved image quality. For example, the Canon R3 and the Canon R6 are cameras that use this RF mount.

Canon lens mounts have changed over time to keep up with technological advancements and camera designs. The EF mount has been around for over 30 years and is still widely used, but the RF mount is the future of Canon’s lens system, especially for mirrorless cameras like the Canon R3.

EOS R Adapters

EOS R adapters are designed to allow Canon EF and EF-S mount lenses to be used on Canon’s newer EOS R and RP mirrorless cameras, which have the RF lens mount. The adapters essentially bridge the RF mount on the camera and the EF or EF-S mount on the lens.

There are a few different types of EOS R adapters, each with specific features and capabilities. One of the most popular adapters is the Canon Mount Adapter EF-EOS R , which allows EF and EF-S lenses to be used on EOS R and RP cameras. This adapter supports full autofocus, image stabilization, and electronic aperture control, so it’s a great option for photographers who want to use their existing EF or EF-S lenses on an EOS R camera.

Another type of adapter is the Control Ring Mount Adapter EF-EOS R , which adds a control ring to the adapter that can be customized to control various camera functions, such as aperture, shutter speed, ISO, or exposure compensation. This adapter also supports full autofocus, image stabilization, and electronic aperture control.

There are also adapters available from third-party manufacturers, such as the Sigma MC-21 adapter or the Metabones EF to RF adapter . These adapters may offer different features and capabilities, so it’s important to do some research to find the best adapter for your specific needs.

Lens filters

Lens filters are accessories attached to the front of a camera lens to modify how light enters the lens and affects the image captured by the camera. They come in various shapes, sizes, and types and can serve various purposes depending on the photographer’s needs.

Lens filters come in different types, such as:

• UV Filter : A UV filter blocks ultraviolet light from entering the lens, which can help reduce haze and improve clarity in outdoor photos. It can also serve as a protective layer for the lens, shielding it from scratches and damage.
• Polarizing Filter : A polarizing filter reduces reflections and glares from shiny surfaces, such as water or glass, and can also enhance color saturation and contrast in landscape photos.
• Neutral Density (ND) Filter : An ND filter reduces the amount of light entering the lens, allowing for a longer exposure and slower shutter speeds. This can be useful in bright daylight conditions to achieve a desired level of blur in motion photography or when shooting video to maintain a cinematic look.

It’s important to pick the right filter size for your lens to ensure that it fits securely and doesn’t interfere with image quality. The size of a filter is determined by its diameter, measured in millimeters. The diameter of the filter should match the diameter of the lens’ front element, which is usually printed on the lens itself or can be found in the lens manual.

Top 3 Best Canon Lenses for Landscape Photography

As a landscape photographer, having the right equipment is crucial to capturing stunning images, with the right lens being one of the most important tools in a photographer’s arsenal. When it comes to Canon lenses for traveling, there are various options available, each with its unique features and benefits. 

To help you make an informed decision, we’ve compiled a list of the top three best Canon lenses for landscape photography. These lenses offer exceptional image quality, versatility, and durability, making them the perfect choice for any travel photographer looking to capture breathtaking landscapes.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM is an exceptional lens for landscape photography. Its wide-angle capabilities allow photographers to capture breathtaking landscapes with ease. The lens is designed to produce images with great clarity, sharpness, and detail, making it an ideal choice for those who want to capture the beauty of the great outdoors.

This lens has built-in image stabilization, which is particularly helpful when working in low-light conditions or when using a slower shutter speed. It also features Canon’s advanced autofocus technology, which ensures that your shots are always sharp and clear. Moreover, the lens is lightweight and compact, making it a great choice for travel photography.

• Price: $1299,-
• Buy on Amazon

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is a top-of-the-line standard zoom lens that should be at the top of your list for all-around travel lenses. Its impressive focal length range and fast aperture make it an ideal choice for capturing a wide range of photography, from landscapes and portraits to street scenes and architecture.

This lens features advanced optics and coatings that deliver sharp and vivid images with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration. Its fast f/2.8 maximum aperture allows for shooting in low-light conditions and produces beautifully blurred backgrounds. The lens is also built with durability in mind, with weather-sealed construction to protect against dust and moisture, making it a reliable travel companion. If you’re looking for a versatile lens that can handle almost any travel photography situation, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM should definitely be on your list of Canon lenses for traveling.

• Price: $1380,-

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM

For landscape photographers who want to capture the beauty of distant landscapes, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM telephoto zoom lens is an excellent choice. This lens has a maximum aperture of f/4 and features image stabilization, allowing for crisp and clear shots, even in low light conditions. The lens’s telephoto capabilities compress the distance between foreground and background elements, creating stunning compositions that highlight the landscape’s natural beauty. With a minimum focusing distance of 1.2m, this lens is also suitable for capturing wildlife and other details within the landscape.

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM is also an excellent option for photographers looking for Canon lenses for traveling. Despite being a telephoto zoom lens, it is lightweight and compact, making it easy to take on the go. The lens’s versatility allows photographers to capture a wide range of shots, making it a great investment for any landscape photographer.

• Price: $1499,-

Top 3 Best Canon Lenses for City Trips

When exploring a new city, having the right camera gear can elevate your experience and help you capture stunning images. As a travel photographer, choosing the right lens for your city trip is crucial for capturing the beauty and character of your destination. Canon lenses for traveling are designed to be lightweight and versatile, making them the perfect choice for city trips. 

This article has compiled a list of the top three best Canon lenses for city trips. Each lens offers unique features and benefits that will help you capture everything from sweeping cityscapes to intimate street scenes with confidence and ease.

Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM

Capturing the beauty of cityscapes and architecture can be daunting for any photographer. However, with the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM wide-angle lens, it has never been easier. This lens is perfect for taking in the expansive views of a bustling city, and its image stabilization technology ensures that photos come out sharp and clear. With a maximum aperture of f/4.5-5.6, this lens is suitable for capturing indoor and outdoor shots. The lens also has a minimum focusing distance of 0.22m, allowing photographers to capture unique perspectives and details within the cityscape.

The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is also an excellent option for photographers looking for Canon lenses for traveling. It is lightweight and compact, making it easy to carry around and take on the go.

• Price: $299,-

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is an excellent lens for city trips and street photography. This lightweight and compact prime lens has a wide maximum aperture of f/2, allowing for stunning low-light shots that capture the city’s unique atmosphere. 

The lens features image stabilization technology, ensuring that photos come out sharp and clear, even in low light conditions. The lens’s focal length is also perfect for street photography, allowing photographers to capture the everyday moments that define a city’s character. With its excellent image quality, the Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is a must-have for any photographer looking at Canon lenses for traveling.

• Price: $548,-

Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is an incredibly versatile lens that is perfect for city trips. This standard zoom lens has a focal length range that allows photographers to capture everything from sweeping cityscapes to detailed portraits, making it an ideal lens for any photographer looking to document their travels. The lens is equipped with image stabilization technology, which helps to minimize blur and camera shake, allowing photographers to capture sharp, high-quality images.

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is also a great option for Canon lenses for traveling. Its compact and lightweight design makes it easy to carry around, while its sturdy construction ensures it can withstand travel rigors. The lens is compatible with full-frame and crop-sensor DSLR cameras, making it a versatile choice for photographers of all skill levels. With its wide range of focal lengths and image stabilization capabilities, the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is a must-have lens for any photographer looking to capture the beauty and energy of the city.

• Price: $695,-

Top 3 Best All-around Canon Lenses for Travel Photography

As a travel photographer, capturing the beauty and excitement of your destination requires a versatile and reliable lens. Canon lenses for traveling are specifically designed to meet the demands of travel photography, with features such as lightweight construction and durable build quality. This article has compiled a list of the top three best Canon lenses for all-around travel photography. These lenses offer exceptional image quality, versatility, and durability, making them the perfect choice for any travel photographer. Whether you’re capturing sweeping landscapes, vibrant cityscapes, or intimate portraits, these lenses will help you tell your story with confidence and creativity.

The Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM is one of the most versatile Canon lenses for traveling. With a focal length range of 24-105mm, this lens is ideal for capturing various subjects and scenes, from sweeping landscapes to detailed portraits. The lens features image stabilization technology, which helps to minimize camera shake and blur, allowing photographers to capture sharp and detailed images even in low-light conditions. Additionally, the lens has a maximum aperture of f/4, providing a good balance between depth of field and light-gathering capabilities.

This lens features advanced optics and coatings that deliver sharp and vivid images with minimal distortion and chromatic aberration. Its fast f/2.8 maximum aperture allows for shooting in low-light conditions and produces beautifully blurred backgrounds. The lens is also durable, with a weather-sealed construction to protect against dust and moisture, making it a reliable travel companion. If you’re looking for a versatile lens that can handle almost any travel photography situation, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM should definitely be on your list of Canon lenses for traveling.

• Price: $ 1,380

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS USM is an excellent choice for travel photographers who want to capture distant subjects such as stunning landscapes or unique city views. With a focal length range of 70-200mm, this telephoto zoom lens is perfect for photographing subjects from a distance and compressing perspective, making for creative and interesting travel shots.

The lens features Canon’s advanced Image Stabilization technology, compensating for camera shake and allowing for sharp images even when shooting handheld. The lens also has a weather-sealed construction, making it perfect for outdoor travel photography in a range of weather conditions. The lens is lightweight and compact, making it easy to pack in your travel bag without adding too much extra weight.

Top 3 Best Budget Canon Lenses for Travel Photography

Capturing stunning travel photos doesn’t necessarily require breaking the bank. As a travel photographer, finding budget-friendly lenses that can still deliver exceptional image quality is important. Canon lenses for traveling offer a range of affordable options that don’t compromise performance. 

This article has compiled a list of the top three best Canon budget lenses for travel photography. These lenses offer a great combination of quality and affordability, making them the perfect choice for any budget-conscious travel photographer. Whether you’re capturing sweeping landscapes, vibrant cityscapes, or intimate portraits, these lenses will help you tell your story without breaking the bank.

The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is a great budget-friendly option for travelers looking to capture sweeping landscapes and stunning architecture without breaking the bank. As a wide-angle lens, it fits more into the frame and creates dramatic perspectives.

This lens features image stabilization and a quiet STM autofocus system, making it easy to get sharp shots while moving. Its compact and lightweight design makes it easy to carry around during long travel days. Whether you’re shooting from a low angle or trying to capture the grandeur of a towering monument, the Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is a versatile lens that won’t weigh you down. It’s a great addition to any photographer’s collection of Canon lenses for traveling.

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is an excellent lens for budget-conscious travelers looking for a versatile and affordable option for low-light photography and portraits. With its wide aperture and STM motor, this lens allows you to capture stunning images in low-light conditions while also delivering smooth and quiet autofocus.

The compact and lightweight design of the EF 50mm f/1.8 STM makes it an ideal travel companion. It won’t add unnecessary weight to your camera bag, and its durable build quality ensures it can withstand the rigors of travel. This lens is compatible with both full-frame and APS-C Canon DSLRs, and it’s an excellent choice for beginners looking to upgrade from their kit lens. With its affordable price point and impressive image quality, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a must-have for any budget-conscious traveler looking to up their photography game.

• Price: $90,-

Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III

The Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III is a versatile telephoto zoom lens that’s great for travel photography on a budget. Whether you’re capturing wildlife, sports events, or distant landscapes, this lens can help you get the shots you want without breaking the bank.

With its long reach and compact design, the Canon EF 75-300mm f/4-5.6 III is an excellent option for photographers who want to keep their gear light and easy to carry while traveling. Its autofocus system is quick and accurate, and the lens is compatible with all Canon EOS cameras. Additionally, the lens features a Super Spectra coating that helps to reduce flare and ghosting, ensuring that your photos are sharp and clear.

• Price: $199,-

Our favorite Canon lenses for travel photography listed.

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Hey there! I'm Elliot Clennam, a passionate photographer based in Brussels, Belgium. My love for capturing the essence of my surroundings has led me on countless adventures, from exciting road trips to bustling city escapes.

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THE 7 BEST Canon Lenses for Travel Photography

Are you going on a trip with your Canon camera and looking for a new lens? Sorting through the host of lens options can leave your head spinning. From zoom lenses versus prime lenses to different aperture sizes and focal lengths— there are just so many things to consider. I have used a total of 10 different lenses over the last several years for my photography endeavors and this article lays out my picks for the best Canon lenses for travel photography.

If you use a Nikon or Sony platform for your travel photography, check our lists of the  best Nikon lenses  and  best Sony lenses  for travel. If you need something more compact than DSLR or mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses, check out our list of the best compact cameras for travel .

A Quick Review of Some Photography Terms:

Just in case you need a refresher on some photography lingo, here are some important terms to know when purchasing a lens in order to understand the tradeoffs you might be making:

• FOCAL LENGTH: focal length is the distance between the focal point (where the light captured by the lens converges into a focused image) and the sensor of the camera. It is measured in millimeters. A longer focal length will be more “zoomed in” whereas a shorter focal length will be more zoomed out.
• APERTURE: aperture size is measured with the f/stop. F/stop is actually a ratio between the length of the lens focal length and the diameter of the aperture opening. You may have seen it as something like f/1.4. This is an abbreviation and the full way to write this is as f 1/1.4, with the 1 representing the length of the focal length and the 1.4 representing the diameter of the aperture. This means that the lower the f/stop number (i.e. f/2.8 versus f/1.4), the wider the aperture. Additionally, halving of the f/stop represents a doubling of the level of exposure. So for example, f/1.4 will result in twice the exposure of f/2.8. Wide apertures do two things: 1, allow more light to hit the sensor, increasing the exposure, and 2, create a more shallow depth of field, which is the amount of space in focus. This is a large contributor to the amount of bokeh, or background blur, present in a photograph.
• ISO: This term originates from film photography, where an ISO level was fixed for each type of film. Higher ISO meant a higher level of exposure on an image. In digital cameras today, ISO is actually a form of in-camera post processing. Increasing your ISO may increase the exposure of your image without having to change the other settings, but it also runs the risk of making your photo extremely grainy. I recommend that you increase ISO only as a last resort when taking a photo.
• STOP (OF EXPOSURE): a stop of exposure is a relative measurement of the amount of light that the sensor is being exposed to. An increase of one stop of exposure equates to a doubling of the amount of light hitting the sensor, and a decrease of one stop of light equates to a halving of the amount of light hitting the sensor.

My Picks for the 7 Best Canon Lenses for Travel Photography:

Overall best canon lens for travel photography:, canon rf 24-70mm f/2.8l is usm – $2,399 $2,199, currently on sale.

The Canon RF 24-70 mm f/2.8L IS USM lens is incredibly popular for good reason. When taking travel photos, I want something that gives me a lot of options. I find the wider angle lenses in the 24mm to 40 mm range tend to be best for things like travel portraits and street photography because they include more of the environment in the photograph without having to get extremely far away.

[Check out this article to see Canon’s newest lens – a serious contender for the title of best Canon lens for travel photography.]

The lens’ focal length allows for extreme versatility while also allowing for a wide enough aperture for low-light shots. This lens will also give you the background-foreground compression of a telephoto lens for dramatic scenes and flattering travel portraits. As far as performance, image quality is unmatched and the autofocus is precise and fast. 

The downside of this lens is its size and weight. The Canon RF 24-70 mm f/2.8 is just under 2 lbs. This might weigh your backpack down a bit. In my opinion, the functionality is well worth it. But if you’re traveling light, you may want to choose a prime lens instead (see below).

The level of versatility of this lens also does not come cheap though. Equivalent lenses will cost you from around $1300 for the Sigma budget equivalent to $2,999 for Canon’s top-of-the-line RF 24-70mm f/2L USM lens.

• Can zoom between wide angle (24 mm) and telephoto (70 mm)
• Good lowlight performance due to the f/2.8 aperture
• Crystal clear image quality
• Built-in Image Stabilization
• Expensive. Budget versions are still over $1000
• Heavy (nearly 2 lbs)

Canon EF Version: Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM ($1,799)

Overall Best Canon Prime Lens for Travel Photography:

Sigma 35mm f/1.4 art dg hsm – $899 $674.

Staying true to Sigma’s reputation of bringing high quality at affordable prices, this lens clocks in under $1000 – an excellent price for a premium lens. This lens packs a punch. The super versatile 35 mm focal length and the f/1.4 max aperture allows for a super short depth of field.

The lens also has excellent low light performance. You should be able to use this lens for almost any travel photography task. The weight on this lens is 1.47 lbs which is a bit on the heavier side. So it may not be the best option if you are looking to travel light. But for what you’re getting in terms of performance, the camera’s weight shouldn’t be a dealbreaker.

This lens has an EF mount so if you have a newer mirrorless camera model, you will have to get a mount adapter .

• Short depth of field (very blurry background)
• Excellent low light performance
• Under $1000
• Heavy (1.47 lbs)
• Fixed focal length (unable to zoom)
• Not weather sealed

Best Budget Prime Lens for Travel Photography:

Canon rf 35 mm f/1.8 macro stm – $499.

The Canon RF 35 mm 1.8 STM is one of my all-time favorite lenses. The photo quality is excellent. Many of the photos on our Home page were taken using this lens. The 35 mm focal length is the most versatile focal length and the super wide f/1.8 aperture allows you to shoot in virtually any lighting conditions. The lens is fairly compact which makes for easy travel. 

This lens is also a macro lens, meaning it is capable of focusing on objects incredibly close up.

What’s even better is that this lens costs just under $500, and right now it’s on sale for $399. HARD to beat in my opinion.

• Versatile Focal Length
• Excellent lowlight performance

Canon EF Equivalent: Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM ($579)

Best Budget Canon Lens for Travel Photography:

Canon ef-s 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 is stm – $404.49.

The Canon EF-S 18-135mm is hands down the best travel lens under $500. The focal length variability is borderline shocking- with the ultra-wide angle 18 mm length to the telephoto being at 135 mm. This is more than enough for practically any task. Its variable aperture of f/3.5 to f/5.6 will be adequate for brighter lighting conditions. You should be able to get good photos in slightly darker conditions too though, since this lens has built in image stabilization. This lens is part of the EF line, so if you have a newer mirrorless camera model, you will have to get a mount adapter .

• Massive zoom range
• Built-in image stabilization for clear shots in lowlight
• Limited aperture 
• Made for Crop Sensor Cameras

Best Canon Lens for Landscape Photography:

Canon rf 15-35mm f/2.8 usm – $2,399 $2,199.

While photographing landscapes in the past, I’ve often found myself wishing I had a wider lens. Wide lenses are ideal for landscape photography because they give the camera a larger field of view than the human eye is capable of. This widened effect is excellent for capturing the vastness of a landscape scene.

The best Canon lens for landscape photography is the wide-angle Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8 USM lens. This lens is part of Canon’s high-end USM product line, which is known for its excellent image quality. Whether shooting on a hike or capturing a cityscape, this lens perfectly preserves every micro-detail of a landscape scene. Paired with an ultra-high resolution sensor such as the one in the mirrorless Canon EOS R5 , you will be able to greatly crop in your images if needed as well as print your landscape photos in large format while maintaining perfectly crisp detail.

• Wide angle focal length
• Good low light performance
• Variable zoom
• Excellent image quality

Heavy (1.85 lbs)

Canon EF Equivalent: Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM ($1,239.95 Renewed)

Telephoto Lenses for Landscape Photography: 

Some photographers, including famous landscape photographer Peter Lik, will elect to use telephoto lenses in the 200-800mm focal length to create a unique compression distortion on a landscape scene. Compression is where the background and foreground look much closer together than they actually are. This technique is responsible for photos you may have seen where the moon looks giant relative to a person, tree, or other object in the foreground. The moon actually hasn’t been edited to look giant, but instead the photo was taken from very far away from the foreground object, and so from that distance, the moon looks much larger relative to the object.

To illustrate, here is a photo I took of a Peter Lik print titled “Bella Luna”:

In my experience, most people will want to use a wide angle lens for a majority of their landscape photography endeavors. If you are trying to execute specific shots that require compression however, you may want to invest in a telephoto lens. Ultimately it’s up to you. Here are a few telephoto lenses organized by price:

$299 – Canon EF-S 55-250mm F4-5.6 IS STM

$649 – Canon RF100-400mm F5.6-8 IS USM

$2,799 $2,299 – Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8 L IS USM

$2,899 $2,399 – Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM

Best Weather Sealed Canon Lens for Travel Photography:

Canon rf 24-105mm f/4l is usm – $1,299.

The Canon RF 24-105 mm lens is weather-sealed and comes with a huge focal length range and a respectable f/4 minimum aperture. It also comes with a powerful image stabilization system that corrects for 5 stops of shake correction, making it much easier to shoot at slower shutter speeds. I based this my final pick for best weather sealed lens off of two assumptions: 

• Bad weather that would warrant a weather sealing will also imply a darker scene, meaning the max aperture needs to be wide. Though f/4 is not the widest, the image stabilization makes up for that
• This lens can’t be too expensive, as bad weather implies increased danger of camera drops . $1,299 is certainly not cheap, but it is a much more affordable price than the $2,199 of the Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8. 
• Excellent weather sealing
• Excellent autofocus speed and precision
• 5 stops of image stabilization (no blur even at very slow shutter speeds)
• Moderate price for value
• Heavy (1.54 lbs)
• Still may be out of the budget range
• f/4 focal length will be limiting in extreme lowlight conditions

Canon EF Version:  Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Lens ($709)

Canon’s Best Travel Photography Lens for APS-C Crop Sensor Cameras:

Canon ef-s 24mm f/2.8 stm – $ 129.

This little lens, sometimes called the “pancake lens”, is a perfect option for APS-C crop sensor cameras. For this 24 mm lens, the focal length is about 38.4mm. This is because Canon’s crop sensor cameras have a 1.6x zoom when compared to a full frame cameras with the same lens focal length. This lens also has a fairly wide aperture for the price allowing for considerable adaptability between different lighting conditions. I recently suggested this lens to a friend who’s somewhat new to photography for a trip to Japan, and he said it’s all he used.

• Highly portable
• Very affordable Price
• Good lowlight performance
• Heavy vignette (border darkening) due to inexpensive build quality

What is the best focal length for travel photography?

From my experience, the best focal length for travel photography is definitely 35 mm. This length is great because it’s a bit wider than the “normal” focal length. The focal length on most full frame cameras is 50 mm. So a 35 mm focal length gives your photos a distinct look. It also not so wide that you have to walk really close to your subject every time.

In case you didn’t know, a “normal” lens is named such because it most closely emulates what the normal human eye can see. This can make shooting with these lenses a bit dull. 

Wider-angle (less than 50 mm) or more telephoto lenses (more than 50 mm) begin to create spatial distortion. This distortion effects what the resulting image communicates. When used deliberately, these distortions can be a powerful tool. 

I personally have found that wide angle lenses tend to have many more applications than telephoto lenses do. They also allow for you to shoot inside, which just simply isn’t possible with a longer prime lens. 

I like prime lenses because they force you to move instead of standing back and zooming in and out. Changing focal lengths is not the same as physically moving closer or further away from your subject, and each produces very different photos. So while it may feel awkward to get close to the action, it’s good practice for any photographer as the effects on the resulting image are tangible.

Canon RF Lenses versus Canon EF Lenses

It’s well known that Canon makes excellent lenses. Now, with many people switching to the newer mirrorless camera systems which use the RF lens mount, you may wonder if Canon RF lenses are better than Canon EF lenses. 

As far as performance and image quality, there is little difference between RF and EF lenses other than that the RF lenses tend to have better autofocus precision and speed. 

The real significant difference in Canon’s lens catalog is between USM and STM lenses, and you will see this reflected in the price. I’ve found that the RF STM lenses are a bit better than the EF STM lenses, but the USM lenses are all professional grade across the board.

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What is the best lens for travel?

Last update : 04/05/2024

Our blog continues to grow thanks to you, our readers. This blog may contain affiliate links, which means we can earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. This helps us to continue to bring you more and support our work !

In a previous article, I explained in detail how to choose your camera lens and what were the criteria to consider when choosing your DSLR. I hope you can see more clearly now? From the beginning of this blog, I wanted to discuss and connect my two main passions: travel and photography . So it’s quite naturally that I present to you today this article: Which lens to choose for travel photography ?

In parallel, I have already written an article explaining how to choose your camera and which one to choose (bridge, mirrorless camera, DSLR, etc.)? So, I’m focusing today on people who have taken the plunge and bought a DSLR. This article is written in parallel with the complete guide to know and understand how to choose your camera lens?

So in your opinion, is there a better lens for traveling? Should you choose a fixed focal length? If not, what focal length should you consider? Is it mandatory to have an ultra-wide angle for a trip? Basically a lot of questions on this subject…

Check out my practical photography packs. It's a simple, fun and entertaining way to learn and improve in photography, especially in the field!

Offer end date: 03/20/2023

• What kind of pictures?
• In what conditions?
• What type of travel?
• My travel recommendations
• Which wide angle to choose for traveling?
• What transtandard lens when traveling?

Which telephoto lens to choose?

• My ideal travel gear

Choosing lenses for a trip is not easy, and you will have to find a compromise between weight, budget, versatility, personal desires/passion, local needs, etc. In my opinion, before knowing which lens to choose for a trip, you should ask yourself three pertinent questions.

The best lenses to choose for travel?

1 - what kind of photos do you want to shoot.

In order to know which lens to choose for a trip, it is necessary to ask yourself what type of photos you want to take . In other words, what type of photo do you like? What do you shoot most often when traveling?

On the other hand, you can exclude some lenses if you don’t practice the kind of photo to which they are initially intended. The simplest example to give are specialized lenses for macro photography. These are very specific lenses and unless you want to shoot dragonflies or snails, a macro lens will not be of much use to you. You can of course shoot other types of photos (portrait for example), but you might as well buy a lens dedicated to portraits.

If you want to specialize in wildlife photography, you will have to pay particular attention to the aperture of your lens, the induced depth of field (the background blur = the bokeh), or the sharpness. No matter the mount (Cannon, Nikon, Panasonic lens or other), this consideration will have to be done in parallel depending on whether you have an APS-C or or full-fame sensor. I will talk about it below. If you want to go further into this subject, I invite you to read my article “ the best lenses for wildlife photography ”.

So try to answer this simple question, as it is ultimately what will most influence your choice of lenses for your trip. The answer can be very easy for specific trips or holidays, for example a safari in Tanzania, where you would prefer a telephoto lens and a landscape lens .

If you don’t have any particular ideas about the type of photo you’d like to take while traveling, that’s okay. Just know that depending on what you’re carrying with you, some photos will be more complicated to take on site.

2 - In what conditions?

This is in my opinion a second question that can be asked to know which lens to choose when traveling. Indeed, according to the general shooting conditions throughout your trip, you may not necessarily have to rely on top-of-the-range equipment.

Let me quickly explain, if you want to focus on night photography, or even in the early morning or evening, having a bright lens (with a large aperture) can be very useful, because you will lack brightness otherwise.

Conversely, if you shoot most of your travel pictures during the day and in good lighting conditions, having an ultra bright lens will not necessarily be essential (not to mention its primary purpose, which could be to highlight your subjects).

So it’s up to you to see under what conditions you will generally take your pictures!

3 - What type of trip?

Finally, the last question that can be considered to know which lens to choose to go on a trip: the type of trip or vacation you practice in general?

Indeed, depending on what you are planning, the equipment may not be the same at all. Can you imagine carrying several kilos of equipment when hiking in the mountains? It is a questionable choice but, in any case, depending on what you are going to do, the final choice will surely not be the same. For example, when I go on a photo trip, in addition to my camera and my lenses, I always carry my camera bag and all the photo accessories with me (tripod, ND filter, polarizing filter, remote control, filter holder, grip, adapter ring, etc.). These to me are essential for successful photos, but it clearly comes into play at the end of the day!

Another example, if you travel a lot in tropical areas, it could be worth buying tropicalized lenses (dust and water).

Well there you have it, I have finished presenting all the questions I think you should ask yourself to know which lens to choose for traveling!

On a side note, depending on your needs, it might be a good idea to get a waterproof camera for travel . I detail in the link above our best selection of the moment!

So, which lens should you choose for traveling? My recommendations

In this paragraph, I give you my vision of things on the choice of travel lenses to take. It is obviously impossible to answer all the possible cases, everyone making their own choices according to its utility, their needs, and very often their budget.

Generally speaking, I would recommend buying several specific lenses rather than one single wide focal length lens, called “multi-purpose”. In reality, these are often of lower quality and you will surely be very quickly disappointed by this kind of equipment (e.g. 18-300 mm).

Note that you will have to pay attention to the type of body you have, either an APS-C or a Full Frame. Lenses for APS-C will very generally be cheaper than those for Full Frame. All Full Frame lenses can be installed on an APS-C body. The reverse is usually not true .

So, here is my answer to the question “which lens to choose to go on a trip” to cover more or less all the possibilities during your trip.

For the 3 types of lenses listed below, I specify my recommendations for an APS-C body (or small budget) or for a Full Frame body (for those who own one or for larger budgets). For information, I currently own a 6D (full frame).

Which wide-angle lens to choose?

This type of lens will be perfect for landscape photography but also for street photography. It will allow you to highlight your landscapes with great perspectives and a wide angle of view, and will offer you very wide fields of view in street photography, for example markets or scenes of city life.

This type of lens may not be required for people who are new to photography and cannot afford to buy one. You can very well start taking landscape and street pictures with a standard lens, such as 18-55mm on an APS-C or 24-70mm on a Full Frame sensor.

For this type of lens, you will need a focal length of 10-12mm on an APS-C body and a focal length of about 17-24mm on a Full Frame body to get the equivalent. This is referred to as a wide-angle zoom, since they are not fixed focal lengths. However, there are for example ultra-wide-angle fixed lenses, such as the Canon 14mm f/2.8 (reputed excellent but out of price).

The Canon 17-40mm F/4, the perfect lens for landscape photography on a budget – More details on Amazon

Here are my recommendations based on what I know, what I have read and researched on each of its lenses. Be careful to choose your lens according to your body (APS-C) or Full Frame. I personally owned the first version of the Tokina 11-16 mm f/2.8 AT-X PRO DX II when I first started with my Canon 500D. Since being in Full Frame, I recently equipped myself in 2019 with a Canon 16-35 f/4 L IS , which is superb.

Here is a series of wide-angle lenses that I recommend with my eyes closed for APS-C and Full Frame.

Which transtandard lens to choose?

A transtandard lens is a lens that roughly corresponds to a focal length of 18-55 mm for an APS-C body and 24-70 mm for a Full Frame body. With this type of lens, you can take the vast majority of travel photos, whether it’s portraits, street photos or even landscape pictures. You won’t have the same wide angle as with a dedicated lens (see previous paragraph), but you can get by without it, at least at first. The framing here will be standard, neither too wide nor too zoomed. This is the recommended lens for learning photography.

As proof, I have currently sold my Tokina 11-16 mm wide-angle lens that I had on my old body. Since then, I only own a 24-70 mm f/2.8 for landscape or portrait photography when traveling. It’s not ideal all the time and I sometimes want to invest in a good wide angle for a full frame body, but I can live with it for now!

The Canon 24-70mm f/4, a very nice standard lens for traveling – More details on Amazon

Here are some serious recommendations for APS-C and Full Frame bodies

In the end, it’s impossible to answer the question “which lens to choose for a trip”, without mentioning the telephoto lens. For a trip, I would strongly recommend a classic 70-200mm lens. Note that for beginners in photography, it is often a 55-250mm or 55-200 mm type lens with small relative apertures (f/4 to f/5.6, or more). While traveling, the telephoto lens will allow you to take pictures of everyday life (street, market, life scene, etc.), original landscape photos as well, or even superb close-up portrait photos (usually around 100mm). On this subject, here is the full guide for choosing your lenses for portrait photography .

In short, it’s the ideal addition to your standard lens that we discussed in the previous paragraph. To put it simply, each brand generally offers several 70-200mm lenses, whose characteristics vary according to:

• Whether the lens has stabilization or not,
• Depending on the lens aperture (typically f/2.8 or f/4).

Obviously, prices will go up when you choose a stabilized lens with a large aperture.

The Canon 70-200mm f/4 L, a quality lightweight telephoto lens for travel – More details on Amazon

However, these telephoto lenses will often be too short for wildlife photography, where a longer focal length (300 mm minimum) is required. I personally chose the superb Canon EF 70-300 f/4-5.6L IS USM , which in my opinion is the ideal travel lens for its small size and long focal length.

For wildlife photography enthusiasts on a trip, I highly recommend 100-400 mm focal lengths which are particularly suitable for traveling.

Here are my recommendations for choosing your telephoto lens when traveling.

Which lenses to choose for a trip? My winning combos?

I present here two trio of lenses that I think would be perfect for a trip.

For small budgets in APS-C , at Canon for example:

10-18 mm f/4,5-5,6 IS STM (wide-angle)+ EF-S 18-55 mm f/3,5-5,6 IS II (Sstandard) + EF 75-300mm f/4.0-5.6 III (telephoto)

For about 500€ in total

If you wish you can add a small lens for perfect portrait when traveling (light), the 50mm f/1.8.

In low light situations and for portrait, I use my Canon 50mm f/1.8 – More details on Amazon

For those with a larger budget and with full frame camera.

17-40 mm L f/4 (Wide-angle) + 24-70 mm f/4.0 L IS USM (Standard) + EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM (Telephoto)

For about 2700€ in total

You may want to consider adding this portrait lens, the Canon 85mm f/1.8.

The Canon 85mm f/1.8 lens, perfect for portrait while traveling – More details on Amazon

I hope that this article has helped you understand which lens you should choose to travel with and that you see more clearly now. Before taking the plunge, if you have any doubts, please feel free to leave me a comment at the bottom of this article, I will help and advise you in choosing your lens.

If you are still unsure of which lens to choose, I invite you to come and read the article on how to choose your camera lens, it could be useful for you to understand the elements to take into account. In regards to cameras, I wrote an article on which camera to choose for travel ? You’ll find a whole bunch of possibilities!

If you want to go further, I invite you to read the articles on the choice and use of photo accessories when traveling (polarizing filter, ND filter, safari accessories, etc.).

It’s never easy to make a purchase, and we’re often afraid of making the wrong choice or making a mistake! I’ve been there too, but after months of reading and researching, you have to go for it!

I hope you make the right choice and wish you a good trip!

I hope this article isn’t too technical. I voluntarily decided to open a section dedicated to the basics of photography, in order to explain to you all the notions present in the article and others necessary for a good understanding (autofocus, image stabilization, shutter speed, focus, sensitivity, etc.).

What lens would you usually take with you on a trip? Are you more of the type to carry a lot? or travel light?

Written by Sylvain PONS

I've been passionate about photography since 2010, learning as I went along. Today, I dedicate myself to guiding others in their choice of camera gear and sharing a variety of tips to improve their photography skills.

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My Favorite Olympus Lenses for Travel (by a travel blogger!)

Dear reader: This article contains links to products and services that I may be compensated for, at no extra cost to you.

If you haven’t already read it, please first see this article on why I think the Olympus OM-D EM-5 is the best mirrorless camera for traveling . 

If you’re a traveler like me, you’re really going to love this camera. But choosing the camera only gets you halfway there. Now you are faced with the difficult task of deciding which lens (or lenses!) to get for it.

Trust me on this: it’s difficult to choose ONLY ONE lens for this camera. Even for a traveler who wants to minimize space and weight in your pack, Olympus lenses are so tiny, light, and affordable that it’s really easy to justify getting several of them. I would even say that buying them is highly addictive. 

Of course, as a frequent traveler, I wanted to buy the best Olympus lens for travel. I did a ton of research before buying any of my lenses, just like I do before buying all of my must-have items for travel . 

In this article, I’m going to share my conclusions after all that research, plus several years of using these lenses on the road. I’ll also include some of my favorite photos I’ve taken with each of them to give you an idea of what they are capable of.

I hope this helps you decide which of these Olympus lenses will be best for you travelers out there!

Important Note: If you shoot with an Olympus mirrorless camera, you can also use micro four thirds lenses from other brands, such as Panasonic and Tamron. However, I feel that some of the best micro four thirds lenses for travel are the Olympus ones, and I’m only discussing those below because they are the ones I personally use. 

Table of Contents

 Should I Get the Olympus OM-D EM-5 Kit Lens ?

No matter whether you get the Olympus OM-D EM-5 Mark II (the camera I have), or its newer version, the Olympus OM-D EM-5 Mark III (I’d recommend this one since it only costs a little more), you’ll have to make an important decision between two options when you buy it. 

Your first choice is to get the camera body only, and then choose your own lenses. The Mark II comes in a black body or a more vintage-looking silver body (I love the look of mine). In the same way, the Mark III comes in a black body or silver body . Doing this allows you to pick exactly the lens or lenses you want to go with your camera.

Your second choice is to go with the kit, which is one of the options on all of the Amazon pages for the Olympus camera bodies. Both the Mark 2 and Mark 3 kits come with the Olympus 14-150 mm f4-5.6 lens (pictured above). Depending on the price of the body and individual lens at the time of purchase (the prices are always changing), getting the kit may save you some money, but not always.

So for travelers, should you get the kit or not? Personally, I didn’t. I wanted to get better lenses than the kit lens. However, for many travelers, you may find some advantages to the kit lens, as I’ll explain below. 

Update: If you’re willing to get the Mark II instead of the newer Mark III, this better kit comes a much better lens, the Olympus 12-40mm (see below).

Is the Olympus 14-150 mm the Best Olympus Lens for Travel? 

To be honest, the Olympus 14-150mm (i.e. the kit lens) is a very tempting Olympus lens for travelers. Basically, what you get is everything from wide (14mm) to super zoomed in (150mm) in one lens. This is a significant range that, for the average traveler-photographer, is going to cover just about every photo you’ll want to take. 

The major advantage of this is that you don’t really need to buy any other lenses. This walk-around lens can stay on all the time, and you’ll never miss a shot because you have to stop and change lenses. I must admit that I was extremely tempted by this when I was buying my Olympus camera. 

However, the major downside of getting a lens with such a range is that you have to make some quality sacrifices. If you aren’t a very serious photographer, you may not even notice or care. But for photographers aiming for top quality photos, you may notice some chromatic aberration at either end of the zoom. In terms of aperture, this lens only ranges from f4.0 to 5.6. This means you may have some difficulty getting clear shots in low-light situations.

What’s more, the lens is made of plastic and doesn’t feel as strong as you might want it to. Finally, it doesn’t come with a lens hood. These are just some of the sacrifices you need to make to get a cheaper, wide to super-zoom lens.

For more technical information about this lens, here is a detailed Olympus 14-150mm lens review .

The Bottom Line

I think the Olympus 14-150mm , the “kit lens” that comes with the Olympus omd em5 Mark II and Mark III, might just be the best Olympic lens for travelers who want an all-in-one lens and who aren’t aspiring for technical perfection in every photo they take. 

I personally know professional travel bloggers who only use this lens and swear by it. But if you want to take your travel photography to professional levels, it probably isn’t the one for you.

My Favorite Olympus Travel Lens: Olympus 12-40 mm f2.8 Pro

When I said no to the Olympus kit lens, it’s because I badly wanted to get the Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 Pro Lens instead. I absolutely love this Olympus lens, and 90% of my travel photography is shot using it. I read a million (give or take) reviews of this lens before I got it. Everyone raved about it, and now I know why. 

This lens is around 1.6 times the price of the kit lens (as I write this), and it’s much more limited in its zoom range. But that’s a good thing–in terms of photo quality, the results are indisputably superior.

The images I can capture with this lens are insanely sharp and detailed, whether it’s fully zoomed in or out. The widest (12 mm) may not seem like a big difference from the kit lens (14 mm), but those two millimeters make a big difference for getting stunning wide landscape and architecture shots. Zoomed out, I find 40mm to be enough for most of my street photography, and that’s why I keep this lens on most of the time when I’m traveling. 

Aperture-wise, this lens opens up to f2.8, which makes a world of difference compared to the kit lens (f4.0) for avoiding dreaded blurry images in low light conditions. Only once in a while, when it’s especially dark, do I trade this lens out for my f1.8 one (we’ll get to that below). 

This lens has a little more weight to it, and I find it’s the perfect weight and size to balance out the camera itself, unlike some of the lighter lenses, which almost feel TOO light on the camera. Because it is made with metal, it feels stronger, and I’m never worried when I bump it into things.         

The Olympus 12-40mm also comes with a button that you can customize for a variety of functions, a ring that you can push or pull to switch between manual and auto focus, and a lens hood for blocking out glare from the sun. 

The only downside to this lens as a traveler is that is doesn’t zoom very far. So for my long-distance shots, I have to switch over to my zoom lens (see the next entry). 

For more technical details about this lens, here’s a detailed Olympus 12-40mm Pro Lens review . 

Photos Taken with My Olympus 12-40 mm Pro Lens

If you can afford it, buy the Olympus 12-40 mm pro lens instead of the kit lens. Now. 

My Zoom Lens: Olympus 40-150 mm f4-5.6

Once in a while, my Olympus 12-40 mm pro lens just doesn’t have enough zoom to get a photo I want. That’s when I pull out my Olympus 40-150 mm lens . Whether it’s an animal in the distance, a person I’m trying to discreetly photograph from across the street, or the tip of a mosque’s dome, this lens always does the trick.

This lens is extremely affordable, so it was a no-brainer addition to my camera bag. It’s also small, thin and extremely light (only 190 grams!), so it’s never a burden to carry along. Don’t be fooled by the image above, which seems a little large. This lens is only as long as my middle finger.

For very serious photographers, this zoom lens may not cut it for you. With an aperture range of f4.0-5.6, you won’t always be able to get the sharpest shots at full zoom. However, to get the  Pro version of this lens that can stop up to f2.8, you’ll need to drop nearly $1000 more, not to mention it’s quite a bit larger. I couldn’t justify that price, especially since I don’t use super zoom all that much in my travels. 

Photos Taken with My Olympus 40-150 mm Lens

Having a long distance zoom lens comes in super handy sometimes when you are traveling. If you get the Olympus 12-40 mm Pro Lens like I did, then you’ll probably want to add the Olympus 40-150 mm lens to your kit as well.

You can consider getting the pro version of this zoom lens, but it’s quite a bit larger and more expensive. For me, the 40-150 mm f4-5.6 is good enough.

My Super Low-Light Lens: Olympus 45mm f1.8

The Olympus 45mm f1.8 is so small and cheap yet useful that it is hard to justify NOT buying it. This lens only weighs 116 grams and can fit in the palm of my hand. 

The main benefit of this lens is being able to stop up to f1.8. This means the lens’ hole is super wide open, allowing more light to come in. So anytime I find myself in super dark conditions, I take this little savior out, and I’m still able to capture sharp images. It also makes it very easy to capture lovely bokeh, or blurred backgrounds. Finally, it’s really great for portrait photography.

This lens has a fixed length of 45 mm, so I find I sometimes have to stand fairly far back from my subject. This can be restrictive, but it can also be quite ideal for portraits and street photography. I find that subjects behave more naturally when they think I’m capturing a whole scene with them in it, when in fact I’m taking a super close-up portrait of them. It’s less annoying than sticking a camera right in their face. 

Because this lens is so tiny and light, it’s really fun to shoot with. I find it really easy to capture good photos using only one hand when I have this lens on, which is super handy when I’m traveling with kids.

Overall, this is my most underused lens. What I means is that I really should use it way more often, but I seldom think to pull it out, because my Olympus 12-40 mm Pro is usually good enough to get the job done in most situations. But whenever I do use the Olympus 45 mm f1.8, I’m always blown away by the results, especially considering how cheap this lens is.  

Learn more about this lens in this Olympus 45 mm f1.8 lens review .

While I don’t consider the Olympus 45mm f1.8 to be an essential lens in my kit, it’s extremely useful for low-light situations, and produces some amazing results. It’s so small and cheap that it’s easy to justify adding it to the mix.

My Macro Lens: Olympus 60mm F2.8 Macro

While the above three lenses go with me everywhere I travel, the Olympus 60mm f2.8 Macro Lens serves a totally different purpose. Remember when I said buying Olympus lenses can be addictive? Well, after reading countless reviews for this one, I just had to have it.  

What is a macro lens? These are lenses for photographing extremely small things. Think close up shots of bugs, flower filaments, snowflakes, an eyeball, and so on. So this is definitely a niche photography lens, and not necessary whatsoever for general travel photography. I would even call it a hindrance, because once you get into macro photography, you end up forgetting about the rest of the world and spending hours crawling around in the forest trying to capture bugs, and totally ignoring all the other travel stuff you should/could be seeing. 

A word of warning, though: macro photography is not easy. The two biggest problems, besides actually finding bugs and other tiny stuff to photograph, are that it’s extremely difficult to focus on things that small (I have to use a rocking back and forth method, as this is a prime (non zoom) lens, and there’s almost never enough light to get a properly exposed shot. The tiny flash unit that came with my Olympus doesn’t work for macro photos (the subject is so close that the lens creates a shadow on it).

To deal with this, I invested in an Olympus external flash , which I set to remote and then hold in one hand while holding my camera in the other. I’ve also experimented with various diffuser reflectors so that the flash isn’t too bright.

My rate of success with these photos is low, and I’m especially not good with working with flash. But when these photos do turn out, they are amazing. What I described above is really a simplified version of how to do it. If you are seriously interested in this lens, I would strongly recommend doing a lot of research first, as I did. There are several different techniques people use with this lens, especially for the flash setup, and none are easy or simple. In other words, mastering the use of this lens takes some real commitment.

I bought this lens when I lived in Taiwan, a subtropical country with tons of crazy bugs and beautiful flowers year-round. I’d recommend it for anyone who is looking for a hobby that involves spending a lot of time in the outdoors, especially if you live somewhere with lots of cool plants and critters. It takes lots of time to get the shots, so don’t bring anyone else along who isn’t taking macro photos too, or they will be waiting forever for you.

Now that I live in Canada, I find that I almost never use this lens, but someday when I’m sure I‘ll get back into it again. 

Here’s a detailed review of the Olympus 60mm 2.8 Macro Lens .

Photos Taken with My Olympus 60mm f2.8 Macro Lens

I actually wouldn’t recommend the Olympus 60 mm 2.8 macro lens for travel, especially because you’ll likely need to add an external flash, battery charger, and diffusers to your camera bag. This camera is suitable for anyone who’d like to make macro photography a hobby, and a challenging one it can be.

This is a niche pastime that requires lots of research and trial & error to master. You may just love it if you’re into hiking already (and don’t mind it if you never reach your destinations), especially anywhere that has lots of bugs and cool plants.

My Final Recommendations

There are a plethora of amazing cameras on the market these days. For travelers, nothing beats the small size, light weight, and amazing results that can be achieved with a mirrorless camera.

While I haven’t tried any others, I did tons of research before choosing the Olympus Om-d Em-5 Mark II . This camera has been around the world with me, and I’m not surprised at all that it is often featured near the top of lists of the best mirrorless cameras on the market. There’s now a newer model, the Mark III . You can read more about why I love this camera here .

If you decide to get this camera for traveling, then for lenses, I would recommend either of these two options:

1. Get the kit when you buy it on Amazon, which comes with this lens , if you want an all-in-one solution that can minimize camera gear when you travel.

2. For more serious photographers who want their photos to be as professional as possible, buy the camera body only and separately purchase the Olympus 12-40 mm 2.8 Pro Lens . This is an incredible lens that I couldn’t live without, and I shoot 90% of my travel photos with it. I would also recommend getting an Olympus 40-150 mm for a zoom lens (or the Pro version of it, but it’s quite a bit larger and more expensive).

The Olympus 45 mm f1.8 is a cheap and very small addition, but not essential for travelers. It is great for portraits and super low-light situations, helping you to get great photos in some situations that would otherwise be impossible.

The Olympus 60 mm 2.8 macro lens is fun if you want to get into macro photography, but it’s difficult to use and I wouldn’t recommend it for general travel.

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Home » Gear » best nikon travel lenses

The 16 Best Travel Lenses for Nikon • Comprehensive Guide

Nikon is one of the oldest and most respected camera manufacturers in the world. For over 100 years, this company has been producing photographic equipment that is used and loved by all types of people.

Nikon gear is used by professional photographers, journalists, enthusiasts, and everyday-folk alike; it is thanks to their mutual love for Nikon that the company has been so successful.

Nikon is well-known for its camera sensors, which are among the most advanced camera bodies on the current market. That said, a sensor is nothing without a lens. Nikon users should be just as concerned with their travel lens selection as they are with their camera body, which is what we’re going to talk about today.

There are over 90 Nikon lenses to choose from and even more when you consider 3rd parties like Sigma, Tamron, and Rokinon. If you’re having trouble sorting through these lenses and choosing the best Nikon travel lens for yourself then we don’t blame you.

That’s why we’re here to help! We at Broke Backpacker have an extensive knowledge on Nikon’s lens library are ready to help you out with any and all of your questions.

We’ve compiled a list of the 16 best Nikon lenses for travel photography. Each lens is uniquely designed and will appeal to a certain type of photographer. Whether you’re a run-and-gunner, a Zen landscape master, or a pro at portraiture, there is a lens out there made just for you.

So let’s get to it then! Here are the best Nikon lenses for travel photography currently available!

Quick Answers: Best Nikon FX Travel Lenses of 2024

Quick answers: best nikon dx travel lenses of 2024, best nikon travel lenses for fx mount, best nikon travel lenses for dx mount, things to consider when buying the best nikon travel lenses, faq about the best nikon travel lenses.

• Overall Best Travel Lens for Nikon FX – Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4G ED VR
• Best Budget Travel Lens for Nikon FX – Nikon 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR AF-S
• Best Professional Travel Lens for Nikon FX – Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G
• Best Prime Travel Lens for Nikon FX – Nikon 50mm f/1.4G SIC SW
• Jump to -> The List of Best Nikon FX Travel Lenses of 2024

Nikon Nikkor 24-120mm f/4.0

• > Great focal range
• > Lightweight

Nikon Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5

• > Good center sharpness
• > Good autofocus
• > Affordable

Nikon Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8

• > Outstanding sharpness
• > Very robust
• > Great autofocus

Nikon Nikkor 50mm f/1.8

• > Light and durable
• > Very affordable
• Overall Best Travel Lens for Nikon DX – Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM
• Best DX Budget Travel Lens for Nikon DX – Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD
• Best DX Professional Travel Lens for Nikon DX – Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8
• Best EF-S Prime Travel Lens for Nikon DX – Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G
• Jump to -> The List of Best Nikon DX Travel Lenses of 2024

Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3

• > Good optics
• > Well designed

Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8

• > Fast aperture

Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8

• > Unbeatable resolution
• > Unbeatable resolution Very fast aperture
• > Limited optical imperfections

Nikon Nikkor 35mm f/1.8

• > Great performance
• > Amazing price
• > Very portable

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Overall Best Nikon Travel Lens (FX): Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-120mm f4 G ED VR

• Weight: 1.56 lb / 710 g
• Dimensions: 3.31 x 4.06″ / 84 x 103 mm
• Filter Size: 77mm
• Optical Stabilization: Yes

The Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 ED VR is our pick for the best Nikon travel lens! This iteration of the classic “do-everything travel zoom” is a worthy piece of equipment, thanks in part to its solid optical performance, effective vibration reduction, and relative lightweight.

Those who are traveling the world and need something both powerful and portable will find the 24-120mm is one of the best options.

The Nikon Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR appealing because of its useful focal range. At 24-120mm, this lens can capture all sorts of subjects and will appeal to many types of photographers.

Landscape photographers will appreciate the relatively wide 24mm angle while portrait photographers will get some pretty solid headshots at the telephoto end.

Optically, the Nikon Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 performs very well. Images are super sharp, particularly in the center, from the widest aperture. The corners are bit soft but improve dramatically when the lens is stopped down.

Vignetting and distortion are visible at both ends of the focal range but luckily these problems can easily be fixed in post-processing. The bokeh created by the 24-120mm isn’t the best, and many photographers find it too busy or chaotic.

To be honest, the problems that the Nikon Nikkor 24-120mm f/4G ED VR suffers from are to be expected. Travel zooms like this one are usually prone to optical imperfections but, given the usefulness of the lens’ focal range, these tradeoffs are almost always acceptable.

The Nikon Nikkor 24-120mm f/4 is made of high-grade plastics. Although these plastics are pretty durable, they are not weather resistant. Those who expose their lenses to elements frequently may be concerned with the Nikon 24-120mm’s ruggedness or lack thereof.

• Excellent sharpness.
• Very useful focal range and VR.
• Relatively lightweight.
• Vignetting/distortion when shot wide or telephoto.
• Unattractive bokeh.
• Plastic construction.

Best Budget Nikon Travel Lens (FX): Nikon 24-85mm F/3.5-4.5G ED VR AF-S

• Weight: 1.02 lb / 465 g
• Dimensions: 3.07 x 3.23″ / 78 x 82 mm
• Filter Size: 72mm

For those who don’t want to shell out $1,000+ for a professional zoom, the Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR is an excellent alternative. For around $500, you can have a lens with good image quality, a solid set of features, and excellent packability. Though the Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 is far from perfect, it still does a great job of capturing beautiful images.

Optically, the Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR performs pretty well. Center sharpness is excellent throughout the entire focal range. The vibration reduction and autofocusing systems are very capable as well and should increase photo quality in either dimly lit or fast-paced environments.

The Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR does suffer from quite a few optical blemishes. Distortion, both the barrelling and pincushion varieties, is noticeable throughout the focal range. Vignetting and corner softness are also strong when the lens is used wide open.

Even though it was designed to be used on the FX mount, the Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR oddly enough feels more suited for a DX camera. Because of the sensor cropping, the corners suffer less from softness and vignetting while on a DX body.

Regardless of its inherent flaws, the Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR is still an effective lens that is capable of delivering excellent photos. It will require a little extra effort to get the most out of this camera but, once you master it, the Nikon 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5G ED VR can be one of the best budget travel lenses for Nikon FX users.

• Good center sharpness throughout the focal range.
• Quick, silent autofocus.
• Affordable.
• Distortion throughout the range.
• Heavy vignetting.
• Optical blemishes more apparent on FX mount.

Best Professional Nikon Travel Lens (FX): Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G

• Weight: 1.98 lb / 900 g
• Dimensions: 3.27 x 5.24″ / 83 x 133 mm
• Optical Stabilization: No

For those looking for a superlative lens and are willing to fork out the necessary dough, the Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G is one of the best that money can buy.

Thanks to its stellar image sharpness, blazing fast autofocus, and superb build quality, the Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G is our choice for the best travel lens for professional Nikon photographers.

The Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G is a worthy addition to the photographic world. Like most other fixed-aperture zooms, the Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G is near-flawless optically.

More than that, it just performs amazingly well – autofocus is some of the fastest in the Nikon line, and construction is of such high quality the lens can handle most forms of weather.

All and all, the Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G strives to be a perfect lens and, for the most part, comes close. As is the case with pro medium zooms though, the question is “what doesn’t this lens have?”

Like a lot of Nikon lenses, distortion and vignetting are present in the Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G, but to a much lesser degree. Many photographers will not notice these imperfections. Those that do can easily fix them with post-processing software as always.

The Nikon AF-S FX Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G also lacks vibration reduction tech, perhaps to keep costs and/or size down to a minimum. The fast f/2.8 aperture should do well enough in low light. For those that really want the VR though, there’s a newer, more expensive model that comes equipped with it.

• Outstanding sharpness.
• Extremely quick autofocus.
• Very robust build-quality.
• Some corner softness and vignetting.
• No vibration reduction tech.

Best Prime Nikon Travel Lens (FX): Nikon 50mm f/1.8G

• Weight: 6.53 oz / 185 g
• Dimensions: 2.84 x 2.06″ / 72.1 x 52.4 mm
• Filter Size: 58mm

Almost every photographer’s first prime lens is a 50mm, or “nifty fifty.” These lenses are popular first choices because they’re almost always a) useful b) effective and c) affordable. Nikon’s own 50mm f/1.8 is no exception to this trend!

The Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is everything that you’d expect from a nifty fifty – it’s sharp, portable, very fast, and, best of all, a screaming deal.

Optically, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is a solid performer. Sharpness is respectable when shot wide open and becomes impressive when stopped down to f/2.8 and f/4.

Vignetting and corner sharpness are present in the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G when it’s shot wide open. Most will hardly recognize these faults since the background will probably be thrown out anyways and lost in the lens’ bokeh, which is gorgeous by the way. Distortion is a bit heavy for a prime lens but this can easily be fixed in post-processing.

It goes without saying that the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is very portable, weighing only a paltry 185 grams. The lens doesn’t have the best depth of field markings, which may or may not turn off traditional photographers who like to know their hyperfocal values.

At the end of the day, what makes the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G so great is its unbeatable price. For around $200 new, you can have an extremely useful lens that sacrifices little in the way of performance.

Those looking for the best prime lens for Nikon then should look no further than the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G.

• Light yet durable.
• Amazing price.
• Distortion.
• Vignetting/corner softness at widest aperture.
• Poor DOF markings.

Best Nikon Travel Lens for Landscape Photographers (FX): Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 16-35mm f/4G ED VR

• Weight: 1.50 lb / 680 g
• Dimensions: 3.25 x 4.92″ / 82.5 x 125 mm

The Nikon Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR is an exceptional wide-angle lens. The photos that this camera produces have an awesome resolution, are generally free of optical blemishes and just drop-dead gorgeous.

For landscape photographers, the Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR is one of the best Nikon travel lenses that they can own.

There’s little to begrudge of the Nikon Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR in terms of image quality. From f/4.0, center sharpness is superb and by f/8.0 the entire frame is crisper than a fresh set of bed sheets. Corners do show a bit of softness when the lens is used wide-open but this is to be expected from an ultra wide angle.

Distortion is very apparent when the lens is set to 16mm. This distortion is nothing debilitating – modern post-processing software can fix this imperfection – but it just really stands out within the focal range.

Luckily, all other forms of optical blemishing are well controlled in the Nikon Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR. Chromatic aberrations are nearly absent and vignetting is limited throughout the focal range.

The Nikon Nikkor 16-35mm f/4G ED VR comes equipped with vibration reduction technology, which is great for those using their DSLR for filmmaking. Pure landscape photographers may use this feature less frequently but it doesn’t hurt to have.

• Impressive sharpness.
• Well controlled vignetting and chromatic aberrations.
• VR tech for filmmaking.
• Corners are a bit soft at wide apertures.
• Heavy distortion when shot at 16mm.
• Perhaps a bit large (but only).

Best Nikon Travel Lens for Portrait Photographers (FX): Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G

• Weight: 12.35 oz / 350 g
• Dimensions: 3.15 x 2.87″ / 80 x 73 mm
• Filter Size: 67mm

85mm lenses are some of my favorites because, aside from their useful focal length and portable size, they almost always have near-perfect optics. The Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is such a lens.

With stellar sharpness and not too much else to complain about, the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is one of the best Nikon travel lenses for portrait photographers.

Optically, there’s not a lot that the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G could improve on. Images are very sharp even at the widest aperture. Corners are a bit soft at the widest aperture but these will probably go unnoticed since this lens is primarily a portrait lens. When the lens is stopped down, images are tack sharp from corner to corner.

Any and all other optical blemishes are not an issue in the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G. Vignetting and distortion are practically non-existent and chromatic aberrations are very limited.

Unfortunately, the autofocus is a bit of head scratcher in the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G, at least when compared to its predecessor. The Nikon 85mm’s new autofocus system is quieter but is for some reason slower than the older model.

Even with its slightly slower autofocusing system, we still believe that this model is the best version of the lens. Most photographers will find that they don’t need the autofocus to be any faster.

Construction-wise, the Nikon 85mm f/1.8G is small and well-built. Overall, it’s a sturdy lens and should hold up quite well although its plastic construction may not appease photographers that don’t care for the material in the first place.

• Fantastic image quality.
• Fast and light.
• Great price.
• A little soft at larger apertures (but still great!).
• Autofocus is a bit slower than its predecessor.
• Plastic construction may irk some purists.

Best Nikon Travel Lens for Astrophotographers (FX): Rokinon 20mm f/1.8 AS ED UMC

• Weight: 1.09 lbs/497 g
• Dimensions: 3.27” x 3.48”
• Image Stabilization: No

Lenses produced by the Korean company Rokinon, or Samyang as it’s sometimes referred to, are very popular with astrophotographers mostly due to their excellent performance and price. The Rokinon 20mm f/1.8 AS ED UMC is one of the best lenses from this company. With an ultra-wide angle and super fast aperture, you can capture the night sky in all of its splendor and not have to break the bank in the process.

For these reasons, we think that the Rokinon 20mm f/1.8 AS ED UMC is the best Nikon travel lens for astrophotography.

Rokinon lenses are cheaper because they do not use a lot of expensive electronics that are usually included in modern day lenses. As such, most if not all of Rokinon lenses do not have autofocusing capabilities. This means that you’ll have to focus the Rokinon 20mm f/1.8 AS ED UMC manually.

Honestly, focusing manually isn’t as much of a pain as some make it out to be; it is, sometimes, preferable. The zoom ring is smooth and easy to understand, thanks to the detailed DOF markings on the side of the barrel.

Optically, the Rokinon 20mm f/1.8 AS ED UMC performs very well. Sharpness is great but CA is noticeable at wider apertures. To alleviate chroma, try stopping the lens down a tad to eliminate CA but not so much too much to cause diffraction, which sets in about f/11.

The body of the Rokinon 20mm f/1.8 AS ED UMC is built from high-grade plastics while the mount is metal; both are quite sturdy. The whole lens can feel quite bulky, though not as much as some other full frame lenses.

• Great bang for your buck.
• Limited distortion.
• Awesome aperture for an ultrawide.
• Manual only.
• CA and vignetting present at the widest aperture.

Best Nikon Travel Lens for Telephoto Lovers (FX): Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G ED IF AF-S VR

• Weight: 26.3 oz / 745 g
• Dimensions: 143.5mm x 80mm / 5.6 in. x 3.1 in

The Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR is one of the most surprising lenses on this list. For less than $500, this lens is, somehow, shockingly sharp, very lightweight, and functionally complete thanks to additions like VR and internal zooming.

In short, we love this lens and think it’s not only one of the best telephotos but hands-down one of the best lenses for Nikon.

There is a lot to like about the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR. Optically, this lens impresses, beginning sharp at its widest aperture and staying respectably sharp throughout its entire range.

The resolution does drop a bit as the lens approaches the 200mm mark but the degradation is marginal. CA also picks up as you zoom in but, as the image resolution, is relatively unobtrusive.

Since the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR has a slower aperture, it’s not very adept at shooting in low-light situations. The normally responsive autofocus tends to get lost and shutter speeds can become dangerously low. Vibration reduction tech is thankfully included in the lens, which helps a lot when the light is dim.

Construction-wise, the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR is made from high-grade plastics that are assembled very well. The lens feels robust in your hands yet still light.

What more is there to say about this lens except that it’s fantastic. Granted, it does have a few shortcomings and it obviously can’t match the resolution of the more expensive telephotos e.g. the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8. These points being made, what the Nikon 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6G VR accomplishes for its price point is still remarkable.

• Awesome sharpness.
• Very light body that includes VR, internal zooming, and sealing.
• Struggles in low-light.
• Sharpness drops as you zoom in.
• CA present.

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Overall Best Nikon Travel Lens (DX): Sigma 18-300mm F3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM

• Weight: 20.6 oz / 585 g
• Dimensions: 4.0 in. x 3.1 in / 101.5mm x 79mm

Superzoom lenses get a bit of a bad rap sometimes. Many of them, in the process of doing so much, sacrifice a lot of optical quality.

Though every once in a while, a superzoom comes along that doesn’t give away too much, and is able to perform up to and beyond the call of duty; the Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM is one such lens.

The Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM is able to capture excellent photos and does a good job of covering up its inherent flaws.

The inclusion of optical stabilization helps to mitigate the lens’ limited aperture and an excellent build quality ensures both durability and portability.

Price-wise, there’s little to complain about with the Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 as well. Given these points, we think that the Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM is the best overall travel lens for Nikon DX users who want to have their cake and eat it too.

The Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM offers commendable image resolutions. Sharpness is excellent at wider angles but does drop marginally as the lens is zoomed in. This lens also produces some excellent colors and contrast but not so much a pleasing bokeh.

Chromatic aberrations in the Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM are well controlled. Distortion and vignetting are predictably present, as is the case usually with superzooms, but these are never debilitating.

Most users will be shocked at and probably even sold by how light the Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 DC Macro OS HSM is. At 585 grams, this baby is practically feather-like especially when you consider how much it does.

The body still feels solid, although the zoom ring is somewhat fiddly at times.

• Solid optical performance for a superzoom.
• Durable, lightweight construction that includes optical stabilization.
• Very affordable.
• Bokeh is unattractive.
• Focus ring is tedious.
• Does more but at a sacrifice of quality.

Best Budget Nikon Travel Lens (DX): Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM FLD

• Weight: 1.24 lb / 565 g
• Dimensions: 3.3 x 3.6″ / 8.38 x 9.14 cm
• Image Stabilization: Yes

Like its 18-300mm cousin, the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS is a well-performing piece of equipment that is made unignorable by its low cost. For only $300 (!!!!), you can own a fixed aperture medium zoom lens that performs admirably.

Given this amazing deal, it’s no wonder that we think the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 is the best budget lens for Nikon DX users.

The Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM performs very well. Sharpness is overall very good though the edges can be a little soft when the lens is used wide open. Vignetting is present at wider apertures as well but chromatic aberrations and distortion are both well-controlled.

Image stabilization is built into the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 and works as it should. Combined with fast aperture, the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM is a stud in low light situations. Filmmakers will especially appreciate this setup when trying to film in dim interiors or dusky streets.

The Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM is an overall lightweight lens, more so than many of Nikon’s other zooms. This is due to its all-plastic construction, which is great for cutting weight but does make the lens feel a little more fragile.

The focus ring of the Sigma Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 EX DC OS HSM feels a little more finicky than usual and can be difficult to use sometimes.

• Excellent price point.
• Great center resolution.
• Fast aperture and image stabilization
• Visible corner softness when shot wide open.
• Tedious focus ring.

Best Professional Nikon Travel Lens (DX): Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM

• Weight: 1.78 lb / 811 g
• Dimensions: 3.07” x 4.76” / 78 x 121 mm

If I were trying to convince someone to invest in a DX system over the full frame FX one, I would submit to them the Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8.

Simply put, this lens is one of the most gorgeous, useful, and respected lenses in all of photography. It is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the greatest lenses made in recent years and is, deservingly, the best professional travel lens for Nikon’s DX mount.

The Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8 has it all – supreme image quality, a super fast aperture, robust construction, and lightning-quick autofocus. The Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8 is amazingly sharp, frame-wise from corner to corner and focal-wise from end to end.

Chromatic aberrations, vignetting, and distortion is present but in microscopic amounts. Optically this lens is superlative.

The Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8 is made from various alloys and feels very robust, perhaps tank-like. Topping out at over 800 grams, this lens is definitely on the heavier side. Many photographers enjoy the weightiness though and find that it adds a nice balance to the lens.

The focal range of the Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8 is pretty small and one may wonder if it can be considered a travel lens at all.

At the very least, the range of the Sigma Art 18-35mm lies in that sweet spot where many of the most useful focal lengths lie. Given the unprecedented performance of this lens as well, we think that it’s a worthy tradeoff.

• Ridiculously sharp at all times.
• Extremely fast.
• Very few optical blemishes (CA, distortion, vignetting, etc)
• Big and fat.
• Pretty limited focal range for a travel lens.

Best Prime Nikon Travel Lens (DX) : Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G

• Weight: 10.76 oz / 305 g
• Dimensions: 2.83 x 2.81″ / 72 x 71.5 mm

Much in the same way every full frame owner needs a “nifty fifty,” every owner of an APS-C camera should own 35mm prime lens. The best 35mm prime lens that a DX owner can buy is the Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G.

With excellent optics, solid performance, and an insignificant price tag, the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 is one of the most reliable Nikon lenses available.

Like the Nikon 50mm f/1.8, the 35mm will be very useful to every kind of photographer, and may end being the most used lens in their kits.

The Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G performs much in the same as the other enthusiast-level f/1.8 primes in the Nikon library – images produced by the 35mm, though not devoid of problems, are for the most part very attractive.

Sharpness is excellent even at the widest aperture and peaks at around f/2.8 and f/4.0. Distortion is present, sometimes in disconcerting levels although editing software can still fix this. Chromatic aberration and vignetting are well controlled.

True to the other f/1.8 Nikon primes, the body of the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 is very small and portable. That being said, the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 is still made primarily of plastics and is not meant to withstand extreme weather.

The key consideration when buying this lens – and the thing that will most likely convince people to do so – is the fact that it’s so cheap. For only a few hundred dollars, you get a lens that works very well and produces some really beautiful photos.

For the amount of money you’re putting up, the Nikon 35mm f/1.8 is an excellent investment.

• Great performance.
• Very portable.
• A bit more distortion than usual for a prime.
• Some CA and vignetting.

Best Nikon Travel Lens for Landscape Photographers (DX): Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR

• Weight: 8.11 oz / 230 g
• Dimensions: 3.03 x 2.87″ / 77 x 73 mm

For the price you pay, the AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR is a total diamond in the rough and certainly one of the best lenses for Nikon shooters who like wide angles!

Though somewhat unimpressive on paper, the Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 offers excellent image quality, packability, and even vibration reduction, which is a bit of treat considering this lens is than $300!

Resolution-wise, the Nikon 10-20mm does pretty well. Center sharpness is great throughout the zoom range while the corners catch up once the lens is stopped down. 15mm appears to be the sweet spot as well as 10mm and 20mm are both admirably sharp as opposed to being excellently sharp.

Vignetting and distortion are all present in the Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G but no more than what should be expected from a wide angle zoom. Chromatic aberrations are the most obvious optical blemish with this lens and will have to be addressed in post-processing.

The vibration reduction and autofocusing systems in the Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6 both perform very well. The autofocus is quick, accurate, and virtually silent. The VR does a great job making up for the Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G’s less than inspiring aperture, and promises up to 3.5 stops of compensation.

Aside from the price, one of the best features of the Nikon 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G is its size. This pint-sized lens is so small that it could fit in a pocket. For those traveling light, the ability to do this is hard to turn down.

• Great image quality.
• Very light and small.
• VR tech compensates for aperture.
• Pretty slow aperture.
• Noticeable CA that will have to be corrected.

Best Nikon Travel Lens Portrait Photographers (DX): Nikon 50mm f/1.8G

If you know a bit about the physics of photography, then you probably know that a full frame lens can be mounted on an APS-C camera. When a full frame lens is used a such, the focal length is effectively lengthened as well.

If this concept is foreign to you, please refer to the Sensor Size section located at the end of this guide for a brief explanation.

When the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is mounted on a DX body, it makes for a great alternative to the classic 85mm. With a new, equivalent length of 75mm and without sacrificing any optical quality, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is a very capable tool and one of the best travel Nikon lenses for portrait photographers.

In terms of optics, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G  barely changes at all when mounted on a DX body. This lens is still as sharp, responsive, and useful as ever.

For a more detailed explanation of the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G’s performance, refer to our earlier review in the Best Travel Lenses for Nikon FX section.

With an extra 25mms of length comes a narrower field of view with more isolated subjects. Portrait photographers will immediately latch on to these changes and take advantage of them in their work.

Using the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G primarily as a portrait lens also limits its flaws, as the inherent corner softness and vignetting become less noticeable. All-in-all, the Nikon 50mm f/1.8G is just as impressive on a DX if not an improvement.

Best Nikon Travel Lens for Astrophotographers (DX): Rokinon 16MAF-N 16mm f/2.0

• Weight: 1.26 lb / 571 g
• Dimensions: 3.27 x 3.42″ / 83 x 86.9 mm

Rokinon delivers another winning lens! With excellent image quality, a fast aperture, and a low price tag that Rokinon 16mm f/2.0 is one of the best travel lenses for Nikon astrophotographers, so long as they don’t mind focusing manually.

Like the Rokinon 16mm f/1.8 reviewed prior, the Rokinon 16mm f/2.0 performs more than admirably. Center resolution is excellent at all apertures and by f/5.6 the entire frame is tack-sharp. CA, vignetting, and distortion are all well controlled in this lens and are only present in moderate amounts.

As is commonplace with Rokinon lenses, there are no electronic components in the 16mm f/2.0, which means that there is no autofocus. Users will have to manually focus this lens like they used to do in the good ol’ days.

Manual focus isn’t so bad. Landscape photographers will hardly miss autofocus as it’s not like their subjects are moving all that fast. Astrophotographers will not sweat the exclusion of it either as they usually just leave the lens set to infinity to capture those stars.

The Rokinon 16mm f/2.0 is made from high-grade plastics and has a solid metal mount. Those who are apprehensive of buying plastic lenses should feel good about the Rokinon 16mm f/2.0 as it feels very sturdy.

I’ve taken Rokinon lenses into some pretty hairy situations and they’ve held up just as well if not better than my weather-sealed equipment.

Ultra-wide angles lenses with fast apertures are usually very pricey. You can get the Rokinon 16mm f/2.0 for around only $300, which should be a convincing price. Granted, you don’t have autofocus but who needs it anyway?

• Distortion, CA, and vignetting are well controlled.
• Inexpensive.
• Manual focus.
• Softer corners and more imperfections when used wide-open.

Best Nikon Travel Lens for Telephoto Lovers (DX): Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR

• Weight: 10.58 oz / 300 g
• Dimensions: 2.78 x 3.27″ / 70.5 x 83 mm
• Filter Size: 52mm

Though not the sharpest telephoto lens nor the fastest one, both in terms of autofocus and aperture, the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED IF AF-S DX VR still manages to impress, thanks to its small size and price point.

For DX users who need something longer, this is one of the best Nikon travel lenses available.

Sharpness is pretty good in the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G – centers are crisp throughout the focal range while the corners are acceptable.

You’ll have to stop down to about f/8.0 to achieve maximum sharpness. Luckily, the VR is effective and helps to counteract the slower shutter speeds that occur when stopping down.

In terms of optical blemishes, chromatic aberrations are well-controlled, distortion is average, and vignetting is pronounced. Any and all of these can be addressed in post-processing, of course.

Unfortunately, the autofocus of the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G is a bit slow. Taking the slower aperture into account, action photographers may become frustrated with this lens. Those who shoot fast moving targets (e.g. sports or wildlife) may want to look for a different lens.

Like many of the best Nikon travel lenses on this list, the biggest selling point of the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G is the fact that it’s so small and affordable.

Travel photographers who don’t want to fork out $1,000 for a giant telephoto lens and don’t mind the slower performance should take fancy to the Nikon 55-200mm f/4-5.6G.

• Good center sharpness.
• Effective vibration reduction.
• Small and affordable.
• Slow autofocus.
• Corners are just ok.
• Not so good for action photographers.

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Photographers should value lenses just as much as their travel camera ! Lenses are one of the most important aspects of photography because they are the ones that actually refract the light and create the image (which is then written by the camera sensor).

Sharpness, contrast, color, composition; all of these aspects are influenced greatly by the quality of your lens. As one photographer once aptly put it: “you don’t invest in cameras; you invest in good glass.”

There are several things to consider when you are looking for the best travel lenses for a Nikon camera. Aspects like size, weight, vibration reduction, and more are all vital components to the making of a great travel lens.

Below is a list of features to consider when searching for the best travel lens for your Nikon camera.

Note that I’m going to be giving a crash course on several photographic concepts here. I’ll try to explain them as best as possible; otherwise, feel free to post any question regarding photography in the comment section below.

Size/Weight

Lenses vary greatly in size and shape; some are small enough to fit in your pocket, others are gargantuan pieces of equipment that require special storage. A lens’ mass and dimensions will play a large part in the size of a photographer’s bag and how they conduct themselves in the field.

Larger lenses obviously take up more space and add more weight to your pack. Sure, that lens appears small when it’s by itself but add 3 or 4 more to your pack and things quickly add up.

I have carried both ultralight and heavy camera packs and can attest that even a moderately heavy bag feels good for about a half-mile of walking.

If your camera bag has limited space and/or you like larger, higher-grade lenses, you’ll have to pick and choose your equipment wisely. Be very conscious of how much a lens weighs and how it measures. Be sure to think hard about how much you’re willing to carry.

If your camera bag is looking a bit shabby, maybe consider upgrading it as well. A good camera bag should fit your body like a glove and be able to hold all of the necessary equipment. Be sure to read our guide on the best travel camera bags for some ideas!

Along with shutter speed and ISO, the aperture is a vital part of the exposure triangle , which every photographer should be well-versed in.

Though shutter speed and ISO fall within the jurisdiction of the camera, the aperture is controlled via the lens. With the proper aperture and ability to use it, photographers will have much more power when it comes to creating the photos that they want.

Fast apertures – those that have a value of around f/2.8 or less – are usually the most desirable. Though not always the case, a faster aperture is usually indicative of optical quality. Regardless, fast apertures are usually most useful during situations that call for bokeh or those that are dimly lit .

In zoom lenses, constant aperture s are much more important as these definitely lead to higher quality images. The most common constant aperture ratings are f/2.8 and f/4.0. Both offer excellent quality of images.

A quick aperture is not always necessary as lots of lenses with slower apertures offer exceptional image quality.

Peak sharpness isn’t usually reached until around f/5.6 or f/8.0 anyway and shooting at extremely low apertures (e.g. f/1.4) can be more difficult than you think. Unless you really want a fast aperture, you may not need to spend the extra money.

Focal Length/Type

Without getting into the physics of focal lengths , I will simply say that certain lenses with certain focal lengths are better for capturing certain scenes. Longer lenses, renowned for their shallow depth of field and isolating qualities, are great for portraits. Wider lenses, with their expansive fields of view, are great for interior shots when space is tight or for capturing big vistas.

It is very important to think about whether or not you want a lens that covers a single focal length or many.

If you’re like many photographers then you’ll probably value optical flexibility with a lens that covers more than one focal length. Lenses that can change their field of view are called zoom lenses , and these are among the most popular types of lenses.

Some zoom lenses o have trouble with certain optical imperfections (vignetting, chromatic aberrations, etc) and with maintaining sharpness. Generally speaking, the more expensive zooms do handle these issues better.

If you’re ok with shooting at only one focal length then consider a good prime lens . Prime lenses are usually sharper, cheaper, and more durable than zooms.

What type of photographer you are will determine what kind of focal length you find most useful. You’ll often find that certain lengths are more suitable to your style of shooting, or that you favor a particular lens over another.

Do not feel handicapped by what kind of lens you own though. With a bit of creativity and skill, you can make a lens do whatever you want. Remember: a lens is only as good as the photographer that uses it.

Not every autofocusing system is created equal – some are lightning-fast, utilizing state-of-the-art technology, while others are sluggish doofuses that can’t make heads or tails of a subject. How well an autofocus system behaves in a lens may or may not be a deal breaker for you.

Those who photograph fast-moving subjects – like in sports, concerts or wildlife photography – will need a lens that can keep up. In these cases, a quicker and more accurate autofocus system will be very beneficial.

These types of photographers also need to know that camera sensors play a role in autofocus as well – it’s not always just the lens doing the work.

Some photographers may not need fast autofocus or even autofocusing at all for that matter! Manual focusing lenses are still prevalent today and, aside from being markedly cheaper, can be very useful in certain situations.

Astrophotographers may actually prefer manual lenses because of their superb focus rings and because autofocus is usually useless in the pitch-black anyways.

Other photographers may even enjoy the vintage-like feel that comes with manual lenses, much like a musician might enjoy an old record.

Filter Thread

Filters are used in photography to achieve creative effects as well as provide extra protection to a camera. These filters are attached to the front of a lens along a threading that has a unique rating (e.g. 58mm. 77mm, 82mm, etc).

There really isn’t such a thing as a proper filter threading. Most filter sizes have become standardized and there is almost always a full set of filters for each threading. No matter your lens, there’s a filter that will fit it.

One big reason to consider filter sizes has to deal with costs. As you buy more lenses you may end up with multiple filter threadings and, in turn, have to invest in filters for each one. This can be frustrating, especially when you know that filters behave in the same regardless of their size. Who wants to spend more money on the same?

A good way to avoid this annoyance is to invest in step-down rings, which then be used to adapt larger filters onto smaller threadings. Simply buy a set of filters that you know will be large enough for all of your lenses and then adapt to different threadings using the step-down rings.

Or think about investing in a slot-in filter system, which uses a screw-in adapter to hold a plate-like filter. Polarizer filters are not effective with slot-in filter systems.

For more information on filters, refer to the filter section of our Best Camera Accessories guide . You’ll also read about more general tools for your travel camera.

Vibration Reduction/Optical Stabilization

Optical stabilization technology has become extremely commonplace in modern-day lenses. This tech is found in all sorts of lenses, from cheap pieces of shit to luxurious, professional-grade glass. It is, at the end of the day, a very useful feature to have in your lenses as it can allow for some very crisp images.

Optical stabilization is referred to differently by different companies (e.g. image stabilization, IBIS, etc). Nikon refers to their optical stabilization tech as vibration reduction.

Vibration reduction (VR) works by compensating for shake caused by hand holding a camera. Handshake causes blurry images, which appears as a distinct softness, and most photographers tend to dislike this.

This shakiness is often unavoidable unless you’re using a tripod. With VR, blurriness caused by shaky hands is much less noticeable and sometimes eliminated altogether.

Whether or not you need optical stabilization is something to consider when you choose from the best Nikon travel lenses. If you’re a landscape photographer who constantly has their camera mounted on a tripod, optical stabilization is pretty redundant.

On the other hand, if you shoot subjects that require you to move often or you just like to have your camera ready in your hands, then VR would be useful.

Sensor Size

Nikon makes a full frame DSLR and an APS-C DSLR. Each type of camera has its own lens library as well – Nikon’s full-frame system is referred to as FX while the APS-C one is referred to as DX .

DX lenses can only be mounted on an APS-C mount while FX lenses, though functional on an APS-C camera, work best on a full frame body.

If you mount an FX lens onto an APS-C body, then there are a few things to consider. 1) vignetting is possible; 2) certain lenses will behave differently on certain bodies; and, most importantly 3) the lens’ focal range will be lengthened i.e. a 24mm EF lens mounted onto EF-S camera will behave more like a 35mm lens.

For more on what happens when you mount a full frame lens onto an APS-C body, you can read this informative article here .

Still have some questions? No problem! We’ve listed and answered the most commonly asked questions below. Here’s what people usually want to know:

What is the best Nikon FX lens for travel photography?

The Nikon Nikkor 24-120mm f/4.0 is the best lense for travel photography and our favorite. For a Nikon DX camera, check out the Sigma 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 .

What is most affordable Nikon lense?

Check out these budget lenses: – For Nikon FX – Nikon Nikkor 24-85mm f/3.5-4.5 – For Nikon DX – Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8

What do you need to consider when buying a Nixon lense?

Aspects like size, weight, vibration reduction, and more are all vital components that need to be considered when purchasing a lense.

What are the best Nikon lenses for professional travel photographers?

If you’re shooting with a Nikon FX consider getting the Nikon Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 . For the Nikon DX, check out the Sigma Art 18-35mm f/1.8 .

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Final Thoughts

There you have it folks – the 16 best travel lenses for Nikon users! Over the course of explaining these 16 lenses, we have given photographers all sorts of shooting options.

Each lens will be catered to a different type of photographer and each will have its own strengths and weaknesses. Figure out what kind of photographer you are and then choose from the best Nikon travel lens for yourself.

Know that each one will be different and dramatically affect the quality of your pictures.

Are you a traveling portrait photographer who wants some creamy bokeh? Then get the Nikon 85mm f/1.8 ! Do you want a DX lens that is optically flexible but affordable at the same time? Perhaps the Sigma 17-50mm f/2.8 will be right up your alley.

Think carefully about these 16 best Nikon travel lenses. The fact that you’re here reading this article means that you’re ready to take the next step into travel photography; perhaps you’re even ready to become a freelancer ?!

Look sharp out there my fellow backpacking photographers and make sure your lens is just as sharp too.

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

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I’ve had both Nikon 24-70s and would always choose the newer one with VR, especially for travel since, even if you bring a tripod, you won’t want to use it any more than necessary. Also, for travel, the better edge to edge sharpness is welcome. Having said that, it IS more expensive and heavier.

Good information. Note, the latest version of the Nikon 24-70mm F2.8 ED VR has VR, but really expensive. The newer Tamron G2 maybe an option at much lower cost but has external zoom. I have no experience with Tamron so comments are my opinion only.

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6 Best Travel Lenses for Canon EOS M50 [2024]

• Post author: Emma Lucy
• Post published: August 26, 2022

Whether you’re a vlogger, travel blogger, or just love to document your adventures with your family and friends, having a good travel lens is essential. When it comes to choosing the best travel lens for your Canon M50, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, consider what type of photography you’ll be doing while on your trip.

If you plan on doing a lot of landscape photography, for example, you’ll want a lens with a wide focal length that will allow you to capture the scene in all its glory.

On the other hand, if you’re more interested in portraits, and candid shots of your friends and family, a prime lens might be a better option. Finally, how many lenses do you want to carry with you during your travels?

Here are our best Canon EOS M50 lenses for travel:

• Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens
• Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Lens
• Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary
• Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4
• Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 Image Stabilization STM Lens
• Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 STM Lens

1. Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens

The Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens is one of our favorite lenses because it’s a great all-around travel lens.

It provides a wide zoom range, with a maximum aperture of f/3.5 at the wide end and f/6.3 at the telephoto end—a nice balance between being bright enough to allow for decent low light performance, while also allowing you to capture subjects from afar.

If I can only bring one lens with me on a trip, this is the lens I’ve going to bring. I really like its flexibility, which allows me to capture everything under the sun. From sceneries to wildlife, this lens can do it all.

Image Quality

This lens is tack-sharp on both ends. I was actually surprised that even at 150mm, the sharpness is still there. At 18mm, of course, there will be some sort of barrel distortion but it can be fixed in Photoshop or other editing software.

The Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 lens has a decent micro-contrast that can make your subjects pop. The colors are your usual “Canon colors”, which are vibrant and pleasing at the same time.

Also, the images it produces are on the warmer side of the spectrum.

Another great thing I like about this lens is its lack of CA. When I’m shooting against a bright sky, I didn’t notice any chromatic aberration at all, which is something I’m really happy about. Less time in post, more time for shooting!

Oh, and there’s one more thing that surprised me. The lens magnification factor is about 0.31x at 150mm, it’s really useful for taking some close-up shots of small animals, insects, or flowers.

Build Quality & Design

The lens is pretty durable even if it’s mostly made from plastic.

The thing I hate though is, that it has a plastic mount. Given its price, I think it would be better if they used a metal mount instead of plastic.

It’s not weather-sealed as well, but I occasionally used it under light rain, and it’s still working fine.

The lens looks really good, especially the graphite version. It looks modern like my Canon RF lenses.

Using the zoom ring is really smooth and it has a nice resistance when you turn it. It will not become loose even if you use it for a long time. The front element is just about right and it takes 55mm filters.

And thankfully, this lens has an IS! It is useful for shooting videos and when using the telephoto end (150mm) of the lens because it lessens the camera shake.

It seems the autofocus is fast enough and accurate in most situations. The focus instantly locked on when I use it during daylight. However, it tends to hunt when used in poorly lit environments.

But I have to say that this is a common problem with most zoom lenses in this price range.

Overall, the Canon EF-M 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM lens is a flexible and convenient lens for travel. It can cover a lot of ground and is ideal for shooting videos. The lens is easy to use and has a nice build quality. I would recommend this lens if you are looking for a travel lens that can cover all your needs.

• Flexible zoom range
• Image stabilization
• Plastic mount
• Soft corners when shooting wide open

2. Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Lens

If you want a lens that is small, compact, and great for low light shooting, the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 is a perfect choice. This is an excellent beginner’s lens and is a great choice if you are looking for an affordable lens for your travels.

I like its tiny size and weight, and pairing it with my Canon EOS M50 keeps my camera bag extremely light. I find its STM autofocus really fast even in low light conditions.

The autofocus is also quiet and can be useful for shooting videos.

This lens is also a great complement to the Canon EF-M 18-150mm as it has a wide aperture which is great for portraits and shooting in low light.

It’s small and it’s really sharp! The sharpness from center to corner is surprisingly good even at f/2. It also gets even sharper when stopped down.

This lens is much sharper than the Canon EF-M 18-150mm and it’s actually on par with the Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 when it comes to overall sharpness.

CA and distortion are well-controlled and I don’t have any issues with them.

The Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM Lens has a 7-blade circular aperture which offers a round and nice soft bokeh.

I love using it when shooting portraits and its contrast and saturation are more than enough to make my subject pop from the background.

Lightweight & Compact

It’s a ‘pancake’ lens, which I really like. It’s very small and lightweight, but the build quality is solid. It feels good in my hands and it doesn’t feel cheap at all.

The lens only weighs 105 grams which makes it ideal for travel, especially if you’re going to a place where bringing a large bag is not an option.

I took this lens and my Canon M50 with me on my recent trip to Seoul and it was a perfect companion. They are a great part of my backpacking lifestyle.

It has no IS and weather sealing, however, these issues didn’t bother me at all given its amazing performance and price range.

The Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM is a must-have lens for any Canon EOS M50 user. It’s affordable, light, compact, and offers outstanding image quality. It’s the perfect travel companion lens!

• Tiny small and weight
• Excellent image quality
• Silent and fast AF
• Not weather-sealed

3. Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary

Next, we have the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 Contemporary, which is an excellent lens for landscapes, astrophotography, and night photography.

The wider focal length allows you to capture sceneries, tall buildings, and nightscapes during your travels.

It’s also a great choice for street photography, as it allows you to capture more of the background in your photos. This lens has a wide angle of view that makes it easy to compose scenes and provides excellent edge-to-edge sharpness.

This lens is actually one of the best Sigma lenses for your Canon EOS M50 .

Great for capturing sceneries

I really like this lens. This is my go-to lens when shooting landscapes and nightscapes. It’s a great lens to capture the vibe of the city and the beauty of nature.

This Sigma lens has a full frame equivalent of 24mm, which is an ideal focal for travel.

It can capture a lot of action in the scene and is an ideal focal length that can give more context to your images.

Composing with this lens is also easier since it allows you to experiment with different angles to get the shot that you want.

Sharpness & Image Quality

I find the lens to be very sharp and the colors are vibrant. Like the Canon lenses, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary tends to produce warm and soft colors.

The microcontrast is there, but it is not as pronounced as it is with the Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4. I was able to get some good sharpness when shooting wide open.

Don’t limit using this lens to just shooting landscapes. This lens can also be quite good for portraits, especially for environmental portraits.

Given its wider focal length, the bokeh it produces is not as creamy as it is with a telephoto lens. However, the Sigma 16mm f/1.4 bokeh is quite soft and natural. I also like the way it renders skin tones.

The Sigma 16mm f/1.4 DC DN Contemporary is a great addition to your travel kit. It’s wide and fast, which is suitable for most situations. I also recommend this lens to anyone who loves astrophotography and nightscapes.

• Fast and wide
• Colors are good
• Fast autofocus performance
• Heavier and longer than most prime lenses

4. Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM Lens

It’s a fantastic standard lens for your Canon M50 camera, and it’s a great option for travel photography. The 32mm focal length is ideal for outdoors, street photography, and portraits.

However, as much as I love the Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 for almost everything, I find it to be limiting when shooting indoors and in tight spaces.

That’s why I usually bring another lens which is a wide-angle when I’m traveling. But if you have enough space to compose your shots, the Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM lens is hard to beat. It is one of the best low light lenses .

All I can say is WOW! The Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 has stunning image quality. The lens is sharp even when shooting wide open. The bokeh is creamy and not distracting at all. This is actually my favorite 50mm portrait lens for EF-M mount cameras.

I can easily defocus the background to make my subject pop. The contrast, colors, and saturation are all on point, which adds more “3d pop” to my images.

Barrel distortion and chromatic aberration are very well controlled as well, which is a huge bonus!

It is like shooting an L lens but with an EF-M mount. I can see its similarities with my Canon EF 85mm f/1.2 L II lens.

I highly recommend this lens to anyone who is looking for a high-quality prime lens that can be used for both portraits and everyday shooting.

Its autofocus is accurate and fast enough for everyday shooting. But I noticed that it gets slower when I’m shooting indoors and in low light. It’s not a big deal for me, but I can see how it would be a problem for some people.

But overall I’m happy with its performance.

If you’re looking for a standard prime lens with a fast aperture, then no doubt, get the Canon EF-M 32mm f/1.4 STM lens. Its performance is like an L lens but without a heavy price tag.

It’s small, lightweight, and excellent for any photographers who want to travel light or who just want a good prime lens that won’t break their bank account.

• Outstanding image quality
• Great build quality
• Has a slower AF compared to other EF-M prime lenses

5. Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens

This budget telephoto zoom lens is the best choice if you are traveling and want to have more reach with your Canon m50. The 55-200mm focal length is perfect for capturing landscapes or wildlife at a distance.

This lens is a perfect complement to the 18-150mm f/4-5.6 IS STM lens, which is a great walkaround lens for everyday use.

Increased Reach

The 55-200mm focal length offers a greater reach than your standard kit zoom, allowing you to capture more distant subjects like mountains or wildlife in their natural habitat.

Moreover, the Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM lens also has image stabilization technology built-in to help reduce camera shake when shooting at a long focal length.

Pair it with the Canon EOS M50 and you’re going to have a combo that can capture birds in flight with ease. This lens is also an ideal choice if you want to spend the day at the zoo.

Great Performance For Its Price

Believe it or not, this budget lens has a great performance. The sharpness and image quality are consistent throughout the focal range, which is something we don’t always see in budget lenses.

The colors are vivid, which is something that I really like when taking photos of animals and landscapes. As it really brings out the details and their natural beauty.

The autofocus system is reasonably fast and accurate, which allows me to take photos of birds in flight and other wild animals without too much trouble.

Also, the Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM is compact and lightweight, which makes it easy to bring along on your travels.

And like all STM lenses, it has a near-silent focusing system that makes it the perfect companion for shooting video.

Do you want to take photos of animals, and birds, or planning to go to the zoo? Bring the Canon EF-M 55-200mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM Lens along with you and you’ll be able to capture the beautiful moments of these animals without disturbing them.

It’s affordable and has great image quality making it the perfect choice for photographers on a budget.

• Great image quality
• Has image stabilization
• Compact design
• Images get softer when shooting at 200mm
• Has a plastic mount

6. Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 STM Lens

The second zoom lens on this list is the Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 STM lens.

This is an ultra-wide to mid range lens that has an equivalent focal length of 16-33mm when paired with a crop sensor camera such as the EOS M series. It features a maximum aperture of f/4 to f/5.6 which isn’t as fast as other lenses on this list but still good enough for most situations.

Its zoom range is useful for almost everything, from landscapes to street photography and even indoor shots. It is also made from durable plastic and has a metal mount unlike the Canon EF-M 18-150mm. Although, the Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 STM Lens is a hair slower in the wide end.

The sharpness is very consistent across the zoom range, especially in the center. There’s a bit of corner softness when shooting at 11mm, which is something I expect for an ultra-wide focal length.

At this focal length, the distortion is very noticeable, so use it with caution.

I also noticed some chromatic aberration in extreme corners when shooting high-contrast scenes. But it is usually an easy fix in Lightroom or Photoshop.

The color and contrast are very good, but not the best. You can’t really compare its overall image quality to an EF-M prime lens. Nevertheless, Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 STM’s performance is more than enough for casual users.

Mid zoom and the 22mm end are very sharp from center to corner and have very little distortion. Another thing that I like about it is the IS.

The image stabilization is extremely useful when shooting handheld, especially at the long end. I can get a sharp image at 1/30 of a second without any problems.

The IS also helps in low-light situations when using longer exposure times.

Its autofocus seems fast and pretty responsive. However, like other slow lenses, it tends to hunt when used in low light.

I love the convenience of using a zoom lens when I’m traveling. The Canon EF-M 11-22mm f/4-5.6 STM Lens is a great choice for an ultra-wide zoom lens. It’s the only EF-M mount lens that has this focal length. So if this particular focal length is important to you, get this lens.

• Ultra-wide focal length
• Decent image quality
• Not the most durable Canon EF-M lens
• Slow autofocus in low light

There you have it, our list of the best travel lenses for Canon M50. We hope that we could help you decide which lens to bring to your next travel destination.

Emma Lucy is the Founder & CEO of Emma Lucy Photography. She has over a decade of experience shooting weddings and other intimate events. She also tests the latest digital camera bodies, lenses, analog cameras, and other gear from Canon, Nikon, Sony, and other camera brands. She is From London and currently lives in the United States of America, where she spends most of her time as a self-employed professional photographer and writer.

The 9 Best Nikon Lenses For Traveling in 2024

Have you been looking for the best Nikon lenses for traveling? This guide will get you on the road with some of the best lenses Nikon offers for people who love a good adventure as much as they love photography.

The best Nikon lens for landscape and travel is easily the Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-120mm f4 G ED VR . It’s just got a little bit of everything for people on the go. However, the rest of the lenses in this list might steal the show depending on your style.

Introducing the 9 Best Nikon Lenses For Traveling

• Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-120mm Lens – Best Overall
• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm Lens – Best Prime Lens for Travel
• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm Lens – Best Travel Telephoto Lens
• Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm Lens – Best Budget Lens for Travel
• Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm Lens – APS-C Landscape Photographers
• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm Lens – Best Travel Lens for Pros
• Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm Lens – The Best for On-the-Road Portraits
• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm Lens – Best for Astrophotography
• Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm Lens – Best for Wildlife

Let’s dive right into our top 9 Nikon lenses for travel!

1. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-120mm f4 G ED VR: Best Overall

• Focal Length: 24 to 120mm
• Size: 84 x 103 mm
• Weight: 710 g
• Sensor Type: Full-Frame
• Image Stabilization: Yes
• Aperture: f/4
• Autofocus: Yes

Are you looking for the best Nikon lenses for travel photography? Well, this is it.

The Best All-Around Lens

Sometimes you just need a lens that can handle everything. The Nikon AF-S FX 24-120mm is able to handle everything from scenic landscapes to portraits and more. While it does take care of basically every travel photographer’s needs, it does fall short when it comes to more specialized features that you get with other lenses.

• The 24 to 120mm focal length covers everything from landscaping to telephoto photography
• Great choice for a lightweight kit with just a single lens
• The Nikkor line of lenses are well respected for their image quality
• There is some vignetting and distortion that you’ll need to correct in post-production
• This is a great all-around lens, but if you’re focussed on a particular style of photography, you’re better off with another lens on this list

2. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8G Lens: Best Prime Lens for Travel

• Focal Length: 50 mm
• Size: 72.1 x 52.4 mm
• Weight: 185 g
• Image Stabilization: No
• Aperture: f/1.8

Not only is this the best prime lens for travel photographers, it’s also one of the best Nikon lenses you could own. Every photographer needs a 50 mm in their kit .

50mm is All Your Need

In the world of photography, 50 mm is considered to be the most versatile focal length. Many people even consider this to be the same focal length of human vision. Because of this and so much more, 50 mm lenses are the go to for travel photographers no matter where your adventure takes you.

• 50 mm is the go-to focal length for street photographers
• Handles portraiture, street, and even some landscape shots
• Affordable for a prime lens
• Fast aperture is great for action shots
• 50 mm isn’t the best for wide angle or telephoto work
• You’ll eventually want to add a second, or third, lens to your kit

3. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED VR Lens: Best Travel Telephoto Lens

• Focal Length: 200 to 500 mm
• Size: 108 x 267.5 mm
• Weight: 2,300 g
• Aperture: f/5.4

This Nikon best telephoto lens for travel is going to change how you handle long distance shots while on the road.

Get the Shot No Matter How Far the Subject

With a 200 to 500 mm zoom lens, you’ll be able to get just about any shot no matter how far away your subjects are. This is an ideal lens for individuals just starting out with wildlife photography as well as people who are looking to get shots with subjects that are a little too far for other lenses. While it might be a little heavy for some, it’s going to be a great lens for people to prioritize telephoto over everything else.

• The maximum focal length of 500 mm will let you take pictures of just about anything from far away
• The f/5.4 aperture is pretty fast for a lens with this much zoom
• The image stabilization is a must at this focal length
• This lens has no close-up potential
• It’s heavy which might make it a no-go for lighter kits

4. Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 35mm f/1.8G Lens: Best Budget Lens for Travel

• Focal Length: 35 mm
• Size: 70 x 52.5 mm
• Weight: 200 g
• Sensor Type: APS-C

Are you looking for a great prime lens that won’t have a high price tag? The 35mm lens from Nikon saves you money while unlocking a classic way of taking pictures while traveling.

Save Money with a Classic 35mm Lens

35 mm is the classic focal length used by Hollywood as well as old school photography. This will give you a unique way of looking at the world through the lens while also saving you some cash. This lens is an ideal choice for individuals who are shooting on an APS-C, or crop sensor, camera.

• 35mm is the classic focal length of Hollywood and old-school photography
• Lightweight and affordable
• The perfect choice for photographers with crop-sensor cameras
• Great for beginners looking to explore new styles
• The crop sensor sizing means this lens isn’t a true 35mm
• 35mm works great for street, landscape, and even portraits, but struggles when you need a zoom

5. Nikon AF-P DX NIKKOR 10-20mm f/4.5-5.6G VR: APS-C Landscape Photographers

• Focal Length: 10 to 20 mm
• Size: 77 x 73 mm
• Weight: 230 g
• Aperture: f/4.5

Now you can capture landscape shots like a pro without the budget of a pro.

Try Out Landscape Photography

Landscape photography is one of the most exciting things to do while on vacation. However, you only get the best Landscaping photography with a 10 to 20 mm lens. This lens lets you get started without breaking the budget for your trip.

• Ideal for first-time landscape photographers
• The perfect focal length for catching those sweeping vistas
• Lightweight and a reasonably small form factor
• APS-C cameras zooms the focal length in making this a little tighter than a true 10 – 20 mm lens
• Less useful for street, portraits, and other styles
• You’ll need to learn how to use basic editing software to deal with distortion and vignetting

6. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR Lens: Best Travel Lens for Pros

• Focal Length: 24 to 70 mm
• Size: 88 x 154.5 mm
• Weight: 1070 g
• Aperture: f/2.8

Are you breaking out into pro photography on the road? This is the Nikon best zoom lens for travel.

The Best High-End All-Purpose Travel Lens

Whether you’re just really serious about the hobby or you’re getting paid to do photography while traveling, this Nikon lens is a great choice for professional photographers. Not only does it cover a wide range of focal lengths, it gives you the professional respectability that comes with serious gear. If you’ve got the money for the investment, you can’t go wrong with this lens as your first professional photography travel lens.

• Ready for anything from landscapes to portraits
• Ideal for the pro who only wants to take one lens
• Gives you the flexibility to switch up your style whiteout hauling around the whole kit on your trip
• It’s a little heavy
• You might also need a tighter lens and a wider lens for different situations
• That price tag is higher than most

7. Nikon AF S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G Lens: The Best for On-the-Road Portraits

• Focal Length: 85 mm
• Size: 75 x 99 mm
• Weight: 170 g
• Aperture: f1.8

This could be the best Nikon full-frame lens for travel. This 85mm prime lens lets you take the most flattering portraits while you’re on the road.

The Best Choice for Portraits While Traveling

There’s nothing like taking some stunning portraiture while you’re on the road. Whether you are taking a portrait of the people you’re traveling with or the people you meet on the way, you need a lens that can keep up with the work. This 85 mm lens for Nikon is one of the best portrait lenses on the market, and it’s a great choice to take with you on your next trip.

• The best prime lens for taking portraits
• Also works great for street photography if you can manage the tighter focal length
• This lens can handle professional level work
• Lightweight and small
• 85mm is a restrictive focal length which means you might need a second lens
• You can get similar results with a zoom lens that has 85mm capability

8. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED Lens: Best for Astrophotography

• Focal Length: 14 to 24 mm
• Size: 98 x 131.5 mm
• Weight: 1000 g

One of the best parts about traveling is getting away from those bright city lights and enjoying some astrophotography. If you’re looking to take some pictures of the stars, this is the lens for you.

Aim for the Stars

Astrophotography is a trend that has only gotten more and more popular over the last few years. In order to accomplish getting stunning pictures of stars, you need a lens that can handle the job. This wide-angle lens allows you to tackle astrophotography while leaving you enough wiggle room to do some landscape work while the sun’s out.

• The best choice if you’re looking to do some astrophotography while on the road
• Also doubles as a great landscape and interior lens
• The ultra-wide focal length also lets you take some artistic shots
• It’s one of the heaviest lenses on this list
• Not the best choice for street, portraits , or other common travel photography styles

9. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 500mm f/5.6E PF ED VR Lens: Best for Wildlife

• Focal Length: 500 mm
• Size: 106 x 237 mm
• Weight: 1460 g
• Aperture: f/5.6

Are you looking to get more in touch with nature during the next photography session? This lens is the best of the best when it comes to wildlife photography .

Get in Touch With Nature

Wildlife photography is one of the most challenging styles in the art form. You have to get up close with nature while being at the top of your game with your photography skills. Sometimes, the best way to get up close is to have a lens that has a 500 mm focal length.

While this lens might cost more than your camera, if you’re into wildlife photography it’s worth the investment.

• The single best Nikon lens for capturing nature up close and personal
• It’s one of the longest focal lengths in a prime lens which gives you unbeatable images
• If you’re focussed on wildlife photography, it’s hard to ask for a better lens
• This lens might cost more than your camera
• It’s big, heavy, and you might need to pair it with another lens with a shorter focal length

How To Buy The Best Nikon Lenses For Traveling

It can be hard to sort through the noise and find the travel lens that’s right for you. That’s why we put together this guide to answer your top questions about buying a travel lens.

How to Buy The Best Nikon DX Lens For Travel?

It’s pretty common for travel photographers to start out with a Nikon DX camera . This is Nikon’s line of APS-C cameras. These are crop sensor cameras that do not have full-frame capabilities but do save beginners tons of money.

You should keep in mind that crop sensor lenses are a little bit more magnified than their focal lengths would suggest. As general advice, go for a slightly smaller focal length than you normally would for a given style of photography.

Prime Vs. Zoom: The Debate

The Prime vs. Zoom debate has a serious argument for photographers the world over. This is even more true for individuals who are traveling and can only carry a limited number of lenses with them. Here’s how the prime vs. zoom debate breaks down.

Prime lenses tend to have cleaner images and fewer mechanical problems. Prime lenses are also often associated with professional photographers and higher-quality images. Their biggest downside is that you’re going to need several prime lenses to cover the same focal-length ranges as a zoom lens.

Zoom lenses tend to be budget options that have a habit of having more distortions in the image. They also have a bad reputation because they’re associated with the kit lens that probably came with your camera. They can also experience more mechanical breakdowns as they have more moving parts than prime lenses. With that said, zoom lenses have great features and can be some of the best.

Consider your budget, your style of photography, and how many kits you want to carry to pick between prime and zoom lenses.

• The best Nikon prime lenses
• The best Nikon zoom lenses
• Nikon Standard Lenses
• The best Nikon wide-angle lenses
• The best Nikon short-telephoto lenses
• The best Nikon medium-telephoto lenses
• The best Nikon telephoto lenses
• The best Nikon super-telephoto lenses

What Lens To Use For Travel Photography?

Here’s a quick guide for picking the best travel lenses for photography. This is going to be a bullet-point rundown of the top factors you need to consider for the lens that’s right for you. Think about each of these options and then pick the lens that gets you closest to each goal.

• Consider your budget first
• Next, think about your photography style
• How much weight will you carry during your trip? Image hauling this lens for a full day running around a city
• The last thing to consider is your kit. Does this lens fit in? Will you replace it soon? Does it complement what you already have?

How Much Should I Spend On A Travel Lens?

This is one of the biggest questions that bother professional and beginner photographers alike. Figuring out how much money to spend on your lenses isn’t as easy as it seems. Here’s what you need to consider.

The first thing you need to consider is just how much money you can spend. You don’t want to be breaking into your bank account over a travel lens.

Another thing to consider is that you can use an entry-level, budget lens to get professional-level images if your skills are good enough. It’s often better to master the basics of photography on affordable gear than to rely on high-end gear to make up for a lack of skill.

How To Keep My Travel Lenses Safe While On The Road?

In order to keep your lenses safe while traveling, you need to consider a few best practices for staying safe on the road.

Never leave your bags unattended especially if they hold expensive photography equipment.  Listen to the advice of locals when it comes to staying away from particularly heavy crime areas. You should also do your best to not advertise that you have a bunch of expensive photography equipment by skipping out on bags that have clearly visible labels and I can discreetly rather than like an obvious tourist.

There are also insurance plans for camera gear that you can purchase.

No matter what your photography goals are, you can’t go wrong with the Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24-120mm . It’s got an affordable price, it’s easy to carry, and it lets you enjoy nearly every style of travel photography.

Other options like the 50mm and the astrophotography Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24 mm let you experience specific styles or meet tight budget or weight requirements.

It’s your journey, which lens are you taking on the trip of a lifetime?

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Explore the World with Confidence: Eyewear Essentials for Travelers

• BY Alyssa Buchanan
• Apr 09, 2024

Photo by Nappy

As avid travelers know, exploring new destinations often means encountering a variety of environments and activities. Whether you’re navigating bustling city streets, basking on sun-drenched beaches, or trekking through rugged landscapes, having the right eyewear can enhance your travel experience and provide essential protection for your eyes. At Zenni, we understand the unique needs of travelers, which is why we offer a range of lightweight, versatile eyewear options designed to adapt to any adventure. Let’s dive into the essentials for travelers and discover why Zenni is the perfect companion for your next journey.

Photochromic Lenses: Adaptability in Any Light

One of the challenges of travel is navigating changing light conditions throughout the day. From bright sunlight to dimly lit interiors, your eyes need reliable protection and clarity at all times. Zenni’s photochromic lenses, such as the EyeQLenz , offer the ultimate solution, seamlessly adapting to varying light levels to provide optimal vision in any environment. Say goodbye to the hassle of switching between sunglasses and prescription glasses—our photochromic lenses ensure you’re always ready to soak in the sights without missing a beat.

Discover the Versatility of Foldable Frames

When space is at a premium in your luggage, compact eyewear becomes a must-have accessory for travelers. Zenni’s foldable frames are designed with convenience in mind, allowing you to easily stow them away in your pocket or bag when not in use. Whether you’re hopping between destinations or exploring on foot, our foldable frames provide the perfect balance of style and practicality, ensuring you’re always prepared for whatever the journey brings.

Shop these frames

Built to Endure: Durable Materials for Every Adventure

Travel can be unpredictable, and your eyewear needs to withstand the rigors of the road. That’s why Zenni prioritizes durability in our eyewear designs, using high-quality materials that are built to last. Whether you’re exploring bustling urban centers or embarking on outdoor excursions, our frames are engineered to withstand the demands of travel, ensuring you can focus on making memories without worrying about your eyewear.

Stylish and Functional: Finding Your Perfect Pair

Of course, functionality doesn’t mean sacrificing style. Zenni offers a wide range of eyewear options that combine fashion-forward design with practical features tailored to travelers’ needs. Whether you prefer classic aviators for a timeless look or sporty wraparound frames for outdoor adventures, our diverse selection ensures you’ll find the perfect pair to complement your personal style and travel aesthetic.

Having the right eyewear is essential for travelers seeking to explore the world with confidence and clarity. With Zenni’s lightweight, versatile eyewear options , you can embark on your next adventure fully prepared for whatever the journey holds. From foldable frames and photochromic lenses to durable materials and stylish designs, Zenni has everything you need to make your travels unforgettable. So pack your bags, hit the road, and see the world through the lens of adventure with Zenni by your side.

Alyssa Buchanan

Dr. Alyssa Buchanan is an optometrist based in Lubbock, Texas. She received her doctorate from Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California, and has practiced in various settings including Fort Cavazos where she provided eye care for deploying soldiers. Dr. Buchanan has since received her Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration and continues to strive to provide top-notch eyecare and make a meaningful impact in the eyecare industry.

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Passing Thru Travel

15 Ethical Wildlife Photography Adventures: Through the Lens Responsibly

Posted: February 26, 2024 | Last updated: February 26, 2024

Wildlife photography is more than just capturing stunning images of animals in their natural habitats; it’s about doing so responsibly and ethically. This guide takes you on a journey to some of the world’s most incredible destinations for wildlife photography, emphasizing the importance of respecting wildlife and their environments. From the savannas of Africa to the icy realms of the Arctic, each location offers unique opportunities to photograph wildlife while adhering to ethical practices that ensure minimal impact on the natural world.

1. Serengeti National Park, Tanzania

The Serengeti National Park in Tanzania is a wildlife photographer’s dream. Its vast, open plains are home to an incredible array of wildlife, including the Big Five. The Great Migration, featuring millions of wildebeest and zebras, offers dramatic scenes for photography. In the Serengeti, you’re not just capturing images; you’re witnessing and recording nature’s raw beauty and drama. The key here is patience and respect for the wildlife, ensuring your presence doesn’t disrupt their natural behavior.

Insider’s Tip: Use a long lens to keep a respectful distance from the animals.

When To Travel: June to October for the migration; January to February for the calving season.

How To Get There: Fly into Kilimanjaro International Airport and take a smaller plane or a safari vehicle to the park.

2. Yellowstone National Park, USA

Yellowstone National Park offers diverse wildlife photography opportunities in a relatively accessible setting. From the majestic bison to elusive wolves and grizzlies, the park’s varied landscapes serve as a stunning backdrop. Responsible photography means using long lenses and keeping a safe distance, ensuring the wildlife remains undisturbed. Early mornings and late evenings often provide the best light, active wildlife, and fewer crowds.

Insider’s Tip: Attend a ranger-led program to learn about the park’s wildlife and how to photograph them safely.

When To Travel: Spring and fall for fewer crowds and active wildlife.

How To Get There: Fly into airports near Jackson Hole, Wyoming, or Bozeman, Montana, and drive to the park.

3. Pantanal, Brazil

The Pantanal in Brazil is one of the best places in the world to photograph jaguars in the wild. This vast tropical wetland also hosts a plethora of bird species, making it a haven for wildlife photographers. Boat tours along the rivers offer close encounters with wildlife, especially the elusive jaguar. Remember, the welfare of the animals comes first, so always maintain a respectful distance.

Insider’s Tip: Opt for boat tours for up-close photography opportunities in the wetlands.

When To Travel: Dry season from July to October for the best wildlife viewing.

How To Get There: Fly into Cuiabá or Campo Grande and join a guided tour to the Pantanal.

4. South Georgia Island, South Atlantic

South Georgia Island is a remote and unspoiled paradise teeming with wildlife. It’s home to one of the largest king penguin colonies in the world, along with seals and various seabirds. The island’s dramatic landscapes, with its snow-capped mountains and rugged coastlines, provide a spectacular setting for photography. Visiting this pristine environment comes with a responsibility to minimize impact, ensuring this ecosystem remains intact.

Insider’s Tip: Respect the wildlife viewing guidelines, maintaining a safe distance from the animals.

When To Travel: November to March for the best weather and wildlife viewing.

How To Get There: Accessible by expedition cruises departing from Ushuaia, Argentina.

5. Ranthambore National Park, India

Ranthambore National Park in India offers some of the best opportunities to photograph tigers in their natural habitat. The park’s landscape, dotted with ancient ruins, provides a unique backdrop for wildlife photography. Apart from tigers, you can capture images of leopards, sloth bears, and a variety of deer and bird species. Patience is key, as sightings can never be guaranteed, but the thrill of capturing a tiger in the wild is unmatched.

Insider’s Tip: Book early morning safari drives for the best light and active wildlife.

When To Travel: October to April is the best time for tiger sightings.

How To Get There: Fly to Jaipur, then drive to Ranthambore, or take a train to Sawai Madhopur station.

6. Borneo, Malaysia

The rainforests of Borneo are a biodiversity hotspot, offering unique opportunities to photograph orangutans, pygmy elephants, and a variety of bird species. Photography tours in Borneo often focus on ethical practices, ensuring minimal disturbance to the wildlife. The experience of capturing orangutans in their natural habitat is a photographic achievement and a poignant reminder of the need for conservation.

Insider’s Tip: Use silent camera modes to avoid disturbing wildlife.

When To Travel: March to October for drier weather.

How To Get There: Fly into Kota Kinabalu or Kuching and join a guided wildlife photography tour.

7. Kruger National Park, South Africa

Kruger National Park is a premier destination for wildlife photography, offering sightings of the Big Five and a vast array of other species. The park’s varied landscapes provide diverse photographic opportunities, from savannas to riverine forests.

While self-drive safaris are popular, guided tours can offer expert knowledge about wildlife and the best photography spots. Remember, the park’s rules are in place to protect both the wildlife and visitors, so always adhere to them.

Insider’s Tip: Stay at private reserves on the park’s borders for exclusive photography opportunities.

When To Travel: May to September for dry weather and better wildlife visibility.

How To Get There: Fly into Johannesburg, drive to Kruger, or take a domestic flight to a nearby airport.

8. Alaska, USA

Alaska’s vast wilderness is a paradise for wildlife photographers. From the majestic brown bears at Katmai National Park to the bald eagles of Haines, the state offers unparalleled wildlife viewing and photography opportunities. The key to photographing in Alaska is to respect the wild nature of its inhabitants and maintain a safe distance, especially with bears.

Insider’s Tip: Visit Katmai National Park for incredible bear viewing and photography.

When To Travel: June to August for the best wildlife viewing opportunities.

How To Get There: Fly into Anchorage and take regional flights or guided tours to various wildlife hotspots.

9. Canadian Arctic

The Canadian Arctic is a unique destination for photographing polar bears, narwhals, and other Arctic wildlife. The region’s pristine landscapes also offer incredible opportunities for capturing the Northern Lights. Photography tours here are often led by experienced guides who ensure ethical practices while providing insights into the Arctic ecosystem.

Insider’s Tip: Use a reputable tour operator that follows strict wildlife viewing guidelines.

When To Travel: July to September when the ice recedes, and wildlife is more accessible.

How To Get There: Fly to Canadian Arctic gateways like Yellowknife or Churchill, then join a guided tour.

10. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

The Galapagos Islands are a haven for wildlife photographers, with unique species not found anywhere else in the world. The islands’ isolation has led to incredible biodiversity, including giant tortoises, marine iguanas, and various bird species. Photography in the Galapagos should always be done responsibly, adhering to the rules set by the Galapagos National Park to protect its fragile ecosystem.

Insider’s Tip: Invest in a good zoom lens to maintain a respectful distance from the animals.

When To Travel: December to May for warmer weather and calmer seas.

How To Get There: Fly to Quito or Guayaquil in Ecuador, then take a flight to the Galapagos Islands.

11. Madagascar

Madagascar’s unique wildlife, including various species of lemurs, chameleons, and endemic birds, makes it a fascinating destination for photographers. The island’s diverse landscapes, from rainforests to deserts, add to the photographic appeal. When photographing in Madagascar, it’s important to be mindful of the delicate ecosystems and the conservation challenges.

Insider’s Tip: Be patient and quiet to increase your chances of spotting elusive wildlife.

When To Travel: April to December is the best time for wildlife viewing.

How To Get There: Fly into Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital, and travel to wildlife reserves by car or domestic flights.

12. Svalbard, Norway

Svalbard offers a unique Arctic photography experience with its polar bears, walruses, and stunning glacial landscapes. The archipelago’s remote location and harsh conditions require careful planning and respect for the environment. Photography tours in Svalbard are often conducted on small ships, providing close encounters with Arctic wildlife.

Insider’s Tip: Choose a small-group tour for a more intimate and less intrusive wildlife experience.

When To Travel: June to August for 24-hour daylight and accessible wildlife.

How To Get There: Fly to Longyearbyen via Oslo or Tromso.

13. Great Bear Rainforest, Canada

The Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia is one of the best places to photograph the rare spirit bear, a unique subspecies of the black bear. The rainforest’s lush environment also supports a rich biodiversity, offering varied photographic subjects. Ethical photography practices are essential in this sensitive ecosystem to ensure minimal impact on wildlife.

Insider’s Tip: Respect the natural behavior of animals and avoid using bait or calls to attract them.

When To Travel: August to October is the best bear viewing period.

How To Get There: Fly to Vancouver, then take a seaplane or boat to the rainforest.

14. Masai Mara, Kenya

The Masai Mara in Kenya is an iconic African safari destination, offering some of the best opportunities for photographing wildlife, including lions, elephants, and cheetahs. The Mara’s open landscapes provide stunning backdrops for wildlife photography. Respect for the animals and their habitat is paramount, and local guides can provide invaluable knowledge for ethical photography.

Insider’s Tip: Focus on early morning and late afternoon drives for the best light and active wildlife.

When To Travel: July to October for the Great Migration.

How To Get There: Fly to Nairobi, take a small plane, or drive to the Masai Mara.

15. Kangaroo Island, Australia

Kangaroo Island, off the coast of South Australia, is a wildlife sanctuary where you can photograph kangaroos, koalas, echidnas, and a variety of bird species in their natural habitat. The island’s diverse landscapes, from sandy beaches to rugged cliffs, provide a stunning backdrop for wildlife photography. Ethical practices are crucial here, especially given the island’s recovery from recent bushfires.

Insider’s Tip: Visit the Seal Bay Conservation Park to photograph Australian sea lions.

When To Travel: September to March for the best weather and wildlife viewing.

How To Get There: Fly to Adelaide, then take a ferry or a regional flight to Kangaroo Island.

The Bottom Line

As a responsible wildlife photographer, your journey is not just about capturing the beauty of nature through your lens; it’s about respecting the wildlife and their habitats. Each of these destinations offers a unique opportunity to observe and photograph animals in their natural environments, but it’s crucial to prioritize their well-being over getting the perfect shot. Remember, ethical practices ensure that these magnificent creatures and their habitats are preserved for future generations to admire. So, pack your camera, tread lightly, and prepare to be awed by the natural wonders of our world, all while making a positive impact.

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The post 15 Ethical Wildlife Photography Adventures: Through the Lens Responsibly republished on Passing Thru with permission from The Green Voyage .

Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Alexander Sviridov.

For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.

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Lens Expo 2024 | Pacifico Yokohama

The Lens Expo 2024 provides a premier platform for companies involved in various aspects of the lens industry, including different types of lenses, optics, and lens and optical designing software. This esteemed event offers an exceptional opportunity for these companies to showcase their innovative products to a wide range of buyers, exporters, and importers. By participating in the Lens Expo, companies gain invaluable insight into the preferences and needs of their customers, enabling them to develop effective strategies for future business success. Taking place from April 24 to April 26, 2024, in Yokohama, Japan, the Lens Expo 2024 will be held at the prestigious Pacifico Yokohama venue. Located at 1 Chome−1, Minatomirai, Nishi-ku, Yokohama-shi, Kanagawa-ken, 220-0012, this convenient and accessible location ensures a seamless experience for all attendees. Whether you are a lens manufacturer, a supplier of optics, or a provider of lens and optical designing software, the Lens Expo 2024 is the ideal platform to network, showcase your latest products, and gain valuable insights into the industry. Join hundreds of industry professionals at this exclusive event and position your company for future growth and success.

Provided by Dirt Muncher | Published Apr 11, 2024

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Intrepid’s new Women’s Expedition is exploring Saudi Arabia through a different lens 

Peek behind the scenes of Intrepid’s latest trip with the women who made it all happen. They share how their experiences in Saudi Arabia inspired them to bring other travellers to this emerging destination.

While some may be apprehensive about Saudi Arabia as a travel destination, after experiencing the country alongside local women guides and spending one-on-one time with the people themselves, Jenny Gray and Zina Bencheikh were inspired. 

Zina, Intrepid’s managing director of Europe, the Middle East and Africa and a collaborator in the development of Intrepid’s Women’s Expedition says, ‘Saudi Arabia is considered an emerging destination. It’s important for Intrepid to take travellers to new places, especially if they have so much to offer when it comes to culture, experiences and, of course, the people.’ 

Zina believes travellers should get the chance to form their own idea of a country. A Women’s Expedition especially helps to break down barriers and foster discussion through experiences that are ordinarily off limits on mixed-gender trips.

As the product manager of Intrepid’s Women’s Expeditions , Jenny spoke about her experience in Saudi Arabia with a mixture of curiosity and contemplation

‘I had some preconceptions about what I might see and experience,’ she says. ‘I went out of my way to talk to locals, of all ages and backgrounds, especially women, to understand the realities of life for them. I left with an overwhelming sense that tourism is providing people, particularly women, with a vehicle to shape their own narratives, as well opening up new opportunities and a chance to break any surviving stereotypes.’  

Starting with her local leader, Fatimah, a 30-year-old divorcee born and raised on a farm whose hobbies include rock climbing and adventure sports.  

‘Fatimah was not what I was expecting at all,’ explains Jenny. ‘One day she would be dressed in a gorgeous flowing abaya with big, sparkly hoop earrings. The next day she was dressed head to toe in Columbia hiking gear talking about some of her favourite off-road adventures.’ 

Jenny adds that many of the women she met wanted to help shape Saudi Arabia’s future with their own stories and aspirations. ‘What I saw were unapologetic and proud women leading from the front.’ 

Zina underscores the significance of this shift.

‘Progress is undeniable and benefiting women,’ she explains. ‘The women I met told me they feel free, empowered and safe. They can wear the veil or not. It’s their choice. I myself went with and without veils at times, and never felt uncomfortable no matter what I chose to wear – unlike other countries in North Africa and the Middle East.’ 

She adds that it’s also women who are benefiting firsthand from tourism. ‘Women are carving out space as guides, hotel owners and entrepreneurs. They are empowered to lead and driven to change the perception of their country.’ 

The cradle of Islam, Saudi Arabia is home to the spiritual cities of Mecca and Madinah and holds a profound place in the hearts of Muslims, history buffs and theologists alike. Beyond the towering minarets of two of the grandest mosques in the world, there are stunning landscapes and a wealth of pre-Islamic-era landmarks just waiting to be explored.  

I left with an overwhelming sense that tourism is providing people, particularly women, with a vehicle to shape their own narratives, as well opening up new opportunities and a chance to break any surviving stereotypes.

One of Zina’s most memorable experiences from the trip was her time in Madinah, an ancient city now open to non-Muslim visitors too. She feels Madinah is special and has the potential to create more understanding of what Islam is about.

Listening to the city’s history through the perspective of a local female guide transported Zina back hundreds of years. ‘The atmosphere is incredible, and as part of the tour we went with female guide to a rooftop where we could see the mosque from very high up. The view is absolutely breathtaking.’ 

Intrepid’s approach to exploring Saudi Arabia reflects its commitment to operate trips locally and leave the economic benefits of travel in-destination. This Women’s Expedition was created in partnership with Sara Omar – the founder of two travel companies: EL Makkan, specialising in outbound trips, and 88 Destinations, focusing on inbound travel experiences. 

Jenny met Sara almost a year ago in the early days of concepting a Women’s Expedition to Saudi Arabia. Sara’s mission with her own travel companies – to create immersive, community-led experiences – sat seamlessly with Intrepid’s values.  

‘Sara is a real Intrepid person – dynamic, well-travelled, and committed to showcasing the real Saudi,’ says Zina. 

Sara is thrilled her home country will be part of Intrepid’s trips. ‘Not many companies are offering Saudi yet. It’s still a new destination that’s unknown to a lot of people. I think people will want to travel in a group for now, and then they’ll feel more confident in visiting. So, I’m excited and hopeful we will make this a memorable trip for a lot of people,’ she says.  

‘It was really important that whoever operated this trip on the ground understood our style of travel, and shared our ethos that travel could be a force for good when done properly,’ says Jenny.  

‘Sara’s in-depth local knowledge, personal experiences and contacts have been crucial in curating local experiences that allow travellers to see Saudi Arabia through the lens of local women with different perspectives, experiences and stories to share.’ 

I’m focused on giving experiences and interactions with the local community. So, you spend more time with people instead of landmarks.

Like all Women’s Expeditions, this will be led entirely by women, directly benefiting nine female-owned businesses. Some of the most compelling aspects of Intrepid’s Saudi Arabia trip are the community-based activities championed by Sara. ‘I’m focused on giving experiences and interactions with the local community. So, you spend more time with people instead of landmarks,’ she explains. 

From cooking classes and guided tours to visiting a citrus farm run by two sisters, travellers can engage with Saudi women on their own terms and celebrate their pride and creativity. 

Jenny says the home-cooked meal at the start of the trip in Riyadh is one of her favourite moments in the trip. ‘There are several different hosts for this experience and each one offers a glimpse inside a beautiful family home, each with their own unique stories and Saudi traditions to share. You could sit down to a meal with a yoga instructor or a CEO. You might learn how to play carrom board, prepare old family recipes passed down from grandmothers or simply sip tea in the garden.’ 

‘With or without us, Saudi will become a major tourism destination,’ Zina says. She goes on to share that with travel, we can shape and change narratives, amplify voices that often go unheard and build bridges. In Saudi Arabia, that journey is just beginning. 

Learn more about Sara Omar , the tour operator Intrepid partnered with to develop this trip, and see the 12-day itinerary for yourself.

Feeling inspired?

Sahar lives in Toronto and is Intrepid's global brand content specialist. Writing and travel bring together Sahar's two favourite worlds.

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Heavy traffic fails to cast shadow over eclipse travel experience: ‘It was 100% worth the trip’

A few hours after the total eclipse brought thousands of spectators to downstate illinois, traffic remained heavy on some interstates..

Traffic after the total solar eclipse on I-57 south of Champaign.

Courtesy of Tom Purdy

After viewing the spectacle that was a total solar eclipse in southern Illinois, some travelers were met with a less-incredible sight — bumper-to-bumper traffic.

The Illinois Department of Transportation estimated crowds of 100,000 to 200,000 would descend on prime viewing areas downstate ahead of the event , and told those making the trek to expect congestion.

A few hours after the eclipse reached totality in southern Illinois on Monday, IDOT said traffic remained heavy “in pockets along the length of I-57 northbound, north of Marion to Champaign, I-64 westbound west of Mt. Vernon to the Metro East St. Louis area, and all of I-24.”

Traffic is moving out post-eclipse, but slowly, with reports of crashes on some heavily traveled routes. Please continue to be patient and give yourself plenty of time if you’re leaving your eclipse destination. See you back in 2099! Visit https://t.co/gB7JR5c0VB for updates. pic.twitter.com/DgpU0a7EkX — IDOT_Illinois (@IDOT_Illinois) April 8, 2024

Tom Purdy, 42, headed from his home in Janesville, Wisconsin, to Mount Vernon in southern Illinois.

He said the worst traffic heading home was south of Effingham, but overall he expected the traffic to only tack on an additional half an hour to the usual five-hour drive.

"It was 100% worth the trip," Purdy said.

He said he missed the total eclipse in 2017; he decided he would make the trip this year "one way or another," ending up in a park in Mount Vernon with a few hundred other spectators.

He said he'll be in his 60s when the next total eclipse graces North America in 2044, but he expects to make the trip again.

Jason Wright from Atlanta, Georgia, took a detour with his family to Marion on their road trip back home from a trip to St. Louis.

The trip from Marion to Atlanta was expected to take nine to 10 hours, but after a 50-mile stretch that took him three hours to get through, Wright expected the trip to take closer to 12 hours.

Despite the traffic, Wright said the experience was "spectacular."

"I don't have any regrets at this point, I'm glad we did it," Wright said. "Now, ask me at 1 o'clock this morning when I'm still an hour from home, I may think differently."

Chicago saw a partial solar eclipse, peaking at 2:07 p.m. with 94% coverage.

Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications encouraged spectators to take public transportation to viewing events around the city.

Puerto Rico’s southern coast is the island’s best-kept secret

Take it from a guayama native: the caribbean coast is worth exploring from end to end.

The scenery starts to change when you leave the tall hotels and tapón (traffic jam) of San Juan behind.

Head south on Route 52, and you will start seeing the lush green mountains of Cordillera Central. As you approach the southern coast, the dense vegetation transforms into clusters of cactuses and shrubs, painting an arid landscape against the distant view of the Caribbean Sea.

Ranging east to west from the town of Yabucoa to Cabo Rojo, the southern coast of Puerto Rico is rich in culture, food, beaches and nature. But beyond all the tangible attractions, locals say the spirit of hospitality makes the place unique. “Our greatest asset is the people, who make people feel at home,” says Milexys Rosado Romero, the owner of Hacienda Tres Casitas , a farm stay in Cabo Rojo.

I learned this growing up in Guayama, where neighbors traded mangoes for papayas. My parents were always inviting people for coffee, or my dad might arrive home with a bagful of fresh seafood he got from a friend he ran into at the beach.

Unfortunately, no reliable public transport options exist, so renting a car is the best bet to reach the smaller towns and unspoiled beaches. Highway 52 traverses the island from north to south, taking you from San Juan to Guayama in around 90 minutes, depending on traffic, and to Ponce in two hours or less. Highway 2 takes you west to Cabo Rojo and up the western coast, and Route 3 takes you along the eastern coast with scenic ocean views of Patillas and Maunabo.

If traveling during the fall, you may catch surfers in Guardarraya Beach in Patillas. It’s hard to get lost as you can easily find lesser-known beaches via Google Maps, with good cell coverage throughout the region.

Many of the lodgings offered on the southern coast, from the luxury Copamarina Beach Resort to the kid-friendly Combate Beach Resort , have been owned by local families for generations. Farm stays, small inns known as paradors and vacation rentals dominate the accommodations, making for a relaxed scene.

I recommend visiting from Wednesdays to Sundays for a livelier scene and more dining options; earlier in the week is perfect for having the beaches all to yourself.

Low-key beaches in Cabo Rojo

Even the Caribbean Sea beaches on the southern coast of Puerto Rico are in chill mode, more relaxed than their choppy Atlantic Ocean counterparts in the north.

With small waves and shallow waters, Combate Beach, on the southwest corner, is ideal for families. Make it a day-long affair with a passion fruit mojito at Annie’s Place with picturesque sunset views.

For a more rustic beach experience, go to Playa Sucia, one of Puerto Rico’s southernmost beaches. While there, hike the trails leading to El Faro de Cabo Rojo and Puente de Piedra for 360-degree views of a colorful mix of Caribbean blues, sandy-colored rocky enclaves and green mangroves along the coast. Walk a mile and a half north of Playa Sucia, and you will encounter the Salinas de Cabo Rojo, with colorful yellow-shouldered blackbirds flying over the pink salt flats.

Boquerón is a neighborhood known for its stands of local fish, oysters and clams. You can also take a dip at its small sandy strip. The neighborhood is vibrant, with music blaring throughout the many kiosks and beachside restaurants, most specializing in seafood. You don’t have to go far inland to find roasted pork at Camino Los Charros. Rosado also recommends La Catumba Lechonera among the many restaurants that specialize in pork.

Restaurants on the rise in Guayama

“Guayama esta pegao” — in style, according to what I’ve heard from many friends across the island.

A coastal city on the southeastern side, it is known for having a charming plaza (town square) with homes and buildings dating from the 1800s. One of these historical homes houses Gallo Pinto , a restaurant by chef Ángel David Moreno Zayas that has become a destination with dishes like grilled oysters, bone marrow with beef tartare, and fried red snapper.

“I’ve worked in many kitchens in San Juan and the mainland United States, but I wanted to open my restaurant in Guayama,” says Moreno Zayas of his hometown. “It started as a casual place because we were recovering from the pandemic, but now we’ve incorporated more fine-dining elements, and the reception has been spectacular.”

After a feast at Gallo Pinto, one must save room for ice cream at one of Guayama’s classic spots, Rex Cream. Owned by Chinese-Cuban immigrants, the Louke Chang family, it’s a mandatory stop. A scoop of salty-sweet corn ice cream with a generous sprinkle of cinnamon is perfect for a walk along the plaza.

At Pozuelo, a fishermen’s neighborhood beyond the city center, go to El Arcoiris for one of my childhood favorites, the octopus salad with a side of tostones. Or bite into a crispy alcapurria — a fritter made of banana and root vegetables — at El Fogón de Susa as you stroll along the beach.

You can find one of the most impressive wine lists in the south at Prime Market , where local couple Laury Cordero Sabater and Antonio Palau transformed an old home along Route 3 into an ample outdoor patio with a menu specializing in steaks.

Art and culture in Ponce

It’s hard to find Puerto Ricans prouder of their hometown than Ponceños. I’m not disputing their pride, because the city has so much to offer, especially in terms of arts and culture.

“Start with a walking tour of the city center of Ponce to learn about the history of Ponce and gain an orientation of the city,” says Melina Aguilar Colón, the founder of Isla Caribe tours. “One of the sights not to be missed is the Parque de Bombas de Ponce,” she said. Initially built in 1882 for the Exhibition Trade Fair, the Ponce firehouse is a symbol of the city; the distinct red-and-black-striped facade was an inspiration for the Ponce flag.

After walking through the city center, go for cocktails along Paseo de la Salsa Cheo Feliciano, named after the pioneering salsa singer José Feliciano. At El Marlin 107, William Collazo, a big name in Puerto Rico’s cocktail community, mixes drinks with tropical infusions like coconut water, guava and mangoes. On the weekends, expect live music along the street where you can test your salsa skills. For dinner, head to Chef’s Creations, where you catch chef Jorge Rivera cooking over a wood-fired grill in his restaurant’s patio.

Although the city has suffered structural damage during Hurricane Maria in 2017, followed by an earthquake in 2020, Ponce has focused on reconstruction and updates to many of its cultural institutions. The Teatro La Perla, a cultural hub for performance art, is set to reopen in 2025 with plays and musical performances. The Art Museum of Ponce , home of the iconic “Flaming June” by Sir Frederic Leighton (which is currently on loan to the Royal Academy of Arts in London), recently reopened its doors after extensive repairs.

Ponce is also considered the birthplace of plena music, one of the traditional sounds of Puerto Rico. Deeply infused with African beats, plena tells the story of the Puerto Rican people from the early 1900s. You can learn more about plena and other Puerto Rican music like bomba and danza at the Museo de la Música Puertorriqueña, a small museum in the city center.

El Bosque dry forest and bioluminescent bays

According to Aguilar Colón, “everybody knows about El Yunque rainforest, but nobody talks about El Bosque Seco de Guánica, the dry forest on the island’s southwest coast.” I agree.

One of the things that makes Puerto Rico unique is the contrast of ecosystems in a relatively small island. Walking along the trails, you will notice the different varieties of cactuses, Guayacán trees and mangroves as you get closer to the shoreline. Birdwatchers will rejoice with the sights of sparrow hawks, hummingbirds and brown pelicans. The dry forest is one of the island’s hottest places, so ensure you bring plenty of water and sun protection.

Next to Guánica, in the neighboring town of Lajas, there’s another natural phenomenon. La Parguera is home to one of the three bioluminescent bays of Puerto Rico. Because of overpopulation, it’s not as bright as in Vieques, but it’s still worth a trip if you’re in the area.

The local dock offers boat rides, and you can also find kayak tours taking you deeper into the bay for better views. Beyond the bay, the Parguera is known for its bustling scene on the weekends with plenty of bars, restaurants and bands.

Jessica van Dop DeJesus is a travel and food writer, digital content creator and the author of “ The Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico .” She divides her time between Brussels, D.C. and western New York. Follow her on Instagram @diningtraveler .

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