Greatest Journey Lens – Tips on how to Choose the Proper Journey Lenses for Any Model • PhotoTraces

July 27, 2025

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If you’re on the lookout for the finest journey lens to carry in your subsequent trip or once-in-a-lifetime climbing journey, you’ve come to the precise place.

Greatest Journey Lens – Tips on how to Choose the Proper Journey Lenses for Any Model • PhotoTraces

In at present’s article, I’ll share how I method lens choice for my travels. I developed a specific lens choice technique that labored for me once I shot with Canon and Sony. It really works for me at present as I shoot with the Fujifilm model.

First, the important thing level when selecting the right lens for journey images is to align your choice with the kind and magnificence of journey images that you just take pleasure in probably the most.

I’m assured that my journey lens choice technique will provide help to.

Defining the Greatest Journey Lens

If you happen to ask 10 completely different journey photographers to outline what constitutes one of the best journey lens, you’ll possible get 10 completely different solutions.

For instance, somebody who’s leaving for a two-week climbing journey within the mountains could have a unique lens choice than a photographer exploring Iceland in a camper van.

The Holy Trinity Lens Choice Method

There’s a standard method to lens choice referred to as the “Holy Trinity.”

If you happen to assemble three lens kits with the next traits…

16-35mm f/2.8
24-70mm f/2.8
70-200mm f/2.8

…the kits will work for just about any sort of images.

The “Holy Trinity” equipment covers an unbelievable focal vary from 16mm to 200mm. And, because the equipment contains quick f/2.8 lenses, you’ll be able to simply improve the zoom vary by utilizing Lens Teleconverters. The 1.4X teleconverter will prolong the attain of the 200mm lens to 280mm and the 2X teleconverter will prolong it to 400mm.

You should utilize a equipment like this for any sort of images—from astrophotography to wildlife, sports activities images, and the whole lot in between.

I name this a “simply in case” lens choice method.

The “Holy Trinity” method doesn’t work for me as a result of I’m a minimalist about my images gear. I favor to carry solely important gear with me and depart “simply in case” gadgets at house.

Shot with Fujifilm XT2 and Fuji 18-135mm lens

Right here is my easy technique for lens choice for my travels.

Journey Lens Choice Questionnaire

I ask myself a easy query:

“If I needed to go on an in depth two to three-week journey and will solely carry one lens, what lens would I take?”

Once you set such strict boundaries for your self, the reply about what constitutes probably the most versatile and beneficial lens on your journey images turns into easy.

When you outline your primary journey lens choice, you progress to the subsequent step of the choice course of.

You ask your self one other easy query:

“If I needed to go on an in depth two to three-week journey and will solely carry two lenses, what lenses would I take?”

Because you pinpointed your first alternative in the first step, all it’s essential do is choose a second lens.

Lastly, you repeat the identical train as soon as extra by asking your self:

“If I needed to go on an in depth two to three-week journey and will solely carry three lenses, what lenses would I take?”

I often cease at this level as a result of I not often take greater than three lenses on my travels.

Shot with Fujifilm XT2 and Fuji 10-24mm f/4

My Journey Lens Choice

Let me display how my journey lens choice technique works for me.

In my travels, landscapes are probably the most essential a part of my images.
Cityscapes are my second alternative.
Road images and environmental portraits are the third most necessary a part of my journey images.

After I choose my splendid journey lens, I guarantee it covers all areas of my journey images: landscapes, cityscapes, avenue, and environmental portraits.

My Journey Lens Choice #1

This makes lens choice very apparent, no matter what digicam model I exploit:

For a full-frame digicam, it might be a 24-105mm f/4 lens.
For a crop sensor digicam, it might be a 16-70mm f/4 lens.

The 24-105mm (16-70mm) lens is huge sufficient to shoot landscapes and cityscapes. If I have to shoot a a lot wider scene, I can shoot a number of frames at 24mm (16mm) and mix them right into a wide-angle panorama.

This sort of lens covers the next focal lengths—24mm, 35mm, and 50mm—that are good for avenue images.

Lastly, I can obtain a good bokeh impact when taking pictures portraits at 105mm f/4.

My Journey Lens Choice #2

My second alternative could be a wide-angle zoom lens that will be used solely for panorama images.

For a full-frame digicam, it might be a 16-35mm f/4 lens.
For a crop sensor digicam, it might be a 10-20mm f/4 lens.

My Journey Lens Choice #3

My third alternative could be a quick, prime lens that I can use in low gentle circumstances for portraits and avenue motion.

For a full-frame sensor, it might be a 50mm f/1.4 prime lens.
For a crop body sensor, it might be a 35mm f/1.4 prime lens.

Please observe that my lens alternatives are very comparable whatever the digicam model I exploit.

Shot with Fuji 10-24mm f/4

Basic Necessities for the Excellent Journey Lens

Since I have no idea what particular digicam model you employ, I wish to offer you a couple of normal necessities to search for when deciding on a journey lens.

Later, I’ll present particular lens suggestions and we are going to run them towards the necessities.

1. Compact Measurement and Weight

Ideally, you desire a journey lens that doesn’t break your again and doesn’t appeal to undesirable consideration. For that motive, I by no means switched to a full-frame setup. Although I really like Sony’s full-frame cameras for his or her versatility and picture high quality, the dimensions and weight of full-frame lenses had been all the time a prohibitive issue for the swap.

2. Helpful Zoom Vary

For my splendid journey lens, I all the time select a zoom lens over a main lens. I refuse to fiddle with a number of primes. I favor to have one zoom lens that covers probably the most helpful focal size and keep it up.

Plus, in recent times, zoom lenses have drastically improved in optical high quality, making them nearly nearly as good as prime fashions.

3. Good Picture High quality

Once you carry just one lens with you for a once-in-a-lifetime journey journey, it’s essential to guarantee your lens doesn’t compromise the standard of your captured recollections.

4. Efficient Optical Picture Stabilization

Most of my landscapes are shot on a tripod utilizing aperture values between f/8 and f/11. In consequence, I don’t carry quicker f/2.8 lenses as a result of f/4 is nice sufficient for me. However, in case I have to shoot handheld in low-light circumstances, optical stabilization turns into indispensable.

Basically, environment friendly picture stabilization extends the usefulness of any lens.

5. Appropriate for at the least Three Varieties of Pictures: Landscapes, Road, and Portraits

This level is self-evident. You do not need a “one-trick pony” as your main lens.

6. Huge Sufficient for Huge Panorama Scenes

I discover that, for my images, the candy spot is 24mm on a full-frame sensor or 16mm on a crop sensor digicam.

I’d not go any narrower than a 28mm and 18mm.

Although I like ultra-wide-angle lenses (15-20mm on full body and 10-15mm on APS-C), at such a focal size you attain an space of perspective distortion the place the foreground parts of the scene seem a lot bigger than in actuality. At 24mm, the distortion is minimal and nearly unnoticeable.

See additionally: Greatest Nikon Panorama Lens

Today, I usually use a 20-24mm focal size to shoot ultra-wide scenes as an alternative of utilizing a 15-18mm. Since I can’t match the complete composition into one shot, I take a number of photographs with 24mm and mix them right into a wide-angle panorama in Lightroom.

I discover these wide-angle panoramas look extra pure with out the distraction of a perspective distortion.

Shot with Fuji 10-24mm f/4

7. Sturdiness

That is one other self-evident level. When you find yourself in the midst of nowhere, the very last thing you need is to lose your fundamental lens.

8. Climate Sealing

One of many causes I switched from Sony to Fujifilm is to have a real journey setup. For a very long time, I dreamed of getting a full weather-sealed digicam and lens combo. This was unimaginable to realize with Sony APS-C cameras.

See additionally: Climate Sealed Cameras – a Full Record

After touring to the Pacific Coast of america and Hawaii on many events, I noticed that my gear was all the time prone to being ruined by the saltwater mud that’s all the time current within the air. Since then, climate sealing turned one in every of my high priorities for cameras and lenses.

What’s the Excellent Journey Lens?

There is no such thing as a such factor as the proper lens. There may be all the time a compromise on sure facets. So, you merely choose the mannequin that checks many of the necessities and ignore the lesser-important particulars.

The Greatest Fujifilm Lens for Journey Pictures (My Setup)

For 2 years, my main lens was the Fujifilm 18-135mm.

If you happen to run the lens towards my 9 necessities, it checks many of the packing containers. The place it falls brief for me is within the space of measurement and weight. It’s a bit too huge and heavy for my style.

One other difficulty the place I used to be not wholly content material is that it’s 18mm on the huge finish fairly than 16mm.

1a. Fujinon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 OIS WR

Fujinon 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6

BEST FUJIFILM TRAVEL LENS

Filter Diameter: 67mm, Mount: Fujifilm X (APS-C), Min Focus Distance: 1.5’/45cm

Compact Measurement and Weight: I want it was smaller and lighter (490g; 76 x 98 mm)
Helpful Zoom Vary: Sure (27mm-200mm equal)
Good Picture High quality: Sure
Efficient Optical Picture Stabilization: Sure (5 stops)
Versatility: Sure
Huge Sufficient for Landscapes: Sure, however 16mm could be splendid
Sturdiness: Sure
Climate Sealing: Sure

For that motive, I’m presently testing Fujifilm’s new 16-80mm f/4 lens. It has the potential of changing into my main journey lens. I’m keen to sacrifice a zoom attain on the lengthy finish (135mm) to get a smaller, lighter, and wider lens.

Shot with Fujifilm XT2 and Fuji 18-135mm lens

1b. Fujinon 16-80mm f/4 OIS WR

Fujinon 16-80mm f/4

BEST FUJIFILM TRAVEL LENS

Filter Diameter: 72mm, Mount: Fujifilm X (APS-C), Min Focus Distance: 1.15’/35cm

Compact Measurement and Weight: Sure, barely (440g; 78 x 89 mm)
Helpful Zoom Vary: Sure (24mm-120mm equal)
Good Picture High quality: Nonetheless in strategy of testing
Efficient Optical Picture Stabilization: Sure (6 stops)
Versatility: Sure
Huge Sufficient for Landscapes: Sure
Sturdiness: Sure
Climate Sealing: Sure

My second alternative is the ultra-wide zoom Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 lens. I actually, actually love this lens. It’s comparatively compact for such a focal vary and gives unparalleled picture high quality.

2. Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 OIS

Fujinon 10-24mm F/4

BEST FUJIFILM WIDE ANGLE LENS

Filter Diameter: 72mm, Mount: Fujifilm X (APS-C), Min Focus Distance: 9.5″/24cm

Compact Measurement and Weight: Sure (410g; 78 x 87 mm)
Helpful Zoom Vary: Sure (15mm-36mm equal)
Good Picture High quality: Sure (distinctive)
Efficient Optical Picture Stabilization: Sure (5 stops)
Versatility: Sure
Huge Sufficient for Landscapes: Sure
Sturdiness: Sure
Climate Sealing: No

The one shortcoming with this lens, from my perspective, is the shortage of climate sealing. In harsh climate circumstances, I discover myself switching it with the Fujifilm 18-135mm.

See additionally: How Choose the Greatest Fujifilm Lenses

My third lens in my journey setup is the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 prime. It’s a distinctive lens. It is without doubt one of the oldest lenses within the Fujifilm lineup and it exhibits. It has a really noisy and sluggish autofocus, however I reside with it due to the picture high quality it gives.

Shot with Fuji 10-24mm f/4

3. Fujinon 35mm f/1.4

Fujinon 35mm f/1.4

MY TRAVEL PORTRAIT LENS

Filter Diameter: 52mm, Mount: Fujifilm X (APS-C), Min Focus Distance: 11″/28cm

Compact Measurement and Weight: Sure (187g; 65 x 55 mm)
Helpful Zoom Vary: Mounted (50mm equal)
Good Picture High quality: Sure (distinctive)
Efficient Optical Picture Stabilization: No
Versatility: Barely (avenue, portraits)
Huge Sufficient for Landscapes: Barely
Sturdiness: Sure
Climate Sealing: No

Based on Fujifilm’s lens engineer, when designing the 35mm f/1.4 prime, that they had the selection of constructing it optically good or optically distinctive. They selected the latter. From an optical perspective, it’s one in every of my favourite lenses of all time. I hope Fujifilm introduces the Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 M2 with trendy autofocus quickly.

Shot with Fuji 35mm f/1.4

The primary shortcoming of this prime lens for touring is its lack of climate sealing and picture stabilization.

Bonus Choice

I’ve one other lens that I exploit pretty usually. It’s a specialty lens that I preserve for one objective—astrophotography.

The Samyang 12mm f/2 is a guide focus lens that’s tiny, cheap, and gives surprisingly good picture high quality.

4. Samyang 12mm f/2

Samyang 12mm f/2

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY LENS

Filter Diameter: 67mm, Mount: Fujifilm X (APS-C), Min Focus Distance: 8″/20cm

I by no means hesitate to carry it with me even on demanding journeys as a result of it takes up nearly no area in my bag and its weight is subsequent to nothing.

Greatest Journey Lens for Sony APS-C Cameras

I’ve shot with Sony APS-C cameras for nearly 4 years and right here is journey lens equipment I used:

1. Sony 16-70mm f/4

Sony 16-70mm f/4

SONY ALL AROUND TRAVEL LENS

Filter Diameter: 55mm, Mount: Sony E (APS-C), Min Focus Distance: 14″/35cm

Compact Measurement and Weight: Sure (308g; 66 x 75 mm)
Helpful Zoom Vary: Sure (24-105mm equal)
Good Picture High quality: Sure
Efficient Optical Picture Stabilization: Sure
Versatility: Sure
Huge Sufficient for Landscapes: Sure
Sturdiness: Sure
Climate Sealing: No

2. Sony 10-18mm f/4

Sony 10-18mm f/4

SONY WIDE ANGLE TRAVEL LENS

Filter Diameter: 62mm, Mount: Sony E (APS-C), Min Focus Distance: 10″/25cm

Compact Measurement and Weight: Sure (225g; 70 x 64 mm)
Helpful Zoom Vary: Sure (15-27mm equal)
Good Picture High quality: Sure
Efficient Optical Picture Stabilization: Sure
Versatility: Sure (not lengthy sufficient)
Huge Sufficient for Landscapes: Sure
Sturdiness: No (manufactured from plastic)
Climate Sealing: No

3. Sigma 30mm f/1.4

Sigma 30mm f/1.4

SONY E MOUNT PORTRAIT LENS

Filter Diameter: 52mm, Mount: Sony E (APS-C), Min Focus Distance: 12″/30cm

Compact Measurement and Weight: Sure (265g; 65 x 73 mm)
Helpful Zoom Vary: Mounted (45mm equal)
Good Picture High quality: Sure
Efficient Optical Picture Stabilization: No
Versatility: Sure
Huge Sufficient for Landscapes: Barely
Sturdiness: Sure
Climate Sealing: No

Greatest Journey Lens for Sony Full Body Cameras

1. Sony 24-105mm f/4 G OSS

Sony 24-105mm f/4

SONY ALL AROUND TRAVEL LENS

Filter Diameter: 77mm, Mount: Sony EF, Min Focus Distance: 1.25’/38cm

Compact Measurement and Weight: No (663g; 83 x 113 mm)
Helpful Zoom Vary: Sure
Good Picture High quality: Sure
Efficient Optical Picture Stabilization: Sure
Versatility: Sure
Huge Sufficient for Landscapes: Sure
Sturdiness: Sure
Climate Sealing: Sure

2. Sony 16-35mm f/4 OSS

Sony 16-35mm f/4

SONY WIDE ANGLE TRAVEL LENS

Filter Diameter: 62mm, Mount: Sony E (APS-C), Min Focus Distance: 10″/25cm

Compact Measurement and Weight: Nearly (518g; 78 x 98 mm)
Helpful Zoom Vary: Sure
Good Picture High quality: Sure
Efficient Optical Picture Stabilization: Sure
Versatility: Sure (not lengthy sufficient)
Huge Sufficient for Landscapes: Sure
Sturdiness: Sure
Climate Sealing: Sure

3. Sony 50mm f/1.8

Sony 50mm f/1.8

SONY EF MOUNT PORTRAIT LENS

Filter Diameter: 49mm, Mount: Sony EF, Min Focus Distance: 1.5’/45cm

Compact Measurement and Weight: Sure (186g; 67 x 60 mm)
Helpful Zoom Vary: Mounted
Good Picture High quality: Sure
Efficient Optical Picture Stabilization: No
Versatility: Sure/No (not f/1.4)
Huge Sufficient for Landscapes: Barely
Sturdiness: Sure
Climate Sealing: No

Greatest Journey Lens (EF-S) for Canon APS-C Cameras

It isn’t simple to seek out high quality lenses for Canon crop sensor (APS-C) cameras. Canon treats the APS-C system as an entry-level format and attempting to push photographers towards a costlier full-frame system.