Read about what makes the best lens for landscape photography, which criteria you should consider, and which three lenses you should consider in 2025 for the perfect capture of nature and skyscrapers.
Outdoor photography has evolved over the years but still focuses at its core on capturing the beauty of nature – from vast landscapes to urban skylines and impressive architectural structures. To capture such scenes, more than just a keen eye is needed – you require a special lens on a powerful camera body and the necessary skill to take such shots.
Although it takes time to acquire the appropriate skills, you can choose the right lens today and immediately improve your results. Below you will find the five best camera lenses we have tested that have proven to be worthwhile investments this year. Also pay attention to these strengths of your camera lens to achieve optimal results:
1. For ultra-wide-angle shots, you need a lens that delivers consistent sharpness across the entire image field.
2. The larger the field of view, the more you can include in your composition. This makes it ideal for capturing vast landscapes or dramatic city views.
3. A top-quality lens should have an aperture between f/2.8 and f/11.
4. Since you will be photographing mostly outdoors, look for weather protection and a lighter body.
5. Such a lens should have excellent performance data to provide a high dynamic range, sharpness, and color fidelity.
The best lens for landscape photography
1. The SIRUI Saturn lens series takes first place due to its ability to capture ultra-sharp images of vast skylines or dense forest compositions with cinematic appeal and unique horizontal flare effects, which are uncommon in any other lens in this niche. It also features a cine-grade T2.9 aperture and next-generation optics that deliver sharp, consistent photos and footage even in poor lighting.
We love it for its solid performance in a lightweight body and the unique cinematic feel in every shot, giving it a distinctive look. As an anamorphic lens, this lens has long been associated with high-end cinema, once reserved for Hollywood productions and now accessible to both content creators and professional photographers. All this makes it the best lens for landscape photography in 2025.
2. The Sony FE 16–35 mm f/2.8 GM II is another great option this year. It features a constant f/2.8 aperture, ideal for low-light conditions, and smart depth-of-field control for excellent results. You also get a professional G-Master build with weather sealing, just like any other G lens, and a compact body.
In our test, the lens also delivers ultra-sharp results across the entire zoom range and focuses very quickly for both videos and photos. The only downside is that its 35 mm is not enough for mid-telephoto landscape shots and it is quite expensive. Also missing are the anamorphic look and flare effects that many users are interested in this year.
3. Another great lens for razor-sharp landscape photos is the Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG HSM Art with its ultra-fast f/2.8 aperture. It has gained a large following in low-light and star photography thanks to its consistently high-quality low-light photos.
We would rank it as another strong contender for the title of best lens for landscape photography in 2025, but it is not yet perfect: the lens is quite heavy and has no filter thread due to its bulbous front lens. Additionally, it focuses slower compared to other lenses in this category.
4. Another great lens to consider this year is the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4 L IS USM. Thanks to its wide-angle range from 14 to 35 mm, it is excellent for wide-angle shots even in tight spaces. The lens is also very handy and light but often shows noticeable barrel distortion and vignetting at 14 mm in the wide-angle range.
5. The Fujifilm GF 20-35 mm f/4 R WR, designed for medium format, is a respected lens for outdoor use with excellent weather resistance and a constant f/4 aperture that allows a balanced landscape image. However, it is not perfect; at f/4, the low-light properties and bokeh control of your shots are limited.
Summary:
Each lens on this list has its strengths and weaknesses. However, to crown the best lens for landscape shots in 2025, we would choose the SIRUI Saturn lens series due to its unique anamorphic flare effects, consistent sharpness across all focal lengths, ability to shoot in low light without loss of detail, and its lightweight body for outdoor photography. If you are looking for the best lens this year that offers some special features, then the Saturn is the right lens for this year.
