Best Beginner Friendly Lenses for Landscape Photography
If you’re new to landscape photography, lens choice can feel like alphabet soup—numbers, letters, and acronyms flying everywhere. Breathe. You don’t need a dozen lenses to make gorgeous images. Start with two or three beginner-friendly options that cover the scenes you actually shoot: sweeping vistas, intimate details, the occasional night sky, and the dramatic, subject-forward compositions that make people stop scrolling.
Below is a practical, no-nonsense guide to picking those lenses—centered on Sony (my system), with parallel picks for Canon and Nikon, plus excellent budget options from Sigma and Tamron.
How to Choose: The Three Focal Length “Jobs”
Standard zoom (24-105mm / 24-120mm) — The workhorse. Covers wide landscapes (24–35mm), “normal” views (35–50mm), and light telephoto for compression or stitching (70–105/120mm). For most beginners this is lens #1.
Ultra-wide zoom (12–24mm / 14–30mm / 16–35mm) — Exaggerates foreground interest, makes small spaces feel vast, and is fantastic for tight canyons, waterfalls, and dramatic viewpoints.
A fast prime (20–24mm or a “nifty fifty”) — Gives you low-light capability (astro, blue hour) and creative control over depth of field.
You can shoot 90% of landscapes with those three. If you add anything later, consider a light telephoto (70–200mm or 70–300mm) for compression, distant peaks, and minimal-distortion panos.
My “80% Lens”: Sony FE 24–105mm f/4 G OSS
Let me start with what lives on my camera most days. The Sony FE 24–105mm f/4 G OSS is my “80% lens”—it’s on my Sony body about 80% of the time. Why? Range + reliability.
One lens, many looks. At 24mm I can anchor a strong foreground; at 50–70mm I make clean, mid-tele images; at 105mm I compress layers of mountains and wring drama from an otherwise ordinary scene.
f/4 is enough for landscapes (you’ll often be at f/8–f/11). The constant aperture keeps exposure simple.
OSS + great AF + manageable weight means no excuses to leave it at home.
Takes front filters easily (crucial for polarizers and NDs).
If you’re a Sony shooter and want one lens to start, this is a slam-dunk choice.
Comparable “one-lens kits” on other systems:
Canon: RF 24–105mm f/4 L IS USM (mirrorless); EF 24–105mm f/4L (DSLR/adapted)
Nikon: Z 24–120mm f/4 S (extra reach and beautifully sharp); F-mount users: 24–120mm f/4G VR
Ultra-Wide Zooms: Epic Landscapes, Big Impact 🌍
When you want epic, you need ultra-wide. These lenses pull in towering cliffs, massive waterfalls, vast plains, and entire night skies in a single frame. They’re essential for destinations like Iceland, where Seljalandsfoss, Skógafoss, and Dettifoss waterfalls demand a lens that can capture their full height plus the surrounding drama.
My pick and daily driver for these moments:
Sony FE 12–24mm f/2.8 GM — This is my go-to ultra-wide for epic landscapes. It’s sharp edge to edge, beautifully renders colors, and lets you shoot in lower light thanks to the f/2.8 aperture. If you plan to photograph Iceland, Patagonia, the Dolomites, or the Pacific Northwest, this lens will make the difference between “pretty” and jaw-dropping.
Other great options by brand:
Sony
FE 16–35mm f/4 G PZ — Lighter, stabilized, and filter-friendly; an excellent beginner’s ultra-wide.
Budget pick: Tamron 17–28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD — Small, sharp, and affordable.
Canon (RF)
RF 14–35mm f/4 L IS USM — Versatile, stabilized, and filter-friendly.
Value pick: RF 15–30mm f/4.5–6.3 IS STM — Lower cost, plenty sharp at f/8–f/11 for landscapes.
Nikon (Z)
Z 14–30mm f/4 S — A fan favorite: lightweight, sharp, and accepts screw-in filters.
Sigma & Tamron (multi-mount)
Sigma 16–28mm f/2.8 DG DN (Sony/Nikon Z) — Compact, sharp, and affordable.
Tamron 11–20mm f/2.8 Di III-A (Sony APS-C) — A powerhouse for smaller Sony cameras.
Pro Tip: Ultra-wides exaggerate perspective—so get close to your foreground! Rock formations, wildflowers, driftwood, or river curves become dynamic storytelling anchors when shot at 12–16mm.
Fast Wide Primes: Low Light & Night Sky
Blue-hour cityscapes, twilight sea stacks, and the Milky Way all benefit from a fast prime (wide aperture = lower ISO and shorter shutter times).
Sony:
FE 20mm f/1.8 G — Lightweight, versatile, and my favorite for astrophotography.
FE 24mm f/1.4 GM — Premium, razor-sharp, and excellent for low-light scenes.
Canon (RF):
RF 16mm f/2.8 STM — Tiny, affordable, and excellent for astro and creative work.
RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM — Great for night skies and doubles for close-up nature shots.
Nikon (Z):
Z 20mm f/1.8 S — Excellent optics and a favorite for Milky Way shots.
Z 24mm f/1.8 S — Crisp and versatile, suitable for astro and blue hour.
Sigma/Tamron alternatives:
Sigma 20mm f/1.4 & 24mm f/1.4 DG DN (Sony/Nikon Z) — Stunning sharpness and coma control for the price.
The “Nifty Fifty”: Cheap Lens, Magical Depth of Field
Yes, landscapes are often shot at f/8–f/11 for maximum sharpness. But the humble 50mm f/1.8—the “nifty fifty”—unlocks dreamy background blur and lets you isolate a single tree, a wildflower, or a cabin in the mountains for visual storytelling.
Sony: FE 50mm f/1.8 — Lightweight, sharp, and budget-friendly.
Canon: RF 50mm f/1.8 STM — Tiny, cheap, and produces beautiful bokeh.
Nikon: Z 50mm f/1.8 S (optically superb) or the smaller Z 40mm f/2 for similar shallow-depth looks.
Use it for layered scenes (sharp subject, creamy background), handheld blue-hour shots, and portraits of fellow adventurers. It’s also perfect for minimalistic compositions when the big scene isn’t cooperating.
APS-C (Crop) Shooters: Great Starter Glass
If you’re on a crop-sensor body, you don’t need to invest in heavy, full-frame glass immediately. These lightweight, beginner-friendly options will get you out shooting without breaking the bank:
Sony E (APS-C):
Tamron 11–20mm f/2.8 Di III-A — Excellent for dramatic ultra-wides.
Sony E 10–18mm f/4 OSS — Reliable, stabilized, and great for video.
Sony E 16–55mm f/2.8 G — Pro sharpness and range; or choose the Sony 18–135mm for a travel-friendly all-rounder.
Canon RF-S:
RF-S 10–18mm f/4.5–6.3 IS STM — Compact and budget-friendly.
RF-S 18–150mm IS STM — Versatile “do-it-all” beginner zoom.
Nikon Z DX:
Z DX 12–28mm f/3.5–5.6 PZ — Excellent for video + landscapes.
Pair it with the Z 16–50mm kit or upgrade later to the Z 24–120mm f/4 S when moving to full-frame.
Budget Champions from Sigma & Tamron
Third-party lenses give you pro-level image quality for less. A few standouts:
Tamron 17–28mm f/2.8 Di III RXD (Sony) — A killer lightweight ultra-wide.
Tamron 28–75mm f/2.8 G2 (Sony/Nikon Z) — Fantastic standard zoom at a lower price than OEM.
Sigma 16–28mm f/2.8 DG DN (Sony/Nikon Z) — Small, fast, and sharp.
Sigma 24–70mm f/2.8 DG DN (Sony/Nikon Z) — Professional results on a budget.
Ready-Made Starter Kits
Sony Alpha (my picks)
FE 24–105mm f/4 G OSS — My 80% lens. The one-lens solution for landscapes.
FE 12–24mm f/2.8 GM — For epic scenes: Iceland waterfalls, grand canyons, vast mountain valleys.
Bonus: FE 20mm f/1.8 G for astro or FE 50mm f/1.8 for creative shallow-depth magic.
Canon (RF mirrorless)
RF 24–105mm f/4 L IS USM
RF 14–35mm f/4 L IS USM
Bonus: RF 16mm f/2.8 STM or RF 50mm f/1.8 STM
Nikon (Z mirrorless)
Z 24–120mm f/4 S
Z 14–30mm f/4 S
Bonus: Z 20mm f/1.8 S or Z 50mm f/1.8 S
Field Tips to Get the Most from Any Lens
Rule #1 of landscape photography: Always stand in front of amazingly beautiful places. Gear matters, but location and light matter more.
Work the scene: Shoot at 24mm for the big view, 50–70mm for details, and 100mm+ to compress peaks.
Mind your corners: Ultra-wides distort edges—avoid putting people or trees at extremes.
Use a CPL thoughtfully: Rotate carefully; watch for uneven skies with super-wides.
Stop down smartly: f/8–f/11 is the sweet spot for maximum sharpness.
Go low and close: Especially with your Sony 12–24mm—foreground interest makes epic landscapes explode with depth.
Final Word
If you shoot Sony like I do, the FE 24–105mm f/4 G OSS is the perfect starter—it’s my “80% lens.” But when you step into destinations like Iceland, Patagonia, or the Pacific Northwest, the Sony FE 12–24mm f/2.8 GM unlocks an entirely different level of storytelling. Pair those with a nifty fifty or a fast wide prime, and you’ve got a kit that captures everything from intimate textures to earth-shaking vistas.
The right beginner-friendly lens isn’t the one with the biggest specs—it’s the one that makes you excited to head out, chase the light, and create images that move people.
If you have any questions, please Contact Us, and until next time, get out and capture the adventure.
Tag: #SonyAlpha
Best Beginner Friendly Lenses for Landscape Photography
Written by Wayne Moran - Visit Websitemoran.wayne@gmail.com
