With the best lens for landscape photography, you’ll be well-equipped to capture striking, sweeping and dynamic images of the landscape around you. Landscape photography is a broad genre, and really, any lens can be excellent for shooting these types of images. However, wide-angle zooms are going to be the best choice for the majority of users, so these are what we’ve focused on for this guide.
Why have we stuck to wide-angle zooms? A good wide-angle zoom lets you fit plenty of the landscape into the frame, while also providing a little more compositional flexibility than a prime would. The larger apertures of prime lenses are also less of a factor in landscape photography, as it’s common for shooters to stop down their lens to maximise both sharpness and depth of field. A lens with an f/4 maximum aperture might not be that useful for, say, portrait photography, but for landscapes it’s perfectly acceptable.
Of course, there are plenty of other uses for wide-angle zooms beyond landscapes, so it’s worth considering adding one to your kit bag even if you’re not solely focused on landscapes. Wide-angle zooms are great for wedding and event photography, architecture shots (interior and exterior) and real-estate photography, and they also provide a number of advantages for astrophotography. We’ve put more detail about the various uses of astrophotography in an explainer section at the bottom of this page, where we’ve also explained some of the key specs to keep in mind when shopping for landscape lenses. We’ve factored all these into our picks – but have also kept price in mind, so as not to fill this guide with expensive, premium lenses for professionals.
Read on as we count off the best landscape lenses for every major system and lens mount – and don’t forget to check out our guide to the best cameras for landscape photography.
The best lenses for landscape photography: quick list
For a quick-reference guide, here is the full list of lenses we’ve included in this piece, along with links to pick them up for the best prices…
- Best Canon APS-C landscape lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM – check best price
- Best Canon DSLR landscape lens: Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM – check best price
- Best RF-mount landscape lens: Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM – check best price
- Best Nikon DSLR landscape lens: Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR – check best price
- Best APS-C Nikon landscape lens: Nikkor Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR – check best price
- Best Nikon Z landscape lens: Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S – check best price
- Best professional Nikon Z landscape lens: Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S – check best price
- Best Sony landscape photography lens: Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G – check best price
- Best L-mount landscape lens: Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN C – check best price
- Best Sony APS-C landscape lens: Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS – check best price
- Best Fujifilm landscape lens: Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR – check best price
- Best Micro Four Thirds landscape lens: Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH Vario – check best price
- Best Olympus landscape lens: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO – check best price
- Best Pentax landscape lens: Pentax DA* HD 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW – check best price
- Best APS-C DSLR landscape lens: Tokina Atx-I 11-20mm F2.8 CF – check best price
- Best mirrorless APS-C landscape lens: Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD – check best price
So without further ado, here are our recommendations for the best lenses for landscape photography.
Best Canon APS-C landscape lens: Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM

Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM
At a glance:
- Construction: 13 elements, 10 groups
- Weight: 385g
- Street price: £484 / $601
This wide-angle zoom is designed for Canon cameras with an APS-C sensor, like the Canon EOS 90D or EOS 250D. It gives a view similar to a 16-35mm lens on a full-frame body, so there’s plenty of options for big scenes. And being made to be compact and lightweight at only 83.5×89.8mm and 385g, it’s a great choice for landscape photographers who’re doing extensive hiking.
This doesn’t come at the expense of image quality though, with the lens using a Super Spectra coatings that combats ghosting and flare to keep images clear and contrasty. As a bonus, its minimum focusing distance of 24cm means you can achieve sumptuous foreground textures.
There are many secondhand examples of the lens available. Expect to pay in the region of £175 for one in good used condition or slightly more for an even better example.
Pros:
- Compact and lightweight
- Very good contrast and sharpness
- Close focusing distance
Cons:
- Not weather sealed
Best Canon full-frame landscape lens: Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM

The striking feature of the EF 11-24mm f/4L USM is the bulbous front element. Photo credit: AP
At a glance:
- Construction: 16 elements in 11 groups
- Weight: 1,180g
- Street price: £3,099 / $2,899
This is the world’s widest rectilinear zoom lens – meaning it renders straight lines as appearing straight, unlike a fisheye which will curve them. The Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM is an outstanding achievement in the field of how much you can cram into a frame, and there really isn’t a lens to match it, in or out of the Canon ecosystem. The image quality is absolutely sublime, and the build of the lens as solid as you’d expect from an L-series optic. And while that bulbous front element precludes the attachment of screw-in filters, it is possible to drop in rear filters via a dedicated adapter from LEE Filters.
Of course, that will add to the already considerable outlay you’ll incur for the Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM. There’s no sugar-coating it – this is an expensive lens. The fact that it’s such a unique proposition is likely why it has so stubbornly held onto its high price in all the years since its release. With that said, if your budget stretches this far, the Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM really is worth it. And not just for Canon DSLR users – there isn’t an equivalent to this lens in the RF range, so EOS R users should definitely consider adapting it (though again, that’ll cost you). If it’s too much, consider the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM. It’s still expensive, but you know, less so.
Pros:
- One-of-a-kind rectilinear wide-angle
- Exceptional build quality
- Can take rear filters via adapter
- Truly remarkable image quality
Cons:
- Very expensive
To find out more about how the lens performs, read our Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM review.
Best RF-mount landscape lens: Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM

Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM
At a glance:
- Construction: 16 elements, 12 groups
- Weight: 540g
- Street price: £1749 / $2174
If you’ve moved to Canon’s stunning RF-mount cameras and want a lightweight full frame wide-angle zoom, look no further than the RF 14-35mm f4 L IS USM; a lens that really shows the benefits of the new system. The 14mm end adds incredible drama to landscapes, but step into the zoom and there’s plenty of scope for tighter framing.
With a constant f/4 aperture, it still has low-light potential, while the optical construction is exemplary with three aspherical and three ultra-low dispersion elements giving superb sharpness and distortion control.
If you need to work handheld, there’s a highly effective 5.5-stop Image Stabilizer that will increase to a heady 7 stops when fitted to a EOS-R camera with IBIS. Weighing 540g and measuring 84.1×99.8mm it’s highly portable and weather sealed, too. Those with a higher budget may also want to consider the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS, though be warned this lens is more expensive and heavier than the 14-35mm. It’s worth it if you’re doing astro or night work, but for most landscapes, the 14-35mm is the more balanced and better choice.
For more Canon RF-mount lens options, take a read of our Best Canon RF mount lenses article.
Pros:
- Very effective stabilisation
- Weather sealed
- Superb sharpness
Cons:
- Expensive
See more details on the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM
Best Nikon DSLR landscape lens: Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR

Nikon AF-S 16-35mm f/4G ED VR
At a glance:
- Construction: 17 elements, 12 groups
- Weight: 680g
- Street price: £1149 / $1428
Launched over a decade ago, this full-frame (FX) lens is still a superb landscape option. It was the world’s first ultra wide-angle zoom to offer optical stabilisation and is rated at four stops, so very useful in a handheld squeeze, while the f/4 aperture is constant throughout the zoom.
The lens provides excellent sharpness and distortion free images thanks to its three aspherical and two extra-low dispersion elements, while Nikon’s legendary Nano Crystal Coating ensures superb clarity.
It also has a nine bladed diaphragm which is rounded to give softer and more natural rendering to landscape details and highlights, and at 680g and 82.5x125mm it can save size and weight in a backpack compared to the faster but larger, heavier and more expensive 14-24mm f/2.8. And still offers great build and weather sealing.
Pros:
- Lovely nine-blade diaphragm
- Very good image quality
- Optical stabilisation
Cons:
- Sharper lenses have come out since
Best APS-C Nikon landscape lens: Nikkor Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR

Nikon Nikkor Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR Lens. Photo credit: Amy Davies
At a glance:
- Construction: 12 elements, 11 groups
- Weight: 205g
- Street price: £379 / $356
This is currently the widest DX-format mirrorless lens Nikon produces, so if you’re using a smaller Z-mount camera like the Z50 or the lovely Z fc to shoot landscapes, it’s well worth picking up. Its equivalent focal range is 18-42mm, which gives you a decent amount of composition flexibility. It’s worth mentioning that the lens uses an electronic Power Zoom mechanism, which isn’t to everyone’s taste, though a nice aspect is that it can be controlled remotely via the SnapBridge app.
Performance-wise, the DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 acquits itself well. It delivers sharp results throughout its zoom range, and the built-in distortion correction works very well. Vignetting and chromatic aberration are controlled for well, too.
This is a cheap and portable lens, so it has a plasticky build, including a plastic mount. Again, not to everyone’s taste, but unlikely to be a deal-breaker for many people. For APS-C Nikon mirrorless users, this is the best landscape lens to buy.
Pros:
- Nice wide angle for DX mirrorless
- Lightweight and portable
Cons:
- Plastic mount
- Lens hood not included
Read our full Nikkor Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR review.
Best Nikon Z landscape lens: Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S

The Nikon Z 14-30mm f4 S is one of Nikon’s premium wide-angles. Photo credit: Amy Davies
At a glance:
- Construction: 14 elements, 12 groups
- Weight: 485g
- Street price: £1169 / $1453
Perfectly illustrating the appeal of Nikon’s excellent mirrorless Z Series, the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S brings superb image quality in a package that’s far smaller and lighter than its FX forebears. It weighs only 485g, measures 89x85mm thanks to a retracting design and is the widest Nikon full frame lens to allow screw-on filters, taking 82mm models.
As one of the Z Series’ S line it also has top-notch optics, with no less than four extra-low dispersion and four aspherical elements, plus Nikon’s anti-reflective Nano Crystal Coat.
There’s no optical image stabilisation, but all the full-frame Z cameras have that in the body, keeping the lens’s footprint even smaller. And if you’re shooting landscapes in harsh conditions or poor weather, it’s weather sealed against drips and dust.
For more Nikon Z mount lens options, take a read of our best Z Mount lenses for Nikon guide.
Pros:
- Excellent optical quality
- Weather sealed
- Allows screw-on filters
Cons:
- Some noticeable vignetting
Read our review of the Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4
Best professional Nikon Z landscape lens: Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S

Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S with Z7, Photo: Michael Topham / AP
At a glance:
- Construction: 16 elements, 11 groups
- Weight: 650g
- Street price: £2319 / $2,883
If you’re looking for the best of the best and are less concerned with cost-saving, then the Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S should be right up your alley. The ‘S’ designation means it’s a premium Z-mount lens, designed for serious enthusiast and professional users who don’t want to compromise on optical quality. And as such, it delivers – in our review, we found the Nikkor Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S to be capable of producing images with absolutely stunning sharpness, in a range of situations.
What’s more, it’s both lighter and more compact than pairing the Nikon AF-S 14-24mm f2.8 G with an adapter, making it a good excuse for Z-mount users to go all in and opt for the native lens. While there is some distortion evident if you leave it uncorrected, there’s no reason you ever would leave it uncorrected, with Nikon’s automatic correction profiles ready and able to swoop in and take care of matters.
If you’re a Nikon user and want to find out much more about Nikon Z-mount lenses, take a read of our Best Z Mount lenses for Nikon article.
Pros:
- Exceptional image quality
- Lighter than F-mount equivalent
- Customisable control ring
Cons:
- Very expensive
- Control ring can be over-sensitive
Read our review of the Nikon Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S
Best Sony landscape photography lens: Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G

Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G ultra wide-angle zoom lens for Sony’s full-frame mirrorless Alpha 7-series and Alpha 9 cameras
At a glance:
- Construction: 17 elements, 13 groups
- Weight: 565g
- Street price: £1399 / $1739
Offering the widest view of any Sony full-frame wide-angle zooms, you might expect the FЕ 12-24mm F4 G to be big and heavy, but not a bit of it. Like Sony’s exemplary Alpha cameras this is a lens built with a low profile, but still offers peak quality via its four aspherical, one super extra-low dispersion and three extra-low dispersion elements, plus a Nano AR coating to suppress reflections.
It won’t take front filters, so an adapter holder is required, and though there’s no optical image stabilisation, that comes as standard in the Alpha bodies. The f/4 aperture brings some starry-sky possibilities, and at 565g and 87х117.4mm it’s a great option when space is tight, while its all-weather construction means you can keep shooting in some pretty foul conditions.
Pros:
- Incredibly compact for its type
- All-weather construction
- Excellent image quality
Cons:
- Won’t take filters
Read our review of the Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G lens
Best L-mount landscape lens: Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN C

The Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN C on test. Photo credit: Joshua Waller
At a glance:
- Construction: 16 elements, 11 groups
- Weight: 450g
- Street price: £749 / $931
Designed for full-frame Sony E-mount and L-mount cameras, the 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN C is an exceptionally small, light, fast and versatile wide-angle zoom.
It promises very low distortion and edge-to-edge sharpness, via five FLD and four aspherical lens elements, and uses an internal zoom mechanism, there’s no extension of the front element, perfect for use with polarising filters or holders.
It takes an affordable 72mm fit for filters. The lens is backpack ready at just 100.6mm long and weighs only 450g, while offering dust and splash resistance. We reviewed this lens recently, and were impressed more than anything by the sheer value for money it offers. Landscape shooters using L-mount or full-frame E-mount cameras really should give this lens serious consideration. Its sharpness is great right across the frame, and it’s physically well-balanced, too.
Pros:
- Excellent value
- Lightweight and portable
- Very good sharpness
Cons:
- No aperture ring
- Not fully weather sealed
Read our full Sigma 16-28mm f/2.8 DG DN C review
Best Sony APS-C landscape lens: Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS

Sony E 10-18mm F4 OSS
At a glance:
- Construction: 18 elements, 8 groups
- Weight: 225g
- Street price: £599 / $744
If you shoot landscapes on a Sony mirrorless camera with an APS-C format sensor like the A6400 or A5100, you’ll want an equally small, lightweight but dependable wide-angle zoom. The 10-18mm F4 OSS is just that, offering a streamlined design that’s still weather sealed. At 225g and 70х63.5mm it’s genuinely pocket sized, so can be brought along as the accompaniment to a standard zoom, and it takes 62mm filters and adapter rings, which keeps space – and cost – down, too.
Its constant aperture means shutter speed and ISO can be kept consistent across the 15-27mm equivalent range, perfect for manual working, and it has a four-stop optical stabiliser for hasty handheld landscapes if required.
Pros:
- Very small and light
- Constant f/4 aperture
- Four-stop stabiliser
Cons:
- Not weather sealed
- Corner sharpness so-so
Best Fujifilm landscape lens: Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR

The Fujinon XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR is an impressive lens. Photo credit: Michael Topham
At a glance:
- Construction: 14 elements, 10 groups
- Weight: 385g
- Street price: £949 / $1179
Recently updated to include weather sealing, an upgraded aperture ring and more effective stabilisation, the XF10-24mm F4 R OIS WR is our pick of wide-angle zooms for X Series landscapers.
With an equivalent view of 15-36mm it’s a highly versatile package and gives a constant f/4 aperture across the range. The updated aperture ring has a lock to prevent accidental shifts in the diaphragm, while it Optical Image Stabilizer gets an additional stop over the previous 10-24mm model, and will go higher with IBIS-equipped X Series bodies like the X-T4 and X-H2S.
At 77.6х87mm and 385g it’s highly portable, but that doesn’t mean any compromise in optical quality with four aѕрhеrісаl and four extra-low dispersion elements. While this is a fairly minor upgrade on the previous version of this lens, as we pointed out in our review, landscape photographers will appreciate the addition of weather-sealing, which justifies the extra cost outlay.
Pros:
- Weather sealed
- Excellent image quality
- Optical Image Stabilizer
Cons:
- On the pricey side
- Low frequency clicking of the diaphragm blades
Read our Fujifilm XF 10-24mm F4 R OIS WR review
Best Micro Four Thirds landscape lens: Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH Vario

Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH Vario
At a glance:
- Construction: 15 elements, 10 groups
- Weight: 315g
- Street price: £899 / $1117
Covering 16-36mm in old money, the Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 gives some superb low-light landscape options for Micro Four Thirds shooters, while sticking to all the things that make the format so attractive for adventure photography.
At 315g and 73x88mm it’s bag or pocket friendly, but also weather sealed. The lens has an optical construction of 15 elements іn 10 groups with one aspherical extra-low dispersion, three regular аѕрhеrісаl, two extra-low dispersion and one ultra-high refractive indех elements in the light path, all of which adds up to some beautifully sharp and distortion free results.
The minimum focus of 23cm also brings foreground details like flowers and sandy patterns up close for landscapes.
Pros:
- Excellent sharpness
- Good in low light
- Very portable
Cons:
- Premium price tag
- Max aperture not constant
Read more on the Panasonic 8-18mm f/2.8-4 ASPH Vario. lens
Best Olympus landscape lens: Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO

Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO Lens
At a glance:
- Construction: 14 elements, 11 groups
- Weight: 534g
- Street price: £1074 / $1335
A smart, lightweight evolution of Olympus’s original Four Thirds wide-angle zoom, the ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO is a slip of a thing in comparison. At 534g and 78.9×105.8, it’s larger than some options, but still highly portable, with the benefit of a fast f/2.8 aperture setting throughout, which makes a great choice for nightscapes.
The lens delivers splendid sharpness from its 14 element, 11 group construction, and its seven bladed aperture gives beautiful sunstars.
Weatherproofed, though with a protruding front element that needs a bit of caution in use, and an adapter to mount filters, one of this lens’s trump cards is its incredible minimum fосuѕing dіѕtаnсе of just 20сm from giving some superbly exaggerated foregrounds.
Pros:
- Excellent sharpness
- Seven-blade aperture
- Constant f/2.8
Cons:
- Vulnerable protruding front element
- Sharpness suffers in corners
Read our full review of the Olympus M.Zuiko Digital ED 7-14mm f/2.8 PRO lens
Best Pentax landscape lens: Pentax DA* HD 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW

Pentax DA* HD 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW
At a glance:
- Construction: 16 elements, 11 groups
- Weight: 704g
- Street price: £1199 / $1490
Pentax produces some great lightweight DSLRs for landscaping and models like the K-3 Mark III have superb weather sealing. To match, check out the DA* HD 11-18mm f/2.8 ED DC AW, with its dustproof, weather-resistant construction letting you keep on shooting in atmospheric rain or mist, or close to water without worry.
Its ultra-wide view gives an equivalent 17-27.5mm and despite having a fast f/2.8 aperture it comes in at a reasonable 704g and 90x100mm, keeping load reasonable. It also has a very handy Focus Clamp mechanism which lets users lock the point of focus for multiple exposures, bracketing or starlit scenes.
Pros:
- Tough build
- Fairly light
- Useful Focus Clamp
Cons:
- Soft in the corners
- One of the pricier Pentax lenses
Best APS-C DSLR landscape lens: Tokina Atx-I 11-20mm F2.8 CF

Tokina Atx-I 11-20mm F2.8 CF
At a glance:
- Construction: 14 elements, 12 groups
- Weight: 570g
- Street price: £569 / $707
This ultra-wide zoom for APS-C bodies is available in Canon EF-S and Nikon F mounts, and with a constant maximum aperture of f/2.8 it’s a great tool for low-light landscape work, including Milky Way shots and aurora shots, or for general scenes, too.
The focal lengths make it versatile, while it uses three aspherical and three super-low dispersion elements to provide edge-to-edge sharpness and excellent contrast.
The 28cm minimum focus isn’t as close as some, but it takes front filters, with an 82mm size, and has an internal focusing design, so the front element won’t rotate, which is helpful while using a polariser or holder.
Pros:
- Very good sharpness and contrast
- Internal focusing mechanism
- Great in low light
Cons:
- Requires big (read: expensive) filters
- Longer close focus distance
Best mirrorless APS-C landscape lens: Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD

Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD
At a glance:
- Construction: 12 elements, 10 groups
- Weight: 335g
- Street price: £799 / $993
A premium lightweight wide-angle zoom designed for Sony E-Mount APS-C mirrorless cameras, the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD offers a great mix of image quality image, portability and performance.
The constant f/2.8 keeps settings consistent throughout the zoom and is great for low-light work, while the lens uses two glass moulded aspherical elements, as well as one extra-low dispersion and two low dispersion elements for edge-to-edge sharpness.
Despite all this – and being weather sealed – it’s only 335g in weight while measuring 72х86.2mm. And for those who want closeups, there’s an impressive minimum focus of just 15cm at 11mm giving a magnification of 0.25x.
Pros:
- Very light and weather sealed
- Does well in low light
- Close focusing distance
Cons:
- No stabilisation
- Pricey for third party
Read the full spec of the Tamron 11-20mm f/2.8 Di III-A RXD
How to choose the best lens for landscape photography
Wide-angle zooms come in all shapes, sizes and prices, so it can be difficult to know which to choose. What’s also often important to landscapers is a combination of light weight, ease of use, and image sharpness. Light weight because you don’t want to lug it about, ease of use because you may be wearing gloves (a good control ring is your friend here), and image sharpness because you’ll often be stopping down to capture as much detail as possible.
It’s also worth looking out for weather sealing, so that a little rain doesn’t put a premature end to your whole shoot. Also, pay attention to the filter compatibility. Many ultra-wide lenses can’t take front-mounted filters at all because of their bulbous front element, while others will require ones with a sizeable filter thread. Filters can be hugely important in landscape work, so it’s worth thinking about the filter setup when you buy a lens. Check out our guide to the best filters for landscape photography to get an idea of the kinds you might use.
Wide-angle zooms don’t always have the widest maximum apertures, which generally isn’t a problem as you’ll likely be working at narrower apertures for landscapes anyway. However, if you’re prepared to pay extra, you can get large-aperture wide-angle zooms for working in low light. There are also a few features you probably don’t need to worry about, like image stabilisation, as landscape photographers tend to work on tripods.
Other uses for wide-angle zooms
While wide-angle zooms are often chiefly associated with landscape photography, they have plenty of other uses that can make them a worthy addition to a kit bag. Below are a few of the other key applications for wide-angle zooms.
Real estate photography
When photographing real estate, you need to be able to fit a lot into the frame. You want to be able to capture a room in its entirety, whether that room is extremely cramped or quite spacious. A wide-angle zoom will allow you to easily move between both scenarios and capture high-quality images of a property, both interior and exterior. The high optical quality and low distortion of rectilinear wide zooms also mean you should be able to capture relatively naturalistic images that don’t provide a misleading picture of a room’s actual proportions. It may seem like an expensive outlay for real estate photography – but if you’re going to be photographing property regularly, it’s one worth making.
Weddings / event photography
A good wide-angle zoom can be a lifesaver at a wedding. They’re hugely useful for those all-important group shots, meaning you can make sure you get every guest into the picture. For more general use, they’re a good way to create pictures that convey a sense of the scale of the event, cramming lots of guests into the frame to emphasise how many people are attending. Similarly, they work well for general events photography – and while a prime can do a similar job, a zoom will make you much more versatile on your feet.
Architecture
Wide-angles are terrific for architecture, whether you’re shooting interiors or exteriors of buildings. A good wide-angle will allow you to fit the entirety of a large building in the frame even when you’re relatively close, while also being handy if you’re shooting in a cramped room. Again, the rectilinear zoom should help to produce a reasonably naturalistic image that doesn’t require too much correction in software.
Astrophotography
As well as allowing you to capture magnificent wide vistas of the night sky, wide-angle zooms have another quite specific use when it comes to astrophotography. The wider focal length means you can use longer shutter speeds before the stars start to trail as they move across the sky. Many astrophotographers use what’s called the ‘500 rule’, which states that the maximum shutter speed you can use before stars start to trail is 500 divided by your lens’ focal length. So, a 50mm lens would allow for a maximum shutter speed of 10 seconds. If, however, you’re using the Canon EF 11-24mm at its widest focal length of 11mm, the 500 rule would allow for a maximum shutter speed of 45 seconds, which is a significant advantage. There’s more to it of course (see our guide to the best lenses for astrophotography), but as a general rule, wider lenses will give you an easier ride when it comes to astrophotography.
Text by Kingsley Singleton, with contributions from Jon Stapley & Michael Topham
Once you’ve found the best lens for your landscape photography, have a look at more guides in the latest buying advice.
Further reading
Best cameras for landscape photography
Top filters for landscape photography
Tripods for landscape photography
The top 20 best landscape photographs
Complete guide to landscape photography