Lenses EVERY Landscape Photographer NEEDS & Why!

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In this week’s episode, we discuss the lenses every landscape photographer needs and why. Over the past couple of months I've completely upgraded all the camera gear I use. I recently switched over to the full frame Nikon Z8 camera and have tested many different lenses in order to determine what the best lenses are for my landscape photography. Throughout this process I've traveled quite a bit, taking this camera gear to the Smoky Mountains, Grand Teton National Park, Icelandic Highlands and the Faroe Islands. So I've done a great deal of photography lately and have finally determined what the best lenses are for my landscape photography needs. I hope you enjoy this week's video and as always thanks so much for watching! - Mark D.

*📺 VIDEO CHAPTERS*
🔘 Intro on Testing: 0:01
🔘 First Lens: 02:19
🔘 Second Lens: 06:36
🔘 Gap Lens: 09:46
🔘 Why it's Perfect: 12:22

*📸 CAMERAS & LENSES*

*🌟UPCOMING WORKSHOP SCHEDULE*

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#landscapephotography​​ @nikonusa

**LETS CONNECT**

[MarkDenneyPhoto]

🔥QUESTION: How many Lenses do you own?

[operator]

Dude, What the H ? That Puffen or Puphen photo with a mouth full of fish, is award winning. Holy fesses 😮

[alasdairslade]

I recently moved to the Z8 and also have the 14-24, and 24-120mm. The image quality from these is simply stunning. I also have the 85mm f1.8 for portrait work.
Love Nikon

[johnd]

I love the 24-120 and 100-1400 also. But I use the f/4 14-30 instead of the 14-24, as I rarely need an aperture wider than f/4 for wide angle. The only exception is astro, a role well-filled by the f/1.8 20mm S lens. Two more bonuses: the 14-30 takes 82mm filters, so I can use its filters on the other three (all 77mm) with a step-up ring. And the 14-30 + 20mm two-lens combo is $50 cheaper than the 14-24 by itself.

I always know if I'm going to be doing astro, so my normal kit is still just three lenses. Got some great aurora pictures with the 20mm too!

Really like the thought you put into this!

[bills.stills]

My first time using my 24-120 was also at the Grand Tetons and I instantly fell in love with this lens.

[lesiakadam]

Just over 2 years ago I came across your channel while doing a research for the lens setup (as an enthusiast, not pro) for my Sony a7riii. I've decided to ignore your advice and got myself:

1) Sigma 14-24 f2.8
2) Sony 24-105 F4
3) Sigma 100-400mm

Well, well, well, how the turntables 😂😂😂

[D]

Interesting video, which got me thinking about the lenses I use and my preferences, so thanks. I like the new studio set up by the way!

[richarddelisi]

Thanks for sharing your 3 lens set up. As for filters, the 14-24 Nikon Z comes with HB 97 lens hood which is 112 mm. Now, if you purchase the Kase 112 magnetic filter kit, it works on the 14-24. The Kase kit also comes with a 77-112 adapter ring which you can place on the 24-120 and the 100-400. One set of filters works with all 3 lenses if you bring the proper lens hood for the 14-24. The Kase magnetic filter kit is great but very expensive.

[HeikoSieger]

I see you are really excited about your camera and lenses. Agree totally with you that lenses are more important than the camera - they make or break a system. Regarding the 14-24, it's absolutely amazing, and I've been going through half a dozen (or more) wide angle zooms and primes - from different brands - in the past 5 years. There is only one thing you should be aware of when using the 14-24: when shooting wide open to blur the background, turn off the stabilizer. I got very annoying bokeh when shooting a subject with a busy background. I can't say for sure that it's the VR, but it looks like a stabilizer issue.

[thephotoyak]

I've been using the 24-120 and 100-400 for almost 2 years now. Absolutely love them. I have the 20mm 1.8, which also has a 77mm filter thread.

[rlfisher]

I agree with all your points. For my Canon RF setup I went all-f/4, including my wide-angle, and rent the f/2.8 when I anticipate serious astro shooting.

[davidbostock]

Great Video, Mark. Thanks. Last month I sold all my Fuji gear and picked up the Z 8, 24-120, 100-400, 180-600 and 20mm 1.8. Oh, and the 105 Macro. Couldn't be happier with the new set up. I don't do a lot of super wide photography so the 20mm f/1.8 works nicely for that and for the rare astro shots...

[dfinlay]

The 24-120 is my "always on" lens. Very versatile, and sharp. ON the wide end, I use the 14-30, and long is the 180-600. All great lenses. Nikon has built a good lineup, and I think we'll start see them deepen the selection... For filters, I standardized on the 95mm Kase magnetic filters, and mount different adapters to my different lenses.

[slyne]

Mark, great rundown on the lenses. Have you played with the 28-400 Nikon lens yet? This is my new run and gun. I also have the 100-400 and the 14-24. Love that they all work on my Z8 and Z9. Looking forward to shooting more landscape and Astro. Keep up the good work!

[cmichaelhaugh]

I’d love to add the 14-24 to my kit - got to save my pennies! I have kept my F70-200 2.8 in the bag because it makes a great indoor lens for photographing my small grandchildren

[misha]

I admit to having nine lenses, but agree with your three main landscape lenses. I gravitated to the Panasonic MFT versus a full frame camera system because of the smaller weight and size, … and often cost. The MFT lenses I use most are (MFT sizes): 8-18, 12-60 and 50-200. I also make a lot use of my macro lens (amazing things to see when you get really close) and am making small advances with my 100-400 (200-800 FF equivalent) photographing birds and other wildlife. I have a few other lenses such as a 9mm (18mm FF equiv) f/1.7 for trying astro photography, a 14-140mm (24-280 FF equiv) that often has been THE travel lens, if I am packing small. I am a hobbyist only trying to make images that please me and to capture memories, happily doing both.

[Powerstroke]

Thanks Mark, I truly agree with you, and I can see I may be able to sell off some lenses, as like you, I rarely take images in the middle focal length, as I'm more of a Landscape/Nature photographer. I watched your recent video on the Z8 as well, and I'm contemplating it, or the Z6iii, as I'm more of an enthusiast/hobby photographer, and believe I could get similarly sharp images with it. Appreciate you showing us your images, very beautiful indeed!

[echoauxgen]

It is good to see a landscape photographer using telephotos vs primes ( reviewers say to get because of this or that). For me yes I have two bags one for night and the other for day but also one for the everyday going to market or Dr. appointment etc.. For my any time anywhere lenses, I am a Sony, the FE PZ 16-35 f/4 and the FE 24-240mm but in APS-C 36-360 I also have an old favorite from years back that is real small the APS-C E 10-18mm (15-27mm) f/4 OSS But 12-18mm in Full Frame (18 if you remove the light shield) and all lenses have the rear filter holders. I also have my old A7SM1 and A7SM2 and A7RM2 for I have the on camera apps that were available back in the beginning mainly for the "Digital Filter" app that lets you capture in camera sky and foreground separately for jpeg and or RAW on to SD card and able to adjust center position before sending to SD card, also the built in Panorama section on the dial meaning not having to carry filters or panorama gear. I keep for planning wildlife in the spring the 70-200 and the 200-600 with the 2X teleconverter at the ready no need for the 1.4X due to going APS-C is 1.5x.
Most telephotos get a bad review like the 24-240 but from ground to eclipses is great to have. The biggest thing to remember is todays SW corrects any bad in a review, when I started PS and Lr both cost $800+ and for each full update and had to use the makers SW so from 2010 to now we are in heaven thanks to the programmers and lower costs.

[dcsuiter]

Great video. I own the 100-400 and 14-24. Great lenses. My mid-range, and most utilized, is the 24-200 f 4-6.3.

[rdphoto]

I would love to see a video on how you setup your Z8 for Landscape Photography. I have a Z8 with a 14-30 and 24-120 Z Lenses. Thanks Ron