6 Best Camera Lenses To Take On Your Travels

Travel photographers are a unique set of artists. Their studios are not just confined to indoor settings. These guys take on the outdoors. They aim to showcase the beauty that comes with the natural world. Landscapes, wildlife, natural occurrences, beautiful travel destinations, etc. are all part of their team of models. 

To be a travel photographer, you will definitely need an excellent camera. However, the buck doesn’t only stop at that. The right lens is also essential. In essence, it is through this window that you will be able to capture the beauty of the world.

There are a couple of items that you must consider in your camera lens. Not all of them are made alike, especially when it comes to travel photography. While touring a place, you will be exposed to the elements. Things like dust, rain and the cold will be your companions. So your camera lens needs to be able to withstand their effects. Also, weight is a crucial factor. Just like regular travelers, travel photographers need to be conscious of the weight they are carrying or risk exhaustion along the way.

Also, you will need a versatile camera lens, something that can take pictures differently. This will save you from carrying around so much needless equipment.

That said, there are a couple of lenses that meet these requirements. This article digs into the best camera lenses that you must travel with. you will hardly find others better than these.

Best Camera Lens to Travel With

​#1 ​Nikon 14-24mm F/2.8G ED-IF AF-S Zoom Nikkor

Rating

Pros

CONS

  • Excellent durability

  • Perfect for the outdoors

  • Anti-reflective coating

  • Heavy and bulky

Review

The lens is part of the wide angle lenses that are perfect for the great outdoors. It is a favorite lens that has received positive reviews on different platforms and with good reason. 

This Nikon lens is designed to work with DSLR cameras with its speed and ultra-wide zoom lens. The lens will give you sharp pictures with a fantastic focus. This can go up to 10.8 inches at 24mm. The lens is perfect for traveling as it has a pretty rugged build. It also incorporates protection against dust and rain.

This Nikon lens features the company’s Silent Wave Motor. This aspect enables it to capture photos with incredible speed and at the same time, silently. The lens also takes away internal reflection with an anti-reflective coating. This will bring out clear pictures that lack any distortions.

​#2 ​Canon EF 16-35mm F/2.8L III USM Ultra Wide Angle Zoom Lens 

Rating

Pros

CONS

  • Rugged design for the outdoors
  • Will not smear and attract fingerprints
  • Full weather resistance isn’t standard

Review

Another wide angle lens comes from the Canon stables. The lens is the perfect companion to travel photographers, both professional and mere enthusiasts.

This lens combines qualities of a complete outdoors camera primarily through its rugged design. The lens will give you exceptional picture quality, whether you are taking landscapes or even interiors. Additionally, the lens is not only limited to still images. You can always capture videos with the lens, and you will indeed be amazed at the results.

Canon’s EF16-35mm comes equipped with an f/2.8L aperture that is both bright and constant at whatever zoom range. This is crucial for those sunset and sunrise pictures. You will also be able to take photos of a variety of weather situations, with these particular photos coming off as quite magical.

#3 Sony FE 16-35mm F/2.8 GM (G Master) E-Mount Lens 

Rating

Pros

CONS

  • Compact and lightweight

  • No distortions because of zoom

  • No zoom lock button

Review

Sony has not disappointed photographers with their Sony FE 16-25mm. It is an outstanding lens to pair with your outdoor camera, especially when traveling.

The lens comes equipped with a wide-angle f/2.8 16-25 zoom that offers an abundance of opportunity for your pictures. The zoom doesn’t hold back. And neither will it affect the quality of your photos. Be prepared for clear images from one corner to the next despite the zoom setting on the lens.

Many cameras out there come with stunning resolutions for your photos. This zoom lens takes full advantage of that to deliver only the best performance in terms of clarity. You will be dying to capture landscapes, forests, wildlife, and architectures while you are out traveling.

​#4 ​Sigma 14-24mm F/2.8 DG HSM ART Wide-Angle Zoom Lens, For Nikon DSLR Cameras

Rating

Pros

CONS

  • Solid constructing and craftsmanship

  • Exquisite finish

  • Not easy to use filters

Review

Sigma’s 14-24mm lens offers just the right kind of photography experience, especially for someone who loves traveling. You are going to love its ability to deliver top-notch pictures at whatever distance.

The lens is perfectly combined with cameras that have pack fifty or more megapixels. It will pair and deliver the best visual experience. Its zoom capability is also unrivaled and will give high-quality images despite the zoom distance you set. This lens has a set of glass elements, FLD, SLD, and an aspherical element. These three items enhance the corrective effect by reducing aberrations. The result is an image to die for.

The aspherical element contributes to a lowered distortion, especially when it comes to light streaks. Other distortions in the form of flares and ghosting have been significantly taken down for optimum photography experience.

#5 Canon EF 70-200mm F/2.8L IS III USM Autofocus Telephoto Zoom Lens 

Rating

Pros

CONS

  • Optical Image Stabilizing

  • Full-time manual focus

  • Heavy

Review

Another Canon on the list is the EF 70-200mm, a superb travel companion for both professional photographers as well as enthusiasts. The lens includes Canon’s cutting-edge optic technologies.

The Canon EF 70-200mm will give you the best photography experience when shooting either vast landscapes or even wildlife.  The fast and constant f/2.8 aperture will suit a wide range of shooting conditions. It, therefore, makes it possible to take in different photography scenarios, from low-light scenes to moving objects.

When out in the wild, silence is essential. You wouldn’t want to scare off the animals. That is why Canon’s EF 70-200mm is fast and super silent, something you will ultimately appreciate.

Forget about camera shakiness when holding your camera. The lens also comes equipped with an Optical Image Stabilizer. This gives you more flexibility on how you would want to shoot your pictures, especially if you opt to leave your tripod at home.

#6 ​Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm F/2.8E FL ED VR Lens

Rating

Pros

CONS

  • Reputation
  • Weather resistance
  • Cost

Review

For a while now, Niko has been a world leader when it comes to camera lenses. Their products have been used widely when taking pictures of wildlife, sports events, concerts, and much more. The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm lens takes this a step further with a higher capability. This lens is perfect for professional photographers who use advanced equipment. Pairing this lens with a DX DSLR will ultimately give you jaw-dropping images.

For distortions, the Nikon lens has ED glass elements, six of them, a Nano Crystal Coat, Fluorite, and High Refractive lens elements. With these components, you will be gifted with clear and sharp pictures free of glare.

The lens is suited for pro photography and rightly so. Four dedicated focus buttons engage AutoFocus or disengage it. The lens is easy and delightful to handle. The tripod rings are easily placed and are easy to switch between vertical and horizontal photography.

Because of its reputation, it is no wonder that this lens comes equipped for the outdoors. It has a rugged design and incorporates weather resistance. It extensively is sealed from both water and dust. Even the lens itself is coated with Fluorine to prevent fingerprint smudges and dust particles.

Conclusion

Finally, travel photography is a great thing to undertake. The outdoors is immensely beautiful and satisfying, especially when taking pictures. However, to actually enjoy it, you need to have the right equipment for the job. These lenses perfectly fit any photographer out there. There are some large and overly complex ones like Nikon’s AF-S NIKKOR 70-200mm aimed at pro photographers. Others are lightweight and will easily fit into your luggage. Either way, all of them are perfect for shooting the outdoors.

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