The only TWO lenses you'll ever need | LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY

These are the only two lenses you'll ever need for landscape photography. I have travelled extensively and I always found I ended up using these two lenses after carrying four or five in my camera bag. While I am a Nikon user, I will also give my opinion on the equivalent two lenses for both Canon and Sony mirrorless range of landscape photography cameras.

00:00 Introduction
01:29 Nikon F Mount Lenses
04:09 Sony E Mount Lenses
05:17 Canon RF Lenses
05:47 Nikon Z Mount Lenses

* Music & SFX on this video provided by Epidemic Sound under paid license.

All video footage and photographic images are
© Adrian Alford.

#LandscapePhotography #LensesForLandscapePhotography

[adrianalfordphotography]

I neglected to mention that my F stops doing landscapes mainly range from F8 to F11, hence I don’t need fast lenses. I know that Sony GM lens is a 2.8, but wow it is incredibly versatile and super sharp 👍📸

[owenlikesmovies]

This mirrors my setup, and am happy to see other photographers using it. I have a 24-70 2.8 and a 100-400 4.5 and I find they cover pretty much every focal length I could want while keeping weight / hassle down.

[ruslanss]

After going through many different lenses in EF and RF versions, I chose the 14-35 F4L IS USM to shoot everything. It's a lightweight lens weighing only 540 grams, great image stabilisation for shooting at night and a very comfortable range of focal lengths for shooting all around and landscapes. I am delighted with the quality of the images I get with this lens, great colours and image sharpness as good as my old prime RF 24 F1.8 for example, and definitely better versatility and image quality.

[grantking]

Have had similar thoughts for a little while now Adrian. With my Z7ii I've decided on three lenses, the 14-30, 24-120 and 100-400 (also have the 1.4 T/C) and that has me covered for, I believe, all scenarios. All up the camera bag weighs in at a tick over 7 kilos and I'm comfortable with that.

[grantnewton]

I agree - I always hear that a 24-70 is the “go-to” lens for landscape, but I use (on APS-C) a 10-24 & 55-200 (FF equiv 15-36 and 80-300) and find these great. If photographing in the bush a.k.a woodland photography, then this is the only time I might want something in the “normal” range

[leod]

Adrian, I agree with you, in fact some of the best sunrise photos I have taken have been with the 200-500 at 500mm.

[scotttilleyphotography]

Fully agree on the choice of zoom lenses these days Adrian. I think it used to be very true that there was a massive gap in sharpness between primes and zooms but these days there are some cracking zoom lenses around that you would be hard pushed to tell the difference between that and a prime. Cheers mate👍

[johnniebao]

Agreed. Since I bought the Tamron 50 400 I sold the Sony 70 200 right away.

[HauklandPhotographersClothing]

Great! We also love Landscape Photography 📸

[NikonDave]

It is always pure agony when going someplace new to decide which lenses to pack. The thing I find worse than realizing you lugged lenses around you never used is coming across a situation where you wished you had packed something else. Nature tends to taunt me and presents great opportunities for whatever focal length I didn't pack. Great video.

[robguyatt]

Till recently when I changed from Nikon F mount to Z, I just used the 28-300. Often doing two or three shot panoramas for wider views. Now I find the Z 14-24 used most often. I also have the Z 24-70. The thing about shooting at 14mm and F8 is the great depth of field. I'm always learning. Just a hobbyist. Ah one lesson recently learned was to have much greater overlaps in panoramas.
One last thing. As I love to do birds and other wildlife also but hate changing lenses, I just purchased a Z5 to dedicate to landscapes and My Z9 carries the 100-400 + either TC for wildlife.

[RussWeymouthPhotography]

I use a similar lens range with the Canon R5. 24-105mm RF and 100-500mm RF. I also have the 17-40mm EF via the adaptor which is surprisingly sharp. I always have the 24-105mm with me and take either the 17-40mm or the 100-500mm depending on where I'm going.

[PhilThach]

Great video, Adrian! I lusted after the Canon 14-35 f/4 for a long time but in the end, when Canon put the EF 17-40 f/4 L on sale for only 499 I decided to go with that for my ultra-wide, I already owned a proper EF to RF adapter. I find that the ultra-wide is my least used lens but you have to have one because some shots just require it. I like the 17-40 range but 14-35 would probably be even better. I think one of my biggest mistakes when I bought my Nikon F glass was picking the 14-24 2.8 instead of the 16-35 f/4. The 14-24 is too heavy and bulbous. I'm still waiting for an ultra-wide Z DX lens which is finally on the roadmap. Then I'll have a massive range in an ultra-light three lens package with the Z50 as my landscape camera. I love how you have figured out that you rarely need 36-79mm for your landscape work. I'm not sure if I can say the same but I wouldn't be surprised if, after some research, I could find out that I don't use those focal lengths much either. LOL

[stankerns]

I use an 8-16, and a 18-300 - sometimes if I think I might need it I'll bring a 28 1.4 Never had a problem

[davidsaylors]

This is Landscape good! Thank you Adrian for sharing this secret with everyone. People want to bring “big” glass and primes and end up doing just as you said, never even got them out of the bag… I like how you also got common filter threads too. That is next level to be honest. Thanks!

[ishtiaqahmed]

My favourite lens is 24-70mm then 70-200 & then 16-35 on landscape photography

[AlexMcDougallPhotography]

So true, width and length then most situations are covered.

[larryjordan]

I own the Nikon 80-400mm lf/4.5-5.6 ED VR ens you highlighted in this video, but I've never applied it to landscape photography. I mainly use my Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8 and the Nikon 24-120mm f/4. Both render very sharply focused images.

[greenlee]

Thank you for your sharing. Your LANDSCAPE photos are very beautiful. Awesome

[hupenpeter]

I use Sony and take a Zeiss 16-35 F4, Sigma 24-70 and the 100-400. I analyzed my footage and use all of them. But the 24-70 most for travel pictures with people. If I would only shoot landscapes it wouldn't be as necessary.