Best Lenses under €500 for travel

Best Pick

Meike 55mm F1.8 Full Frame AF STM Stepping Motor

76.7 Travel Score
55mm f/1.8 Nikon Z IS
Why we recommend this

With a bright f/1.8 aperture and STM autofocus motor, this 55mm prime lens excels at isolating subjects with smooth bokeh, even in low light. Its compact 201g build and optical design with extra-low dispersion elements effectively suppress chromatic aberration and flaring. This lens is best for street photographers and videographers who need a lightweight, fast-focusing portrait lens for Nikon Z mount cameras.

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Viltrox Air AF 9mm f/2.8

72.8 Travel Score
9mm f/2.8 Sony E, Nikon Z Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Its ultra-wide 9mm f/2.8 aperture and 113.8° field of view are ideal for expansive landscapes and dynamic vlogging. The lens is exceptionally portable at 176g and features a close 0.13m minimum focus distance for detailed near-macro shots. This lens is best for travel vloggers and landscape photographers who need a lightweight, wide-angle option for capturing immersive scenes and creative close-ups.

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Sigma Contemporary 30mm f/1.4 DC DN

62.7 Travel Score
30mm f/1.4 Nikon Z
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.4 aperture provides excellent low-light performance and subject separation for a 45mm full-frame equivalent focal length. The compact 265g design and stepping motor AF system make it a highly portable and responsive lens for Nikon Z APS-C cameras. This lens is best for portrait and street photographers seeking a fast, lightweight prime with classic framing.

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TTArtisan 50mm F2 Full Frame Large Aperture Manual Portrait

54.6 Travel Score
50mm f/2 Nikon Z IS
Why we recommend this

Its all-metal build and compact 201g weight make this 50mm f/2 lens exceptionally durable and portable for a full-frame optic. The fast f/2 aperture provides strong low-light performance and a classic blur effect for portraiture. This manual lens is best for Nikon Z-mount photographers seeking a lightweight, affordable prime for casual street and portrait photography.

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Nikon Meike 35mm F1.8 Pro Wide Angle Auto Focus STM Full Frame High Resolution

53.7 Travel Score
35mm f/1.8 Nikon Z IS
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.8 aperture and STM motor provide fast, quiet autofocus for both stills and video, supported by a robust optical design with three ED elements. The lens offers a versatile 35mm focal length, ideal for street photography and environmental portraits, with a Type-C port for convenient firmware updates. This lens is best for Nikon Z-mount shooters needing a capable, affordable prime for everyday photography and run-and-gun video work.

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7Artisans 35mm f/1.4

46 Travel Score
35mm f/1.4 Nikon Z
Why we recommend this

Its f/1.4 maximum aperture and compact 227g manual-focus design make it a notably lightweight and fast prime for the Nikon Z mount. The lens offers a classic 52.5mm equivalent field of view on APS-C cameras, ideal for achieving shallow depth of field. This lens is best for portrait and street photographers on a budget who prefer manual control and don't require autofocus or weather sealing.

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Rokinon 14mm F2.8 UMC Super Wide Angle

39.5 Travel Score
14mm f/2.8 Nikon Z Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Its 14mm focal length and f/2.8 aperture provide an extremely wide, bright field of view ideal for expansive landscapes or tight interiors. As a fully manual lens, it offers a straightforward, budget-conscious entry into ultra-wide-angle photography without electronic features. This lens is best for photographers on a strict budget who enjoy manual control and are shooting static scenes like architecture or astrophotography.

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Best Lenses under €900 for travel

Best Pick

Tamron Di III 70-300mm F/4.5-6.3 RXD

59.3 Travel Score
70-300mm f/4.5 Nikon Z
Why we recommend this

Weighing only 581g, this telephoto zoom stands out as the world's lightest and most compact full-frame mirrorless lens, offering 300mm reach with effective stabilization. Its exceptionally quiet RXD stepping motor is ideal for video, and the lens maintains sharp image quality with a 15-element optical design. This lens is best for photographers who prioritize a lightweight kit for wildlife or sports and need discreet, fast autofocus.

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Laowa 85mm f/5.6 2x Ultra Macro APO

42.9 Travel Score
85mm f/5.6 Nikon Z
Why we recommend this

Its standout 2:1 maximum magnification allows for extreme close-up detail capture, supported by an apochromatic design with three ED elements for high sharpness and color correction. The remarkably lightweight 315g build makes it exceptionally portable for a full-frame macro lens, despite lacking autofocus or weather sealing. This lens is best for dedicated macro photographers and scientific imagers who require extreme magnification and optical precision in a compact package.

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Viltrox 13mm F1.4 f/1.4

38.6 Travel Score
13mm f/1.4 Nikon Z IS
Why we recommend this

Its ultra-wide 13mm focal length and bright f/1.4 aperture excel for environmental portraits and low-light shooting. The STM motor and minimal focus breathing make it particularly stable for vlogging and video work. This lens is best for APS-C Z-mount shooters who prioritize dynamic wide-angle stills and video over extreme portability.

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Sirui 20mm T1.8 1.33X Anamorphic

31.3 Travel Score
Nikon Z IS
Why we recommend this

Its 1.33x squeeze factor and T1.8 aperture enable a true 2.35:1 cinematic aspect ratio with excellent low-light performance for Super 35 sensors. The inclusion of a quiet STM autofocus motor with eye-tracking is a significant functional advantage for a dedicated anamorphic lens. This lens is best for independent filmmakers and videographers seeking authentic anamorphic character and a wide field of view without the cost of full-frame cinema lenses.

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7Artisans 65mm T2.9 Macro 2X Infinte Series Manual Full-Frame Large Aperture Prime Cine

16.1 Travel Score
65mm Nikon Z
Why we recommend this

Its standout 2x magnification and T2.9 aperture are designed for capturing extreme macro details with cinematic control. The lens is built with an all-metal housing and a 330° focus rotation for precise manual operation. This is best for dedicated videographers or cinematographers who need a specialized manual cine lens for high-magnification macro shots on full-frame Nikon Z cameras.

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Best Lenses under €1,500 for travel

Best Pick

Nikon NIKKOR Z NIKZ1650-OB

80.9 Travel Score
16-50mm f/3.5 Nikon Z IS
Why we recommend this

Its built-in VR stabilization provides up to 4.5 stops of shake correction, a key feature for handheld shooting. It's the smallest DX-format interchangeable lens, offering exceptional portability for its zoom range. This lens is best for budget-conscious travelers who need a lightweight, versatile kit lens for everyday photography.

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Laowa Zero-D 12mm f/2.8 Lite AF

44.1 Travel Score
12mm f/2.8 Nikon Z
Why we recommend this

This 12mm f/2.8 autofocus lens offers an exceptionally wide field of view for full-frame cameras while maintaining a relatively lightweight 408g build. Its standout optical feature is a 5-blade iris designed to produce a distinct 10-point sun-star effect in images. This lens is best for architectural and landscape photographers who need a compact, ultra-wide prime for capturing expansive scenes with dramatic starbursts on light sources.

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Viltrox LAB AF 135mm F1.8 Full Frame

35.8 Travel Score
135mm f/135 Nikon Z IS Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is the exceptionally bright f/1.8 aperture for a 135mm telephoto, enabling excellent low-light performance and subject isolation. The lens is also weather-sealed and features a HyperVCM motor for fast, quiet autofocus. This lens is best for photographers specializing in close-up macro work or detailed landscape shots, where its sharp optics and bright aperture are most advantageous.

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Best Lenses under €2,500 for travel

Best Pick

Tamron Di III 35-150mm f/2-2.8 VXD

67.2 Travel Score
35-150mm f/2 Nikon Z Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Its f/2-2.8 aperture range is the fastest available for a zoom, offering exceptional low-light capability and background blur. The VXD linear motor provides notably fast and quiet autofocus, which is ideal for capturing candid moments. This lens is best for event and portrait photographers who need a single, versatile lens with pro-level speed and rendering.

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Laowa Probe 24mm f/14

37.1 Travel Score
24mm f/14 Nikon Z
Why we recommend this

Its long, slender probe barrel enables a 2:1 maximum magnification and a 0.8" minimum working distance, allowing for unique close-up perspectives. The wide-angle 24mm focal length provides greater depth of field than traditional macro lenses, and the waterproof front barrel is a practical feature for adventurous shooting. This lens is best for macro photographers and videographers specializing in detailed, immersive close-ups of small subjects or in tight spaces like food or product photography.

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Premium Lenses for travel

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