Photographers, especially beginners, still stumble upon what gear to capture great scapes.

With that notion in mind, I have decided to create a list of the best optics you can currently get to equip your camera and embark on creating fantastic landscapes.

Canon, 16-35mm f/4, is constructed with 16 elements in 12 groups, and it has nine rounded diaphragm blades, an angle of view of 108° 10′ to 63°, and a minimum focus distance are 11.2 inches. The maximum magnification of the Canon lens for landscape is 0,23x, and the lens sports optical image stabilization. The outstanding overall image quality is why I included these optics as the best lens for landscape photography. It is, by far, one of the best wide-angle lenses Canon has produced.

The fair resolution and general sharpness are excellent, and the lens at specific focal lengths doesn’t defocus the background. Still, it lets you capture the whole frame at maximum sensitivity, which is excellent if you intend to shoot cityscapes or natural surfaces such as forests or deserts. Moreover, optical image stabilization does a phenomenal job of stabilizing the image, even when shooting moving objects.

Although:

The opening of an f/4 doesn’t compare to the fastest primes on the market; it lets in sufficient light, so you don’t have to worry about photo sessions during blue or golden hours, respectively.

Another excellent point is a super-fast and responsive autofocus system, which didn’t disappoint, not even once. The design is what you expect from an “L” category lens. It is sturdy and robust, and the feeling when you hold it is worth every penny spent. It is one of the best lenses for mountain photography.

Nikon offers an optical design of 17 elements in 12 groups, with nine rounded diaphragms, an angle of view of 107° to 63°, and a minimum focus distance of 11,42 inches. The maximum magnification sets at 0,25x, and the lens comes with optical image stabilization.

The first thing I noticed is the plastic design of the lens, which doesn’t give out a cheap look. Quite the opposite, it reduces the weight of the optics while still retaining a solid level of construction quality, which is one of the reasons I included Nikon 16-35mm f/4 on the best landscape photography lens list.

The optical quality the lens produces is excellent, and of the vital aspects it does well is control of ghosting and vignetting. I tested the lens at cityscapes and water shooting and pointed the camera at nearby light sources. The lens didn’t suffer from any glaring issues or ghosting. Optical stabilization (or VR) is quite helpful. It allowed me to take gorgeous photos handheld without losing sharpness or details.

Moreover:

Nikon, 16-35mm f/4, belongs to the group of Nikon lenses for landscape, which has excellent image quality, with nice color transmission and great contrast. One of the main reasons it is a good choice for landscape shooting is that it is a full-frame lens that offers a wide field of view. The only flaw I noticed is the edge softness at 16mm of focal length, but only if your subject is close to the camera.

Fujinon sports an optical design of 14 elements in 10 groups and seven rounded diaphragms. It has an angle of view of 110° to 61.2°, with a minimum focus distance of 9,4 inches. The maximum magnification is 0,16x. The lens also has optical image stabilization, completing an aperture of an f/4.

One of the reasons why I included Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 as the best lens for outdoor photography is the presence of a weatherproof design, which means you will be able to take the lens into quite demanding situations without having to worry about getting it wet.

Another excellent point is the fast and reliable focus system, which is nearly silent and responds pretty well, without jamming and with near-perfect accuracy. The overall image quality is outstanding. The lens offers edge-to-edge sharpness, and the distortion is nearly invisible. I am content with the color rendering and solid distribution because it is fantastic for capturing mesmerizing landscapes and truly encapsulating what nature offers.

From an ergonomic point of view, the Fujinon is comfortable to use, especially since the aperture and manual focus are easy to use. Another great thing is the optical image stabilization, which ensures stable and focused shooting even under low lighting and when your subjects are moving. Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 is one of the best Fuji lenses for landscape.

The best Sony lenses for landscape offer an optical design of 10 elements in 8 groups, with seven rounded diaphragm blades, an angle of view of 109° to 76°, and a minimum focus distance of 9,84 inches. The maximum magnification is 0,1x, and the Sony 10-18mm f/4 also has optical image stabilization. One factor that influenced my decision to include it on the best lens for landscape photography list is its extraordinary versatility, which manifests in the wide corner of the lens covers.

Furthermore:

The focus capabilities of the lens are excellent as well, and I didn’t have any problems with missed shots or inaccurate focusing. The general sharpness is perfect when the lens is stepped down, and the combination of optical image stabilization and fast focus successfully creates great images even under low lighting. The aperture is relatively limiting, but if you mount the lens on a tripod when shooting during blue or golden hours, you won’t have any issues capturing astonishing landscapes.

The sharpness is mostly present between an f/8 to an f/11, although the quality is also present at the maximum opening. Although I don’t recommend using this lens for astrophotography, work landscape, and cityscape work (even during darker hours), it does an incredible design with a beautiful color distribution.

The Canon that closes the list is designed with 17 elements in 12 groups and nine rounded diaphragm blades. It has an angle of view of 34° to 8° 15′, with a minimum focus distance of 9,84 inches. The maximum magnification is 0,25x, and the lens sports optical image stabilization. The incredible focal range of this optics is one of the reasons why I put it on the landscape photography lens list.

It allowed me to capture images of subjects quite far away while retaining all the composition elements necessary for great landscape shots. The lens has an electromagnetic diaphragm that ensures attractive backgrounds, even if you use the largest aperture.

Another great thing I have noticed with this Canon 70-300mm f/4-5.6 is that it doesn’t suffer from flare or ghosting issues due to a super spectra lens coating. It is essential to note the small and subtle loss of quality at 300mm, especially in corners, but it is an issue that is easily corrected in post-production.

The general image quality is excellent, and it does a superb job of capturing all the fantastic frames I wanted to shoot. The focus system is another perfect point because it is highly responsive and nearly wholly silent.

The OIS does a phenomenal job if you want to shoot night landscapes (or the night sky) without the tripod. The aperture is not a concern since it produced excellent image quality at an f/4 and with OIS on it.

Verdict

If you want to capture a fantastic photo of nature or a city, having the best lens for landscape photography is vital. Since those lenses usually come with a higher price tag, you should do solid legwork to find the optics that best suits your need.

The guide above aims to help photographers of various shooting styles (and manufacturers) find the most suitable lens for their landscape needs. If you pick any of the lenses from the list, your landscape photography will improve quickly.

Now is the time to make the right decision and choose the best lens for your needs. If you are unsure what is the best camera lens for landscape, we recommend this lens.

You can check out some of our other guides: best lenses for nature photography and moon lens guide.

More Nature and Outdoors Lenses Guides:

• Bird Photography Lenses
• Nature Photography Lenses
• Wildlife Photography Lenses
• Landscape Photography Lenses
• Surf Photography Lenses
• Moon Photography Lenses