How to Choose the Right Lens for Landscape Photography

Landscape Photography  •  Photography Tips

Focal length and perspective make a big difference in the outcome of your landscape photography, which means you should familiarize yourself with how they impact the images. This way, you can make an educated decision when selecting which lens you should be using. Luckily, in this quick, but informative, clip below, Steve Perry breaks it all down for us:

As Perry explains in his video, a telephoto lens will make objects appear to be larger and closer to the camera, whereas a wide lens opens up a scene quite a bit more.

Different Lenses Yield Different Photos

There is also a common understanding in photography that you can “zoom with your feet” meaning if you want a tighter shot of an object, walk closer to it. While this is true, physically moving closer to the subject using a wide lens will not replicate the effect of using a zoom lens.

Your Field Of View Increases With Distance

Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t “zoom with your feet,” but you should be aware of the differences and limitations between the two options.

Notice the differences between the same scene with different focal lengths.

“To answer the question about the best lens for landscape photography, well, as you can probably guess by now, it really depends on what makes the subject look best. My advice is to buy all your zoom lenses first and then fill in with primes if you need to.”