When it comes to landscape photography, you really need high performance lenses. You should want lenses that have great color retention, the ability to capture dramatic depth of field, and provide peak low light performance, as you deal with a multitude of lighting scenarios. You also want the ability to shoot wide, but also shoot tight in on details and sections of the landscape that stand out above the rest.
For Canon users, there are a wide variety of full frame lenses to choose from, and that list is soon to grow with the expected release of several new RF lenses this year. However, not all are built for landscape photography, and so this article is meant to sift through the options, and provide the top Canon full-frame lenses for landscape photography in 2019. Let’s begin, shall we.
Top RF Lens for Landscape Photography:
Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM
Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM
This is a new lens from Canon for the RF mount and EOS R line of full frame mirrorless cameras. It is ultra sleek and ultra powerful, and has a revolutionary flat f/2 aperture, so it will perform in even the toughest lighting conditions. The details when shooting with this lens are incredible, and it is an exciting sign of advancement and innovation in lens technology. You will be hard-pressed to find a lens in this focal length that performs as sharp and fast as the RF 28-70mm f/2.
Now, there are some small drawbacks to this lens. It is one of the most expensive lenses on this list, due to its build and performance, and it also is slightly heavier than other lenses in the same focal length. However, if you are a professional or avid enthusiast wanting to create the best content, the price and weight are well worth it.
Top EF Lenses for Landscape Photography:
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM
If you think about Canon lens icons, the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L is one of them. It is considered a true necessity by serious landscape photographers for two main reasons.
One: its incredible performance. It maintains a level of sharpness throughout the zoom range that is unparalleled, and it has amazing low light performance. It is built for top results, whether shooting photo or video.
Two: its reliable build quality. This lens can withstand serious effects, and can continue to perform, even in adverse and difficult weather conditions in the field. This is crucial for landscape photographers, who find themselves fighting the elements constantly. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows in landscape photography, so having a reliable, powerful lens like the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L is a no brainer when venturing out into the field.
Canon EF 11-24mm f/4 L USM
This is the widest zoom lens in the Canon full-frame line up, so that should attract attention in itself. However, its optical performance and dramatic results are why it is a favorite among landscape photographers.
Normally, when you deal with super wide lenses, there tends to be a “barrel” or “fish eye” effect, and images become distorted. However, that’s not the case with the EF 11-24mm f/4 L USM. It maintains a natural look, regardless of the 11mm focal length, and it is beautifully crisp, so you can crop in on details without any issues. Add to the fact that this lens is built like a tank, and you have an ultra-wide, dependable lens for any landscape.
Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM
Again, we find another classic in this list. The EF 70-200mm f/2.8L is another favorite lens for landscape photographers. This focal length and range gives the ability to zoom in tight on your landscape subject, capturing details that you may miss shooting just wide. In addition, this lens allows for beautiful compression when working with scale and smaller subjects in a grand scene. Working with compression can add even further dramatic depth of field, and allows for beautiful perspective you can’t capture with a wide angle.
Some of my favorite photos have been taken with a 70-200mm, because I love to add the human element into a massive landscape. It’s incredibly beautiful, when you accomplish this type of scale, and the EF 70-200mm f/2.8L allows you to do that, while still being an incredibly diverse, fast, and reliable lens for landscape, and other types of photography.
Canon EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM
The EF 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6 is a beast of a lens, and you will be hard pressed to find a lens as versatile and powerful. The fact that you can shoot wide at 28mm and super tight, at 300mm, with just one lens, is amazing. You have the ability to do it all, and that is why it is such a fantastic lens.
However, it is a beast for another reason: its weight. At almost four pounds, it certainly is not the lightest lens. If you are backpacking or doing a long trek in the backcountry, you might want to leave this lens at home, and go for something lighter. But at the same time, the weight is due to the durable build and the versatile focal length, so it may be worth it, especially if it’s the only lens you bring.
Regardless of the weight, this lens is incredible, and provides the versatility and performance that will make any landscape photographer interested in pursuing this lens for their work.
Another note about these EF lenses: if you have an EOS R or EOS RP full-frame, mirrorless body with the RF mount, you still can use any of the EF lenses! The optional Mount Adapters allow for seamless use of EF lenses on the RF mount, without affecting performance and speed.
Feature photo by Thom Holmes on Unsplash
