Traveling to a new location to photograph landscapes is an exciting experience. However, knowing what camera equipment to take with you can be a daunting experience. What gear should you take?
This article explores some of the most necessary lenses to accompany you and your camera for landscape photography.
Do Your Research Before Leaving To Photograph The Landscape
Before jumping in a car, boat, train, or plane, you first need to research the location you plan on visiting. Research is crucial to help you understand what gear to pack. You have to ask yourself the following questions:
● What is the weather going to be like?
● How long will you be out on location?
● How much water will you need to take?
● Do you need a compass or an emergency beacon?
● Will you be trekking?
● What lenses should I take with me?
Once you have the answers to the first five questions, then you can look at the lenses you should take.
Let’s assume that you are going to a scenic location that involves water, hills, or cliffs. If this is the case, you need to have in mind the sort of photos you plan on taking.
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- What sort of elements do you plan on capturing in the landscape?
- Do you want to photograph the small details or the grand wide vista?
- Are there going to be animals present, or will want to film a timelapse of the clouds?
You can get away with a macro lens, wide-angle, and medium telephoto prime lens in most of these situations. However, if wildlife within the landscape is something you want to cover, then a telephoto lens is a must. If you opt for this then you also need to take into consideration the weight of the lens.
To help you decide which lenses to pack for landscape photography, below are a few scenarios to consider.
The Best Lenses for Landscape Photography at the Coastline
For landscape photography by the coastline, you need equipment that is durable and has suitable weather sealing. Consider packing the following:
● Wide-angle lens: If you have a full-frame Leica camera, then the Leica SUPER-VARIO-ELMAR SL 16-35mm f3.5-4.5 ASPH lens is ideal.
● Consider a prime lens such as the LEICA SUMMILUX-SL 50mm f/1.4 ASPH for a mid-shot of interesting shapes and textures.
Recommended Lenses for Trekking or Hiking
If you are planning a hike, then the weight is your worst enemy. Consider leaving heavier cameras and lenses behind and instead opt for a compact pro camera. Compact pro cameras have fixed lenses, but some like the Fujifilm X100V will take wide-angle converters to capture a wider perspective.
Alternatively, a smaller mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses like Sony’s A7 series will work a treat. Mounting a 16-35mm lens on the full-frame sensor would be ideal for this type of landscape photography. Anything other than a single wide-angle lens would certainly be a pain to carry.
A List of Lenses for Traveling Overseas
If you are traveling to a destination and have the luxury of extra space, then consider a lineup of lenses to cover your landscape vision.
● Take an ultra-wide lens such as the 10-24mm for an APS-C sensor or 16-35mm for full-frame sensors.
● Pack a medium prime with a focal length around 85mm for full-frame cameras or 56mm for APS-C sized sensors
● Finally, in your kit, you can’t go past taking a telephoto lens such as a 70-200mm or 100-400mm. The longer focal length will serve for excellent coverage of elements in the landscape that appear further away. The only downside to a lens like this is the maximum aperture is around f/5.6 compared with f/2.8 at 200mm on the other lens. However, Murphy’s law plays a part in saying that you always need to get closer, and the lens you have with you is never close enough. Based on this, take the 100-400mm!
Lenses for Cold and Snow Environments
Most importantly, ensure you have some spare batteries as they will drain much faster than in warmer climates. Then turn your attention to the lenses you will pack. All your lenses should be weather-sealed in some way. Please don’t take any lens into the snow that isn’t built for it! If you do, you may end up having to reinvest in a new lens by the time you get back. If you are unsure if your lens is weather-sealed, check for terminology such as ‘WR’ (Weather Resistant) or “Weather Sealing” written on the lens.
Cover All Bases Without the Weight Of Several Lenses
If weight is a major problem in planning to take photos, you should consider an all-around lens. These lenses have a wide-angle plus telephoto built-in. For full-frame cameras, look for a lens with a focal length of 24-240mm or for APS-C 18-200. The advantage of these lenses is they produce relatively sharp pictures for the price. They don’t weigh too much, and you get the benefit of capturing wide-angle photos plus telephoto images without having to change lenses. You can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to thousands of dollars for these lenses. Ultimately the amount you spend on the lens will dictate the quality you should expect to receive.
Look After Your Lenses and Keep Your Gear Secure
When traveling with lenses, it is crucial to ensure you have the correct lens protection in place. Don’t pack your lenses loosely where they could roll around. Never stash a lens in the hold of a plane. Always store a lens in a carry on bag in the cabin.
If you are in a landscape with extreme weather, always climatize your lenses in a car before storing the lens back in your camera bag. If you don’t let your lens get back to room temperature, you may notice condensation on the inside of the lens. If the condensation forms in a humid environment, it can lead to mold. so, ensure you take the time to pack your lenses away properly.
Casey Barbles 
Jeff Yelton 