Best Lens for Landscape Photography (Rant)

[@ThomasHeatonPhoto]

Quick note: I re-uploaded this video with a small edit as I sounded like a spoilt brat when talking about kit lenses. My new edit does a better job at explaining my thoughts on using kit lenses :)

[@richardsmith5249]

Definitely sounds better...

[@ronaldojoe3011]

Alright I have to ask. Did you actually refilm the entire video, edit, and upload it or did you just refilm the part about kit lenses? And whilst we're on the topic of kit lenses, are you going to upgrade your fuji kit lenses?

[@Blechsch_you]

I wondered haha

[@mattmaber]

Saw this pop up then disappear.

[@tombuck]

I appreciate your willingness to edit and refine 🙌🏻

[@jimgraves4197]

The best lens is undoubtedly the one you left at home and you only discover this logistical error when you have just hiked up a mountain in Scotland in Winter.

[@newenglandlight8724]

I arrived at my shooting spot a few days ago to discover I had my lens in the bag, but not the camera body. Arrrgh!

[@jamesscarborough9545]

@@newenglandlight8724 I went to Iceland and had the wrong charger and batteries for my camera body. Luckily I was able to use a charger from an AirBnB host throughout the trip for the only battery I had was the one in the camera.

[@Steph_davis]

🙋🏼‍♀️ tried my hand at some wild camping and only took 35mm to keep the weight down. Really wish I had that 24mm when I decided to do some astro 😑

[@zenphotojourney]

I once drove two hours to get to a friend's property to do some photography only to realize I'd forgotten the key to the gate.

[@davidpowell5437]

Naaah! The best lens is the one on the camera when IT happens!

[@rhbraly]

My most stressful photography excursions have been when I’ve had several lenses in my bag. By the time I got to a location I was already exhausted and I began to fumble around frantically searching for the “perfect” lens for that scene so I could get a shot before I lost the light. My most relaxing excursions have been when I only had one camera and one prime lens. Then I just casually tried to find a composition to suit what I had. For me, photography is about stress relief so I now choose to go out with less options not more. Great video!

[@Molybdan42]

I would switch the prime against my 24-80 because I know I can shoot almost everything with it. Thats pretty relaxing too ;)

[@rhbraly]

Molybdan42 That’s true. I used to have a 24-120 which stayed on the front of my camera for a long time. It meant I seldom had a situation where I thought I could have gotten a better shot if I had a different lens. I just think that for me less is more. The more relaxed I am the more creative I can be. The less gear I have the more “in the moment” I can be. I’ve been down the track of thinking I needed to have every focal length covered only to find that I didn’t enjoy what I was doing anymore. I’m not a pro and I don’t have to make a living with my camera and I’m not winning any major competitions with my photos so take what I say with a grain of salt. 😊

[@collodionpositive554]

I do really enjoy the less is more approach too. Spend a few years with just a 23mm (on Fuji) and it's been great, I added a 70-200 (well 50-140 on Fuji) for some specific event work / portraits but it only comes with me if I know I need it, and since I have been missing the longer reach when on casual trips / traveling with just the 23mm. So adding a 16-80 which hopefully will be the single lens I take with me for travel / weekends. So I have added more to my kit, but still only taking one lens out at a time

[@brandonshin4808]

I really like that thought!

[@davidpowell5437]

I'm watching an older video during the slack season... But I find I'm agreeing with you - "This is what I have - I must make the most of it" - is just so relaxing. No gear choices to distract - Just do it! The real challenge is finding a subject, not taking a photo!

[@KayGill]

“Master the lens you have” - I reckon that would definitely improve your photography

[@AlbertoWangYang]

Yup, Photography in the end is about creativity and if you splash the money and buy the trinity of lenses at once without previous experiences in those focal lengths, you will need more time getting used to those lenses and hence affect your creativity.

[@zenphotojourney]

Yes having to think through the problem of what to do when you don't have the lens you want helps your problem solving and creative skills. Still I'm always planning which lens or other gear I'm going to get next. 😆

[@alexandermenzies9954]

Cold comfort for a photographer who is fighting chromatic aberration, poor resolution and rotten contrast. Thank goodness lens manufacturers have not been satisfied with second best and strive to produce better products.

[@alexandermenzies9954]

And, how will he/she know when they have finally "mastered" their lens?

[@zenphotojourney]

@@alexandermenzies9954 I don't think there is ever a time when we "master" anything in this life. The word implies that there is no more to be learned. While in reality there is always more to learn and greater skill to strive for.

[@stefanpangratz]

First thought: In my opinion the 24-70 is a very good lens to start. First, with actual cameras (at least 24mp) you can crop to get a more tighter composition. And if you like a wider shot you can do a 24mm pano. Second thought: Don't buy F2.8 lenses for landscapes, it will save money and weight to invest into the f4 ones! Thanks for the video, love that kind of videos :) Regards Stefan

[@keithpinn152]

Hi Stefan: Agree with your comments about f2.8 lens. I have bought them in the past and while I primarily shoot landscapes/travel, I really didn't need an f2.8 lens. Money wasted....experience learned. Keep safe, Keith

[@alexandermenzies9954]

Good comment, Stefan. The "one you have on your camera" - brigade poses as the receptacle of some sort of smart-alec wisdom while offering nothing of a practical nature. Nor would I try to "master" a 600mm telephoto to shoot a scenic mountain range (ok, no panoramas).

[@rayrussell777]

"Twelve significant photographs in any one year is a good crop" - Ansel Adams. So perhaps we should expect the same.

[@Hirsutechin]

"Most photographers don't get an epic shot every time they go out." Too true, just get out and enjoy the moment. If you get an image, it's a bonus.

[@terryrees8574]

10 - 200mm f1.4 is obviously the answer. We just need a manufacturer to bend the laws of physics and build one. Oh, under 500 grams please too :-)

[@bp-blackshark]

And...in the size from a pancake lens, lol! Together with the fist size featherweight mini tripod, which turns into a 10 pounds king size tripod monster, if you extend the legs from it.

[@flatearthreality8683]

maybe neil deasse tyson can do it, or anyone who is a spinning ball beLIEver, they reject physics every day :)

[@markjwilcox]

And priced at around £150 please. 😎

[@dillybob3248]

Sony’s 18-105 is as close you can get sadly

[@HokKan]

Panasonic has a 28-280 ff equivalent, and it's small + light

[@DubYahJohn]

I really enjoyed this video but may be for reasons you wouldn't have expected. Firstly, let me say that I'm an amateur photographer on a very tight (kit lens) budget. I've been viewing your vids during lockdown and I'm now venturing into landscape photography, mainly due to you. The reason this video spoke to me so deeply is that, prior to lockdown I used to give talks to cancer patients and their family / carers for a cancer charity, to help them with the psychological and emotional issues related having cancer. The courses were based on a process called ACT: Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. The first part of this is, Acceptance and we try to encourage people to apply Acceptance, not only to cancer but to all parts of their life. I don't know if you've previously experienced ACT but you're non-rant was was an excellent demonstration of how to apply it to any part of your life. Thank you for this and all the other videos. I will be sharing this one with people who will make use of it in a way I don't think you expected. Wayne John

[@StuffJ]

Thomas - thank you. This is probably one of my favourite videos of yours. It’s honest and cuts through the crap that others sometimes put out about “MUST HAVES”. There’s a shot for every focal length, and I believe that learning how to shoot with what you’ve got is the key to producing better photos. Was really considering buying your book before, and I think this has pushed me over the edge. Thanks again.

[@luigisaria]

"Is tought (when you can't get the shot you want) and it takes time (to get used to take the pictures that you can with what you have). But it's liberating and its fantastic. You really start to enjoy the true meaning of photography. Which isn't to be the biggest/best person in Instagram. It's to be out there, connect with the outdoor and to have a nice momento to yourself." So good to hear that. That is what keep us photographers going on and on with what we have and taking pictures of what we can.

[@Duade]

Thanks Tom, I always appreciate your honesty. We have the same issues with wildlife photography, we see the lenses the pros use and think we need those to get the best shots, when you can get very nice shots with much more affordable gear. I agree with your comments re social media, it can be very overwhelming when starting out seeing all these epic shots when your own shots don't look anything like them. Over time I have learnt to enjoy the process more than the result, that way you still have a good time regardless of the final shot. Cheers, Duade

[@samdensleyphotography]

Thomas! I can’t tell you how much I appreciated this video. As a hobbyist, and still relatively new photographer this was probably some of the best advice I’ve received. I’m always appreciative of your perspective and suggestions. Keep them coming!

[@d-o-a-die]

The importance of lenses is the reason why I am baffled by the obsession with larger sensor sizes these days. You can get lenses that each cover a wider range of focal lengths while maintaining the same level of quality and size/weight for APS-C and m4/3 and at a lower price. Nikon 24-70 F2.8 costs almost twice as much as 17-55mm F2.8 for example. In the long term, high quality lenses are the smartest investment for a photographer but the focus is almost entirely on camera bodies now. When I bought my first interchangeable lens camera last year, it was the lens that dictated it. I researched and I chose one lens, THE one lens that I must have, and I based my choice of camera body on that. Even if this video is about gear, it is still kinda refreshing, bring the discussion back to lenses. I also think maybe photographers now think too much about how their equipment is limiting them and holding them back. I'm not sure that is really the right mentality to have. Of course, that mentality is good for the camera companies, but for actual photography? I'm not so sure. Personally, I'd rather think about my own limitations and the ways in which I could improve. When I look at my photos, I usually don't think it is my camera that is holding my photography back. That's why I like to like to buy photography books and visit Instagram and Flickr and watch KZbin channels like this. I try to immerse myself and experience other photographers work and hopefully learn from them and grow as a photographer. I think that will help me more than any new lens, even if I didn't already have a pro-grade lens.

[@giac01]

Which lens dictated your choice out of interest?

[@SeanandOreo]

Yeah, this is why I love Fuji. Lenses are awesome. But more importantly, camera is small so I can take it everywhere.

[@zenphotojourney]

I'm also interested in knowing which lens you got.

[@d-o-a-die]

​@@zenphotojourney The lens was Olympus 12-100mm F4 IS Pro. Before COVID, I was planning to visit relatives overseas this year so I wanted a single travel lens with constant aperture. Optical IS would help me keep weight down for the trip as well (less need to bring a tripod), and I needed weather-sealing for a rainy, tropical environment. With that decided, it was easy to choose a body with matching weather-sealing and sensor IS (Olympus E-M1 II). I won't say that they're weren't any features of the camera body or the system that attracted me, but I think maybe people focus too much on that stuff now and neglect the lenses in comparison. After using a fixed-lens camera for 15 years, I will choose the lenses very carefully. I don't want to sacrifice the lens quality or "miss the shot" just because of affordability, otherwise why move on from fixed-lens cameras in the first place? I got pro-grade quality covering 24-200mm EFL for $1450 CAD. Lots of pro-grade lenses for Fuji X system as well. I am not sure it is a sacrifice people actually need to make so much, not even non-pros like me, especially if we avoid thinking about upgrading bodies so much.

[@curiouslizard]

“Master the lens you do have” best advice ever!!!

[@alexandermenzies9954]

No, it's not. It's patronising nonsense, there is a huge range of lenses and some will have characteristics much more suited to outdoor landscapes than the rubbish with which some poor sod is plumbered.

[@nethanja]

Best video on this topic, and I have watched a fair few trying to decide which lens to purchase. Thanks Thomas, you were entertaining as well as being realistic. It helped me to know what to do.

[@kennygo8300]

I now realize that I'm totally liberated! I never get the shot...

[@S.tebban]

I realized that I now know more about how not to get the shot then the other way around.

[@franksamet]

learning from mistakes in nature’s way of self improvement!

[@dimitrisanastasiou7363]

I don't think I will ever be bored of your videos. I really enjoy your content Thomas! It is so broad and very genuine.

[@coffee_artist]

Really like the idea of going out with just one lens with a specific idea in mind of how you want to apply that lens in a given situation. So much more liberating and also less to carry on a long hike.

[@rgwightman]

“Master the lens you do have” genius !! Thanks for all you do

[@mrmaxwell2176]

Very thoughtful comments... “master the lens that you have” ...and the camera! So true. I have to admit I have too many Fuji lenses... and the ones I use most are the light and underrated 18-55 and the nearly-do-it-all 18-135 which is surprisingly good at its f8 sweet spot. As another person said, if you want a stress free day, just take one camera and one lens. If you have a particular shot/location in mind then work out exactly what you need and take only that.

[@krisweyers6248]

I’m a beginner photographer. I travel and love landscape photography. So I ended up buying the nikon 18-300. While it might only be a step up from kit lens it is perfect for me or someone you who can’t or doesn’t want to carry so many lenses. For now it works for me. While I might not be the advanced photographer that follows you but I love your videos and look forward each week to them. Thanks for your hard work to producing great content each week.

[@itaylorm]

thank you. I just switched to the Mirrorless R6 and had to pick which images I needed. Finally settled on the ones that work for me and my photography.

[@dizlys]

'Be ok not having it, but master the les you do have'... This is so true! I used my 30mm 1.4 lens for years before I saved enough for some good glass. I learned so much by using only one lens. Thanks again Thomas for another great video!

[@LPknives]

It’s so easy to fall into “if I buy this lens then I’ll get the shots I want” but honestly that’s an endless cycle. I’ve found I’ll carry multiple lenses “just in case” but I usually only use one of them. I also have found that I don’t like zoom lenses. Having every focal length between A to Z is just another thing I’m focusing on instead of the scene, and moving around to frame the shot is one of the fun experiences of photography for me. I like the last part of this video. Maybe the answer to “which lens do I need for this shot” should be “the one you have”

[@collodionpositive554]

I'm on the Fuji system, and quickly upgraded from the kit lens on my first X-T20 to a 23 f/1.4 prime (and sold the kit lens to make that happen) and it's been great for 90% of the stuff I shoot. But over time I wanted something longer and when I came to upgrade my body I got a deal on the 50-140 f/2.8 which has been awesome for portraits and some event stuff I have done. But I take most of my pics on casual walks / weekend travel and it's just a bit big to carry everywhere and I don't like changing lenses all the time while in the city. After thinking about it for a while and selling some kit I have ordered the 16-80 f/4, and while a lot slower it's a lot smaller, has OIS and I'm hoping it will be enough to stay in my bag all the time and stop me worrying about all the great shots I took on my iPhone and wondering how much better they would have been on a real camera

[@mapledelight]

Thing is, the fuji primes are exceptionally good, sharp, solid and affordable.

[@axm2689]

Quick tip: if you’re a landscape photographer, do not ignore quality older lenses, especially manual focus or adapted glass.

[@sallyjberry805]

Great video...agree with the importance of lens quality. That's why I stayed with Canon when going mirrorless. My high quality EF L lenses adapted easily when I upgraded to the mirrorless system. I slowly accumulated a few RF L lenses ( pricey, but worth every penny). Their quality surpasses any other. My favorite is the RF70-200 2.8 L- very compact and outstanding! If I have to travel with only one lens, it would be the RF 24-105 f4 L.

[@Tom-.-.-.]

I keep coming back to this video, much like body dismorphia you see the online content and often smite down your own because all of theirs are bright and beautiful. For someone like myself with very little financial backing this gives me much comfort. Cheers Tom

[@GaryScott-pdx]

Maybe when I buy that new full-frame mirrorless Sony camera I can take your advice. Till than I'm stuck with all of my purchase mistakes, lol.

[@WillPhipps]

That is such a positive mind-set to be in. Its also nice sometimes to just enjoy what's happening and not focus on taking images

[@Tehbecky87]

Great video! I have that struggle. I have both primes and zooms but my newest upgrade has been a life saver as it covers pretty much anything. I upgraded from 24-85 to the 24-120 and that extra length has been such a bonus. I now only really go out with that lens and my wide angle.

[@noahthieben]

This is why I like your channel, it's about the really important things: photography, nature, hiking, mastering difficult circumstances, failure, rules and braking rules (in photography), hopes, luck and disappointments... just honest. This is pretty rare nowadays on KZbin. Thank you for the great content since years! (sounding like a fanboy..)

[@Chrismzeller]

Lol I think you did nail it though, “WA for seascapes, 24-70 for forests and telephoto for mountains.” Pick one of those and master that and be ok with not getting every shot. Solid advice.

[@phynx2006]

5D Mark IV still one of the best Cameras out there at the moment imo EF glass rules 🤗😂😂😂

[@warrenpabbott]

I liked the video, bought one of your books, and now I'm commenting. Mad support for you, Thomas. I enjoy your photos, your channel, and your pleasant tones (even when you're ranting). Thanks for doing what you do and bringing us along for the ride. :)

[@PhotoTrekr]

Let's see if I can remember what I wrote first time round. Many years ago when I first started in photography, I could only afford a camera and one lens. If I was starting out today I would choose an a73 and a 24-105mm G lens. Of course one lens will not cover all situations. But, the 24-105mm will cover most. Oddly enough though, if I had to choose 2 lenses it would be the 16-35mm and 70-200mm. And for 3, I'd either add a 50mm prime or keep the 24-105mm which is what I chose. I used to put a lot of pressure on myself to get a great shot whenever I traveled. But, these days I still try to get the best shots I can, but I don't worry if I don't get a great shot. I just try to enjoy the beauty of nature wherever I am first and if I get a great shot that's even better.

[@kawiemer]

Adam Gibbs has done some fantastic work with his 24-120 ‘kit’ lens on the D850, so it certainly can be done. Of course he is now shooting the Fuji GFX, so you may want to check with him if interested in trying that route.

[@sudhakarl3487]

Tons of thanks for a Wonderful video on photography. This is a liberating experience for me to listening to you. You literally saved my time and energy for watching countless videos on KZbin. Subscribed.

[@lephotography3621]

Hi Thomas. I've been an avid watcher of your vids for ages. Always educational and inspirational. I particularly liked this rare rant though about fake shots on Instagram and social media in general. V refreshing!

[@cmichaelhaugh8517]

Good and interesting comments. I keep filling in my collection with 14, 16-35, 70-200, and 200-500. But when it comes to walking around weight and flexibility, I still mostly use the f4 24-120 that came with my D750.

[@jeffreyb.1657]

Happiness is wanting what you have..... Struggled with that in the past...one just has to get it or you'll never be happy. Now onto your site to look at the book and such. Keep the videos coming - frankly, the telephoto is a good option video you did meant a lot to me. Jeff

[@itsmejustme7999]

Brilliant explanation again 👏! Nailed it and I really like the part when it comes to social media and the pressure it is putting on people. I go out with the same lenses for many many years right now (16-35 and 70-200) and really love them. They are totally different. 70-200 more clean, silent in picture look, more true with all the lines (if you know what I mean). The 16-35 is good for more dramatic pictures with very strong foreground, it's less heavy and very good to handle in combination with a dslr. Maybe it's a little bit a question of what kind of picture look do you like more. Are you more the "strong foreground" person or more more the "what I've seen is what you get and detail" person.

Wise. Definitely wasn't expecting that turn of thought. But that´s enormously true. Dont stress on needing new lenses, get to know the gear you already have and search for compositions that you are able to create with the gear you already have.

[@KoreyHart]

Very interesting video Thomas! When I recently upgraded my camera to the canon eso r, I got the 24-105 kit lens with it, and I’ve been planning on getting the other f4 wide and telephoto when the come out, but I found that as of right now, with the photography I’ve been shooting, I haven’t even need those focal lengths. Sorry that was probably unnecessary, great video though! Keep it up man!

[@paulcomptonpdphotography]

Being ok not getting the image is ok if you all ready have them or you get the time to pick the days. Like you did say some dont get the time and to not get the image week in week out. But it was a great lesson to be ok not to get the shot. And least with the mis range lens to start with you can crop in to get closer or you can shoot pano to go wider so I recommendations is the 24-70 or 24-105 or equivalent haha

[@davebailey5678]

Solid advice and appreciate your honesty...I've been struggling and feel a lot better...thanks for a sane commentary.

[@mikesmithch]

Thank you for this video. I am currently switching from DSLR to mirrorless and am currently facing this dilemma. Happy to know that I’m not the only one. Purchased book & calendar and waiting for delivery. Keep up the great job.

[@brianloranger5425]

Great video Thomas, your 16-35 also makes a great mid-range option adapted to your Fuji. It's a pretty sweet combo!

[@FelixJorgenfelt]

I'd say, analyze what you like and want from your photography and get the lens that makes it possible. If you're new look at others work and see what is most inspiring to you, then get the focal lengths makes it possible. If you have experience then be honest with yourself and introspect your feelings about your work to see what actually matters to you. For instance I enjoy hiking and I'm really melding that with photography, which means that I want lightweight lenses (which often means kit lenses). I find lots of different scenes on my adventures but I have a preference to frame my compositions a little wider to include a little more. Therefore I'm currently using two lenses from 16-85mm, that covers most of my needs unless I'm in the mountains. Then I want something longer as well. So I'm currently looking at getting a 24-200 to cover that need while still only carrying two lenses. It's not really that hard figuring out what lens YOU need if you first figure out what you want and like to photograph. If you like everything then you're not focused enough... 😇

[@mika2902]

This is the hardest thing I had to learn over the years : to not be frightened by not getting a shot. I now take the time to look at the scene with the two best lenses I always have with me, my eyes.

[@massimo7005]

Thinking about buying the Fuji 16-80 for having an all-around (compromise) lens when hiking or travelling...

[@iandavis1355]

I have an A6300 with basic Sigma lenses (16mm, 30mm, 56mm). I've spent the last two weeks hiking about forests and trails with 30lbs of camera gear and I got really frustrated with two things. The Sigma lenses did not perform autofocus well except in bright lights AND I am tired of swapping out lenses as the scenes presented themselves. While the image quality of the Sigma lenses is stellar I'm wondering if I should trade them in and get a decent zoom for the practicality.

[@_boltspeedman_]

As someone who has worried too much about what lens to bring and use, what should I upgrade to, etc. it really does boil down to what do I have on me. Lately, I've just been having fun keeping my 50mm on for landscapes. I have a wide angle lens and a telephoto, but the fixed focal length has been forcing me to readjust my thinking on composition. Granted 50 can still cover a wide area, but having options sometimes causes me to 'miss shots'. After I get more comfortable with this, I'm aiming to swap for my tele, keep it on my camera for a good while, and challenge myself to readjust again. I think you hit the nail on the head bringing up social media. Everyone is different, but I think most of us are in photography for the joy it brings. And when you produce a shot, one that you are proud of, after a challenging day or what have you, it's a wonderful feeling. Keep it up, your videos are great

[@stephenschmid492]

I appreciate your comments on feeling the visceral pain of missing a shot, which has happened to me numerous times over the years. I'm glad you have come to terms with it. I'm not there yet, but maybe your thoughts can help.

[@AlbertDrosPhotography]

I think this is really one of the best videos about this topic on KZbin. One thing I would recommend to new photographers is buying cheap old manual lenses in the focal length they're 'missing'. Nowadays almost everyone shoots mirrorless and you can get old Minolta lenses with adapters from eBay for less than 50$ each. They're primes, and a bit limited, but perfect to start and get great results. Just get a 135mm and 200mm and you're good to go next to your kit lens and a potential extra wide angle!

[@ricksunamoto3099]

Great advice Tom. I've been struggling this with issue for years, and due to my age i need to carry less weight.

[@johntravena119]

Great advice that - to be ok with not getting the shot. Being outdoors is the best part of it anyway and gives you a reason to go out again.

[@stevenwaldstein2249]

Thank you for the rant! So I’m older now and a serious hobbyist who has lenses, both fast zooms and great primes since I shoot all kinds of different things from events, sports, wildlife, and portraits. For landscape do you prescribe to zooms like 15-35mm, 24-70, 70-200, and 100-400. (Or 100-500) or a set of strategic primes or a combination of both. Sure you can tune your specific kit for what you plan to shoot on a given day but it seems these days the landscape photographers seem to be happy with zooms and even at f/4 and not even f/2.8 to reduce weight. What are your thoughts pr a link to a video showing what you take on a landscape shoot. Take care.

[@TudorSmith]

Great video! Thanks for posting it. My "hobbiest" entry level Nikon D3100 came with only one lens (18-55mm) and I then bought a 70-300mm, Both are great but I've been musing about getting a wide angle. You're point about seascapes vs woodland vs hiking photography was enlightening. I am now more than ever aware that I needn't go out specifically hunting for a shot but rather just have my camera to hand in case I do see something amazing (as I show in my own latest ramblings video) :-)

[@mma171]

I feel the best minimalistic option is the duo of 16-36 f4 and 70-200 f4 zooms. The main thing you need is a sturdy tripod that is light enough that you'll actually carry it with you.

[@mikehyde8225]

Thomas, It is so good to get your reality check on which lens to use. I choose the lens based on the framing of the picture and composition. Sometimes a long lens and sometimes an 18-36mm

[@Trvnik]

My first "professional" lens was second hand 70-200 f4 L. I instantly fell in love with it and I still use it till this day even on mirrorless system. As hobbyist I don't need nothing more fancy.

[@johnastbury4116]

Thank you for such sound advice from someone who really does know their craft.

[@aks_azeem]

Probably the best video you have made with regards to gear. I am so sick of all these click bait videos and people just throwing money out. Also manufacturers are now turning out cameras like cell phone companies are turning out cell phones. I find it very idiotic and personally avoid all gear related videos.

[@Frobbl]

Why would you need new lenses when switching to a mirrorless camera? If you get an EOS R you can just get an adapter. Apparantly there is no loss in quality using an EOS R adapter for EF lenses.

[@russell1234]

Yep..,the adapter is great!

[@Frobbl]

@@russell1234 I too only heard positive things about it so far. I'm wondering why he isn't considering just using the adapter but instead talks about having to sell all his lenses when switching to a mirrorless camera.. Well unless he is planning to go to a different brand.

[@MLodge]

Faster focusing (though that may not matter), lower weight and smaller size.

[@Frobbl]

@@MLodge Well I mean the focus might be a tad faster but to me it wouldn't be worth selling all lenses and buying new ones.

[@sarfaraz.hosseini]

@@Frobbl He's considering all his options, which likely include using adaptors, but there's advantages to going native. Transitioning from DSLR to ML is the ideal time to assess the photography landscape, pardon the pun, and being open to switching brands.

[@andybamforth]

Too true. I've had a bad back for a while now just taking the camera and 24-105 has made me more selective about images. Love the vid.

[@Crispy_Bee]

The best lens for landscape photography is the lens that is most versatile and still offers great image quality. So I'd say the Canon 24-105mm II L IS with a full-frame body. Great coverage, quite alright wide open and tack sharp stopped down, from a rather wide wide-angle to a really good telephoto range with IS. Plus: super lightweight and compact. Aaaaaand - it's a kit-lens, or at least it was for the 5D-series. I don't even shoot Canon, I'm a Fuji-guy, but I'd still recommend it.

[@austing2968]

what lens would you recommend on the fuji side?

[@ZioFeda]

Yeah, some brands\models will sometime give you some pretty impressive gear along with the camera - but you'll usually pay for it. You'll maybe save 2-300$ compared to what buying the body and the lens separately would normally cost (which is still pretty cool).

[@brucebrodie7388]

Canon have two 24-105, one a kit lens and the other is a L lens which is their professional version and a very good and versatile piece of glass.

[@ZioFeda]

@@brucebrodie7388 as far as I know, the lens coming with the 5D is the L version (f/4). A quick search through Amazon seems to confirm this. The other lens you're referring to is perhaps the f/3.5-5.6 STM, but I don't think I remember a camera coming with that as the kit lens.

[@1958zed]

My Canon 24-105 mm II L IS is on my camera probably 90% of the time.

[@andrewwheatley8973]

Hi Thomas, enjoyed your little rant. I have been shooting with one lens for about a year now the Fujifilm 32-64mm, it is a superb lens and the only one I own for that camera. A couple of advantages with only having 1 lens, my bag is a lot lighter now and it makes you focus more on composition and you become more attuned to your surroundings.

[@ashleymorris9603]

Good to see the thought processes are felt by others! I personally think that this issue of 'getting the shot' is compounded when you are a hobbyist and have a social media account....I myself suffer with this. I find that i can slip out of the moment by pressurising myself to have some kind of 'result' for the effort. I therefore went for the many lenses option that put a hole in the wallet. Looking back i think you are right by focusing more effort on asking yourself 'why' you are taking the photo.

[@gaetanoscalfidi]

I can live with the fact of taking all my lenses everywhere (great pain for my back but no regrets!) and coming back with no shot. But I can't live with the idea of coming home with no shot because of that lens I didn't take with me :D

[@derekwillson2538]

Well done, one of the features that keeps so many people engaged with your content is that you genuinely understand that many of us mere mortals do not or will ever have all singing all dancing kit. Don't be too hard on yourself about your opinion of kit lenses, speaking as one of your fans operating on a zero budget level, Kit Lenses SUCK! I hope the manufacturers feel mightily embarrassed to sell these items. best wishes Del

[@SteveMorton]

If it is just a hobby and not your main source of income, then as soon as you start stressing out about your photography then it is time to look for a different hobby. I have made do with ‘kit lenses’ for a number of years and I am satisfied with the results I get. Thank you Thomas for a realistic viewpoint on this...

[@msthasan]

Hi Thomas what about using 24-105 F4 lens? Best of both Ways

[@danielwcheng6381]

Excellent - video...as I continue on my photo journey i find it's more more a mental aspect that I'm learning about...thank Thomas....

[@bobkent007]

Thought I had lost it when suddenly the video disappeared... glad its back :-) Great advice, I would also suggest its better to buy a good quality secondhand (L type) lens than a similar priced new kit type lens. That's what I had to do and I am very happy I did, the glass makes all the difference as you say :-)

[@PMCN53]

Agree, before going to Lofoten in Feb 2020 I purchased a 16-35 f2.8 SECOND HAND. It was half the price of the lates version but a brilliant lens, well worth paying 1/2 price LOL :)

[@bobkent007]

@@PMCN53 I own a Sony a7r2 and cannot afford the Sony glass other than the Ziess 24-70 (kit) that came with it. So have the cheaper 17-40mm L f4 and the older 70-200mm L f4 non IS. Love them both as they are very sharp and my body as IS if needed. To be honest when out in the Peak District I use the 70-200mm most of the time.

[@antontik]

I would agree with your general comments on kit lenses. Also, i am not sure if there are certain lens that are known to be kit lenses. I bought my full-frame Canon camera new a couple years ago and then purchased a 24-105mm lens. I would think this is a kit lens, however, I must say it is quite versatile and allows me to capture lots of different scenarios. I am not sure if it would make sense for me to "out-grow" this lens as getting a 24-70 may make the photos a tad bit sharper, but i would lose the 71-105mm focal length options.

[@MrFbach1]

Well ranted, Thomas. I recently bought into the lumix system. Lenses and camera are great and HEAVY duty. I'm now lugging the s1r, 16-35, and the 70-200 2.8 in my pack up the oregon trails. Sometimes I'll rent the 50mm 1.4 to take along too. My bag is super heavy at this point. The last three day hikes I went on do you know what I didn't end up using that weighs the most? Yep, you guessed it, the bloody tripod.

[@Neds_Severed_Head]

I went to my local woodland last weekend. I normally go out with my 80D, 3 lenses, a tripod, filters, batteries... etc. This time though, I went with just an X100F with its fixed 35mm eqiv, shot nothing but jpg and loved every minute. No bag, no fussing around with a tripod, no swapping lenses.. it was so much fun!

[@daryl_pangod]

I recently sold my Canon 17-40 to buy a decent 70-200L. Being in a mountainous area here in the Philippines, I found myself not bringing out my wide angle in almost all of my previous shoots, and pretty much stuck to my old Tamron 55-200. It's been a trusty little long lens but I knew that it would be a matter of time before I upgrade it. With regards to FOMO, well I missed the comet Neowise; what's more to come for me anyway? For sure, I'm gonna save up for another wide angle lens but not in the near future yet. For now, I'm happy with my 70-200 and I'm looking forward to practicing my telephoto shots.

[@minisla]

Do you feel pressured into buying a new system. Due to current body being discontinued. What system have you in mind. Interesting to see what you end up purchasing.

[@neilrslater]

Love your work Thomas, really interesting, sincere and inspiring.

[@RogerHyam]

Lovely thoughts. I now only ever go out with one lens. Digital a 24-105mm f4. Film 150mm 4x5. Also doing a project with only Hasselblad SWC 38mm. I only take the camera for the one project at a time. Got a hammer? Everything looks like a nail.

[@andrewsDoc938]

Have to say, i mostly agree with all you said, specially the part 'No Best lens' and 'Only 2 prime in the bag'. I'am a digital old school B&W Nikon photographer, mostly urban, and only shoot with manual prime lenses. The focal are 18, 24, 28, 50, 85 and 105mm and are all 20+ years old, so full metal and zero AF and i never (unless on a extensive trip) carry more than 2 lenses. Shooting primes and getting to perfectly know your lens it's the Very secret, will push you toward creative and will force you to compose your frame without any compromise. I also found my old primes to be often more sharper (maximum aperture) and flares resistant than many new Zoom lenses, even tho clarity and 'digital HD' effect is way superior on the new electronic one. If you are really wondering about the best landscape lens, try old pro-quality primes, like a 24mm and a 50mm ( depend on location, wide field/mountain reflection 24, long scenery 50), but just go prime :)

[@Paul9]

I’ve been using a 10-24mm 35mm 55-200mm Fuji setup recently and pretty much covers everything I need for most situations and relatively light.

[@sc85photography75]

I am absolutely in this position right now as a beginner. Im having this debate with myself about buying a wide angle lens and which one along with buying filters so i can do long exposure shots. But this is a great tip and very reassuring to just be ok with making the best of what you do have. Thanks

[@raider32]

When I moved from Canon to the Sony A7III, I wanted that one lens to do as much as possible, I went with the Sony 24-105mm, with an L-Bracket it's a decent all-in-one package for landscapes, If I need wider I can do a simple 3-4 vertical Pano to create an 18mm ish shot.

[@sic04250f]

Yeah the 24-105 is extremely versatile.

[@SvenHeitland]

oh thank you so much. i was trying to choose the lenses i realy want to take with me. i realy can´t (and don´t want to) carry all of the stuff with me. now i will choose just two and be ok with it. so it´s (currlently) my universal kit lens 18-135 and a prime 24mm. i also have a triepod with a "panorama system". that gives me a lot of possibilities without having an wideangle lens. i hope this will work for me. thanks for this video

[@PhotoTubeUK]

For the fujifilm system consider the following primes for landscapes: XF 16mm f/2.8 WR, XF35mm f/2 WR, XF50mm f/2 WR and the XF 90mm f/2 WR. All of these primes are very small and light, weather sealed, reasonably priced and have excellent image quality (at least as good if not better than the most expensive pro zooms). Using primes will make you think more about your compositions and possibly make you a better photographer. If you need to go super-wide (and do you?) then perhaps add the Samyang 12mm.

[@captain_crunk]

Alright broseph, whatever you were sipping on before shooting this video has been deemed a new prerequisite for all future videos. For it is with this attitude that you will help the most people. And yes, not getting the shot is absolutely the correct way to look at photography. Hell, that's the correct way to look at life itself. Bruh, so deep. (also, "buy all the lenses" is a perfectly valid answer as well, mainly because I sleep better with that justification after having gone that route myself)

[@obikedog]

One of the best gear videos I've ever seen. Been debating whether to sell my Nikon gear to buy new lenses for my Sony a7. The Sony glass is more expensive so I'm not able to buy a trinity set but deciding between the 24-70 and 70-200 has been difficult. I love the lens I have but I almost wish I didn't already have the 16-35 so I could justify getting the new 12-24. My Nikon 14-24 is my current favorite so without a comparable lens in my Sony kit it's difficult to make the jump! I'm deadlocked.

[@dlyle2013]

Great points! This is one of the best answers to this question that I’ve heard. It’s easy to feel restricted by your gear, but I look at it as a challenge to exercise my creativity.

[@terrynewmanphotography]

What most of us probably do at some point in our photography (esp for those with perfectionist traits) is try to carry all our kit everywhere. Then we get annoyed at lugging the bag around then we reduce to our favourite lenses and what we’re comfortable with for the scenes. I’ve come to the point where if I’m on holiday and may not return to that place I’ll take my wide angle and telephoto or just the wide one as that’s my favourite lens. If I’m on trips out more locally then I may just pick one lens and often the kit lens. I had this experience this weekend where I couldn’t be bothered to bring all the gear so went with only wide angle and no tripod and accepted it. The only other option is to go travel lens where the compromise is likely to be of less quality. Again, it’s down to what suits you and what you are content to accept. Where you intend to go and the likely type of shots you desire will answer the lens choice too.

[@jeffjohnson-ys3pj]

I started with a Cannon 77d and Tamron 18-400 . For travel, landscape and wildlife its been great. But now I'm wanting to upgrade . Going Fujifilm xt 4 and Fringer ef fx adapter and get by with current lenses. Save $ for quailty glass and make the overwelming desision of which lens first. I apprecitate your perspective and wisdow as always.

[@henryhammond4653]

Next week's video why s 40mm prime is what you really need 😂

[@DavidSmith-ov3vu]

Yes . well thats what I use , and a 12 - 24 and a 28 - 74 and a............... and primes too

[@Illuminationsfromtheattic]

The whole thing about figuring out what focal lengths you shoot is why I've decided to invest in the new Nikon 70-200 2.8 lens. I find myself so often with the 24-70 shooting at 70mm and wishing I had more reach, so it makes sense that my first "Holy Trinity Lens" be a 70-200. I'm planning to make this my go-to walkaround lens, though I'm sure I'll miss having a wider angle occasionally when if I leave my other lenses behind. If this works out as well as I think it will I'll also pick up a 2x TC so that I can also get wildlife shots if the occasion arises. For wide angles I can always shoot composite images if I see a shot I absolutely have to have.

[@seantomlinson3320]

Good update, thank you Tom. I appreciate the update. More expensive better be better otherwise why does it exist, but is it better enough to notice? What I look for is a lens that let's me do something I can't do with my current kit - longer, wider, faster, lighter? Perhaps more flexible because of a couple of those? I appreciate your examples - seascape with UWA zoom, woodland with standard zoom, peaks with long zoom.

[@ernestthomas9406]

coming from you especially this is very sound advice, I actually think that way . But I have a problem , can't decide weather the 24-70 f/2.8 is better than the 24-105 f/4 .

[@kevins8575]

I went with the 24-105 f/4 because of its bigger range. I find that I shoot lots in the 70-105 range, so it's great that I don't have to frequently switch between a 24-70 and a 70-200. I don't need the bigger aperture

[@jimmydcoleman]

Great video, great shot anxiety had really got its hook into me and I hadn't realised. Also totally agree with the pro lense comment, I am currently regretting a couple of purchases where I went quantity rather than quality. Love the channel

[@slushy1]

How about the Canon EF35-350mm f/3.5-5.6 L. Stuck it on my Canon 5DS and never needed to change lenses as yet.