lovelifey: [Photography] 10 Best Lenses for Travel Photography (in 2022)

The post 10 Best Lenses for Travel Photography (in 2022) appeared first on Digital Photography School. It was authored by Jeremy Flint.

Travel photography is lots of fun – but to get the best shots, you’ll need the right equipment, including a lens that can handle a broad range of travel subjects, from astrophotography and architecture to landscapes, people, and even food.

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 2022, and I make sure to include options for plenty of brands and budgets.

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 a dedicated travel zoom, this article will give you everything you need to get started.

Let’s dive right in!

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

10 Best Lenses for Travel Photography (in 2022)

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

The 24-105mm f/4 boasts impressive sharpness, though it is on the pricier side, and 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.

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

If you are using Canon’s latest mirrorless cameras, 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. The lens is 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 very well priced, plus it’s lightweight and compact – ideal for a travel zoom. 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.

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

Looking for a versatile zoom for a Nikon mirrorless camera? The Z 24-120mm f/4 S is one of the best travel lenses on the market. It looks great, plus it provides an impressive range of focal lengths for those hoping to use a single high-quality lens for all their travel needs.

The elegant and attractive design, compact size, and solid optical performance make it a great choice for amateur and pro-level travel photographers alike. And while the lens only features an f/4 maximum aperture, the price is reasonable compared to f/2.8 alternatives.

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.

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

The Sony 18-105mm f/4 is an excellent everyday travel photography lens designed for general use; 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.

Autofocus is smooth and quiet; the lens also boasts Optical SteadyShot technology, which reduces camera shake and prevents blur when working handheld in low light. The lens is a Sony pro-quality lens, yet despite the excellent image and build quality, it’s surprisingly affordable.

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, 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.

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 available 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 travel lens.

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. 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, as 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 keeps your photos sharp in low light, while the advanced optical design delivers extraordinary image quality (even if sharpness falls off toward the telephoto end of the zoom range). 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.

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!