Best Canon Lens for Travel Photography

Travel photography is the act of capturing images of people, places, and cultures in different parts of the world. It involves documenting the unique features and experiences of a location, including its landscapes, architecture, people, customs, and traditions.

Travel photography can be a form of storytelling, providing viewers with a visual representation of a particular place and its culture. It often involves exploring new places and immersing oneself in different environments, cultures, and experiences.

In this article, I explain the various lens features, how to choose the right lens, and finally, I reviewed the best Canon lenses that can be used in various types of travel photography.

Table of contents

How to choose a travel photography lens

1. Understand the required features of travel photography lenses
2. Determine the Camera mount type
3. Choose the lens type: prime or zoom
4. Know what kind of travel you are going to do

Best Canon Lens for Travel Photography

• Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L III USM
• Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
• Canon EF 24-105mm F4L IS II USM
• Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM
• Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM
• Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM
• Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 DI-II VC HLD
• Canon RF 24–240mm F4-6.3 is USM

How to choose a travel photography lens

1. Understand the required features of travel photography lenses

There are several features that are important for travel photography lenses. Here are some of the key considerations:

• Versatility: A versatile lens is important for travel photography, as you may encounter a wide variety of situations and subjects that requires a specific focal length. A zoom lens with a wide range of focal lengths, such as 24-70mm or 18-200mm, is a good choice for this.
• Lightweight and compact: Since you’ll likely be carrying your camera gear with you throughout your travels, it’s important to choose a lens that is relatively lightweight and compact. A lens with a smaller physical size and weight will also make it easier to use for extended periods of time.
• Image stabilization: Many travel photography situations involve low light or handheld shooting, which can lead to camera shaking and blurry images. A lens with image stabilization can help to counteract this and produce sharper images.
• Fast aperture: A wide aperture (e.g. f/1.8 or f/2.8) allows more light to enter the lens, which is particularly useful in low-light situations. It also allows for a shallower depth of field, which can be used to create attractive bokeh or isolate subjects.
• Weather sealing: If you’re planning to travel to areas with inclement weather or challenging shooting conditions, weather sealing can help protect your lens from moisture and dust.
• High-quality optics: Finally, it’s important to choose a lens with high-quality optics to ensure sharp, clear images. Look for lenses with good reviews or try renting before buying to test out the quality of the lens.

2. Determine the Camera mount type

Interchangeable lens cameras are more popular than ever before! With all of the different mounts out there, it can be a little confusing trying to pick the types of camera lens mounts available. The first thing to consider is to make sure you pick up the right lens that matches the mount used by your camera.

3. Choose the lens type: prime or zoom

The main two types of lenses are prime and zoom, in the following section, we will discuss these two types and list their features.

Prime lenses

They can be incredibly useful for travel photography for a number of reasons. Here are some of the main advantages of using prime lenses while traveling:

• Image Quality: Prime lenses are known for their sharpness and clarity, which makes them great for capturing detailed shots of landscapes, architecture, and people. The wide aperture of prime lenses can also create a shallow depth of field, blurring the background and making your subject stand out.
• Portability: Prime lenses are generally smaller and lighter than zoom lenses, which makes them more convenient to carry around during travel. This means you can easily pack them in your bag and take them with you on your adventures without adding too much extra weight.
• Low Light Performance: Prime lenses often have wider maximum apertures than zoom lenses, allowing them to let in more light. This is particularly useful when you’re traveling and shooting in low-light situations, such as indoors or during sunset or sunrise.
• Affordability: Prime lenses are generally less expensive than zoom lenses, which makes them a more budget-friendly option for travel photographers who want to invest in high-quality lenses without breaking the bank.

Overall, prime lenses can be a valuable tool for travel photographers who want to capture high-quality, creative shots without having to carry around heavy and expensive equipment.

Zoom lenses

Zoom lenses are a great option for travel photographers who want a versatile and convenient option for capturing a wide range of shots while on the go. Here are some of the main advantages of using zoom lenses while traveling:

• Convenience: They are incredibly convenient and useful for travel photography because they allow you to quickly adjust your focal length without having to change lenses. This makes it much easier to capture a variety of different shots while traveling, as you can quickly zoom in and out to frame your subject just the way you want it.
• More versatile: Another advantage of zoom lenses is that they are typically more versatile than prime lenses. With a zoom lens, you can capture wide-angle shots to show the expansive landscapes or cityscapes of your destination, and then zoom in to capture more intimate portraits or details. Furthermore, zoom lenses can be a great choice for travel photographers who want to travel light. By bringing just one zoom lens, you can cover a range of focal lengths and avoid the need to carry multiple lenses.
• Less sharp & more expensive: However, it’s important to note that there are some trade-offs when it comes to zoom lenses. For example, they may not be as sharp as prime lenses or may have some distortion at the edges of the frame. Additionally, zoom lenses can be more expensive than prime lenses, especially if you want a high-quality zoom lens with a wide aperture.

 4. Know what kind of travel you are going to do

There are many different kinds of travel photography, each with its own unique challenges and requirements. It’s important to note that the lens type needed for each type of photography can vary depending on the photographer’s personal preferences and the specific situations they encounter during their travels.

Here are some examples of different kinds of travel photography, along with some suitable lens types:

• Landscape Photography

Landscape Photography involves capturing the natural beauty of landscapes and scenery. For this, a wide-angle lens is a must-have. A zoom lens with a focal range of 16-35mm or 24-70mm can be a good option.

Photo by Depositphotos

• Cityscape Photography:

Cityscape Photography involves capturing the skyline, architecture, and landmarks of a city. A wide-angle lens with a focal range of 16-35mm or 24-70mm can be a good option. A telephoto lens can also be useful for getting closer shots of specific buildings or details.

Photo by Depositphotos

• Street Photography:

Street Photography involves capturing the culture and everyday life of a city or town. A prime lens with a focal length of 35mm or 50mm is often used, as it allows you to get close to your subjects while still capturing some of the surrounding environment.

Photo by Depositphotos

• Wildlife Photography:

Wildlife Photography involves capturing animals in their natural habitat. A telephoto lens with a focal range of 100-400mm or 200-500mm is essential for getting close-up shots of animals without disturbing them.

Photo by Depositphotos

• Portrait Photography:

Portrait Photography involves capturing people in various settings, such as in front of landmarks or in natural settings. A prime lens with a focal length of 50mm or 85mm is often used, as it allows for a shallow depth of field and can create a pleasing bokeh effect.

Photo by Depositphotos

• Food Photography:

Food Photography involves capturing the beauty and deliciousness of local cuisine. A macro lens with a focal range of 60mm or 100mm is often used, as it allows for close-up shots with a shallow depth of field.

Photo by Depositphotos

Best Canon Lens for Travel Photography

Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L III USM

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM is a professional-grade ultra-wide-angle zoom lens designed for Canon full-frame DSLRs. It is the third iteration of the 16-35mm f/2.8L lens series and boasts significant improvements over its predecessors.

The lens features a constant f/2.8 maximum aperture, which makes it ideal for low-light photography and allows for shallow depth-of-field effects. It has a versatile zoom range that covers a 16-35mm focal length, making it suitable for a wide variety of photographic applications, from landscape and architectural photography to photojournalism and event photography.

The lens is constructed with high-quality materials, including multiple ultra-low dispersion (UD) and aspherical elements, which help to minimize chromatic aberration and distortion. It also features Canon’s Subwavelength Coating (SWC) and Air Sphere Coating (ASC) for reduced lens flare and ghosting.

The lens is equipped with a fast and quiet Ultrasonic Motor (USM) autofocus system that allows for quick and accurate focusing, and it also has a full-time manual focus override for fine-tuning focus. The lens has a dust and water-resistant construction and is compatible with Canon’s EF 1.4x and 2x extenders.

Overall, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM is a high-quality, versatile, and durable lens that is well-suited for professional photographers who demand top-notch performance from their equipment.

Specification

Back

Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM

The Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is a professional-grade standard zoom lens designed for use with Canon EOS DSLR cameras. It has a focal length range of 24-70mm, which makes it suitable for a wide variety of photographic applications, including portraits, landscapes, and street photography.

The lens features a fast maximum aperture of f/2.8 throughout its zoom range, which makes it ideal for low-light shooting and shallow depth-of-field effects. It also has a durable and weather-resistant construction, which makes it suitable for use in challenging shooting conditions.

Other key features of the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM include a ring-type Ultrasonic Motor (USM) for fast and quiet autofocus performance, as well as a Super Spectra coating to minimize ghosting and flare. The lens also has a minimum focusing distance of 0.38m (1.25 ft) and a maximum magnification of 0.21x, which allows for close-up shooting.

Overall, the Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM is a versatile and high-performance lens that is well-suited for professional photographers who demand the best in terms of image quality and durability.

Specification

Back

Canon EF 24-105mm F4L IS II USM

The Canon EF 24-105mm F4L IS II USM is a high-end, versatile zoom lens designed for Canon’s full-frame DSLR cameras. It is the successor to the popular EF 24-105mm F4L IS USM lens and has several improvements over its predecessor.

One of the key features of the EF 24-105mm F4L IS II USM is its advanced image stabilization system, which Canon claims can compensate for up to four stops of camera shake. This makes it ideal for handheld shooting in low-light situations.

The lens also features Canon’s USM (Ultrasonic Motor) autofocus system, which is fast, accurate, and near-silent. The lens has a maximum aperture of f/4 throughout its zoom range, which allows for consistent exposure settings when zooming in and out.

In terms of build quality, the EF 24-105mm F4L IS II USM has a weather-sealed construction with dust and moisture resistance, making it suitable for use in challenging environments. The lens has a zoom lock switch that prevents unwanted zooming during transportation, and it comes with a lens hood to minimize lens flare and ghosting.

Overall, the Canon EF 24-105mm F4L IS II USM is a premium-quality zoom lens that offers excellent image quality, fast and accurate autofocus, and effective image stabilization. It’s a versatile lens that’s well-suited for a wide range of photography genres, including landscapes, portraits, and travel photography,

Specification

Back

Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM

The Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is a versatile wide-angle prime lens designed for Canon’s full-frame DSLR cameras. It has a maximum aperture of f/2, which makes it suitable for low-light photography and helps to create a shallow depth of field. It also has image stabilization, which can help reduce camera shake and produce sharper images in challenging lighting conditions.

The lens features a USM (ultrasonic motor) autofocus system, which is fast and accurate and allows for manual focus override at any time. The minimum focus distance is 0.24m, which makes it possible to get up close to your subject for creative compositions.

In terms of optical construction, the Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM features 10 elements in 8 groups, including one aspherical element, which helps to minimize distortion and spherical aberration. The lens also has a nine-blade circular aperture, which can produce pleasing bokeh effects.

Overall, the Canon EF 35mm f/2 IS USM is a high-quality lens that can produce sharp, detailed images with beautiful background blur. Its wide aperture and image stabilization make it ideal for low-light photography, while its compact size and lightweight design make it a great choice for travel and everyday shooting.

Specification

Back

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM

The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is a prime lens designed for use on Canon EF-mount DSLR and mirrorless cameras. It is a compact and lightweight lens, weighing just 160g, making it a popular choice for travel, street, and portrait photography.

The lens features a fast maximum aperture of f/1.8, which allows for excellent low-light performance and shallow depth-of-field effects. The aperture can be controlled using a seven-blade diaphragm, which produces pleasing bokeh.

The lens also includes Canon’s STM (Stepping Motor) autofocus technology, which provides smooth and quiet focusing, making it ideal for video recording. It has a minimum focusing distance of 1.15 feet (0.35m) and a maximum magnification of 0.21x.

The lens is constructed from high-quality materials and features a metal mount and a durable plastic exterior. It also includes a manual focus ring, which allows for precise control over focus when needed.

Overall, the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 STM is an affordable, high-performance lens that is versatile and well-suited to a range of photographic applications. Its fast aperture and excellent image quality make it a popular choice among photographers looking for a compact and reliable prime lens.

Specification

Back

Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM

The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM is a professional-grade telephoto zoom lens designed for Canon EOS full-frame and APS-C format DSLR cameras. It offers a versatile focal length range of 70-200mm, making it ideal for a wide range of photography styles such as portrait, sports, wildlife, and landscape photography.

One of the key features of this lens is its Image Stabilization (IS) system, which allows for up to 5 stops of correction for camera shake, enabling users to capture sharp images even in low-light conditions or when using slower shutter speeds.

The lens also features Canon’s latest fluorine coating, which helps to repel dust, water, and oil, making it easier to clean and maintain. It has a minimum focusing distance of 1m, providing users with the ability to capture close-up shots with ease.

The lens has a constant maximum aperture of f/4 throughout the entire zoom range, which provides consistent exposure settings and makes it easier to achieve a shallow depth of field for creative bokeh effects. The lens also incorporates a ring-type ultrasonic motor (USM) for quick and accurate autofocus performance.

Overall, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L IS II USM is a high-quality lens that is both durable and versatile, making it an excellent choice for professional photographers and serious enthusiasts alike.

Specification

Back

Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 DI-II VC HLD

The Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 DI-II VC HLD is an all-in-one zoom lens designed for APS-C format DSLR cameras. This lens provides a wide range of focal lengths, starting from 18mm for wide-angle shots and zooming all the way in to 400mm for telephoto shots.

The lens also features Tamron’s Vibration Compensation (VC) technology, which helps reduce camera shake when shooting handheld, making it easier to capture sharp photos and smooth videos. Additionally, the lens incorporates Tamron’s HLD (High/Low torque-modulated Drive) autofocus system, which provides fast, precise, and quiet autofocus performance.

The Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 DI-II VC HLD is a versatile lens that can be used for a variety of photography genres, including landscapes, portraits, wildlife, and sports. The lens has a compact design and is lightweight, making it easy to carry around and use for extended periods.

Overall, the Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 DI-II VC HLD is an excellent choice for photographers who want a versatile lens that can handle a wide range of shooting situations, without the need to switch lenses.

Specification

Back

Canon RF 24–240mm F4-6.3 is USM

The Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM is an all-in-one zoom lens designed for Canon’s full-frame mirrorless cameras. It was released in 2019 and has quickly become a popular choice for photographers who want a versatile lens for travel, landscapes, portraits, and more.

The lens features a wide focal range, from 24mm on the wide end to 240mm on the telephoto end, giving users the flexibility to shoot a variety of subjects without needing to switch lenses. It also has a variable maximum aperture of f/4-6.3, which means it’s not the fastest lens on the market, but it still allows for good low-light performance and background blur.

One of the standout features of the RF 24-240mm is its image stabilization system, which Canon claims can provide up to 5 stops of correction. This allows users to shoot at slower shutter speeds and still get sharp images, especially when shooting in low light.

The lens is also equipped with Canon’s USM (ultrasonic motor) technology, which provides fast and accurate autofocus performance. This makes it a great lens for capturing action or movement, as well as for portraits and other types of photography where precise focus is important.

Other features of the Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM include a minimum focusing distance of 0.5m, a 7-blade circular aperture for smooth bokeh, and a weather-sealed construction that makes it resistant to dust and moisture.

Overall, the Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM is a versatile and convenient lens that can be a great addition to any Canon full-frame mirrorless camera kit. While it may not have the fastest aperture or the highest optical quality compared to more specialized lenses, its wide zoom range, image stabilization, and autofocus performance make it a great all-around lens for everyday use.

Specification

Back

Related posts

Best Camera Lens For Travel Photography

Best Travel Photography Cameras – Top 5 List!

Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the article, in case you have any questions just drop them below & I will be happy to answer you.

The featured Photo by Depositphotos

If you enjoy the site, don’t forget to subscribe, we will only inform you when a new article is posted.