The Only 2 ESSENTIAL LENSES for Landscape Photography

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In this week’s episode, we discuss the only two essential lenses for landscape photography. One of the most common questions I hear has to do with which lenses and focal lengths are best for landscape photography and depending on who you ask you'll probably receive a slightly different answer. It really depends on an individual photographers personal style and what they enjoy photographing the most, but generally speaking the more common focal lengths for landscape photography are the 10-24mm, 16-35mm, 24-70mm, perhaps even the 24-105mm and the 70-200mm.

And in this video, I want to share with you the only two lenses I have remaining after selling almost all of my camera gear over the last two years, why I decided to keep these two specific lenses, why I sold the rest, and why I now regret this decision. So over the past two years I've made a concerted effort to reduce the amount of camera gear I own for my landscape photography in an effort to streamline my workflow and my camera lenses would be the area that would benefit the most form this reduction.

Of the two remaining lenses I currently use for my landscape photography, one will probably not come as a big surprise for many landscape and outdoor photographers, but the other is a bit less common. However, the reason I decided to keep these two specific focal length combinations is perhaps what's most important.

If you enjoyed this video, please consider giving it a thumbs up and let me know what you think in the comments below - I guarantee I'll get back to ya.

Thanks for watching everyone!

-Mark D.

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#landscapephotography #lenses

**LETS CONNECT**

[neilmccaughan]

I like Mark's videos. He's thoughtful, practical AND DOESN'T SHOUT.

[nelsonclub]

Mark Denney. We listen, we watch, and we learn, but most of all we love it.

[davidclifton]

A well spoken case for your lens choices. Also, I am so glad to finally hear a well respected photographer admit lenses are expensive. On most channels I watch it seems dropping $2, 000 is something that is done everyday. Thanks for admitting the reality for most of us.

[rich]

Mark you are hands down the best YouTube trainer on photography. You don’t hype any products, You’re very detailed and simple to follow and you don’t yell at us 😂 Thanks again, great video!

[Elover]

Mark, I recently subscribed to your channel and I am so happy I found you on YouTube. I love how simple your videos are, no music, no crazy editing/jump cuts, etc. Even the background where you record looks inviting! I've been going back to watch all of your videos, what you share is very informative and as the video ends, I feel ready to use what information I have learned. As a landscape photographer myself, I enjoy your content and I look forward to learning something from your channel as often as I can. Thank you!

[peterblackthorne]

Really good advise Mark. Because of my age and some other physical issues the weight and size of my gear became a real priority to me. I switched to using micro four thirds gear around 7 years ago and find that it suits my needs perfectly. The lens that pretty much lives on my camera Is a 12-100 f/4, but I also carry a 7-14 f/2.8 wide angle. That gives me a FF equivalent from 14-200mm. Both lenses are Olympus pro lenses. However I do also have a non pro 75-300 that I sometimes carry if I think that I will need some extra reach. That gives me a FF equivalent of 150-600 mm. It's not the fastest lens but I rarely shoot below f/5.6 so it works for me.

[josephcole]

Completely agree Mark and i'm already there ..17-35 & 150-600 is what im down to for landscape, however i could argue that one other lens could be added for intimate details and that would be a macro lens or at least extension tubes with a 50mm.

[AlokSomani]

Agreed with your choices, though I have a prime on my wide end because there isn't a good wide zoom that touches into ultra-wide for my system. I know primes are generally better as well, but I will say it is a PITA to keep switching lenses, especially because I'll usually want a few different types of shots from any one spot.

[toddyxphotography]

I have the same camera and 16-35mm combo. I also only run 2 lenses but my second is a 70-300mm. Apart from the obvious price difference the main benefit of the 70-300 over the 100-400mm is weight and size. A lot easier to throw in the pack for hiking.

[theladubfovi]

Probably my most-used lens is the 17-55mm Nikkor ... built like a tank, and incredibly sharp for a zoom. For city visits, when I want to be “free” and catch almost anything, I find the 18-200mm to be really flexible and versatile. Since purchasing a Foto-vest, taking a few primes along is much easier, if I want to indulge a bit☺️

[jonjon]

Your use of vertical images for landscape photos is a fantastic idea. I'm sure that is been done before but I haven't seen many photographers rely so heavily on it. What a wonderful suggestion.

Thank you for sharing

[TedsFishroom]

Thank you! I recently went through a similar thought process and culled my lens quiver down to two. I chose the Sigma 20mm 1.8 Art and the Nikkor 28-300. I went with the prime 20mm because I really like the image quality and large aperture (especially for astrophotography), and I found that when using a zoom wide angle (14-24mm) I was either right around 20mm (18-21ish) or all the way out to 24 and wishing for more. The 28-300 leaves me with just an 8mm gap between the two lenses. I really liked this video because it shows me that my reasoning is shared by others!

[inthewoodswithbigfoot]

Thanks! As a new photographer, I don't want to waste money on what I don't need. I currently only have a kit lense, but it is doing quite well to teach me the basics. I'm able to dabble in micro, astro, landscape, fog, wildlife, and lightening photography. Great advice!

[alantuttphotography]

You gave a perfect example of why the old adage "zoom with your feet" isn't always useful. Besides, sometimes you want a specific perspective from a single point, regardless of the ability to move to a different spot. For me, zoom lenses are my primary tools. Primes only where necessary.

[fxpoygv]

I just wanted to say thanks for all of the great photography info. I have watched a lot of photography videos by a lot of people and you are the only one I have subscribed to. I enjoy all types of outdoor photography. I love birds, other wildlife, a little macro, and wildflowers. I think landscape is my best. Maybe that's why I enjoy your videos so much.
Thanks.

[benjaminlundeen]

Mark this is one of the better videos I have seen. I feel like right in the living room with you. I have started doing landscape of rivers, fields and barns. This video showed me exactly what kind of photos zooming in each lense gets. I own a 18-55mm and 55-200 mm. Alot of my shots are at 160-190. I noticed if go 200 more blurry. Really like again how you showed same scene and multiple pictures on zoom distances. Definitely made my mind to get a 16-35 to start. Was looking at a 50mm but a wide angle believe way for me.

[brentonniccolo]

My go-to lenses in my bag are always the 24mm 1.4 & 70-200 2.8 which I can use for portraits too. I know you said you don't gravitate towards the really wide shots but I'd love to see what you'd do with the new 12-24mm GM although that $3k price tag is a bit out of my price range

[toshiisomura]

That’s cool to see that my lens combo is same as yours but on a budget. I have 11-22 and 70-200 and just one 32 prime for portraits but it’s on apsc so basically becomes 18-35 and 112-320.

[csc-photo]

Currently with my Z6 I'm down to my 24-70 f/4 Z, and 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 AF-P - love them both. I love the minimalist-gear approach but I still have my eye on Nikon's 20 f/1.8 Z, for landscape & astro. So sharp edge to edge even wide open. Awesome content on your channel, thanks!

[lohithsamaga]

Thanks for the great video, Mark! I also appreciate that you are one of the few specialists who consider lenses as expensive and would not like to have a shelf full of lenses. As most of us take your advice rather seriously in our learning journey, this advice saves us a lot of confusion and money, to say the least.
I am only an amateur. I have my Nikon D7500 and 18-140 zoom that came with it. I find myself shooting flowers these days at 100+ mm and may buy a macro lens. The 150-600 zoom, only when I can afford it.