How to Choose the Best Camera Lens for Landscape Photography

Ready to take your love for photography outdoors? From sprawling vistas to macro shots of local wildlife, nature photography offers stunning results. But how do you choose the best camera lens for landscape photography?

Landscape photography is one of the best ways to capture the beauty of the world on camera. You probably already know that the right lens can make all the difference in the quality and impact of your photos — but where do you start?

Whether you’re a pro at shooting urban landscapes or you prefer capturing the subtle elements of nature, understanding how to select the best camera lens for landscape photography is the best place to start. 

What does landscape photography cover?

Landscape photography can usually be categorised into two fields — urban and nature landscapes. 

Urban landscape photography focuses on cityscapes, architecture, and human-made structures, while nature landscape photography focuses more on natural environments like mountains, forests, and rivers. Each type requires different considerations when it comes to choosing the right lens for the job.

For urban landscapes, lenses that can handle various lighting conditions and offer flexibility in framing are probably best. On the other hand, nature landscapes may call for lenses that capture wide vistas and intricate details without compromising on clarity.

What to consider when choosing a camera lens for landscape photography

If it was down to us, here’s what we’d focus on when choosing the best camera lens for nature or urban landscape photography.

Focal length

The focal length of a lens is one of the most important qualities for landscape photography. Wide-angle lenses, typically between 14mm and 35mm, are popular for landscape photographers as they can capture expansive scenes in great detail. 

For example, our FUJINON GF 20-35mm lens is ideal for capturing wide vistas with clear reproduction. What’s more, they can also help emphasise the foreground of your shot, creating a sense of depth. 

Aperture

A lens’s maximum aperture can affect its ability to perform in various lighting conditions while controlling the depth of field. 

While landscape photography usually benefits from a smaller aperture (higher f-stop) to ensure everything from foreground to background is in focus, having a lens with a wide maximum aperture can be beneficial for low-light conditions — especially if you want the benefit of creative effects. 

Lenses like the FUJINON XF 16-55mm (with a maximum f/2.8 aperture) have great versatility in different lighting situations.

Image stabilisation features

Image stabilisation (IS) helps reduce any blur caused by camera shake, which is particularly useful in low-light conditions, when using slower shutter speeds, or when you’re snapping outdoors on the go.

The FUJINON GF 10-24mm lens boasts advanced image stabilisation abilities, making it easier to capture sharp images without a tripod — and even if you’re working with challenging lighting!

Weather-sealing capabilities

Heading into the UK’s great outdoors? You’ll definitely need some camera protection. Outdoor landscape photography often exposes your equipment to harsh weather conditions, and in the UK’s fickle weather, this isn’t something to disregard. 

Lenses with weather sealing, like the FUJINON XF 8-16mm, are designed to withstand dust, moisture, and extreme winds, ensuring durability and reliability in a range of photography settings.

Weight and portability

The weight and portability of your gear matters. Lighter lenses make it easier to hike and travel while carrying your camera — and the last thing you want is to be lugged down on your way to an epic viewpoint. 

Our FUJIFILM camera lenses are designed to be both lightweight and robust for a great balance of portability and performance.

The effects of different camera lenses on landscape photography

Every lens is unique in its own way. If you fancy a bit of experimentation or want to learn more about lenses and their features, take a look at these common lens types for landscape photography.

• Wide-angle lenses: Allow you to include more of the scene in the frame, making them perfect for dramatic landscapes and sweeping views.
  
  

• Standard zoom lenses: Allow you to cover a range of focal lengths without changing lenses. Ideal for varying compositions, from wide landscapes to more focused shots of specific elements.
  
  

• Prime lenses: With their fixed focal lengths, prime lenses provide elite image quality and sharpness, especially in low-light conditions.
  
  

• Specialty lenses: Fisheye or tilt-shift lenses are fun, and definitely worth trying! They can add unique perspectives and creative effects to your photos. 

Our favourite FUJIFILM lenses for landscape photography

Now you know a bit more about how different lenses can impact your landscape photography shots, here are our expert recommendations and why we think they’re fit for the job.

• GFX100S II: With a powerhouse 102MP sensor, this FUJIFILM camera steps up to the plate with unparalleled image quality, detail, and dynamic range. It also has a lightweight body and advanced in-body image stabilisation, making it the perfect companion for landscape photography.

Not sure which camera to buy? Research the different cameras we have available over at the FUJIFILM X | GFX eShop.

• GF 20-35mm: Ideal for wide-angle shots, this lens reveals incredible sharpness and a broad field of view.
  
  

• GF 32-64mm: This versatile zoom lens covers a useful range of focal lengths. Great for various landscape settings.
  
  

• XF 8-16mm: This robust camera lens is a top-pick due to its weather sealing — a must-have for adventurous outdoor photographers!
  
  

• XF 16-55mm: With its maximum f/2.8 aperture, this landscape photography lens can perform up to standard in any low-light situation. 

Embrace the wonders of landscape photography with FUJIFILM

Grab your camera, grab your lens, and get outdoors. Don’t forget to explore our range of FUJIFILM cameras and lenses — you can even try them before you buy with our product loan service.  We also recommend checking up on our upcoming landscape photography workshops so you can learn to get the most out of your camera and lenses.

Learn from the experts, meet like-minded photographers, and enhance your landscape photography skills.