Oftentimes, these types of lenses will have versatile zooms – allowing you to pack one lens like a superzoom.
That said, of course, this comes down to your own personal shooting style and the amount of equipment you’re willing to carry.
For instance, you could opt for a handy fifty prime lens that is perfect for traveling since they are so small. However, its one focal length may test your limits.
With this in mind, this guide will explore everything you need to know about the 10 best lenses for travel photography (see also "What Is The Best Lens For Landscape?").
Canon offers a completely full-frame superzoom travel lens known as the EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L IS USM.
Although, we have chosen to include the Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L IS II USM, instead. “Why?” you may ask, well, this is because it makes for a better travel experience.
Weighing only 795g, it is approximately half the weight of the 28-300mm – making it more travel-friendly and budget-friendly, too.
The Z 24-120mm f/4 is one of the best travel photography lenses available – this is for a ton of different reasons, too.
For instance, thanks to its range of focal lengths, you can capture high-quality shots for all your traveling requirements.
With the 24mm focal length, you can capture breathtaking landscape shots. Whereas at 120mm, you can capture every detail of architectural features and distant landscapes.
It is compact, features an attractive and elegant design, and is perfect for both amateur and pro-level travel photographers alike.
When it comes to shooting with an APS-C Canon DSLR, you can’t go wrong with the Tamron 18-400m f/3.5-6.3 Di II VC HLD if you’re looking for impressive focal length flexibility.
It contributes to one of the decreasing ranges of superzoom lenses since Tamron has recently discounted the 16-300mm lens.
The 18-400mm lens is heavier, bigger, and more expensive. That said, it features an impressive performance thanks to its incredible 22x zoom range.
It weighs only 710g which is fair considering the vast focal range that the lens covers, as well as a moisture-resistant construction featuring a range of weather seals for protection.
If you’re currently using Canon’s mirrorless cameras – including the R5, R6, R7, or EOS – then the RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is the perfect beginner lens, especially if you travel often and looking to decrease the amount of gear you’re storing.
You’ll be provided with a remarkably compact lens that can easily slip into your backpack, bag, or purse without any issues.
That said, you’ll want to make sure you’re protecting it from scrapes or bumps!
Both Tamron and Niko have been manufacturers of 28-300mm superzoom lenses for years. Here, they offer a travel-friendly lens suitable for Nikon full-frame SLRs.
There is not much difference when it comes to image quality, handling, and all-around performance.
If you’re looking to make the most out of your lens, then you may want to consider the quality of your lens as opposed to its zoom range.
This is where Nikon’s 24-120mm VR comes in. It features excellent handling characteristics and it is relatively compact.
Notably, it features a wide-angle perspective on the shorter zoom range spectrum.
The only downside is that you’ll lose on powerful telephoto reach – although this isn’t as necessary as you’d think.
Sony has a range of APS-C mirrorless cameras available – many of which are perfect for travel photography thanks to their impressive image quality and compact size.
With all your travel cameras, you’ll want a good lens, and the Sony 18-105mm is one of the best.
It combines impressive optics, solid build quality, and a reasonable price to achieve great results.
This is especially true when it comes to landscape and street photography where you can zoom in and out to frame a shot accordingly.
Fujifilm hosts an impressive array of XF stable lenses suitable for their APS-C format mirrorless X-mount cameras.
They have a WR (Weather-Resistant) lens that contains no less than 20 areas of sealing in its construction.
In addition to this, it features a virtually silent and fast LM (Linear Motor) autofocus system that is incredibly fast for stills and smooth when capturing movies.
The ‘R’ control ring enables enhanced handling, particularly effective when it comes to 5-stop OIS (Optical Image Stabilization).
Its quality glass features four aspherical elements, as well as two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements.
When compared to other travel lenses available, the 7.5x zoom could be considered somewhat limited but this ensures a compact construction.
Overall, it features impressive image quality. However, the corner sharpness could be considered mediocre when it comes to the end of the camera’s zoom range.
If you’re looking for an impressive all-around lens for your travel photography requirements, then you can’t go wrong with the Sony E 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OSS.
You can use this camera to photograph architecture, landscapes, wildlife, and even people.
That said, you should keep in mind that while the lens is compatible with Sony’s E-mount APS-C mirrorless camera, it will not provide the same results on the Sony full-frame models.
This lens features a fast autofocus system with quality glass, featuring three aspherical elements, as well as two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) elements.
When it comes to this superzoom lens, the sharpness is highly consistent and high-quality throughout – making it an ideal choice for photographers of all levels.
If you shoot using a Panasonic camera, then this 12-60mm f/2.8-4 lens is one of the best lenses available on the market.
In fact, it features a superb focal length range on its Four-Thirds camera. This spans between 24mm to 120mm.
The result is tons of opportunities for travel photography where you can expect to capture standard street shots, breathtaking wide landscapes, and even portraits.
On the long end, it features a telephoto reach where you can zoom into specific features or explore architectural abstracts.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to choosing the perfect lens for travel photography, you’ll want something that is compact, high-quality, and features an impressive range.
With a ton of considerations to keep in mind, it can sometimes be difficult to choose the perfect lens for you.
That said, this should be no problem with the help of this guide, featuring 10 of the best lenses for travel photography.
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For as long as I can remember, I have loved taking photographs. There is nothing I love more than looking back through old pictures, and having all of the memories come flooding back.
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