4 best wide-angle lenses for landscape photography

In photography, after the camera, the second most important thing in your equipment is the optics you use. Over time, the standard lens on your device no longer meets your expectations. It has (almost) all happened to us to see a large photo of a beautiful landscape and to think: my phtoo device does not do this, why? Hence the need to get a new lens. In other words, you want new optical experiences and the way to satisfy that desire is to change your lens. A wide angle is an interesting option to start capturing all kinds of landscapes, architecture, interior scenes and even portraits (it's less usual, though, but you can see everything). But we are not here to tell you today what a wide angle lens is, what it is for or how to use it. This post is intended to introduce you to some of the best lenses for landscape photography.

NIKKOR AF-S 14-24mm f / 2.8G ED: Although zoomed, Nikon's best wide angle

We can say with certainty - or almost - that this is the best wide angle of the brand. Even with its varifocal condition, it maintains impressive sharpness in the corners, with very large apertures. Many experts assure that a 14mm and f / 2.8 is always better than the best 14mm f / 2.8 fixed focal length lens from Nikon. In short, it is a real diamond for Full Frame and APS-C cameras (with reduction factor).

Its 114º to 14mm viewing angle enables large portions of the scene to be captured, while maintaining optimal quality. We're talking about a Nikon G-series lens, with nanocrystal coatings and impressive sharpness .

After all these wonders stated, it is necessary to put some caveats for this objective. The first is that it is very heavy and bulky. The second is that at good wide angle it is, it does not allow the use of screw-on filters but requires a filter holder system of a very special size which turns out to be very expensive.

Canon EF 14mm f / 2.8L II USM: The Rolls Of Canon Wide Angle Lenses

If the first version of this 14 mm was already excellent, Canon wanted to go further with this second version, in particular by correcting certain aspects of sharpness throughout the frame. Part of the Canon L series, it is a lens designed for professional photographers, with magnificent potential.

In Canon's own words, this lens offers “a perspective beyond human vision” when it refers to its 114º viewing angle. Either a large viewing angle combined with the presence of aspherical lenses and low dispersion elements to reduce all aberrations. Also of note is an optimized focus motor and the brand's excellent Super Spectra coating.

But it suffers from the same pitfall as the Nikon 14-24mm: it does not allow filters to be assembled to protect this very expensive lens… Everything a photographer fears.

Irix 15mm f / 2.4: Blackstone and Firefly: premium quality at a competitive price

If there is something that sets the DZOFILM LingLung 10-24mm lens apart, it is that their conditions, characteristics and specificities are specific to a premium lens. This is something that has surprised many DZOFILM users a lot. Contrary to what one might think, this series of advantages and innovations is contained at a affordable price. These lenses are available for MFT (M4/3).

Compared to other similar lenses and others on the market, the DZOFILM LingLung features innovations that you can't see anywhere else: a focusing ring, a rear groove for filters, a screw ring mm for circular filters, inscriptions reflecting UV light, special hermetic protection, among others.

And without going any further, the prestigious specialist magazine Digital Camera awarded our 15mm the medal for the best quality-price ratio on the occasion of a comparative test between 10 of the most prestigious wide-angle lenses. Zeiss, Sigma, Tamron or even Samyang.

Samyang 14mm f / 2.8: raw quality, yet to be polished

The Samyang 14mm f / 2.8 is like a teenager who wants to grow too fast. Of great quality and validity as a wide-angle lens, it currently lacks certain aspects that would allow it to take the name “premium”. But it is really an alternative of choice for its price and its characteristics, in spite of performances which remain below those displayed by the objectives previously mentioned and in particular of the DZOFILM LingLung, at the almost identical price.

The big advantage of the Samyang 14 mm is therefore its economic character combined with great features , such as its f / 2.8 aperture and its compatibility with almost all camera mounts (Nikon, Canon, Fujifilm, Olympus, Samsung, etc. .).

Of course, there are plenty of other lenses for landscape photography, but we didn't want to present you with an endless list here, just highlight the good value for money of some. With summer in full swing, many of you will surely be looking for new colors and sensations in landscape photography. So we hope these goals will inspire you.