Best Lens for Travel Photography: What to Pack and Why

Choosing the best lens for travel photography can feel like a minefield.

It’s the night before your trip. Your bed’s covered in gear, your bag’s half-zipped, and you’re weighing up what can stay and what absolutely has to come.

You don’t want to lug extra weight. But you also don’t want to miss the shot of a lifetime because you brought the wrong lens.

You’ve probably already read a bunch of “best travel lens” blogs. And now?

You’re more confused than when you started. Everyone’s got different opinions, and most of them don’t feel like they were written by people who actually travel.

That’s where we’re different.

We’ve been on the road shooting travel photography for over five years across tropical jungles, bustling cities, remote islands and misty mountain trails.

We’ve captured some incredible sights… and missed a few too. Mostly because we packed the wrong lens. But we’ve learnt what works (and what really doesn’t), so you don’t have to make the same mistakes.

This guide cuts through the fluff to help you choose the best lens for travel photography based on your style and trip type.

We’ll show you exactly what to look for in a travel lens, which ones we rely on, and how to choose the right option for your style of travel.

You’ll learn👇

• Whether Zoom or Prime is the right fit for your travels
  
• The best all-rounder lens we’d pack if we could only bring one
  
• Real-life pros and cons of the lenses we use on every trip
  
• The lens accessories we always make space for

Whether you’re planning a city break or trekking deep into the mountains, this guide will help you find the lens that lets you travel light and shoot like a pro.

What you’ll be shooting while you travel

One of the biggest challenges with travel photography is that you’re not just shooting one style.

You’re photographing everything.

Landscapes at sunrise, portraits of people you meet, fleeting street scenes and the odd bit of wildlife. It’s a mix of genres all wrapped into one adventurous package!

Unlike shooting in a controlled studio where everything stays consistent, travel throws you into unpredictable light, fast-changing weather and spontaneous moments. 

So, your lens needs to be as versatile as you are.

It has to handle sweeping mountain vistas one minute and close-up portraits or bustling markets the next.

Zoom vs Prime: Travel Photography Lens Comparison

When it comes to the best lens for travel photography you can find some conflicting information. Some photographers recommend using prime lenses for travel, but honestly, we think that’s a huge mistake!

When you’re on the road, things happen fast. You don’t always have the time or the space to swap lenses or reframe your shot by physically moving closer. 

Prime lenses might give you slightly sharper images, but when you’re out in the real world, that sharpness can come at the cost of missed moments.

And let’s be real, most modern zoom lenses, especially the higher-end ones, are incredibly sharp now. 

The flexibility of a zoom means you’re far more likely to capture a great shot when the unexpected happens. For travel photography, adaptability wins.

Here’s a quick travel photography lens comparison to help you decide for yourself.👇

Feature	Prime Lenses	Zoom Lenses
Image Quality	Often slightly sharper	Modern zooms are very sharp, especially pro-level ones
Weight	Lighter and smaller	Heavier, especially with wider aperture ranges
Flexibility	Fixed focal length – you need to move to reframe	Multiple focal lengths in one lens – great for fast-changing situations
Low Light Performance	Often have wider apertures (like f/1.8 or f/1.4)	Some zooms struggle in low light unless you go for f/2.8 models
Best For	Planned shots, portraits, specific creative looks	Travel, fast-moving scenes, a variety of subjects
Downside	Missed shots if you can’t move quickly enough	Bulkier and heavier, more expensive for high-end models

Weight vs Versatility – what matters most?

If you’re trying to decide between a lightweight lens for travel or a pro-level zoom, think about how long you’ll be carrying your gear. Zoom lenses are known for their versatility, but that often comes at a cost, and we don’t just mean the price.

The two biggest factors that affect versatility are focal length and aperture. The more zoom range and low-light performance you want, the more likely you are to end up with a heavy lens.

Cheaper zoom lenses usually come with a variable aperture. That means the maximum aperture changes as you zoom in.

For example, a 35–150mm f/3.5–5.6 lens will only let you shoot at f/3.5 when you’re wide at 35mm. Zoom in to 150mm and you’re down to f/5.6. And that drop-off isn’t subtle, it often kicks in fast.

That’s a problem if you’re shooting in low light and trying to avoid pushing your ISO too high. But on the flip side you’ll have a nice lightweight lens for travel that can do most jobs pretty well.

On the other hand, constant aperture zoom lenses like those with f/2.8 throughout the range give you more creative flexibility. You can zoom all the way in and still shoot at the same wide aperture.

This is especially handy in darker environments or when you want a shallower depth of field. But they’re usually heavier and significantly pricier. That matters when you’re on long hikes, climbing volcanoes, or just trying to pack light.

There are some exceptions, though. I’ve been using the first version of the Sony G Master 24–70mm for over five years, and the image quality has been incredible.

But it’s like lugging around a bazooka, especially when paired with my camera.

Recently though, while travelling, I got to try the newer version through a friend.

It’s game-changingly lighter than the first version. Definitely an upgrade I’d jump at, but the price tag has kept it on my wish list for now. It’s undoubtedly the best lens for travelling because it’s lightweight and has the same amazing image quality as its predecessor.

Cost vs Performance – is it worth spending more?

Like most things in photography, you usually get what you pay for.

Higher-end zoom lenses tend to deliver sharper images, richer contrast, and quicker autofocus. But unless you’re zooming in at 100% and editing every detail, you probably won’t notice a huge difference.

For most people – especially if you’re sharing online or printing standard sizes – the improvement is subtle.

Constant aperture lenses sit at the top of the zoom lens food chain. They’re pricey, but you’re getting consistent performance across the zoom range, great low-light capability, and pro-level build quality. If you’re committed to growing your photography skills and want gear that can keep up, they’re a solid investment.

Variable aperture lenses, though, offer a brilliant middle ground. They’re more budget-friendly, still offer great image quality, and pack a lot of value for the price. While they might not be built quite as tough, often using plastic components instead of metal, for most travellers, that’s not a dealbreaker. In fact, the lighter weight can be a real bonus. We’ve even been tempted to swap out our heavy pro gear for these more compact alternatives on longer trips where every gram counts.

Kit lenses are the most affordable option. You can often find them for under £100, and they’re a fantastic starting point. They won’t give you the best performance, but they’re a great way to learn your camera and start capturing solid travel shots without breaking the bank.

But if you want to push your photography further, upgrading your lens will have a bigger impact on image quality than upgrading your camera body.

Important considerations: when choosing a travel lens

When you’re on the road a lot, it’s not just about image quality. Durability and usability matter just as much.

Weatherproofing

Weatherproofing is a big one. We’ve had our gear soaked by rain, misted over by waterfalls, and splashed in boats more times than we can count. If your lens isn’t weather-sealed, it’s only a matter of time before moisture causes damage. For serious travel photographers, weather resistance is a must-have.

Shooting video

If you’re planning to shoot professional-looking video as well as stills, you’ll want a lens with a low f-stop. Wider apertures (like f/2.8 or lower) give you that dreamy depth of field, and they’re essential for shooting in low-light scenes without cranking your ISO too high.

Extra Features

Some lenses come with extra features, like a zoom lock to stop your lens from creeping when it’s tucked in your bag and stopping them from getting damaged. High-end lenses may also have customisable buttons like a focus hold. In theory, these are great… but honestly, in the middle of a fast-moving scene, we often forget they’re even there and just adjust directly on the camera body.

The best lens for travel photography if you can only take one

We use three lenses because we want a varied range of focal lengths at fast apertures. But we get it, not everyone wants to lug around three lenses in their bag.

So, what’s the best one lens for travel photography if you can only pick one?

The f/2.8 24-70mm travel lens is a favourite among pros and beginners alike due to its balance of reach, sharpness and versatility.

There are different lenses with slight variations in focal length and aperture, like 28-75mm f/2.0, which are just as good. The most important thing is the focal length and widest aperture value of f/2.8.

They’re wide enough to capture sprawling landscapes but also have enough reach for travel portraits with a nicely blurred background. The focal range is incredibly versatile, covering most of the scenarios you’ll come across.

Sure, there are times when a wider angle or longer zoom would be helpful. But for general shooting, the 24–70mm strikes the perfect balance. It’s the lens that’s almost always attached to our camera when we leave the hotel and more often than not, it’s still there when we return.

To make sure you get the best performance in low light, you will want to choose an aperture range like f/2.8. And make sure you pick one with a constant widest aperture throughout the whole zoom range. 

If you’re looking for a solid all-rounder and only want to carry one lens, the 24-70mm is the best zoom lens for travel photography.

Best Sony lens for travel photography? – Our go-to kit

We travel with what’s often called the “holy trinity” of lenses for our Sony A7Riii.

Three zoom lenses that cover all the focal lengths you’ll realistically need for non-specialist travel photography.

From ultra-wide to telephoto, this trio gives us the flexibility to shoot almost anything without constantly swapping gear or carrying a full camera bag. We’ve taken these lenses all over the world, and they’ve performed outstandingly, being rugged, reliable and still going strong after years of consistent use.

Here’s what’s in our bag:👇

Sony Vario-Tessar Zeiss T FE 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS Lens 

The Sony Zeiss 16-35mm f/4 is a fantastic landscape photography lens, especially when you want to include a subject in the foreground. It also comes in handy for indoor spaces like cathedrals or museums, and allows us to include more in our shots due to the super wide angle.

✅ What we love

• It’s a very lightweight lens (500g), which is great for travel. Its small size means it’s really easy to include in your day bag without compromising much space.
• With built-in OSS (image stabilisation), it’s great for shooting handheld in low-light situations like the inside of a temple or museum. Also great for shooting video if you want to do that too.
• It’s weather sealed, meaning you can be confident shooting epic waterfalls while getting blasted by water spray. It’s also very robust, so you can throw it in your backpack and not worry about it.
• The variable focal length of 16-35mm means you have some flexibility, so you can use the lens for more than just shooting landscapes. 

❌ Cons 

• The widest aperture is f/4, which isn’t great for astro photography and low-light video. If these things are important to you, then you may want to consider the Sony Gmaster f/2.8 16-35mm, although it’s a considerable price hike.
• Compared to other manufacturers, the lens is more expensive. But it comes with the robust build quality of Sony lenses as well as image stabilisation to compensate.
• It’s been around for a while, so it doesn’t have all the new tech the newer visions come with. 

Sony FE 24-70mm f/2.8 GM Lens for Sony E

The Sony Gmaster 24-70mm f/2.8 is an all rounder and the best standard zoom lens for travel photography.

It handles street scenes, portraits, detail shots and landscapes. If we could only take one lens, this would be it. We’ve tested several options, but for anyone using Sony, this is the best travel lens for Sony cameras.

However, we do recommend picking up the newer lighter version and paying the extra.

✅ What we love

• Fantastic image quality and super sharp. Amazing bokeh at f/2.8.
• 24-70mm focal range covers a wide range of what travel photographers shoot.
• Super fast auto focus, which is great for shooting professional-looking video content.
• It’s a great weather sealed travel lens that is built to last.
• Constant 2.8 aperture allows us to zoom in and keep shooting even in nighttime festivals and markets.

❌ Cons 

• It’s not cheap (pssst, it’s worth it though)
• The weight and size certainly take getting used to. We’ve carried it around all day on many occasions, and it does wear on you. Luckily, the new version is much lighter.
• It doesn’t have image stabilisation in the lens, so it relies on the in-camera stabilisation. But considering I just found that out while researching for this blog after using the lens for 5 years…. It’s clearly not noticeable.

Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Di III VXD Lens

We use the Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 lens for product, wildlife photography and those special shots where we want to compress the background and really emphasise scale.

It’s lightweight and super sharp which is why we think it’s the best telephoto zoom for travel photography.

✅ What we love

• It’s super lightweight (for a zoom lens). After using a few other telephoto zooms, we realised that this is the only one that’s realistically suitable for travel.
• The max aperture of f/2.8 means we can use it for night time shooting as well as create great background blur.
• Very sharp images! Despite their significantly lower price tag, Tamron lenses produce image sharpness comparable to that of their expensive counterparts. Not exactly the same, but close enough, especially if you’re not a professional photographer. 
• The price. It can be picked up for £999, which is a bargain for such a great lens.

❌ Cons 

• It doesn’t have built-in lens image stabilisation, which is nice to have with longer zoom ranges. 
• Shorter reach than its competitors. Usually, this type of lens will go up to 200mm. With the Tamron going to 180mm, there is some compromise, but that’s why it’s so lightweight.

We also experimented with a Sigma 100-400mm f5-6.3 Contemporary DG DN OS for a while. It was fantastic for wildlife and really pulled in distant subjects.

But in the end, the sheer weight made it a burden on longer trips, and honestly, we didn’t use it enough to justify carrying it. That said, we really missed the 400mm zoom while shooting wildlife in Borneo, which just goes to show that there’s always a compromise.

If you want a cheaper alternative to the Sony Gmaster lens consider buying the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8. Although the lens isn’t quite as sharp as the Sony Gmaster (still only noticeable when zooming right in) the £699 price tag more than compensates for it.

It’s main drawback for us compared to the Sony is the minimum 28mm focal length. When going from open spaces to enclosed spaces we feel we would then have to change lenses to a wide angle which isn’t ideal. We also use our Sony Gmaster for video and when comparing the video quality side by side with the Tamron the Sony really is in a class of its own.

If you’re an amateur photographer and just want to take photos then the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 is perfect for you.

It’s also very lightweight, making it the best lens for travel photography if you’re on a budget.

If you’ve got the budget, renting a specialist lens for a specific trip can be a smart move. That way you get the benefit without the ongoing bulk or cost. But they can be incredibly difficult to source in less developed countries so it’s better to rent the lens in your home country for the duration of a particular trip.

Must-have lens accessories for travel photography

Your lenses are a serious investment, and keeping them protected and performing at their best is key when you’re constantly on the move. Here are the accessories we never travel without and some of our favourite pieces of photography kit.

• UV Lens Filter
  This is essential for travel photographers. A clear UV filter won’t affect your image quality, but it’ll protect your lens glass from scratches, dust, and water. We often don’t even bother with lens caps, we just rely on the filter. If it gets damaged, it’s a cheap and easy replacement compared to a scratched front element. We’ve been using a HOYA UV filter for years now and it’s still going strong, with no scratches.

• Lens Pouches
  We’re big fans of neoprene lens pouches. They’ve got a compact design that means you can throw your lenses into a backpack alongside the rest of your gear without worrying about damage. Great for saving space and keeping things organised when you’re on the move.

• Rocket Air Blower
  Super handy for cleaning dust off the rear element of your lens – the bit that connects to your camera. It’s small, light, and saves you from having to mess about with cloths in delicate areas. We use the Giottos Rocket Air Blower as it’s one of the best on the market and inexpensive.

• Lens Cleaning Kit
  If you want the best image quality, keeping your lenses clean is a must. While we aim to clean ours after every use, in reality it’s more like twice a month. A basic kit with a microfibre cloth, cleaning solution and brush will go a long way. We do however recommend using the rocket blower instead of the one in the Zeiss kit.

• Lens Cloth
  A good lens cloth to use when you’re out and about is essential. Especially if you’re shooting in wet environments where you need to wipe water droplets off of your filter. We are constantly losing our lens cloths and plan on purchasing a Spudz lens cloth due to the fact the cloth is attached to its storage pouch and can clip onto our camera bag.

What next? Learn how to take amazing travel photos

The best lens for travel photography is one that fits your style, keeps up with the unpredictable pace of travel and helps you capture the moments that matter without weighing you down.

For most situations, a high-quality 24–70mm f/2.8 strikes the perfect balance. It’s versatile enough to handle wide landscapes, tight portraits and everything in between.

Add supporting lenses if your trip calls for something more specialised, but don’t fall into the trap of overpacking.

If you’re still finding your feet or feel like your photos don’t quite reflect what you felt in the moment, that’s normal.

Great shots come with time, practice and knowing a few simple techniques.

📸 Next up: Our top tips to improve your travel photography – real-world advice to help you take better photos on your next trip.