Buyer's Guide: Best Lenses by Genre

Great photographs are created with great cameras and even better lenses. The quality of your lenses affect the quality of your image.  

In this article we start with the essential day-to-day lenses on to recommendations based on genres from Landscapes to Portraiture to Travel.  

 
 
Essential

These lens options are ones you might consider if you want a lens for everyday use. These will also be good for travel or other situations when you only want to carry
your camera and one lens.  

Canon 24-105 f/4L IS II 

 Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM 

 Fujifilm 18-55mm f/2.8-4 

 Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 

 Nikon 24-120mm f/4G

 Nikon 50mm f/1.8G 

 Sony 18-200mm f/3.5-6.3 OSS 

 Sony 50mm f/1.8 

Action & Sports Photography

Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II  

Canon 300mm f/2.8L II USM 

Fujifilm 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 R 

Nikon 70-200 f/2.8G 

Nikon 300mm f/2.8G 

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS 

 
 
Food Photography

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III 

Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM 

Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS 

Fujifilm 16-55mm f/2.8  

Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 

Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D 

Nikon 50mm f/1.4G 

Nikon 60mm f/2.8G 

Sony 50mm f/1.8 

Sony 90mm f/2.8 

Landscape / Cityscape Photography

Canon 11-24mm f/4L USM 

 Canon 14mm f/2.8L II USM 

 Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III 

 Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 

 Fujifilm 16mm f/1.4 R WR 

 Nikon 14-24mm f/2.8G 

Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D   

Sony 16-35mm f/4 ZA OSS 

Macro Photography

Canon 60mm f/2.8 Macro 

Canon 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS 

Fujifilm 60mm f/2.4 XF Macro 

Nikon 60mm f/2.8G 

Nikon 105mm f/2.8G 

Sony 50mm f/2.8 Macro 

Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro 

Nature & Wildlife Photography

Canon 300mm f/2.8L II USM

Canon 300mm f/4L IS USM 

Fujifilm 100-400 f/4.5-5.6 R 

Nikon 300mm f/2.8G 

Nikon 300mm f/4D 

Sony 70-200mm f/4 

Portrait Photography 

Canon 50mm f/1.4 USM 

Canon 85mm f/1.8 USM 

Canon 85mm f/1.2L II 

Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 

Fujifilm 56mm f/1.2 R 

Nikon 50mm f/1.4G 

Nikon 85mm f/1.4G 

Sony 50mm Planar f/1.4 ZA 

Sony 85mm f/1.4GM 

Sigma Art Lenses for Canon or Nikon (35mm f/1.4 DG, 50mm f/1.4 DG and 85mm f/1.4 DG available)

Street Photography

Canon 35mm f/2 USM 

Canon 50mm f/1.8 STM 

Fujifilm 23mm f/1.4 R 

Fujifilm 35mm f/1.4 

Nikon 35mm f/1.8G 

Nikon 50mm f/1.8G 

Sony 35mm f/2.8 ZA 

Travel Photography

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III 

Canon 24-105 f/4L IS II 

Canon 70-200 f/4L IS 

Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 R 

Fujifilm 16-55mm f/2.8R  

Fujifilm 50-140mm f/2.8 R 

Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D   

Nikon 24-120mm f/4G 

Nikon 70-200 f/4G 

Sony 16-35mm f/4 ZA 

Wedding & Event Photography

Canon 16-35mm f/2.8L III 

Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 II 

Canon 70-200 f/2.8 II 

Fujifilm 10-24mm f/4 R   

Fujifilm 16-55mm f/2.8 R   

Nikon 17-35mm f/2.8D   

Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8E 

Nikon 70–200mm f/2.8G ED VR II 

Sony 16-35mm f/4 ZA 

Sony 24-70mm f/2.8 GM 

Sony 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS

Check out our Camera Buyer's Guide here.

Selection by GPP Instuctor, Kate Hailey.