Best Canon Landscape Lenses in 2023: 10 Top Picks

Looking for a wide-angle lens to capture stunning landscapes

Canon has an outstanding selection of landscape lenses for its EOS, EOS R, and EOS M cameras.

In this guide, we’ll showcase the best Canon landscape lenses in 2023 – so you can pick the perfect lens for your needs.

Best Canon Landscape Lenses

1. Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM

One of the best Canon landscape lenses for EOS R cameras is the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM. This premium L-series lens has it all – a durable build, image stabilization, a wide-angle focal length, and great maximum aperture.

Thanks to the 15-35mm focal length range, you’ll have plenty of wide-angle versatility, and you can easily capture stunning shots of sweeping vistas. The maximum f/2.8 aperture is constant across the different focal lengths, so you can use this lens for nighttime landscape shooting.

You can also expect consistently sharp images with minimum lens flare and ghosting. The lens construction includes three aspheric elements and two UD elements to help reduce aberrations and boost sharpness and contrast. And the exterior lens element features an Air Sphere Coating, which makes the lens easy to wipe.

2. Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM

If the 15-35mm f/2.8 is a little too expensive, there is a slightly cheaper alternative: the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM. It’s a similar lens that boasts excellent image quality and versatility for landscape photos. Plus, thanks to the 14mm maximum focal length (versus 15mm on the lens above), it offers a slightly wider field of view.

The other main difference between the 15-35mm f/4 and the 14-25mm f/2.8 is the maximum aperture; this L-series RF lens has a constant maximum aperture of f/4. While you won’t get the same level of control and versatility as the f/2.8 lens, it’s still more than enough for landscape photography – because in most instances, you will be shooting at apertures of f/8 or higher, anyway.

We also love the style and build quality of this lens, and at 1.2 lb/544 g, this lens is lightweight compared to many other premium zoom lenses. It doesn’t compromise on quality, either; you can still expect corner-to-corner sharpness at every focal length.

3. Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM

Another fantastic landscape lens for EOS R cameras is the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM. This is a compact, lightweight Canon prime lens that allows you to take amazing ultra-wide landscape photos. It weighs only 1 lb/453 g, and thanks to its portability, makes for a brilliant travel lens.

If you want to concentrate on ultra-wide compositions and don’t need focal length flexibility, this 16mm lens is a perfect choice. It is also highly affordable and currently one of the cheapest Canon RF lenses available.

You can expect sharp images consistently, though you may notice a little vignetting at the corners. Also, if you edit photos using Lightroom, there is currently no lens profile support for the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM (it should be added eventually, but for the time being, you’ll need to manually correct any lens distortion).

Regardless, this is an affordable landscape lens that’s excellent for beginner EOS R landscape shooters.

4. Canon EF 15-35mm f/2.8L II USM

Canon DSLR camera owners have an outstanding selection of landscape lenses, and one of the best is the Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L III USM. It’s a superior quality L-series lens that has all the features you need for professional landscape shooting.

The 16-35mm f/2.8L boasts a great lens construction that features Air Sphere Coatings and Sub-wavelength Coatings, which virtually eliminate flare and ghosting. It also has a water-resistant and dust-resistant exterior, which help improve its longevity and make it great for outdoor photography.

Thanks to the 16-35mm focal length range, you’ll have compositional flexibility; this is complemented by the constant f/2.8 aperture, which gives this lens great low-light performance. And you can expect fast and quiet focusing due to the USM AF motor.

The only downside is the hefty price tag, but if you want the best quality landscape photos, this is the way to go.

5. Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM

Canon offers some amazing EF prime lenses, and one of the best options for landscape photography is the Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM.

This prime lens boasts consistently excellent image quality. The UD and aspherical elements help reduce distortion, but also improve sharpness and contrast. Your landscape photos will look amazing with superb detail and colors.

The Canon EF 24mm f/1.4L II USM is also one of the best options for low-light and nighttime landscape photography, including sweeping shots of evening cityscapes.

You can comfortably use this lens outdoors due to its water-resistant exterior. If you like prime lenses, then this 24mm option is the best landscape lens available for the Canon EF mount.

6. Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM

There is a cheaper alternative to the EF 16-35mm f/2.8L: the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM, another high-quality L-series lens that has an incredibly similar set of features, but costs significantly less.

The main difference is, of course, the constant maximum aperture. At f/4, you’ll still have excellent depth of field control, but you won’t get the same low-light performance as the f/2.8. The lens is still superb for landscape photography in general, however.

We also like the versatility of this lens, thanks to the 16-35mm focal length. You can capture ultra-wide shots or zoom in to 35mm for tighter landscape perspectives. The lens performs great and images are sharp regardless of the focal length.

The f/4 version doesn’t feature the same coatings as the f/2.8 option, but it does have fluorine coatings to reduce ghosting along with a dust- and water-resistant exterior.

7. Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM

If you want the ultimate wide-angle field of view, consider the Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM. At 11mm, the photos are almost fisheye, and the landscape shots you take will look incredible. This is an especially good lens for epic open landscapes, like mountain ranges, rolling plains, or sweeping seascapes.

This L-series lens also offers amazing image quality. The outstanding optical design, combined with the Super UD and UD elements, means that images are sharp throughout the focal length range. You can also expect virtually no distortion, flare, and ghosting.

The Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM also comes with a lens hood, which you’ll probably want to use at all times due to the large size of the exposed exterior lens glass. If you can afford the steep price tag, this versatile ultra-wide lens is certainly worth buying!

8. Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM

Another impressive prime lens for landscape photography is the Canon EF 14mm f/2.8L II USM; at 14mm, you can create ultra-wide compositions – and thanks to the bright f/2.8 maximum aperture, you can shoot long into the night. As a result, this lens could be a great choice for nighttime landscapes and astrophotography.

Because the front lens element is so pronounced, this lens does feature a fixed lens hood, which is vital for protecting the lens glass. Also, the lens hood is dust- and moisture-proof, which adds an extra layer of protection to the high-quality L-series lens.

The lens is also corrected for rectilinear distortion and has UD elements to eliminate flare and ghosting. Expect consistently beautiful image quality with superb sharpness and contrast, regardless of the situation.

9. Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM

If you have a smaller budget for a landscape lens, the Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM is a great beginner-friendly option. Yes, it’s an older model, but it still performs well and has everything you need to take excellent landscape shots.

At 24mm, you’ll be able to shoot with that “standard” landscape field of view. You also get built-in image stabilization and a fast USM AF motor.

We also like how lightweight and small this lens is. It weighs 0.62 lb/281 g, and it makes a great travel lens, as you can simply fit it into your pocket or backpack when not in use. Although the lens doesn’t offer the same quality as L-series lenses, you can still expect sharp images bursting with color and contrast.

Remember: You can use this lens on EOS R and EOS M cameras with the right lens adapter. If you are just entering the world of landscape photography, this is one of the best Canon landscape lenses available.

10. Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM

If you have a Canon EOS M camera, your best option for landscape photography is the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM, a brilliant pancake lens that is incredibly versatile despite its small size and affordable price tag.

The lens weighs only 0.27 lb/125 g, and it has a small body that’ll take up no storage space at all. If you already have a kit lens like the Canon EF 15-45mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM, the 22mm is the next lens we would advise you buy. It’s one of the sharpest EF-M lenses available, and the quality of landscape photos you can produce is fantastic.

This compact lens also features a quiet and fast STM motor and a versatile maximum aperture of f/2. You could even use this lens for close-up photography due to its impressive minimum focusing distance (just 5.9 in/15 cm). This lens may not offer the quality of bigger L-series lenses, but for the price, it’s one of the best Canon landscape lenses available.

Which Canon Landscape Lens Is Right for You?

We hope you have found this guide to the best Canon landscape lenses useful. As you can see, there is a good selection of specialist lenses for EF, RF, and EF-M mount cameras. But which is suitable for you? It primarily depends on your camera, your experience, and your budget.

For example, if you want a professional-grade landscape lens, the Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM or the Canon EF 16–35mm f/2.8L III USM are great options, though expensive.

If you’re looking for a lens geared toward intermediate shooters yet still offering outstanding quality, consider the Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM or the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM.

Finally, if you want a high-quality landscape lens on a budget, models like the Canon RF 16mm f/2.8 STM, the Canon EF 24mm f/2.8 IS USM, and the Canon EF-M 22mm f/2 STM are budget-friendly picks.

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