Top 3 travel lenses for your next trip
Those who like to travel and own a camera with an interchangeable lens mount enjoy a freedom that allows them to give free rein to their creativity even on vacation. However, this is where many photographers' opinions differ - fundamental discussions about the perfect equipment are inevitable.
Minimalists only take a single Lens with them. They consciously limit themselves in order to gain new perspectives. True to the motto: "Restrictions promote creativity". In this context, pancake lenses in particular can be very interesting: they imitate the street or cell phone look, but at the same time offer the significantly better image quality of a full-fledged camera, because restrictions can very well promote creativity.
Those who prefer to be prepared for every photographic situation, on the other hand, may find the perfect universal lens in this article - a lens that will find its permanent place in the photo case or, even better, in the photo backpack for the next trip.
#1 The Tamron 28-300mm f/4-7.1 Di III VC VXD Sony FE mount
With its 28 to 300 mm zoom range, the Tamron lens for the Sony FE mount can effortlessly cover all subjects from wide landscapes to fine details and can be easily stowed away in your handbag thanks to its compact design. With a length of 126 mm and a weight of 610 g, the very compact Lens is ideal for spontaneous city explorations and mountain hikes. The VC image stabilization ensures sharp hand-held shots even when shooting on the beach or in twilight. With a reproduction ratio of 1:2.8 at wide angle, you can take impressive close-ups of plants and details on the move. As it is moisture-resistant and equipped with fluorine coating, you remain flexible in rain or dust, e.g. on desert or safari adventures.
Product details:
- Full-frame Lens suitable for Sony FE mount
- 10.7x focal length range from 28 mm wide-angle to 300 mm telephoto
- first-class linear motor focus mechanism
- high level of comfort and ease of use
- outstanding imaging performance
- max. magnification WIDE 1:2.8
- max. magnification TELE 1:3.8
- VC image stabilizer up to 5 EV steps slower shutter speeds possible
- Focus control for assigning the camera function and the TAMRON Lens Utility function
- improved lens design for user-friendly operation
- Zoom lock mechanism
- suitable for sports, art, people, travel, landscape
- 67 mm filter size
#2 The Nikon Nikkor Z 28-400mm f/4.0-8 VR Nikon Z
The Nikon Lens goes one better in terms of zoom: with its record-breaking 14.3x zoom range from 28 to 400 mm, it offers maximum flexibility for nature and city trips and replaces several fixed focal lengths. As it weighs only 725 g and is 142 mm long, it can still be stowed away relatively easily in a rucksack and proves to be the ideal companion for day trips and mountain hikes. The VR image stabilization compensates for up to five stops of light, so you can take blur-free photos even at sunset or in historic buildings. As the autofocus is driven by a quiet and precise stepper motor, you can take unobtrusive shots in quiet environments and smooth video recordings. As the weatherproof design protects against splash water and dust, you can take relaxed photos on the beach or in the mountains. With a close-up limit that allows a magnification of 0.35x, creative close-ups are possible without changing the lens.
Product details:
- All-purpose zoom lens
- offers 28 mm in the wide-angle range, 400 mm in the super telephoto range
- 14.2x zoom
- optical image stabilizer with 5.0 f-stops
- Reproduction ratio of 1:2.8
- Close-up: 0.2m (wide-angle)
- Close-up: 1.2m (telephoto)
#3 The Sigma AF 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary Fujifilm X
With a continuous f/2.8 aperture throughout the 18-50mm range, the Sigma Lens delivers constant light intensity and soft bokeh, making it the perfect companion for evening city walks and strolls along the beach. Weighing only 290 g and measuring 74.5 mm, it is currently the most compact and lightest f/2.8 zoom for APS-C cameras and thus supports the desire to travel without additional luggage. The optical design, which includes three aspherical elements and an SLD lens, minimizes aberrations, while the in-camera correction reliably eliminates distortion and vignetting. As the stepper motor autofocus works quickly and almost noiselessly, discreet shots in temples and smooth video recordings are possible. With a close focusing distance of 12.1 cm, you can capture street scenes or shells on the shore at close range.
Product details:
- Sigma 18-50mm f/2.8 DC DN Contemporary
- compact APS-C zoom Lens
- compatible with high-speed autofocus
- Stepping motor
- supports DMF and AF&MF
- Internal focusing
- Super multi-layer coating
- Reflection and ghost image minimizing design
- each individual Lens runs through SIGMA's own MTF measuring system
- seven rounded aperture blades
- Dust and splash-proof
Luminous intensity, sharpness, conscious photography: Compact fixed focal lengths
Optimized for exactly one focal length Fixed focal lengths. As a result, they generally offer more sharpness and can be built to be faster. When traveling, however, they have the major disadvantage that you have to take more lenses with you and constantly change them. Nevertheless, many photographers do not use zooms even when on vacation. Many even only take a single fixed focal length with them, as this forces them to photograph much more deliberately. With the non-changeable image section, you have to decide how to use it depending on the subject and whether it makes a difference to take a step forwards, backwards or to the side. This allows you to concentrate on the essentials, whereas with a zoom you are more inclined to simply pull the trigger after changing the framing with a slight rotation. As we are talking about travel photography, we would like to recommend light and compact fixed focal lengths. Most major manufacturers offer very fast 50 mm normal focal lengths at a relatively low price, which can also be used for beautiful portraits and pictures in difficult lighting situations when not traveling. In detail, these are these Lens:{{u-m-b-r-e-c-h-e-r}
Canon RF 50mm f/1.8 STM Canon RF
- Canon RF 50 mm F1.8 STM
- precise, quiet focusing thanks to STM AF motor
- high lens speed 1:1.8 for creative play with selective focus
- excellent imaging performance thanks to aspherical lens
- up to 7 stops of image stabilization with the EOS R5/R6's in-body image stabilizer
- excellent closest focusing distance of 30 cm for
- Reproduction scale 1:4
- inexpensive and powerful
Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.4 Nikon Z
- fast Nikon Nikkor Z 50mm f/1.4 full-frame fixed focal length lens for Nikon Z
- ideal for portrait, travel, reportage and event photography
- soft bokeh
- Speed of 1:1.4 for creative flexibility
- impressive imaging performance
- fast, quiet autofocus
- Close focusing distance of 0.37 m
- Fixed focal length for video recordings
- intuitive controls
- weighs only approx. 420 g
Sony SEL 50mm f/1.8 Prime Sony FE-Mount
- Compact, lightweight and handy
- Luminous intensity f/1.8
- Ideal for poor lighting conditions
- Circular aperture with 7 blades for beautiful blur effects
- 75 mm focal length (35 mm equivalent) with APS-C sensor
Fujifilm XF 33mm f/1.4 R LM WR Fujifilm X
- Fujinon XF33mm F1.4 R LM WR
- universal standard focal length
- 33 mm fixed focal length (equivalent to 50 mm KB)
- suitable for the mirrorless system cameras of the X series
- high resolution
- brilliant image quality
- fast, precise and silent autofocus
- manual focusing made easy
Sigma 50mm f/1.4 DG DN ART L-Mount
- Fixed focal length Lens
- very fast: f/1.4
- uncompromising optical performance
- for mirrorless full-frame cameras
- High-speed AF for fast and convenient shooting
- powerful, yet slim and compact
- extensive functions and high build quality
- Sigma Art series
We hope you found some inspiration and look forward to seeing your photos from your trip. Simply use the #fotokoch in your social media accounts and link us on Instagram with @fotokochde or on Facebook with @fotokoch!
