15 Best Travel Lenses | Our Favorite Portable Camera Lenses

Are you a photographer or a person that loves to take pictures on their vacations? If this describes you, you have stumbled upon the right article! Today we will be looking at the best travel lenses for people that love to travel photography.

Being someone who likes to take photos wherever I go, whether I’m on a trip or not, I always have my main three lenses with me. A standard lens, a wide-angle, and a telephoto.

My standard lens is the lens I would say I use the most, as with many people who love to take pictures. This is meant to create a picture that replicates what the human eye sees.

Capture anything you find interesting on your next trip with the ease of a standard lens. The wide-angle lens can capture photos that the human eye could not necessarily capture at one point in time. These lenses are usually used for architecture and landscape photography.

Perfect for a mountain hike when you reach the peak! A telephoto lens is a special lens that can capture pictures from very far away. The subject can be separated from the background.

You are then able to have a shallow depth of field while focusing closely on the subject from afar length away. They even make a super-telephoto lens for professional sports and wildlife photographers, but we won’t touch on those because the lenses are so massive; we still want them to fit in your suitcase!

Let’s get into the best lenses for travel photography. Please be sure when reading this article to ensure that the camera lens model fits your specific camera.

With so many different types of models out there nowadays, it is hard to sort through them all. So be sure to do extra research before you click the buy button. This is meant to be a guide, but not necessarily geared toward one specific camera brand or another.

Disclaimer: This list is not in any particular order.

Best Camera Lenses for Travel

1. Canon EF-S IS Standard Zoom Lens

For travelers with a standard Canon brand camera, this lens is going to be the perfect go-to choice for you. This is the standard lens that they attach to just about every camera they make. If you are just getting started with photography, or if you’ve been taking pictures for 40 years, this standard camera lens is perfect for any travel situation.

With its lightweight, compact stature, this lens will fit in any suitcase or travel bag. Perfect for those quick shots that you need to capture at a moment’s notice.

From the novice stage all the way to the expert stage of photography, this could possibly be considered the best Canon travel lens on the market.

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2. Canon 2752B002-IV EF-S Standard Zoom Lens

This Canon standard zoom lens is similar to the one listed above, but the focal point contact is larger on this lens. With up to 200mm zoom length, even for a standard lens, this is a pretty impressive range.

Again, the standard lens is going to be compact and easy to carry around. You will hardly even notice it in your suitcase or travel bag.

This would make a perfect gift for someone who is just learning how to use their camera and get familiar with photography and the techniques used.

A standard lens is perfect for strolling around the town or taking high-quality photos of food and drinks that you have incurred along your journey.

3. YONGNUO YN35mm F2 Wide-Angle Lens

This specific brand is geared towards Nikon branded cameras. The wide-angle lens supports both auto focus and manual focus on Nikon cameras.

It has a chrome insert where the lens attaches to the camera body, which improves the fit to the camera while also ensuring that there will be zero wear or corrosion throughout its life.

The lens supports full-frame shots along with other standard camera modes. But this lens shines when it is used as it was meant to be used, as a wide-angle lens.

It could easily be considered as a top option for wide-angle lenses, due to its versatility and compact size. An easy one-step installation allows this lens to quickly be removed and reattached in just a few seconds.

Don’t waste any time trying to fumble around with five different lenses before you find the right one. Carry this with you at all times and never miss a wide-angled photo opportunity again.

If you’re strolling through the streets of an old town in a country you’ve never been before, you never know what you might want to capture in a photograph!

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4. Nikon AF-S NIKKOR

Are you looking for your dream lens? Are you wondering: what is the best lens for travel photography? I may have found it for you. This is definitely considered to be the best Nikon travel lens.

Whether you’re traveling to a different country where the scenery is beautiful, or a professional photographer looking to upgrade their lens collection, look no further.

This ultimate telephoto lens is new and improved, perfect for shooting anything from low-light shots, sporting events, wildlife, concerts, weddings, and vacations. This versatile lens is created for both the professional and the hobbyist.

There are almost too many features to name, so I’ll let you experience the lens for yourself. The best feature of this lens is its weatherproof abilities. All nine lens barrels are sealed tightly for dust and water resistance.

This lens is still small enough to fit comfortably in your suitcase or camera bag but will shoot pictures that look like you had a telescope attached to your camera.

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5. Viltrox 56mm F1.4 Autofocus Lens

Made for Fuji X-Series models of camera, this Viltrox lens is perfect for on-the-go shots and quick pictures that happen at a moment’s notice.

This is a standard portrait lens, which means shooting photographs of people and single objects is now easier. There is a natural transition within the lens from sharp inside focus to soft out-of-focus shots.

The lens also includes a super color rendition.

The Viltrox lens weighs less than a pound, so make sure to carry it wherever you’re traveling. Capture those candid, in-the-moment shots with the ones you love, and never miss a perfect photo opportunity again.

6. Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 24mm Wide-Angle Prime Lens

Are you wondering what lens to bring for travel, or aren’t sure what type of photos you’ll be taking on your journey? If this sounds like you, look no further because I found the perfect wide-angle lens for any Nikon camera owner.

There is a huge wide-angle lens that is paired with a f/1.4 aperture making this lens incredibly fast, demanded by both professionals and travel photographers alike.

The color and clarity of Nikon’s brand is said to be unmatched by some. Color correction is automatically applied even at the widest aperture settings.

Ghosting and internal flare across a wide-angle lens is common, but not with the NIKKOR. The Nano Crystal Coat on the lens helps reduce ghosting and leaves your wide-angle shots looking top-notch.

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7. Fujifilm Fujinon XF 16mm WR Lens

Will you be traveling to a country with beautiful architecture or cityscapes? I have for you, the best Fujifilm lens for travel. This is one of the best travel lenses in general but specifically geared towards Fujifilm cameras.

Wide-angle lenses are perfect for shooting wide shots of landscapes, cityscapes, or any type of architecture. Why not carry this lens with you on your next adventure, and capture the city or town’s true beauty.

Weighing in at 0.3 pounds and 1.8 inches in length, this lens will surely fit in basically any bag and will be able to be carried around anywhere without sacrificing room.

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8. Canon EF III Telephoto Zoom Lens

Have you ever asked yourself: what is the best lens for travel photography? If this question has ever run through your mind, I have the answer you have been searching for.

The Canon EF III Telephoto Zoom Lens is the ultimate travel zoom lens. Being the smallest and lightest telephoto zoom lens in its class, this specific option is offered at the most cost-effective price on the market. You won’t find a higher-quality lens for this price anywhere else, from any brand.

This lens has a micro USM making the autofocus quick and quiet. With a slim exterior and weighing a whopping one pound, this is the lightest, most compact telephoto lens I have ever seen.

Usually, telephoto lenses are clunky and heavy, but this is the complete opposite. It will surely fit in any carry-on you’re taking on your travels.

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9. Ultimaxx 650-1300mm Telephoto Zoom Lens Kit

Have you been looking for the perfect travel lens kit? I have a great lens kit for Nikon D-Series cameras. This 650-1300mm lens is the ultimate long-range lens that will amaze you time and time again.

The lens kit allows for various scenes including action shots and even astrophotography. The lens is made of lightweight aluminum alloy and allows the lens to be carried wherever you’re planning your next shoot with ease, but solid enough to be resistant to wear and tear.

As you can see in the picture, this lens kit includes literally everything you could need to start your photography career, or if you’re looking for something compact and simple for your next big destination.

This all-in-one kit is the perfect travel kit for both the novice, expert, and everyone in between.

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10. Sony SEL85F18 Telephoto Fixed Prime Lens

Built by the professionals at Sony, this telephoto travel lens is both affordable and lightweight. The compact stature of this lens allows it to be packed in your camera bag or carry-on without sacrificing any room.

This telephoto lens allows for background defocus effects and beautiful clarity within shots from far distances. Shoot beautiful portraits of people or objects with the fast F1.8 aperture setting.

11. Nikon D7500 DSLR Camera with 18-140mm VR and 70-300mm Lens Bundle

Have you been searching for a camera bundle with the best lens for travel photography? Maybe you’re searching for a special gift for that special someone. If so, I have found the ultimate travel camera bundle option for you.

This pick has it all for you. Starting with the Nikon D7500 camera body, this camera does it all. It isn’t your run-of-the-mill standard camera that comes in a bundle.

The camera itself is a high-quality camera body that comes with all the bells and whistles. I’m not even sure where to begin!

The bundle includes the camera body, a 58mm wide-angle and telephoto lens, adapter rings, filter kit, 128GB memory card, wrist grip, gadget bag, tripod, flash, lens pen and blower, battery charger, eye cup, neck strap, a lens, and body cap, plus a one-year seller supplied warranty.

If those aren’t enough options to get a professional photographer set up, I’m not sure what else to suggest. This is everything you could possibly want or need out of an ultimate camera bundle.

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12. VILTROX 23mm Wide-Angle Large Aperture APS-C Lens

This specific model of lens is compatible with the Sony E-mount mirrorless camera models such as most Sony “A” models.

The wide-angle lens features VILTROX stepping motor which enables quick and quiet autofocus performance. It also includes a full-time manual focus override.

The bright maximum aperture setting allows for beautiful defocusing effects, and provides clear images in a number of low-light situations. Weighing in at less than a pound, the compact and precise structure makes the lens great for basically any travel situation.

13. Rokinon 100mm UMC Full-Frame Telephoto Macro Lens

Compatible with Sony camera bodies, this high-powered telephoto lens allows you to take full-frame photographs with ease. With a minimum focus distance of one foot, this highly intelligent lens can shoot realistic portraits with ease.

Or if there is something further away in the distance that you want to capture, the Rokinon 100mm can easily pick it up and focus in with no problems.

This is a macro lens, however, so this telephoto lens is actually made for close-up portrait shots in full-frame view. Are you visiting a country with beautiful scenery soon?

Make sure to bring the Rokinon 100mm to get all of the candid portrait shots you could want!

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14. Vivitar Series 1 High-Power Manual Telephoto Lens

This model is compatible with basically the full lineup of Canon Digital SLR cameras. This high-powered 500mm telephoto lens includes a T-mount adapter for digital and 35mm Canon EOS cameras. There is a multi-coated optical glass insert to reduce flare for those sunny days.

The best part about this lens is the fact that Vivitar added a 2x teleconverter that actually doubles the power of the lens to 1000mm.

Now you can shoot pictures twice as far away without having to spend a huge chunk of that vacation stash. Be sure to take this lens on your next adventure to a beautiful country, you will not be left disappointed.

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15. Sony Standard Lens SEL50F18F

This standard lens is compatible with any Sony E-mount series camera body. The compact and lightweight structure of this lens makes it incredibly easy to transport on any adventure you’re setting out on.

A metal mounting point adds a durable and sophisticated feel to the camera. This bundle comes with a bunch of extra goodies, in case of rain, or accidentally dropping the lens.

Not to worry, because Sony has you covered with a lens cap, lens hood, protective UV filter, lens cleaning pen, 3-piece lens cleaning kit, and a microfiber cleaning cloth.

These are all the necessities you would need in case you got stuck in a surprise rainstorm on your trip!

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