Introduction:
Travel photography is a mix of portrait, street, and landscape photography. It entirely depends on you which of these you choose during your travel planning. Although the final result of the image you show your friends depends heavily on many different factors, the focal length of the camera lens is the most fundamental and decisive.
For beginners, it is important to know that the focal length (measured in mm) is the distance between the center of the lens and the camera sensor. This distance helps the camera direct light to the right spot and determines the angle of view and magnification on the sensor.
To illustrate: shorter focal lengths like 16 mm and 24 mm offer a wider angle of view on the sensor, while focal lengths like 75 mm and 120 mm enlarge the image by narrowing the frame.
Narrowing and widening the frame are not the only factors that determine the image field; sensor size also plays a role. For example, a crop sensor like the APS-C sensor has a smaller image field than a full-frame camera. Now let's set theory aside and link the practical application of camera lens focal lengths to your travel plans:
1. Perspective > Focal Length!
As you have seen above, we mentioned that focal length affects the image field, but not that the final result of your image depends on the focal length. It is a myth that focal length is a decisive factor for good photos while traveling. In fact, it depends on the perspective of each individual photo you want to take.
This perspective describes the relative size and position of objects in a photo and is directly influenced by the position relative to the subject being photographed, not by the focal length of the camera lens. For example, if you photograph the same object from the same distance but with different focal lengths, you get a consistent perspective. The difference between the images arises from the crop on the sensor. In short: by simply changing your position, you can take many photos with the same focal length.
2. Full story or just zoomed in?
If you stand in front of a mountain with two different lenses, you get completely different images (unless you use a zoom lens; in that case, you don’t need to switch lenses). With a wide-angle lens, you capture a complete and majestic image of the mountain, while lenses with higher focal lengths lose the field of view but focus on only part of the mountain.
To capture both worlds, many people carry lenses with higher and lower focal lengths but have to constantly switch lenses. To choose the right lens kit for your next trip, a full-frame lens with a focal length range between 18–24 mm and 105–120 mm is recommended.
For all with crop sensors, lenses between 14–18 mm and 70–80 mm are suitable. With all these lenses, most situations can be captured, but again, it’s not just about focal length but also about perspective.
Also, it is practical to have two lenses for wide-angle and zoom shots. Have we already mentioned how cumbersome it can be to carry lenses alongside the camera body while hiking in the mountains? No, we just want to point out again how annoying it is to carry a heavy bag full of camera gear while traveling – nobody likes that!
To avoid this, it is widely accepted in this industry that replacing two lenses with a single, powerful 35 mm lens is the solution and is appreciated by many photographers because such lenses are easy to carry and their focal length offers a good compromise between capturing expansive landscapes and creating flattering portraits.
We recommend the S35 version of the SIRUI Night Walker T1.2 lens series with 35 mm focal length – the ideal lens for travel photography. Thanks to its compact and lightweight design, this lens is a great all-rounder for on the go. Thanks to especially low dispersion and high refractive index glass elements, you achieve solid performance in both wide-angle landscape shots and portraits while getting sharp images.
3. Night and Low-Light Photography
A camera lens must also work at night when you sit by the campfire and tell your friends at home about your adventures. For good, presentable night photos, you need a camera (mounted on a tripod) with an aperture between f/1.2 and f/2.8 and plenty of light input for razor-sharp night photos with grain.
Again, the SIRUI Night Walker T1.2 is recommended, as it is designed for such low-light conditions without increasing ISO values. Thanks to their compact size, these lenses are excellent for travel photography and deliver professional shallow depth of field even in poor lighting conditions.
