When you travel you can capture some amazing photos from different places such as; scenic views, historic buildings, busy cities, nature scenes and memories. Knowing which lens is best for your travel photography will help you understand what different lenses are available.
Different lenses will give you different angles for your chosen subject. Whether you’re photographing mountains, busy cities or an attraction, this travel photography lens guide will show you the main different types of lenses, how they work and what you should know as a beginner.
A camera lens is an optical device that focuses light onto a senser. They help to determine how much you’ll be able to capture.
When travelling you want to use different lenses to capture certain aspects of your scene.A wide angle lens will allow you to capture more of your landscape, whereas a telephoto lens will allow you to capture your subject from further away.
They will help you capture the correct angle, composition and overall look.
There are various types of camera lenses available which will all have different features. It is useful to know what each type can do to help you decide which lens would be best to use for a particular subject.
These lenses give you a wider angle than usual. They’re great for landscape, architecture and city photography.
If you are photographing a mountain range you can capture more of your landscape. They can also be useful when photographing buildings and inns where there is limited space to move back.
However they can cause subjects close by to look bigger and subjects furthest away to look smaller.
Standard Zoom
Standard zoom lenses give you a range of focal lengths.
They can be useful when travelling as they mean you can capture a range of compositions. You can capture a wide shot but then zoom in to capture some detail.
They give you more flexibility in your everyday photography.
Telephoto offer longer focal lengths meaning you can capture your subject from further away. They’re great for nature, distant landscapes, sports and architecture.
For example you can capture birds in their natural habitat.
They can help you capture only the subject you want however you may need to be more careful.
Prime lenses have a fixed focal length meaning you can’t zoom in or out. You’ll need to move closer/further away.
For example a 35mm prime lens will always be 35mm. You can’t zoom to 50mm or 85mm.
They’re great for portrait, street and everyday travel photography. They also encourage you to be more thoughtful with your composition.
Understanding focal length is one of the most important things to know about camera lenses. Focal length is measured in millimetres (mm) and refers to the distance between the principle plane of the lens and the focus point once your lens has been focused to infinity.
It can help you understand how much of your scene you’ll be able to capture.
Here are the different types of focal lengths
Wide – (14mm-24mm) These lenses will give you a wider view of your scene. Great for landscapes and architecture.
Standard – (35mm-50mm) These will give you a normal angle for everyday scenarios, street photography and general subjects.
Longer – (70mm-200mm) These will give you a narrow angle. Useful for capturing subjects further away, portraits and nature.
Note: These are generally for full frame cameras. The angle will depend on your camera sensor. Smaller sensor cameras will mean you won’t get as much.
Knowing the focal length will help you know what the lenses can do.
When going on a trip there will be lots of things that you can take pictures of. Using different lenses can help you get more of the background into your images but also bring your subject into focus.
Landscape shots include mountains, beaches, forests and larger shots. A wide angle lens will mean you can get more of the background into your picture. This will help you to get some of your foreground and far away sections into your image.Longer focal lengths will help you capture specific parts of your landscape.
Cities can include skyscrapers, tight streets, landmarks and interesting architecture. A wide angle lens will help you capture entire buildings if you don’t have much space.
A standard zoom lens will help you capture big buildings and small details. Depending on where you are and how much space you have you can create different compositions.
Street photography will often consist of everyday scenes, people and urban areas. Usually a standard focal length will be used as you have more flexibility.
Prime lenses can also be used for street photography. As they have a fixed focal length consider your distance, timing and composition.
Often nature photography can be shot from a safe/suitable distance. Using a telephoto lens you get a narrow angle which can help you get images of animals that are far away.
They can be useful for getting certain details.
Sometimes there isn’t much room to take photos inside museums, galleries or historic buildings. Using a wide angle lens to help get more of the interior in the frame.
However you do have to be careful because wide angle lenses distort the edges of your image. You’ll need to think about where you position yourself and how you compose your shots.
Main thing to know is what each lens does with their focal length.
Prime lenses have a fixed focal length.
Zoom lenses allow you to change your focal length within a certain range.
For example a 50mm prime lens will have a fixed focal length. Whereas a zoom lens such as 24-70mm will give you the option to have multiple focal lengths.
Prime Lens Zoom Lens
Focal Length Fixed Variable
Composition Move Zoom
Flexibility Limited Multiple focal lengths
Photography Style Thoughtful Flexible
Travel Photography Certain styles Different subjects
Neither will be better than the other. It depends on what you need, your style of photography and why you’re travelling.
When travelling you may be walking around cities, visiting tourist attractions and exploring nature for a number of hours.
If your camera is heavy it can become uncomfortable. It’s important to have a lightweight camera.
Using multiple lenses gives you more options however can be time consuming to switch.
A lightweight setup can help you move around quickly and take spontaneous photos. However the weight of your lens, focal length and what you need to capture will depend on what kind of trip you’re going on and what you’re photographing.
This can help you plan your photography gear as a beginner.
Not all cameras will be compatible with all lenses. Here are a few things to consider.
Consider the lens mount. Different brands may have different mounts.
Some lenses are designed for full frame sensors and some are designed for smaller sensors such as APS-C.
It’s important to know if your lenses will work with your camera before you start using them. Some lenses can be used with different camera bodies with an adapter however this can depend.
Many compact cameras and smartphones will have fixed lenses.
It’s easy to have some misconceptions as a beginner. Understanding the facts will help you make informed decisions.
Expensive lenses produce better photos
It’s not just about the price of the lens. How you compose your shot, lighting, focus, settings and technique will all play a role.
One lens will do everything
Depending on what you’re photographing you’ll need different angles. A lens that works well for landscapes may not work as well for distant wildlife or detailed architecture.
Zoom lenses produce poor quality
Zoom lenses won’t always produce poor quality. It depends on the lens, camera system and what you’re photographing.
Focal length affects image quality
Focal length mainly relates to the angle of your lens. It won’t affect how sharp, colours are accurate, contrasty or good quality your image is.
Understanding the differences will help you focus on your technique.
Understanding camera lenses is an important part of learning travel photography. There are various lenses that can be used for different angles, focal lengths and composition. Wider angles can be captured using wide angle lenses, standard zoom lenses allow for more flexibility, Telephoto lenses will allow you to capture objects from further away and Prime lenses are fixed.
You will learn about focal length, sensor, compatibility and light weight. This will help to improve your understanding of photography instead of looking at how much things cost you. You will learn about the characteristics of each lens and techniques.
The Shoptique Editorial Team creates guides that help readers understand shopping, consumer technology and product specifications. These guides explain terms show how devices work and give clear information in plain language. We research carefully use sources and check facts before we publish.
