If you want to take top-notch landscape photos, you need a dedicated landscape lens – one with a wide-angle focal length, a robust body, and (ideally) a wide maximum aperture.
But which lens should you pick? In this guide, we share the 14 best lenses for landscape photography, including options from Canon, Nikon, Sony, Tamron, and more.
Best Lenses for Landscape Photography:
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1. Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM
The 16-35mm f/4L IS USM is an amazing lens that offers outstanding image quality and a versatile focal length range.
The Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM is our absolute favorite landscape photography lens and a top choice for Canon full-frame shooters.
This lens has it all, including a versatile focal length that enables you to shoot both wide and ultra-wide landscape shots as well as durable construction with weather sealing.
Expect fantastic and consistent image quality. The 16-35mm f/4 is incredibly sharp at every focal length and across the entire frame. The f/4 maximum aperture is fine for landscape shots, but if you’re serious about low-light landscape photography, consider grabbing the f/2.8 version instead.
Compared to some other L lenses, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM is also relatively inexpensive.
2. Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM
The 16mm f/2.8 STM is a lightweight lens that excels at ultra-wide landscape shots.
The Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM is a relatively new lens, but it’s already popular among landscape photographers. You can capture amazing detail in your scenic shots (and the lens is great for panoramas, too!).
The 16mm f/2.8 also looks fantastic and is lightweight and compact. It weighs only 0.36 lb/163 g and can easily fit in your pocket.
The lens also offers great sharpness; however, it can produce a lot of barrel distortion. Fortunately, the distortion can easily be corrected in a program like Lightroom.
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If you want a compact prime lens for travel landscape photography or you simply want to capture epic landscape shots, this is one of the top RF options on the market.
3. Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM
The 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM is a professional lens that excels at landscape photography due to its wide focal length range and f/2.8 maximum aperture.
If you want a wide range of focal lengths and the power of an f/2.8 maximum aperture, the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM is one of the top choices for EOS R cameras like the R5. This L-series lens offers superior image quality, amazing sharpness, and so much more.
It offers corner-to-corner sharpness regardless of the focal length. We also like the constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, which makes the lens perfect for low-light landscape shots (especially astrophotography).
The zoom mechanism is smooth, and the lens even offers a programmable control ring. Need a versatile lens that takes incredible images? The Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM is certainly one of your best RF options.
4. Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM
The 22mm f/2 STM is the best landscape lens for EOS M cameras and is lightweight and compact.
If you’re an EOS M camera user, you’ll love the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM. It’s one of the best lenses for landscape photography and easily the best Canon landscape lens for EOS M cameras available today.
It’s one of the lightest and smallest landscape lenses available, weighing only 0.277 lb/126 g. As a result, it’s a great choice for travel landscape photography.
This lens also produces consistently sharp images (it’s certainly much sharper than EOS M kit lenses). We also like that it has a fast and silent STM autofocus motor.
5. Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
The 14-24mm f/2.8G ED excels at ultra-wide shots, and it allows for standard landscape photos, too.
Nikon camera owners have a great set of lenses to choose from, and one of the best has to be the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED. This older lens still offers amazing performance and an outstanding set of features for landscape shooters.
The variable focal length of 14-24mm gives you the best of both worlds. At 14mm, you can capture ultra-wide shots, and at 24mm, you can get a little closer and take more conventional landscape photos.
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We also like that this Nikon lens sports a rugged body with professional-grade dust and moisture protection. You can comfortably use it outdoors, no matter the weather.
And due to a variety of special elements and coatings, the image quality should be consistently great. The constant f/2.8 maximum aperture is also a plus and helps with low-light landscape shooting.
6. Nikon AF-S 24mm f/1.8G ED
The 24mm f/1.8G ED is an outstanding landscape lens that excels on Nikon full-frame bodies.
The Nikon AF-S 24mm f/1.8G ED is an older lens, but it remains one of the best lenses for landscape photography on the market. It’s a high-quality prime lens that delivers sharp images at a great landscape focal length.
The lens also benefits from an f/1.8 maximum aperture. This means that you can capture beautiful low-light landscape shots, including stunning images of the night sky.
The 24mm f/1.8 has an excellent set of optics. Special elements and coatings improve overall sharpness while reducing lens flare and ghosting. The lens is also decently lightweight at 1.32 lb/598 g.
7. Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S
The 14-30mm f/4’s retractable design makes it a great lens for travel landscape photography.
If you use a Z-mount camera, don’t worry; Nikon has a few high-level lenses for landscape photographers, including our favorite, the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S.
The 14-30mm focal length is great for a range of landscape scenarios. At 14mm, you can get ultra-wide scenic shots. Then you can zoom in to 30mm for tighter, more intimate compositions.
This lens is also great for traveling. It’s relatively lightweight, plus it has a special retractable lens mechanism that makes it easier to store in a camera bag or suitcase.
And expect consistent sharpness thanks to the lens’s various optical features, including aspherical elements, ED glass elements, fluorine coatings, and more.
8. Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S
The Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S is a top-notch lens that excels at low-light landscape photography.
A great prime lens for landscape photography is the Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S, which looks great and also performs well.
It’s an S-series lens and thus has some weather sealing for outdoor use. It also has special elements and coatings to ensure consistent sharpness and prevent optical issues.
And if you enjoy shooting nightscapes, you’ll love the f/1.8 maximum aperture. This gives you plenty of flexibility in your low-light shots, especially if you like photographing stars.
9. Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM
The 16-35mm f/2.8 GM is a versatile lens that allows serious photographers to capture a range of landscape photos.
The Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM is a versatile lens with an amazing focal length range. You can shoot ultra-wide photos at 16mm, then you can zoom in to 35mm for more intimate, detailed compositions.
This lens provides corner-to-corner sharpness thanks in part to two Sony XA elements that help improve resolution while reducing distortion.
The lens also features weather sealing and is perfect for outdoor use. It is a little heavier than some landscape lenses, but it is still light enough to use for travel.
10. Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G
This 20mm f/1.8 G is amazingly sharp, and the f/1.8 maximum aperture gives it plenty of versatility.
If you like prime lenses, consider the Sony FE 20mm f/1.8 G, which is lightweight, durable, and offers some great features.
The 20mm focal length delivers stunning detail without noticeable barrel distortion. And the lens design is incredibly durable and relatively compact. The lens is both dust and moisture resistant, and it weighs just 373 g/0.82 lb.
To ensure consistently sharp landscape images, the lens includes a combination of AA elements and ED elements (these improve contrast while reducing flare and ghosting). We also like that this lens has an aperture control ring as it lets you change the aperture with ease.
11. Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM
The 12-24mm f/2.8 GM is an amazing ultra-wide lens that offers some of the best image quality on the market.
One of the best lenses for ultra-wide landscape photography is the Sony FE 12-24mm f/2.8 GM. It’s great for photographers who specialize in sweeping landscape shots of epic vistas, valleys, and mountain ranges.
At 12mm, you can shoot insanely expansive photos, while at 24mm, you can focus more on landscape details (while still getting that beautiful wide-angle look).
We also like that this lens has a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8, which improves its flexibility and allows you to take high-quality nighttime landscape photos. The lens also looks great and features excellent build quality. It can comfortably be used outside due to its weather sealing.
12. Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2
The 15-30mm f/2.8 produces consistently sharp images and is available for Canon, Nikon, and Sony cameras.
Tamron is one of the top third-party lens manufacturers, and one of their best landscape photography lenses is the 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2. This zoom lens boasts excellent build quality and optics as well as a versatile focal length.
This lens has an impressive array of lens coatings, which helps improve sharpness consistency and reduce issues such as ghosting. As a result, you can expect sharp images regardless of the focal length.
This ultra-wide lens is also easy to handhold thanks to the built-in image stabilization. We also like the f/2.8 maximum aperture, which lets you capture stunning images at night. It also means the lens can be used to create beautiful bokeh backgrounds.
13. Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art
The 14-24mm f/2.8 has extensive weather sealing, which makes it great for use in rain, snow, and more.
The Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art offers a powerful alternative to Canon, Nikon, and Sony ultra-wide landscape zooms. It is reasonably priced, too.
The 14-24mm focal length range gives you plenty of flexibility. And with the f/2.8 maximum aperture, you can capture beautiful astrophotography images.
The optics are also incredible. The lens features glass aspherical elements that help provide consistent corner-to-corner sharpness.
Also Read: Best Sigma Lenses
It’s also one of the most durable landscape lenses available. It has an effective dust-proof and splash-proof body, and the front of the lens has a water- and oil-repellent coating. It is perfect for landscape photographers who love to shoot when the weather acts up!
14. Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art
The 24mm f/1.4 is perfect for landscape photography, and its f/1.4 maximum aperture makes it a good option for other photography genres, too.
Sigma has a versatile range of prime lenses for landscape photography, and one of their best options is the Sigma 24mm f/1.4 DG HSM Art.
It is available for Canon EF, Sony E, and Nikon FX mounts and is much cheaper than most alternatives. For a budget price, you get a high-quality lens with an impressive f/1.4 maximum aperture, which is perfect for low-light landscape photography.
The lens includes FLD, SLD, and aspherical elements, which all but eliminate optical errors like chromatic aberration, lens distortion, and coma flare. We also like that this lens has a durable mount and includes a lens hood for extra protection.
Pick the Best Lens for Landscape Photography
No matter your camera brand, you have plenty of great landscape lenses to choose from.
Canon camera owners can use fantastic lenses like the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM and the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM.
Nikon users can grab the amazing Nikon AF-S 24mm f/1.8G ED, Nikon Z 20mm f/1.8 S, or Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f/2.8G ED.
Sony, too, has some great choices for its E-mount cameras, including the Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8. And if you prefer to use third-party manufacturers, Tamron and Sigma also have some powerful options, such as the Tamron SP 15-30mm f/2.8 Di VC USD G2 and the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art.
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