The breathtaking beauty of landscapes has always captivated us, and capturing that beauty through photography is truly an art form. When it comes to landscape photography, having the right lens is essential to achieving the perfect shot.
If you’re a Canon camera user, you already know the brand’s reputation for top-quality equipment. However, with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide on the perfect lens for your needs.
But fear not, as we’ve done the research for you! We scoured the internet for expert reviews, customer feedback, and comparisons to bring you our top picks for the best landscape lenses for Canon cameras.
Whether you’re an amateur photographer or a seasoned pro, our guide will help you navigate the world of Canon lenses and make an informed decision. So sit back, grab your camera, and let’s dive in!
Key Takeaways
- When buying a landscape lens, it’s important to consider what you’re hoping to achieve with it, as the best option will look different for everyone.
- Field of view (FOV) is a crucial factor to think about, as wider angles generally work best for landscape photography.
- Prime lenses offer superior sharpness and optical performance but are fixed at one focal length, while zoom lenses offer a variable focal length that allows for zooming in or out.
- Features like focus tracking and image stabilization can be useful for shooting moving subjects and reducing vibration and image noise.
- Weatherproofing is important to protect your lens from damage when shooting outdoors.
- Anti-aberration features help to maintain colour accuracy and eliminate image noise.
- It’s crucial to ensure that the lens you choose is compatible with your Canon camera’s mounting system, and Amazon’s ConfirmedFit compatibility checker can help with this.
- The Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Zoom Lens, which is versatile and has image stabilization.
- The Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Canon is another option that is particularly suitable for landscape photographers and videographers due to its unique constant f/1.8 aperture.
- The Canon 17mm f/4L TS-E Tilt-Shift Lens is an option for architecture photography, while the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Lens is an expensive but versatile option with an excellent optical performance and edge-to-edge sharpness.
- The Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM is a great option for nature photography with exceptional reach, quiet operation, and optical performance.
- The Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM is a wide-angle prime lens that delivers great edge-to-edge sharpness and color accuracy, perfect for sweeping landscapes.
- The Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM is a pricey but versatile telephoto lens with a 100-400mm zoom range and anti-distortion features for wildlife and sports photography.
- The Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM is a durable telephoto lens with great dust and waterproofing and exceptional reach, ideal for outdoor landscape photography.
- Canon’s ASC coating is a useful feature that reduces issues like backlit flaring and ghosting.
- Price can be a drawback for some of these lenses, but the quality and performance are worth the investment for serious photographers.
Things to Look out for When Buying a Landscape Lens
Before we dive into our specific recommendations, it’s worth briefly exploring what makes a lens right for landscape photography in the first place. The more you know about what makes a lens great, the easier it will be to find an option that works best for you.
It’s also important to take some time and consider what you’re actually hoping to achieve with your new landscape lens. The ‘best’ option in the world is going to look different for everyone. It all comes down to the type of photographer you are and the photography you get up to.
FOV
Your field of view, or FOV as it’s also known, is a super important stat to think about when buying a new landscape lens for your Canon. Wider angles usually work best for landscape photography, but the specific FOV will depend on your preferences. Do you want an ultra-wide? Something ‘crazy’ like a fisheye?
Do you need to be able to zoom in and out of your subject(s). Finding your answers to these questions will go a long way in narrowing down your search. The FOV of a given lens is determined by its focal length. If you want to learn more about the subject, check out our article here.
Zooms VS Primes
Remember that question about zooming into your subject? You’ll need to know the answer if you’re deciding between a fixed lens or a prime. As a very general rule, prime lenses offer superior levels of sharpness and optical performance but they’re fixed at one focal length.
Conversely, zoom lenses come with a variable focal length that allows the user to zoom in or out of their scene within a certain range. The trade-off here is that optical performance takes a hit. If you like to shoot wildlife or dynamic subjects, though, a zoom is often the right way to go.
Focus Tracking
While we’re on the topic of moving subjects, features like focus tracking can be an absolute must as far as wildlife and unpredictable scenes are concerned. It makes it much easier to lock into what you’re shooting and keep it sharply in focus.
For landscape photos of flying birds, for example, this can prove indispensable.
Image Stabilization
It goes without saying that you should probably be using a tripod for your landscape shoots. That said, image stabilization features can give your work a much-needed boost. Look for video and photo features designed to reduce vibration and eliminate image noise.
When it’s time to start shooting, you’ll be glad you have them.
Weatherproofing
A huge chunk of landscape photography takes place outdoors. For this reason, it’s important to double-check that any Canon lens you consider comes with the weatherproofing you’ll need.
The last thing you want to do is splash out $1000+ on a new lens only for it to break down on you because of fungus invasions or other damage. Look for adequate protection from dust, water, and debris.
Anti-Aberration Features
Most modern lenses come with at least reasonable anti-aberration features. In short, they help to maintain color accuracy, eliminate image noise, and keep your final photograph looking exactly as you’d like it,
Look out for these features when shopping, especially if you’re considering a more premium option.
How to Know if a Lens Will Work With Your Canon
It should come as no surprise that the best landscape Canon lens will be compatible with your camera. We run through the main things to consider in this regard to avoid disappointment.
Mount Types for Canon Lenses
It all comes down to the mounting system your camera uses.
Canon cameras use three main mounting systems for compatible lenses. These are as follows:
- EF
- EF-S
- EF-M
One of the simplest ways to check this is to look for indicators/ markings on the lens mount at the front of your camera body. This should tell you which mounting system you’ll need to look out for. Check out Canon’s helpful guide here if you’re still unsure.
If you’re dead set on an ‘incompatible’ lens, you could consider lens mount adaptors. Just remember that you may encounter compatibility issues and disappointment if you don’t do your research.
Amazon ConfirmedFit
If you’re using any of the affiliate links on this page, Amazon has a super handy compatibility checker called “ConfirmedFit”. At the top of most camera lens listings, it lets you fill out your camera’s specific make and model for some much-needed peace of mind.
Use it before buying to guarantee you get what you need!
The Best Landscape Lens for Canon – Our Top Picks
Let’s get into it! This section contains our top picks for the best landscape Canon lenses money can buy. We’ve trawled through online reviews, comparisons, and feature lists to come up with the suggestions below.
We’ve included options for a broad range of budgets and requirements so there should be something here for almost everyone.
Canon EF-S 15-85mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM Zoom Lens
Right at the top of our list is this EF-S mount lens from Canon. It comes with an excellent zoom range for those who need versatility when taking landscape photos. With an aperture range of f/3.5-5.6, this lens should perform very well across a broad spectrum of lighting environments.
Even your night-time shoots will turn out great! Remarkable levels of precision have gone into the overall design of this zoom lens. Image stabilization in particular deserves a whole lot of praise. Handheld shooting will still look stable and noise-free.
The comfortable, wide-angle FOV delivered by this shooter should give you more than enough space to fit your scene into frame. With prices regularly falling below the $800 mark, we think this one is an absolute steal. Check it out if you haven’t already.
Pros:
- Great optical performance
- Broad variable focal length
- Wide FOV for landscape shooting
- Excellent image stabilization
Cons:
- It’s a bit bulky and heavy for our tastes
Sigma 18-35mm F1.8 Art DC HSM Lens for Canon
Next up is this fantastic option from Sigma. It comes with a similar zoom range to the lens listed above, only this time it’s $100 cheaper to sweeten the deal. This is a particularly good choice for landscape photographers and videographers – it comes with a slew of features that make it a great fit for these kinds of work.
The unique f/1.8 aperture is maintained at a constant throughout the full zoom range of this shooter. In fact, this was the first lens of its kind ever produced. The result is levels of speed and precision that remain unrivalled by lots of the competition. We’re big fans of this one.
For outdoor shoots, this product should stay nice and comfortable for longer than you might expect. It’s surprisingly lightweight and compact for a lens of this size and shouldn’t take up much extra room among your existing gear.
The versatility and design of this option make it the best canon lens for landscape and portrait work if you’re an average Joe.
Pros:
- Unique, constant aperture of f/1.8
- Super speedy and accurate
- Great zoom range for landscapes
- Very versatile
Cons:
- Can have focus problems in some cameras
Canon 17mm f/4L TS-E Tilt-Shift Lens
This option won’t be for everyone, but it will produce some incredible results in the right pair of hands. If your landscape photography involves a lot of architecture photos, this is probably the best suggestion for you on this page.
It comes with some impressive tilt-shift features to help you squeeze every last drop of ‘oomph’ out of your landscape shoots. Two areas where this lens really shines are distortion reduction and edge-to-edge sharpness.
The entire frame will stay razor-sharp no matter what you throw at it. When it comes to tilt-shift magic, this lens definitely delivers. The vertical and horizontal shifting mechanisms can be operated independently. This lends a welcome boost to your versatility when working.
You’ll be working with a 104° FOV when taking landscape shots. This should be more than enough room to display buildings and cities in all their glory. We know this lens won’t be for everyone, but it’s perfect for the right buyer.
Pros:
- Excellent tilt-shift features for architecture
- Edge-to-edge sharpness
- Unique FOV
Cons:
- Tilt-shift isn’t for everyone
Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Lens
This EF-mount lens ticks a lot of the landscape photography boxes. At $2000+, it’s far from cheap. For the right buyer, however, it more than justifies its price tag – this thing is something of a beast!
Expect exceptional levels of sharpness, color accuracy, and overall optical performance. Your landscape shots stand to get a significant upgrade with a lens like this. One of the things that really stands out with this option is how consistently sharp your landscape photos will be.
Right at the very edges of your frame, everything will remain crystal-clear. With a reasonable zoom range and exceptional overall performance, this is a seriously versatile piece of kit in the right pair of hands.
Pros:
- Brilliant edge-to-edge sharpness
- Great zoom range
- Very versatile for landscape shoots
Cons:
- Definitely not a budget option
Best Canon Lens for Nature Photography – EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS III USM
If you’re looking for the best Canon lens for nature photography, we think this EF-mount option is definitely worth a look. It comes with a killer zoom range, ultra-quiet operation, and staggering levels of optical performance. Your wildlife photos have never seen anything quite like this.
One thing that can really get in the way of wildlife shoots is a noisy lens. Wild animals are notoriously skittish, with even the slightest noise frightening them away. Fortunately, the ultrasonic motor on this Canon lens is nice and quiet.
Add this to the fact that you’ll be able to maintain exceptional sharpness from very large distances, and you’re looking at a product that’s basically perfect for nature photography. For landscape and wildlife work, it’s hard to go wrong with this one.
Pros:
- Exceptional reach
- Focus motor is quiet and super fast
- Brilliant optical quality
Cons:
- More than $2000
Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM Wide Angle Lens
This fixed prime lens comes with a comfortably wide FOV. If you’re going for big, sweeping landscapes for your photography, this one’s definitely a good way to go. It’s a touch more affordable than the previous two options but still packs quite the punch.
Even when working with a full-frame camera, you shouldn’t have to worry about distortions at the edge of your frame. This lens delivers spectacular levels of edge-to-edge sharpness, speed, and color accuracy. We’re huge fans of its overall design.
This all comes down to the decades of experience behind the Canon name. They’re legends in the world of photography equipment for a reason. If you’re looking for a great Canon prime lens for nature photography, we strongly recommend taking a look at this one.
Pros:
- Nice wide FOV
- Great edge-to-edge sharpness
- Legendary Canon quality
Cons:
- Low-light performance is just ok
Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens
Do you find yourself shooting a lot of sports subjects or wildlife scenes? Need a far-reaching telephoto with remarkable levels of versatility? This option will certainly cost you, but we think it’s well worth it. In terms of raw performance and flexibility, this EF-mount lens is tough to beat.
Its 100-400mm zoom range provides a ton of reach for getting the close-up results you need. The rotation-type zoom ring provides incredible levels of precision when adjusting your setup on the fly. This thing gives you a whole lot of control over your final landscape image.
Canon’s new ASC coating does a fantastic job here. It dramatically reduces the likelihood of issues like backlit flaring and ghosting. Anti-distortion features like these should be expected at this price point so they’re great to see here.
If you can stretch to the price tag, we think this is one of the best Canon telephoto lenses available in 2021.
Pros:
- Brilliant levels of reach
- Effective ASC coating for virtually no ghosting
- Very precise zoom ring and manual controls
- Super speedy focusing
Cons:
- Some users found it a touch too heavy
Canon EF 70-200mm f/4 L IS USM Lens
Last, but certainly not least, is this EF-mount lens from Canon. It’s another fantastic telephoto option that’s perfect for dynamic subjects such as sports and wildlife. For any landscape work that needs a little reach, this could be your new favorite lens.
It’s great to see that this lens comes with above-average dust and waterproofing as standard. A significant chunk of landscape photography takes place outdoors. For this reason, it’s critical that you double-check how well a given lens can stand up to the elements.
This 70-200mm lens should do just fine outdoors. It also comes with some pretty brilliant image stabilization features. Even if you’re shooting without a tripod, your landscape work should still be rock-solid.
This is a versatile high performer that’s a great fit for any landscape photography that needs a little extra reach.
Pros:
- Fast, quiet autofocus for outdoor shooting
- Exceptional reach with high levels of sharpness
- Great dust and waterproofing
- Durable overall build quality
Related
Best Canon lens for Sports photography
Best tripod for landscape photography
Best Landscape Lens for Canon – Last Word
As you wrap up your search for the perfect landscape lens for your Canon camera, remember that it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. The best lens for you will depend on your personal preferences, shooting style, and budget.
Before making a final decision, take some time to reflect on what you hope to achieve with your new lens. Are you aiming for wide-angle shots that capture the full scope of a sweeping vista? Or do you prefer a telephoto lens that allows you to focus on specific details in the landscape?
By understanding your unique needs and goals, you’ll be able to make an informed choice and invest in a lens that will serve you well for years to come.
So don’t rush the decision-making process, and don’t be afraid to try out a few different lenses before settling on one. With a little patience and experimentation, you’ll be well on your way to capturing stunning landscape photos that will take your breath away.