Best Lens For Travel Photography (2024)

Of course "best" anything is very subjective and bound to make some people disagree. What do you think is the best lens for travel photography? What do you think about my reasons for choosing the lens I chose?

My choice is the sony 24mm F1.4 Gm and 50mm F1.4Gm 😊,​ light and can get most of the ranges with the super35 mode on my a7iv

My choose is Prime Lenses. I use Canon RF system. On my R8 i use RF 24 f1.8 the whole system weights 728 grams for all my walking and travel photography. And for great quality photos one of the greatest lens on RF system is RF 50mm F1.2. If I would prefer only one lens, it would also be the RF 50 mm F1.2. Today with panorama software you can easily create panoramas if you need more space when shooting landscapes, for example. The 900 grams of a 50mm lens is a bit heavy, but you get really high quality pictures also at F1.2

What lens do you use to film vlogs like this?

Man alive Mitch - this is the exact dilemma I'm going through at the moment. You highlighted the exact things that are going around in my head. I'm going to Japan in less than a week for a fantastic photographic tour. I have been over in my head a thousand times - going back and forth between my Z 24-70 2.8s and my Z35mm 1.8s. You did a great job with the video, but alas, i'm still just as confused. I can't take a lot so it really has to be one body and one lens. I'll be in crowded cities, subways, some rural stuff and inside work/factories environments. I'd love to take the zoom, but it's heavy and sticks out like a sore toe. I'll be catching trains and walking everywhere, so need to be light. My 35mm is fantastic and I can shoot a whole wedding on it just about, but it may limit me because 24mm is my favourite wide and that is the range I use most on my zoom, and I can't get the creamy backgrounds on the 35. So, around and around I go. I'm hoping by week end the light bulbs may come on in my head.

I used to have only one A7R3 and one 24-105 f4 lens so I travel with it and happy with the flexibility, the semi macro and stabilization. As I cumulating over 20 lenses, the choices became difficult, always ended bringing lenses that I didn’t use. My last trip to Australia with one backpack forced me to bring only one camera with fixed 28mm lens and an Insta360 RS One for video. Wasn’t sure how that will work, but even though I missed many opportunities I wish I had a long zoom but the result was fantastic, I went back to using my feet to zoom, pay more attention to composition instead of picking lens. I truly love my Leica Q2 now.

Just returned from a trip around Europe and I took ages to decide what lens or lenses to take (I probably have too many!). At first I thought take the 24-105 f/4, but it is heavy for walking around all day with. Then I was going to take a 17-35 f/2.8-4 and a 35-105 f/3.5-4.5, but then I decided, I might need a wider apperture than those could provide, so opted in the end to take three primes, 35mm f/2, 50mm f/1.4 and 100mm f/2.8 Macro. I did take a few shots with the 50 and 100, but the vasy majority were using the 35mm (about 95%). The only comment I got from my brother-in-law, was "why didn't you bring a zoom lens?"

Great video. I’m a hobby photographer who recently bought a new OM System OM-5 with a 12-45 f4 lens. It would be equivalent to 24-90mm FF. Besides that lens I use a 17mm f1.8 lens. So basically I’m using the same lenses as you do.
I know I lose depth of field with m4/3, and when shooting with f4 lens even more, but the weight and size of the kit make up for that. When I see your 35mm lens, I think it is even bigger than my 12-45 (24-90) lens! Have you ever considered going back to M4/3?

For me, it’s the Canon 35mm L series f1.4 v2, the best lens Canon has ever made with a unique magical way of rendering the human face. That and the Canon 85mm L series f1.2, every pros favourite wedding photography lens. I also shoot Sony, but I adapt the Canon lenses to the Sony body when I travel on photo assignments around the world. If I have space in my luggage, then I also take the Canon 70-200 2.8 L series V2, a beast of a lens, but fantastic at isolating from a distance and in places such as festivals, where backgrounds need to be excluded. A single lens option may work for a few photographers, but not for me, as a dawn to dusk and evening shooter, where low light can’t be compromised by high ISO, and where I print and sell up to A2 high quality prints.

You Excellent Details in Video ❤

❤❤❤

Any thoughts on the smaller Sony 35mm F2.8 Sonnar T FE ZAG vs the Sony 35mm F1.8mm?

You helped me make up my mind that the 35mm is the better lens for me because I want the smallest, simplest setup for travel photos/videos with the new Sony A7C II. Thank you!

My pick would be fuji xf 18-55mm and xf 35mm 1.4r combo 🥳 ... on any fuji camera. Still very compact set and they yield SWEET BEAUTIFUL photos✨

i am currently shooting with the Fujifilm xt4 with a 23mmf2 and a 50mmf2 lens. but I find myself switching all the time with lenses on a shoot. so maybe I'll grab the 16-55f2.8. I like the light weight of the primes but sometimes it is wet weather and changing those 2 lenses all the time is a bit annoying to me.. especially last time, I was shooting a Ford Mustang in the rain with wind force 7... yeah good luck with prime lenses lol aint gonna change a lens while your body and lens is soaked. then the zoom was a better option for sure. it all depends on your needs. but to be honest for traveling I only used to take one lens a day. first day 23mmf2 and the other day 50mmf2 and just think what kind of activity or trip you gonna do. I also have the 50-140 f2.8 lens but mostly use it for sports, nature and pet photography. for city trips I rarely bring it. then the primes are a gem.

I think I'll try a few set ups in the future. 28-70 Sigma 2.8 + Samyang 24 1.8 . Rather light Setup.

35 F1.8 + 70-180 F2.8

35 1.8 + 85 1.8 maybe

With a prime lens you'll probabily miss some photos. If you are a professional photographer that could be a problem, because you need to get many good photos to sell to your clients. But if you are an amateur you don't need 100 good photos: you just want 2 excellent photos, and in this case the prime lens is the best option.

So, I just found your channel when I searched for best lens for travel between the 28mm & 35mm. I recently purchased a Fuji x100v for my first trip to Italy. I've used Nikon for many years with predominantly zoom lenses. My fuji as you likely know, has a fixed 35 mm equivalent and I also have the 28mm WCL lens. I greatly enjoyed your video and found it very useful for the information I was looking for. Thanks so much. I'm sure I'll return often.

Try the 24-70 GM II, substantially smaller than your original GM and incredibly sharp and superb color fidelity.

The 35mm f1.8 is the best compromise. For wider shots I take my iPhone

Now Sony offer 20-70 f/4.
. I have to sacrifice 1 stop of light and compromise object separation but it’s small size helps me get the shots.

Shooting Nikon Z full frame. I always carry a wide prime (pancake 26mm) and a 50mm 1.8 I mostly shoot environmental portraits and shoulder length portraits.

but lately Ive added a 24-120mm f4 as a outdoors/nature lens, although it could probably do just about everything. The Nikkor Z S line is very impressive

With today's cameras ability to shoot at high iso, and the ability to clean the images in post, just take a 24-105 f4 and enjoy. I personally use 35 and 85 f1.8..... Both Light compact and don't mind switching lenses on the go.

More discreet, not more candid.

From a long time APSC user (not sure if I'm allowed to join in with all you FF's). My "Go To" lens is the Canon 15-85mm IS USM, it so versatile in the zoom range, going wider than the 18mm of many lenses, but it is tack sharp across the frame! Plus, and its's a big plus the colour rendition with this lens is un-equaled in my experience with just about all Canons APSC lenses. Trust me I travel a lot too! So, if folk are looking for a great APSC travel lens the 15-85mm is the best you can get!

I also carry the 24mm STM Pancake lens, much like you use the 35mm on a FF camera.

Recently, I changed from 3 Primes to the Tamron 20-40/2.8....

iPhone + GoPro + 30mm prime lens is a good combination.

During my last 6 months trip I was carrying five different Fullframe Canon lenses. After the trip I looked at the statistics on the images I kept. More than 60% of the remaining pictures have been takes with the 35 mm lens. This tells a lot.

A7c is good for travel. If one prime, then Batis 40 is good. If two primes, then 24 f2.8 G + Zeiss 55, or 35 & 85 combo

For travel photography by far the most usefull is 24-105 f4. Especially if it involves a lot of nature. So many times you see scenes than you don't have time to switch lens so 24-105 pretty much covers all the range you need. You most likely will not miss anything. However if you travel most of the time in cities and populated places...yes 35 is the best choice, maybe stick an 85 as well. Its all about environment and obviously what range you like photographing. You mighy like tighter shots even when you go in nature.

The 35mm is fantastic, so too the Zeiss 55mm f1.8 (albeit close focusing is limited). 85 f1.8 an unsung great value small tele. I have all these and many others. BUT beyond lens choice is your personal attitude and attempts to actively engage with potential subjects in a warm and friendly fashion. Many don't (understandably) like tourists sticking a lens in their face (for some it's intimidating and rude) but they will reciprocate warmly to you as a friend.

It took me 3 years of 'cowering across the street' shooting with a tele before I realised that 'behaviour begets behaviour'. Talk to your subject(s) engage, relate, then ask or gesture and you will likely start reaping significantly better people pics. I found the more I practiced the better I got. Sure I get turned down sometimes but less often nowadays than many would imagine. Apart from better pics it's more fun too!

Hi good video and agree going discrete is good. I do like a small 35mm so that's a set-up I'll use, but I shoot all sorts, landscape, people/characters both casual environmental portraits and tighter faces. I love sport, especially ski action. But also motorsport. I enjoy travel and find it really 'hurts' to see amazing scenes and not have the right camera/lens. I occasionally dabble with macro and still life. Perhaps the main genre I never felt strong affinty for is nature - possibly because I value excellence and have many friends knowledgeable about this subject who do a much better job at it than I feel that I could. Odd perhaps, because I'm not usually intimidated? I just feel they have a real passion for nature, whilst I just have an interest.

So with broad interests I'm lucky to now have about 15+ Sony lenses to choose from (I switched from Nikon 4 years ago). I can't possibly carry them all (unless I hired a caddy ha ha) so pick the best tool (lens) for any given mission.

So, despite a no-cost compromise approach, in practice compromise is inevitable. My longest trip to date - 6 weeks in South America, coincided with my switch to Sony and I made the mistake of meeting non photography friends for key parts of my adventure. Great socially, good fun but ultimately frustrating photographically. So my top#1 tip is travel with photographers or solo, NOT non photo mates. #2 tip is do your research carefully to better inform kit selection.

It's hard to wrong with a mid range zoom, with a fast prime, small support pod and remote trigger. My first Sony kit to SA comprised an a7r3 body, 16-35 f4, 28mm f2, 55mm f1.8 and a 70-200mm f4 (all Sony). It worked well enough but now all that I kept was the 55mm f1.8 (fast, super sharp and pretty compact).

Having now splurged on high quality Sony glass (ranging 14-600mm fast primes and zooms) I'm lucky enough to be able to take pretty much any lens I want. Perhaps my favourite lense(s) are 35mm GM f1.4 (environmental portraits just 'pop'). 20mm f1.8G (sharp, very compact/discrete and good for unnoticeable 'street' when using a small radio trigger. Finally a 70-200mm f2.8 GM mk ii with a 1.4x TC (good for details, quasi macro, tight portraits, near sport, landscape, architecture details).

Despite my GM 35mm f1.4 I also have and use (not on same occasions) an uber compact 35mm f1.8G lens too. I used to shun the 24-70mm f2.8 (in its original Sony mk i form) but when the mk ii launched (smaller, lighter, sharper, faster AF, aperture ring on barrel) I added to my kit. Sheer versatility makes it an obvious pick for travelling. But if going for maximum coverage with minimal heft it might stay home when a 70-200mm plus a 35mm or a 16-35mm are hard to beat. I recently sold my GM 16-35mm (whilst I could still get a good price) anticipating that Sony would soon do a mk ii re-work on their old GM. Will they, won't they? If yes, then on past form it will be smaller, lighter, sharper and probably 'best in class'. Whilst waiting for that I bought a 16-35mm f4 G PZ (small, sharp and potentially a great travel/video option).

My lightest use lenses are at the extreme end of range or uber specialist ie 90mm macro f2.8 G, 200-600mm G, 14mm f1.8 GM and 135mm f1.8GM. All are lovely, all are keepers as all do what they do better than anything else.

I don't need more glass but will buy a 16-35mm GM in mk ii form if released and it proves to be as good as I imagine it should. Oddly I never felt attracted to a 12-24m? Not sure why? I never tried but feeI my 14mm f1.4 GM would be +2 better than f2.8 for astro landscapes. I might also be tempted by a 300mm f2.8 but the price will likely be 'absurd'. I'm on the fence about a 50mm f1.2 or f1.4 (will it really add that much more)? The 85mm f1.4 GM is another lens
I won't touch in mk i form but might buy if re-worked in better mk ii form (ie smaller, lighter, faster focusing, aperture ring on barrel etc).

My old 24-105, as you mentioned, is a great travel option as a single lens but I found I always wanted more! Reach > 105mm or < 24mm or aperture < f4 so I sold it 6 months after buying a 24-70mm f2.8GM when it only got used once. That said it was a lovely optic and sharper than I dared hope for - so will be a great choice for many.

Thank you Mitchell. Well done. I have been traveling for many years and street photography is what I prefer. I have used many systems. The key to me is hight quality lenses and small bodies and currently I own a number of cameras. My choice for travel is my Sony a7c and I have the 28-60mm very small kit which I love and also the 50mm f2.5. I have ordered the 40mm f2.5 g which is close but the extra 10mm for much of my shooting is important. Also, I bring with me the Fuji x100v. What I love about the Sony is the image quality and the accuracy of focus allowing me to hold the camera to my body without looking through the viewfinder and get very close to my subject. The fuji is great when I need absolute silence as in a museum, on the metro, or a religious institution. So a two camera set up is very very light and works great for me. Cheers

Good job touching on how comfortable you are with portraits. Although I love good street portraits of people, I'm usually (actually always!) too uncomfortable to take them. My travelling style is very wide for buildings and landscape and I also like to pull things out of the image by zooming in close so in the past I have shot with a 28-300 lens. None of the pictures are award winning but they documented as well as I could. I have booked a trip to Asia and I no longer have that system so now I am thinking about the lens choices to make.

Hello, thank you for that video. I found questioning I did myself. This year for travel I plan to leave the 24-105 at home and use sony’s small G lenses, the 24 f2.8 and the 40 f2.5 maybe I bring with me my first sony/zeiss lens the 55 f1.8 or the sony 85 f1.8 (my wish is a 65mm f2.5 to carry only 3 compact lenses). But on a day, I do not plan to change the lens. I may decide, depending on the planning of the day, to go for one or the other lens. Then to overcome the lack of flexibility I would advice an rx100 or zv-1. Currently I kept my rx100 (mark 1) which has a very interesting range of 28-100 mm which I prefer it over the 24-70 (better range) or the 24-200 (wider aperture) . My wish is that sony come out with a 24-120 f1.8-2.8 for the next rx100 or zv-1 ...

Nice share…

My last trip to France saw me on a 16-50mm on Fuji and the 23mm 1.4. - - no regrets.

I'll choose a lens for a day but I would never travel with just one lens. I do 6 month trips and would hate being stuck with just 1 or even 2 lenses. The 2 lenses I use most are a 24-70 2.8 and what most people will think is odd, I use the 135mm f/2 a lot for walks through the market. But I have my macro, a 50mm plastic fantastic and my 70-200. I don't travel light but 6 months is forever

My best camera FUJI X100F for travel & street ✌😆

Thanks for your valueable information with great sample photos. they are really beautiful.
I have the FE 35mm F1.8 and it is my favorite.

Zeiss 55 f1.8 👍

Sigma 18-50 f2.8 on a6*** series. Biggest bang for buck. Light and small.

I just brought my XC15-45mm on my travel and call it a day. It does not have the shallowest depth of field but it is extremely versatile for storytelling and documenting my family. I am more likely to bring my camera often with this setup compared to when I was using the massive XF16-55.

Might just add a 33mmF1.4 for that occasional specialty shot though.

Very good video and beautiful examples! I would alway choose the lightest set. FF camera plus a 35mm f1.8. Then a zoom lens or a f1.2 lens for planned shootings.
What you do is kind of travel/street photography. You‘re not afraid to get close and you know how to communicate with your subject.

Thanks for the tip. I'm going to Melbourne and I will bring my fuji Xt3 and 23mm f1.4 (35mm f2)

I’ve been using the tamron 28-200 and so far I’m really loving it. It’s not perfect but the flexibility is great without being an enormous lens

I think the best "universal" travel lens is the travel zoom, so this would be a Nikon Z 24-200, Canon RF 24-240, or the Sony travel zoom ( I think also a 24-240) or one of the third party options. This gives you the most flexibility (although usually at a cost of a slower shutter speed and perhaps not the sharpest optics) in just one lens, and I feel is great for travel photography. If you can't live with the slower aperature, I've found the next best thing to be a 24-105 or 24-120 lens (24-70 IMO is a bit short for general travel photography, and even a 24-120 might be too short, but a bit longer than the 24-70 FL. Of course, with some of those, you may be limited to f/4 but that should be sufficient to get some soft backgrounds (Canon does have a 2.8 version of the 24-105 I think for the R). I think the big thing you have to consider is possibility of losing shots if you're changing lenses. Some people would rather put quality over focal range, and that's fine, but do keep in mind especially in a busy environment (say Paris or downtown NYC) you may miss some good shots when switching lenses. Personally I'm OK with the slight loss of sharpness (the Z 24-200 is sharp enough for most things anyway, the sharpness loss is really only visible at really long FLs, like 150mm+, and in the corners of the frame) for the sake of I don't have to change lenses (except to use my ultrawide 14-30, but that's sort of unavoidable as there isn't a travel zoom that goes from 14 to 200 or 16 to 200mm for FF).

I would pick the 24 to70MM

2.298 $$$ ???

The Sigma 18-50 f2.8 is my go to lens for my APSC a6000 and a7r, with the Sony FE 85 f1.8 for both bodies. IF there is pixel loss when mixing formats I suck it up, The worst case is a final file of 15MP which is normally enough. Both are brilliant budget giveaways and are both sharp and fast.