The Best Camera Equipment for Landscape Photography

Looking at the best camera gear for landscape photography can be exhausting. There are an infinite number of items and articles out there to choose from and it can be difficult to make a decision on what gear to buy. In this article, I want to take you through my personal list of landscape photography essentials for all brands and budgets. If you know me, I am a huge advocate of getting fantastic gear without breaking the bank so in this article, I try to give the best budget and mid-range options that I still use today as a full time professional. Believe it or not, there are lenses and gear out there that is the same quality and can acheive the same results as the top-end gear. You just have to know what to look for.

#1 - Wide-Angle Lens

A 24-70mm lens is hands down the most used focal length by all photographers. If I am going on a hike or some place new and I decide to take one lens and only one, this focal length is the one I grab every single time.

However, if you are a Nikon or Canon photographer and do not want to use the FTZ or EF-RF adapter (and have some deep pockets), you can go with the following:

#2 - Zoom Lens

A zoom lens in the 70-200 range is probably my second most used lens in my bag. I am personally a huge fan of Tamron lenses for zoom lenses because the quality is equal to that of native glass at a fraction of the price (believe me, I’ve tried a lot of different lenses). Call me crazy but I have converted so many people to Tamron zooms and they all love their lenses. The 70-200mm is an especially amazing lens from Tamron. Here are my top picks for each camera brand:

However, if you are a Nikon or Canon photographer and do not want to use the FTZ or EF-RF adapter, you can go with the following:

#3 - Prime Lens

Prime lenses have a multitude of uses and every photographer should have at least one in my professional opinion. Wider prime lenses (14, 16, or 24mm) can capture magnificent images of the night sky while 35mm and 50mm options are great at capturing portraits and product photos. Many people say that a 50mm is a must-have and I would have to agree. If you do not plan on doing extensive astrophotography shots and want a great all-around prime lens, I would highly recommend a 35mm or 50mm. 50mm lenses tend to be the cheapest option so that is where my recommendation would lie and is also what I personally prefer. When I am traveling, I always pack a 50mm and only bring my 24mm if I plan to do astrophotography or night-sky images.

Nikon Prime Lens Options

Best 24mm options:

Best 35mm options:

  • Nikon 35mm f/1.8G ED FX ($350 - 500 used) - This can be a great option if you can find one on Craigslist or Ebay

  • NIKON NIKKOR Z 35mm F/1.8 S ($846.95 on Amazon) - The best option if you do not want to use the FTZ adapter on your mirrorless camera

Best 50mm options:

Canon Prime Lens Options

Best 24mm options:

Best 35mm options:

  • Sigma 35mm F/1.4 DG HSM Art ($798.00 on Amazon) - The best 35mm option for Canon due to price and quality. The same quality as the Canon f/1.4 for a fraction of the cost

  • Canon RF 35mm F/1.8 IS Macro STM ($399.00 on Amazon) - The best option for RF mount cameras if you do not want to use the EF-RF adapter

Best 50mm options:

Sony Prime Lens Options

Best 24mm options:

  • 24mm F/1.4 Art DG DN ($799.00 on Amazon) - My recommendation for a 24mm for Sony users due to price and quality. The same quality as the GM f/1.4 for a fraction of the cost

  • Sony E-mount FE 24mm F/1.4 GM ($1,398 on Amazon) - The best option if you only want Sony lenses

Best 35mm options:

Best 50mm options:

#4 - Drone

Though drones may not be quite as essential as lenses and other items in this list. It can truly provide a unique perspective of photography. I personally own a Mini 3 Pro and absolutely love the images and video I can get from the compact drone that can fit in the palm of my hand. If you have the money to buy a drone, I would 100% recommend buying one. Here are some of my favorite picks when it comes to drones:

  • DJI Mini 3 Pro (DJI RC) & Fly More Kit Plus ($1,158 on Amazon) - My personal choice due to its portable size and camera capabilities. It is the only drone I own personally and I LOVE it.

  • DJI Air 2S & Fly More Combo ($1,249 on Amazon) - A nice step up from the Mini 3 Pro if you do not need the compact size of the mini. The camera sensor is a 1 inch sensor so it is better at processing low-light than the mini as well.

  • DJI Mavic 3 & Fly More Combo ($2,824 on Amazon) - If you are looking for the best drone, look no further. Boasting a 4/3 inch sensor, the Mavic 3 is by far the best drone for image and video quality.

#5 - Tripod

I have been through a lot of tripods in my time. There are a lot of great options out there; but some of my favorites have been the K&F Concept 68" Carbon Fiber Camera Tripod ($149.99 on Amazon) and Peak Design Travel Tripod ($379.95 on Amazon). Peak Design always makes a quality product, but you definitely pay the price.

#6 - L-Bracket

L-brackets allow for you to turn your camera from landscape orientation to portait without having to put a lot of pressure on your camera or tripod. It also gives your camera a bit more protection and allows you to forget your tripod mount whenever you like (we’ve all been there…). My favorite L-brackets are those by 3 Legged Thing. Just be sure to select the right L-bracket for your camera.

#7 - Extension Tubes

Extension tubes are some of the least known but most magical devices for photographers. They turn ANY lens into a macro lens by extending the gap between the lens and sensor of your camera. They are literally empty tubes that you put on to your camera like an adapter and it allows you to capture macro photos. What’s better? Most extension tubes cost less than $75. The only difference between using macro tubes and a macro lens is that you cannot focus to infinity with macro tubes and a lens. Your focus distance is restricted to about 2 feet max down to a few inches depending on the tube you use. I have never found it to be an issue personally but is something that should be disclosed. I think it’s worth that small downside when considering that I can spend $50 on these versus buy a macro lens for a few hundred bucks. If you are interested, check out the JJC Auto Focus Macro Extension Tube Set ($39.99 - 74.99 on Amazon).

#8 - Travel Case

My absolute favorite traveling cases are those made by Pelican. I personally use multiple of the Pelican Case 1510 with Padded Dividers ($274.95 on Amazon) and lid organizer ($31.95 on Amazon). I love these carrying cases because they are absolutely indestructible. I have had one partially ran over by a car (it’s a long story) and tossed around on a tarmac with no damage to any of my gear (or the case itself… it was insane). What’s better is that they are lockable so I can leave gear behind in my car with a bike lock attaching the case to the metal base plate in my car without fear of my gear being easily stolen. Of course I do cover it like one should with a blanket or random stuff in my trunk but at the end of the day, the Pelican cases always give me peace of mind.

#9 - Backpack

I have a love-hate relationship with camera backpacks. I have gone through many in my time and have yet to find too many that I like. Part of that may be that I am unwilling to spend hundreds of dollars on a backpack… However, I have enjoyed the GOgroove Full-Size Camera Backpack for Photographers ($69.99 on Amazon) and have also had some hands on experience with the more expensive K&F Concept Camera Backpack, Camera bags for photographers Large Capacity Camera Case with Raincover ($109.99 on Amazon) and the top of the line Peak Design Everyday Backpack V2 30L ($299.95 on Amazon) enough to say that they are both amazing and you get what you pay for in design and quality materials.

#10 - Camera clip

When I am hiking in the outdoors, I often times find myself reaching for my camera. In the past, I would keep my camera in my backpack until I needed it and it honestly got super annoying having to take off my backpack every time to get it. The alternative is to keep it on a strap but the issue with that is that it can swing around and hit objects I’d rather it not. One slip when walking across a rock-field and your camera or lens could easily be destroyed. That is why I got the Peak Design Capture Camera Clip V3 ($74.95 on Amazon). The camera clip allows you to clip your camera to any backpack with straps of your choosing. When you are walking around, you simply clip it into the anchor and when you need it, you press the quick release and pull it out of the clip to use it. Easy. At first I was skeptical of how secure my camera would be but the clip is solid and I have had no issues or accidental drops to date. I have a camera clip installed on each of my backpacks that I hike with and love the ease at which I can use my camera when hiking along trails.

#11 - Cleaning Supplies

Lastly but certainly not least, I always recommend that people bring a couple camera sensor swabs and microfiber cleaning cloths in the case any gear gets dirty while in the field. Please use good common sense and practice when using swabs as camera sensors are sensitive. Watch a tutorial on how to use them properly beforehand but do not be afraid to clean your own sensors when necessary.

Final Remarks

I hope this list proved to be useful to you. Though I own Nikon cameras and gear, I have had the opportunity to talk with a lot of different photographers about gear and try to stay semi up-to-date on all gear on the market today. As mentioned, there is a ton of options out there and if you want to spend some serious money, you can. I tried my best to give the best options for the money and quality in this article as I felt that most people reading this will be beginners or enthusiasts looking to expand their gear list. If you enjoyed this article or feel like I missed anything, let me know in the comments below! As always, thank you for reading along. If you’d like to read more related articles, be sure to check out my articles on How To Earn Money From Photography On Instagram and Photography Equipment Essentials For Beginners In 2023.

This article contains Amazon Affiliate links. If you make a purchase via one of these links, I will receive commission at no additional cost to you. As always, thank you for your support!

zn-logo-01.png

The Best Camera Equipment for Landscape Photography

Written by: Zach Nichols

February 2, 2023

© Zach Nichols Photography

Zach NicholsComment