5 Bargain Lenses For Beginner Landscape and Cityscape Photographers
New landscape and cityscape photographers who don’t want to break the bank should check out these value-priced lenses.
If you want to join the ranks of landscape and cityscape photographers affordably, this roundup is for you. Landscape and cityscape photography are genres that many new photographers jump into first. There are dozens of opportunities to create great images all around you. If you’re here, though, by now, you’ll understand the importance of ditching your kit lens. When it comes to gear, nothing will improve your work faster than a new lens. The good news is that there are tons of fantastic, weather-sealed lenses for these genres that won’t destroy your wallet. After the break, we’ve rounded up five of our favorite affordable weather-sealed lenses. These lenses will serve landscape and cityscape photographers well.
Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary
In our review, we said:
“I like the Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary. But I think it’s time for Sigma to really start making FE lenses. This one is so good it could easily seem like one. It’s sharp, has nice bokeh, contrast, manageable fringing, and autofocuses at a fair speed. Plus, it has weather sealing. There isn’t a whole lot to hate with the Sigma 16mm f1.4 DC DN Contemporary.”
Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief
Buy now Canon EF-M: $369
Get yours M4/3: $379
Buy now Sony E: $368.79
Olympus 12-45mm f4 PRO
In our review, we said:
“I really like Olympus 12-45mm f4 PRO as an enthusiast’s lens. And that’s what it’s being targeted to. This is a fantastic walkaround lens that you’ll enjoy mounting on your camera. It’s as small as a prime, and it’s versatile. You never need to stop it down, really.”
Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief
Buy now: $549
Pro Tip: If you’re new to landscape photography and you need a few pointers to put you on the right path, fear not. There are some tremendous guides and tutorials out there that will be able to help you. This guide from Scott Kelby is brilliant. You’ll learn how to scout locations. How to pick the right gear? How to set up your camera. And you’ll learn all about composition and image editing as well. Grab a copy, learn from it and then apply all that knowledge. You’ll be creating masterpieces in no time.
Fujifilm 16mm F2.8 R WR
In our review, we said:
“When I look at the Fujifilm 16mm f2.8 R WR, I know that this is a lens for the user who wants an affordable autofocus lens with weather sealing.”
Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief
Buy now: $399
Tamron 20mm F2.8 Di III OSD
In our review, we said:
“This lens has great image quality with nice bokeh (when possible), very good sharpness, and beautiful colors. On top of all that, it’s lightweight and built like a tank. Best of all, the price and portability are things you’ll be very happy with.”
Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief
Buy now Sony E: $249
Irix 15mm f2.4 Blackstone
In our review, we said:
“The greatest thing about the Irix 15mm f2.4 Blackstone is the image quality. Irix has an image quality that they can surely call their own–which I find amazing. They’re not like Tamron, Sigma, Zeiss, Rokinon, Nikon or Canon. They’ve got just a bit of extra saturation, not a whole lot of micro contrast or contrast at all, and some superbly sharp optics.”
Chris Gampat – Editor In Chief
Buy now Canon EF: $550
Get yours Nikon F: $515
Buy now Pentax K: $515