Best Zoom Lenses for Travel Photography 2025

Travel photography demands a camera lens that can handle a variety of scenes, from sprawling landscapes to intimate portraits, without weighing down your bag. A zoom lens is often the best lens for travel photography because it offers versatility, covering a wide focal range in one compact package.

In this guide, we highlight the best zoom lenses for travel available in 2025, tailored for different camera systems like Canon, Sony, and Nikon. Each lens excels in portability, image quality, and zoom capabilities, making them perfect for travel photographers who want to capture every moment without carrying multiple lenses.

Best Zoom Travel Photography Lenses

*Relies on camera’s in-body image stabilization (IBIS) if available.

Best Travel Photography Zoom Lenses

Travel photography requires versatile lenses that handle diverse scenes without adding bulk to your gear. Zoom lenses are ideal for travel because they cover wide focal ranges in one compact package, eliminating the need for multiple lenses. This 2025 guide features the best zoom lenses for different camera systems, including Canon, Sony, Nikon, and L-mount options, each excelling in portability, image quality, and zoom capabilities for both full-frame and APS-C formats.

Our top recommendations include the Canon RF 24-240mm for Canon users, Tamron 28-200mm for Sony, Nikon Z 24-200mm for Nikon, Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm for L-mount, and Tamron 18-300mm for APS-C cameras.

Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM

Canon RF 24–240mm F4-6.3 is USM Lens, Black

• Compact, Lightweight 10x Zoom RF Lens
• High Image Quality and Bright f/4-6. 3 Lens Aperture
• Optical Image Stabilization with up to 5 Stops on Shake Correction

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The Canon RF 24-240mm f/4-6.3 IS USM is a top choice for Canon EOS R users diving into travel photography. This superzoom lens covers an impressive 24-240mm focal length, letting you snap wide-angle shots of cityscapes or zoom in for telephoto details like distant monuments. Weighing only 1.65 pounds (750 grams), it’s light enough to carry all day, fitting easily into your camera bag. Its 5-stop image stabilization ensures sharp images, even in low light or when shooting handheld at 200mm. The Nano USM autofocus is fast and silent, ideal for candid street photography or video. With weather-sealed construction, this lens handles dust and drizzle, perfect for outdoor adventures. While the f/4-6.3 aperture isn’t the fastest, its flexibility makes it a one-lens solution for Canon mirrorless users exploring new destinations and our choice of the best travel lenses available today.

What sets this lens apart is its remarkable build quality for such an affordable price point. The optical formula includes 21 elements in 15 groups, with one ultra-low dispersion (UD) element that minimizes chromatic aberration across the entire zoom range. The lens retracts when not in use, making it incredibly compact for transport. Its minimum focusing distance of just 1.1 feet at 24mm allows for impressive close-up shots of local details, while the telephoto reach captures distant subjects with surprising clarity. The stepping motor technology ensures virtually silent operation, making it perfect for video recording in quiet environments or wildlife photography where noise could be disruptive.

Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD (Sony E-mount)

Tamron 28-200 F/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for Sony Mirrorless Full Frame/APS-C E-Mount, Model Number:…

• The world’s first F2.8 all-in-one zoom lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras
• Lightweight (20.3 oz.) and compact size (4.6″) for superior mobility
• Superior up-close shooting performance (7.5″ / 1:3.1 WIDE & 31.5″ / 1:3.8 TELE)

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Sony E-mount users will love the Tamron 28-200mm f/2.8-5.6 Di III RXD for its balance of performance and portability. This full-frame lens offers a 28-200mm zoom range, covering wide-angle landscapes to telephoto portraits, making it a versatile lens for travel. Its f/2.8 aperture at the wide end excels in low-light conditions, like evening street photography or indoor scenes, producing beautiful bokeh for creative shots. At just 1.27 pounds (575 grams), it’s compact and lightweight, ideal for long travel days. The lens features weather-resistant construction, protecting against moisture and dust, and delivers sharp images with vibrant colors and no distortion. While it lacks in-lens image stabilization, it pairs well with Sony cameras’ in-body stabilization (IBIS). For travel photographers seeking a single lens for their Sony Alpha, this Tamron lens is a standout choice.

The RXD (Rapid eXtra-silent stepping Drive) autofocus system is exceptionally quiet and fast, making this lens excellent for both photo and video work. The optical design incorporates 18 elements in 14 groups, including three low-dispersion elements and one hybrid aspherical element that effectively controls aberrations throughout the zoom range. The fluorine coating on the front element repels water and oil, making cleaning easier during challenging travel conditions. This lens truly shines in its ability to maintain excellent sharpness across most of its zoom range, with the wide end being particularly impressive for architectural and landscape photography.

Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR

Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-200mm VR | Compact all-in-one telephoto zoom lens with image stabilization for Z…

• Lens features Nikon technologies including Aspherical Lens Elements, ED Glass Elements, ARNEO Coat…
• Lens features built-in Vibration Reduction image stabilization
• The customizable, clickless control ring offers quick and quiet access to most used camera settings

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The Nikon Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR is a fantastic travel lens for Nikon Z-series mirrorless cameras. With a 24-200mm zoom range, it captures everything from wide-angle vistas to telephoto subjects, offering incredible versatility for travel photography. Weighing only 1.26 pounds (570 grams), it’s one of the lightest full-frame superzooms, making it easy to pack in your camera bag. Nikon’s Vibration Reduction (VR) provides 4.5 stops of stabilization, ensuring sharp photos in low light or at longer focal lengths without a tripod. The weather-sealed design and fluorine coating protect against dust and smudges, ideal for rugged travel conditions. Its autofocus is quick and reliable, perfect for capturing fleeting moments. For Nikon users, this lens delivers excellent image quality and durability, making it a must-have for landscapes, cityscapes, and more.

The advanced optical design features 19 elements in 12 groups, including two extra-low dispersion elements and three aspherical elements that work together to minimize distortion and chromatic aberration. The lens employs Nikon’s NANO Crystal Coat to reduce ghosting and flare, particularly beneficial when shooting into bright light sources during golden hour travel photography. The stepping motor autofocus system is not only fast but remarkably smooth for video work, making this lens suitable for hybrid shooters who want to capture both stills and motion during their travels. The customizable control ring can be programmed for manual focus or exposure compensation, adding to its versatility in the field.

Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 Macro O.I.S. (L-mount)

Panasonic LUMIX S 28-200mm F4-7.1 Macro O.I.S.

• A One-of a-Kind Lightweight Wide-Angle to Telephoto Lens: Perfect for everying from landscapes and…
• Impressively Small and Light: With a mass of approximately 413g and total length of approximately…
• The Premier Long Zoom Lens in the LUMIX S Series, Ideally Suited to Any Scenario: With the minimum…

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For L-mount users, the Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm f/4-7.1 Macro O.I.S. is the ultimate travel lens due to its featherlight design. At just 0.91 pounds (413 grams), it’s the lightest superzoom lens for full-frame mirrorless cameras, perfect for keeping your gear minimal. Its 28-200mm focal range covers a wide field of view for landscapes and tight shots for portraits or distant subjects. The lens also features macro photography capabilities, with 0.5x magnification at 28mm, ideal for close-ups of flowers or food. Optical image stabilization ensures sharp handheld shots, even in dim lighting. Weather-sealed construction makes it reliable in various conditions. For Panasonic or Leica L-mount users, this lens combines portability, versatility, and high image quality, making it a top pick for travel photography.

The macro capabilities truly set this lens apart from its competitors. Being able to achieve half-life-size magnification across the entire zoom range opens up creative possibilities that other superzooms cannot match. Whether you’re documenting intricate architectural details, capturing local cuisine, or photographing small wildlife, this feature adds tremendous value. The linear motor autofocus system is both fast and silent, making it excellent for video work. The optical formula includes 17 elements in 11 groups with multiple special glass elements that maintain sharpness and contrast throughout the zoom range. Despite its incredibly light weight, the build quality feels solid and professional, with smooth zoom and focus rings that inspire confidence during extended shooting sessions.

Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD (Sony E or Fujifilm X-mount)

Tamron – 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD – Zoom Lens for APS-C mirrorless FUJIFILM Cameras -…

• The 18-300mm F/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD has a focal lenght of 18-300 mm, minimum object distance of…
• The lens is the first lens in the world for APS-C mirrorless camera with a zoom ratio of 16.6x.
• The objective offers a wide focal length range with around 27-1450 mm.

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The Tamron 18-300mm f/3.5-6.3 Di III-A VC VXD is a dream for APS-C camera users, like those with Sony’s a6000 series or Fujifilm X-mount cameras. Its 18-300mm zoom range (27-450mm full-frame equivalent) offers unmatched flexibility, capturing wide-angle landscapes to far-off wildlife with one lens. Weighing 1.37 pounds (620 grams), it’s light enough for all-day shooting. Tamron’s Vibration Compensation (VC) stabilizes shots at longer focal lengths, reducing motion blur. The VXD autofocus is fast and precise, ensuring you catch every moment, from street photography to nature shots. Weather-resistant construction adds durability for outdoor adventures. While the f/3.5-6.3 aperture is slower at the telephoto end, the lens’s zoom capabilities and sharp image quality make it a perfect travel lens for APS-C photographers.

This lens represents incredible value for APS-C users who want maximum versatility without breaking the bank. The 16.7x zoom ratio is simply staggering, equivalent to carrying multiple prime lenses in one compact package. The VXD (Voice-coil eXtreme-torque Drive) autofocus motor delivers exceptionally fast and accurate focusing, even at the extreme telephoto end where many superzooms struggle. The optical construction uses 18 elements in 14 groups, including multiple special glass elements that effectively control distortion and chromatic aberration across this massive zoom range. For wildlife photography during travel, the effective 450mm reach on APS-C sensors provides incredible reach while maintaining relative portability that would be impossible with equivalent full-frame telephoto lenses.

Choosing the best non-prime lens depends on your camera system and photography style. The Canon RF 24-240mm, Tamron 28-200mm for Sony, Nikon Z 24-200mm, Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm, and Tamron 18-300mm for APS-C cameras are among the best zoom lenses for travel in 2025. Each offers a wide focal range, compact design, and excellent image quality, allowing you to capture landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, and more without swapping lenses. Whether you shoot with a full-frame or APS-C mirrorless camera, these lenses ensure you travel light while achieving stunning photographs. Check your camera’s lens mount and consider factors like weight and low-light performance before buying. These lenses, available on Amazon USA, are perfect for enhancing your travel photography adventures.

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Choosing the Best Zoom Lens for Travel Photography

Choosing the best non-prime lens depends on your camera system and photography style. The Canon RF 24-240mm, Tamron 28-200mm for Sony, Nikon Z 24-200mm, Panasonic Lumix S 28-200mm, and Tamron 18-300mm for APS-C cameras are among the best zoom lenses for travel in 2025. Each offers a wide focal range, compact design, and excellent image quality, allowing you to capture landscapes, cityscapes, portraits, and more without swapping lenses. Whether you shoot with a full-frame or APS-C mirrorless camera, these lenses ensure you travel light while achieving stunning photographs.

Check your camera’s lens mount and consider factors like weight, weatherproofing, video performance, and low-light performance before buying.

Considerations When Choosing Travel Lenses

Weatherproofing

When selecting the best zoom lenses for travel photography, weatherproofing should be a top priority. Travel exposes your gear to unpredictable conditions – from tropical humidity and rain to dusty deserts and coastal salt spray. Weather sealing uses gaskets and rubber seals around the lens mount, focus ring, and zoom ring to prevent moisture and dust ingress.

Dust is actually a more common threat than water and can permanently damage focusing mechanisms. Quality weather-sealed lenses feature internal zooming mechanisms and fluorine coatings that repel water droplets and ease cleaning. Remember that weather sealing only works when paired with a weather-sealed camera body – consider your entire system when planning for adverse conditions.

Shooting Video

Modern travel photography increasingly includes video content, making lens video performance crucial. The best zoom lenses for travel photography excel in video-specific areas. Stepping motors and linear motors provide smooth, silent focusing that won’t be picked up by your microphone, while older systems create distracting noise.

Focus breathing – the slight field of view change when changing focus distance – should be minimal for professional-looking footage. Image stabilization becomes even more critical for video than stills, as camera shake is much more noticeable. Look for lenses with smooth stabilization systems that won’t cause jarring corrections during recording.

Extra Features

Beyond optical performance, additional features enhance your travel photography experience. Macro capabilities, like those in the Panasonic 28-200mm, capture intimate details without additional equipment. Customizable control rings allow direct lens control of focus, aperture, or ISO settings, proving valuable during fast-paced situations.

Filter thread size consistency across lenses simplifies your system – many recommended lenses share 67mm and 72mm sizes, reducing costs and packing requirements. Well-designed lens hoods protect the front element, reduce flare, and manage stray light that can reduce contrast in challenging travel lighting conditions. Well-designed hoods not only protect the front element from impacts and reduce flare but also help manage stray light that can reduce contrast in challenging lighting conditions common during travel photography.