The Best Focal Length for Landscape Photography

The Landscape Photography

Plansee in Austria
Canon EOS 5D mark IV + Canon EF 24-70mm @33mm f/2.8L II USM/ ISO 400 - f/6.3 - 1/400 sec

Landscape photography is a highly sought after genre among many amateur photographers. As a photographer, it is crucial to have a good understanding of the technical aspects of photography. This includes having knowledge of the best focal length to use when taking landscape photographs.

To capture the beauty of nature, one must first decide what type of landscape they are trying to capture. A wide-angle lens is typically the most popular choice for landscape photography. This type of lens allows you to capture a wider field of view and is ideal for capturing the vastness of a landscape.

The best focal length for landscape photography is typically between 14mm and 35mm. This range allows you to capture the breadth of the landscape without losing too much detail or perspective. However, it is important to keep in mind that the specific focal length you choose will depend on the type of landscape you want to capture, as well as your personal style and preferences.

In addition to focal length, other technical aspects such as aperture, shutter speed, and ISO also play a crucial role in capturing stunning landscape photographs. With the right knowledge and techniques, you can take breathtaking images that truly capture the beauty of nature. However, in this blog, we will specifically focus on the focal length.

Focal Length and Landscape Photography

Focal length is an essential aspect of photography that determines the angle of view and perspective of a photograph. For landscape photography, a wide-angle lens is a popular choice. A wide-angle lens typically has a focal length between 14mm to 35mm, allowing you to capture a wider view of the landscape. A wide-angle lens also creates a sense of depth in the image, making it more engaging and immersive.

When I first started my career, I personally always used a 24-70mm lens at 24mm to shoot landscapes. However, years later, I bought a 15-35mm lens. Although the 24-70mm is a better choice for an all-around lens due to its ability to take awesome portraits and work well for travel photography and if you need the extra width, you can always stitch a panorama out of multiple pictures.

Choosing the Right Focal Length

When choosing the right focal length for landscape photography, it's essential to consider the subject and the surrounding environment. A wide-angle lens is suitable for capturing the grandeur of vast landscapes, such as mountains, beaches, and forests. However, if you want to emphasize a particular subject, such as a tree or a rock formation, a longer focal length, such as 50mm to 200mm, may be more appropriate.

My go-to lenses for landscape photography are the 15-35mm for epic shots and the 100-500mm for details or distant mountains. Normally, getting a good composition with a wide-angle lens is more complicated because of the many factors in the frame. However, with a telephoto lens, you can isolate your subject and show exactly what you want. The choice depends on the storytelling and how you want to tell your story.

I always describe my choice of lenses as extremist because I prefer to shoot either extremely wide or extremely close.

Choosing the Right Aperture

Aperture is another important technical aspect to consider when taking landscape photographs. The aperture determines the amount of light that enters the camera and affects the depth of field in the image. For landscape photography, a small aperture (high f-number) is typically preferred to ensure the entire image is in focus. This is especially important when capturing vast landscapes, where you want as much of the image in focus as possible.

A good rule of thumb is to use an aperture between f/8 and f/16 for landscape photography. However, the specific aperture you choose will depend on the lighting conditions and the effect you want to achieve. If you want to create a shallow depth of field to emphasize a particular subject, you may want to use a wider aperture (lower f-number). Conversely, if you want to capture more detail throughout the image, you may want to use a smaller aperture (higher f-number). You may wonder, why should I purchase an f/2.8 lens for landscape photography when I could buy an f/4 lens for less money instead?

The primary advantage of using an f/2.8 lens for landscape photography is its ability to capture images in low-light conditions. This is especially useful during sunrise or sunset when the lighting is constantly changing. Additionally, an f/2.8 lens can provide a shallower depth of field, which can help isolate specific subjects within the landscape. However, it's important to note that these benefits come at a higher cost, as f/2.8 lenses are typically more expensive and larger compared to f/4 lenses. When taking pictures, I usually shoot at f/2.8 to f/4, because one of my favorite photographers, Alex Strohl, said that's how the human eyes see the world. And he's right - when we look at a landscape, we don't see everything in focus at once. However, I've been using slower apertures like f/8 and f/16 more often lately, when I feel it's necessary.

In my opinion, some images look better with higher apertures while others do not. Therefore, there is no "correct" aperture for landscape photography. However, if you have the possibility and extra funds to purchase an f/2.8 lens, I would recommend doing so.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the best focal length for landscape photography is a wide-angle lens. It allows you to capture the vastness of the landscape and create a sense of depth in the image. However, choosing the right focal length ultimately depends on the subject and the surrounding environment. By considering these factors, you can select the appropriate focal length and capture stunning landscape photographs. Unless you are an expert in storytelling and your photography style is focused on close-ups, a telephoto lens alone may not suffice. However, it can be a very good complement to a wide-angle lens.

My recommendations are:

Invest in a wide-angle and a telephoto lens.
1. Consider purchasing a 15-35mm lens paired with a 70-200mm or 100-400mm lens.
2. Alternatively, prime lenses such as a 20mm f/1.4 or a 16mm f/2.8 (very inexpensive) and a 70-200mm or 100mm macro are also good options.
Alternatively, consider a zoom lens with a range covering both wide-angle and mid-telephoto focal lengths.
1. 24-70mm f/2.8 lens (this was everything that I needed to start my career)
2. or a 24-105mm f/4 lens