Find the best travel lens in 2026

Perfect travel lens features:

  1. Versatile Range - Wide to telephoto in one lens
  2. Compact Size - Easy to carry all day
  3. Good Image Quality - Sharp across the range
  4. Weather Resistant - Handle any conditions

Best Lenses under £500 for travel

Best Pick

Canon - RF24-105mm F4-7.1 IS STM Standard Zoom

69.4 Travel Score
24-105mm f/4 Canon RF IS
Why we recommend this

This lens stands out for its compact, lightweight design paired with a versatile 24-105mm zoom range and built-in optical image stabilization offering up to 5 stops of shake correction. Its secondary strength is delivering high-quality RF optics in a portable package ideal for on-the-go shooting. This lens is best for travel and landscape photographers who prioritize a lightweight kit without sacrificing focal length flexibility.

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Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Sigma 16mm, 30mm, and 56mm f/1.4 DC DN

49.1 Travel Score
16mm f/1.4 Canon RF
Why we recommend this

With an f/1.4 maximum aperture across all three prime lenses, this set provides excellent low-light performance and subject isolation for APS-C cameras. The trio covers a versatile 16mm, 30mm, and 56mm focal length range, offering a complete kit for various shooting scenarios. It is best for portrait photographers and content creators on Canon RF-mount APS-C bodies who prioritize fast primes over a single zoom.

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Laowa Venus Optics Laowa 10mm f/4 Cookie Lens for Canon

47.8 Travel Score
10mm f/4 Canon RF
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is its 130g pancake design, making it an exceptionally compact 10mm f/4 prime with a 109.3° angle of view. The optical construction includes four ED glass elements for improved sharpness, and its 4" minimum focus distance enables unique wide-angle macro shots. This lens is best for Canon RF APS-C shooters who prioritize portability for travel and landscape photography and want to experiment with close-up, wide perspectives.

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Sirui SIRUI Saturn 50mm T2.9 1.6X Full Frame Carbon

41.5 Travel Score
50mm Canon RF IS
Why we recommend this

Its carbon fiber construction makes it the lightest full-frame anamorphic lens on the market at just 465g, ideal for gimbal or drone use. The premium 1.6x squeeze factor delivers a cinematic 2.4:1 aspect ratio with distinctive oval bokeh and optional blue flares. This lens is best for independent filmmakers and cinematographers needing a lightweight, manual-focus anamorphic for stabilized rigs and unique overhead shots.

Best Lenses under £1,000 for travel

Best Pick

Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD Lens

79.3 Travel Score
18-300mm f/3.5 Canon RF IS
Why we recommend this

Its standout 18-300mm focal length provides a massive 16.6x zoom range, making it exceptionally versatile for everything from landscapes to distant subjects. The lens is also relatively compact and lightweight at 635g, suiting it well for travel and everyday use on APS-C cameras. This lens is best for photographers who want a single, all-in-one travel lens and value versatility over specialized macro or low-light performance.

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Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Canon RF 24mm f/1.8 Macro IS STM Lens

76.6 Travel Score
24mm f/1.8 Canon RF IS
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is a fast f/1.8 aperture, providing excellent low-light performance and shallow depth of field for a wide-angle prime lens. As an affordable entry into the RF system, it offers great value for expanding a mirrorless kit without sacrificing key optical performance. This lens is best for budget-conscious photographers and videographers who need a versatile wide-angle for landscapes, street photography, and low-light scenarios.

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Laowa Venus Laowa 15mm f/2 FE Zero-D Lens for Canon EOS

51.1 Travel Score
15mm f/2 Canon RF Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Its 15mm f/2 aperture makes it the widest rectilinear f/2 lens available, offering exceptional low-light capability for astrophotography with minimal distortion due to its Zero-D optical design. The weather-sealed, 500g metal build is compact for travel while the 5-blade diaphragm creates distinct sunstars. This lens is best for landscape and architecture photographers who prioritize edge-to-edge sharpness and manual focus control in extreme wide-angle shots.

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Best Lenses under £1,500 for travel

Best Pick

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

81.7 Travel Score
14-35mm f/4 Canon RF IS Weather Sealed
Why we recommend this

Its f/4 maximum aperture and inclusion of three UD and three aspherical elements deliver sharp, corrected images across its versatile 14-35mm zoom range. The lens is built for the Canon RF system, offering full-frame coverage with built-in image stabilization for handheld shooting. This lens is best for Canon photographers who need a compact, high-performance ultra-wide zoom for landscapes and architectural work where edge-to-edge sharpness is critical.

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Great Alternatives

These options also score highly and may better suit your specific needs

Laowa Venus Laowa 15mm f/4.5 Zero-D Shift Lens for Canon

14.8 Travel Score
15mm f/4.5 Canon RF
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is its +/-11mm shift capability on a 15mm focal length, enabling perspective control for architecture without digital correction. The lens is also notably portable at 590g and uses a Zero-D optical design to deliver sharp images with minimal distortion. This lens is best for architectural and interior photographers who need to correct converging vertical lines in-camera while working in tight spaces.

Best Lenses under £2,500 for travel

No lenses found under £2,500 for this category.

Premium Lenses for travel

Best Pick

Canon RF 28-70mm f/2 L USM Lens

25.6 Travel Score
70mm f/2 Canon RF
Why we recommend this

Its standout feature is a constant f/2 maximum aperture across its 28-70mm range, offering exceptional low-light performance and background blur uncommon for a standard zoom. The lens incorporates specialized elements like Super UD glass and an Air Sphere Coating to control chromatic aberration, flare, and ghosting for high image quality. This lens is best for Canon EOS R photographers who prioritize a versatile, fast-aperture zoom for portraits and events over portability, given its substantial 1429g weight.

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