Every photographer has their favourite lenses. As a frequent traveller, we change up our systems regularly and we’ve found the best travel lens for each occasion.
When you’re setting off on a trip, you need to decide which camera gear to take with you. I always recommend travelling light, so you’ll need a great travel lens. But how to find the best lens for travel photography? Here’s my guide to the best lenses for travel, which factors are the most important to consider before you buy, plus some recommendations for specific lenses that work well for travel photography.
To save weight we recommend you take a mirrorless travel camera too. However, we have had a number of people ask about travelling with vintage cameras. So we made a list of our recommended best film cameras here. Please let us know if you need any more information in the comments below. Otherwise, here’s our break down of great travel lenses.
See also our Best Mirrorless Camera For Travel here.
What makes a great travel lens?
When you’re buying a travel lens, there are a lot of things you’ll need to think about, from size to weight, versatility, price and more. How much space will you have? How much weight do you want to carry around when you’re going to be out, walking around, all day? And will you take one lens or a combination of lenses with you?
See also our post on Travel Hacks here.
The camera system you use
It goes without saying that you’ll need to buy a lens that is compatible with the camera system that you already have. This narrows things down a bit, but that’s actually helpful as it makes it less overwhelming and easier to find what you actually need.
Size and weight of your travel lens
Lenses can be pretty heavy and some are bulky too. You’ll need to take this into consideration and look for a compact lens. Remember that you’ll that be carrying it around with you a lot at your destination and that your camera and accessories will take up some of your hand luggage space on flights, so you want to keep things to a minimum. See also our 7 Must Have Accessories here.
Lens speed
The speed of your lens – the aperture – makes a big difference, especially if you’re taking photos at night or in a gallery where you can’t use the flash. The aperture is shown by the number following the f, e.g. f/2.8 or f/3.5. It functions like the pupil of your eye, letting more light hit your image sensor on a dim evening than it would do on a bright sunny day. So the lower the number, the quicker you can shoot. The best travel lenses will have a relatively low aperture (meaning a fast shooting speed). If you’re still feeling confused about aperture and how it affects your photos, check out the explanation with handy visual guides here.
The Cost Factor when it comes to lenses
Most photographers recommend investing as much as possible into camera lenses because the difference in your photos will be striking. The lens you use can be even more important than the camera that you have in your image quality. I think this holds true, but there are great camera lenses you can find for under $500. Or if you’re on a budget, you could consider buying secondhand. If you can afford to splurge, go for a lens that combines versatility, a compact size, a lower aperture and a wide focal length range – this combination really does make for the best lens for travel photography.
Interested in renting lenses? See our post on how Borrow Lenses work.
Your destination and the type of photos you’ll be taking
Another thing to think about is where you’re headed and what you’ll be photographing. If you’re headed on an African safari, you’ll need a lens capable of shooting at a distance so you might decide to go for a 300mm. But if you’re taking close-ups or street scenes, you’ll need something different again. So have a think about the kind of photos you’re likely to be taking most often during your trip so you can assess your specific needs and get a lens that fits them. Find out more about the best lens features for landscape photography or night photography by following the links.
How to choose one versatile travel lens that can do everything?
When I travel, I prefer to take just one really versatile lens with me, so that I can pack light and be spontaneous, rather than spending a lot of time fiddling about switching lenses over. So I need to think carefully about the kinds of photos that I will be taking most often. Will I be shooting lots of landscapes, panoramas and sunset shots? Do I want to be able to take photos at night or inside darker buildings like cathedrals and historic sites? All this is vital for making sure that I can capture the best photos during my trip.
If, like me, you’ve chosen to take just one lens with you, opt for one with a wide range of focal length. Now it is true that with a wider the range, you do give up a little quality compared to fixed focal length lenses like a 35mm. But with something like a 24-70mm lens or even an 18-135mm lens, you’ll still be able to create some stunning photos and it’ll be so much more practical and convenient for you.
If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the options and choices, here’s a great video with some tips on what is most important when choosing a camera lens for travel photography. You don’t have to opt for the exact lenses that Neasan McGuinness uses – his advice and experience is still useful! Now onto my specific recommendations for travel lenses.
The 6 Best Travel Lenses in 2026
The Best Micro 4/3 Travel Lens – The Panasonic Lumix 14-140mm f/3.5-5.6
All-in-One Zoom Range
Optical Image Stabilization
Compact Design for its Range
The Panasonic Lumix 14-140mm really is the best travel lens for the Micro 4/3 camera system. With a wide focal length range and excellent Image Stabilization technology, you’ll be able to capture amazing shots.
Pros:
- Really versatile due to the wide range of 14-140mm
- Compact and lightweight
- Affordable price
- Good optical alignment and sharpness
- The stabilizer works really well
Cons:
- The optical quality is lower than some lenses
- The hood is slightly bulky
- Less durable as it’s made of plastic
- Not great for use in high-contrasting light