Choosing the Right Lenses for Adventure Photography

Whether you're capturing a fast-moving backcountry snowboarder in the Wasatch mountain range of Utah, documenting a high-altitude trek on a rugged trail in Perú, or capturing a mountaineering expedition in Nepal, your lens selection will define the story you tell. It is important to consider aspects such as weight, versatility, and use cases. Will your subjects be static, nearby, or fast-moving? In this guide, I break down how to select the best adventure photography lenses for your adventures based on over 6 years of experience shooting in the field, from wide-angle options that enable you to capture intimate scenes or wide landscapes, to lightweight mid-range zooms that give you flexibility on long trekking expeditions, to telephotos that bring distant scenes close.

Sony A7 III with Tamron 17-28mm F2.8, F9, 1/1000 sec, 28mm, ISO 640

First Ask Yourself This, "What story do I want to tell about my adventure?"

Before you begin stuffing every lens you own into your backpack, start by envisioning the images that you want to create. Research the locations ahead of time using tools like Google Earth street view. Imagine yourself in that environment. What moments stand out in your imagination? Where will be the highlights of the trip? Maybe you imagine yourself capturing an intimate moment of your two friends enjoying freeze-dried meals after a long day of hiking while everyone is squeezed into a two-person tent. In that case, you want to pack a wide-angle lens (12-24 mm) with a fast aperture to capture the full scene. Alternatively, you might envision a scenario in which you set up your camera on a tripod with a remote capture device while adventuring alone. You'll go off in the distance to capture a compressed juxtaposition of yourself with a large mountain in the background and tell the story of how it felt to be in that mountain's grand presence. In that case, you're going to want a lens(es) in the 55-105 mm range. The important point to remember is that before you ever step foot on the trail, take time to envision the kind of images you’ll want to capture to tell the story of your adventure to your audience.

Sony A7 III with Sony FE F4 70-200mm G OSS, F9, 1/60 sec, 144mm, ISO 100

4 Key Factors You Need to Consider When Choosing Lenses for Adventure Photography

1 - Low-Light Performance for Alpine Starts and Sunsets

Usually (not always) the best times to shoot in the outdoors are at dusk and dawn in soft, moody light. Will you have a tripod with you? If you do, will you have time to set up a tripod? Will your subject be static or moving? If you do have a tripod and your subject can stand still, then aperture in terms of capturing crisp images isn't as important as when you don't have one. In a situation where you can use a tripod, all you have to do is adjust your shutter speed to allow more light into your sensor without increasing ISO. However, if you don't have a tripod, fast lenses with wide apertures will help you to capture crisp images before sunrise or after sunset, when the mountain light is most dramatic, because each f-stop will let in more light to your sensor, allowing you to keep ISO lower.

Having a tripod can make a big difference in your lens choices. I bought my first f/1.8 wide-angle prime lens because I couldn't bring a tripod on my human-powered mountaineering trips with all the extra weight of equipment I had to carry. When the light is barely beginning to come up at 5am and I'm climbing up a glacier, the extra stop of light helps me to capture crisp images when most of the scene is dark.

Sony A7 IV with Tamron 17-28mm, F2.8, 1/125 sec, 23mm, ISO 3200

2 - Weight & Size for Long Treks & Mountaineering

When you’re carrying gear for miles over rugged terrain, every gram really does count. A lighter overall setup can mean more energy and agility to run up a hillside to position yourself for a shot while your group hikes the main trail or to lead a thigh-deep boot pack up a steep snow slope to capture your partners from top-down. My workhorse lens for my Sony E Mount bodies has been the Tamron 28-75mm f/2.8 for years, and for good reason. The lens is 155 grams lighter and noticeably smaller than its Sony equivalent while maintaining practically the same professional quality. Actually, 2 of my most used lenses for the past 6 years were primarily purchased with consideration of their weight and size.

If you're not running all over the place to capture your subjects juxtaposed against the environment because your pack is too heavy, reconsider what you're putting in your pack. Do you really need to bring that comfy camp chair? Should you save 155 grams by purchasing a lighter lens from the onset of your adventure photography journey? I recommend you err on the side of having a lighter setup as long as it doesn't greatly sacrifice quality.

3 - Specialization in the Field

Some photographers prefer a single lens that can do it all, while others, like myself, build a kit for specific purposes. I bring a different kit depending on the given activity that I'll be participating in, whether it is trekking, mountaineering with climbing equipment, or capturing an ice climb that is only a 30-minute walk from a trailhead. The given activity that you are engaged in will significantly impact your setup. Ask yourself what types of images each of your lenses is able to produce for that activity. Now, consider the amount of energy you have to expend in that activity. If it's a 30-minute hike to an ice climb, then I might bring my entire range of lenses, from wide angles to telephotos, for complete creative freedom. But, if I'm going on a long single-day tour of backcountry snowboarding in powder conditions with miles of hiking and thousands of feet of elevation gain, I'll only bring my mid-range and my telephoto lenses. The midrange is versatile for uphill travel, capturing scenes of the ascent with the environment in the background to give context to where we are adventuring. Then, I might pull out the telephoto lens to capture an intimate moment as the snowboarder surfs through waist-deep powder.

I almost always have at least two lenses with me. There's nothing wrong with taking a one-size-fits-all approach, but with lenses like an 18-105mm, you usually sacrifice quality, which, in professional and portfolio-building scenarios, is not acceptable. If the photos are just for yourself and for sharing with friends and family, then by all means, go right ahead and make it simple: bring one versatile lens, because capturing the memory is better than being bogged down with lens options and not capturing it at all.

4 - Durability and Weather-Sealing for Harsh Conditions

This one is simple. Adventure environments are rarely gentle. Snow, dirt, ice and rain will inevitably test your equipment. Just make sure that you’re purchasing a weather-sealed lens (which most are these days).

Sony A7 III with Tamron 28-75mm, F4.5, 1/400 sec, 38mm, ISO 200

Wide vs. Mid-Range Zoom vs. Telephoto vs. Prime

Wide-Angle Lenses for Adventure

Wide-angle lenses in the 14–35 mm range are typically staples of astrophotography. They also let you pull viewers into adventure scenes. Think of close-up shooting in a top-down ice climbing scenario or capturing a climbing follower on a rock wall and giving context by including the distinct landscape in the background. You can even capture large landscapes with your subject in the foreground like I did in a couple of the photos above. Just be careful to avoid making the frame feel too empty.

Sony A7 IV with Tamron 17-28mm, F5.6, 1/1000 sec, 17mm, ISO 640

Standard Zooms for Versatility

Lenses like 24–75mm or 24–105mm zooms are workhorses of adventure photography. They are versatile enough to shoot landscapes, portraits, action, and cultural moments, all in one. If you can only bring a single lens, a standard mid-range zoom is a safe bet. It's the only lens that comes with me regardless of what I'm shooting.

Sony A7 IV with Tamron 28-75mm, F11, 1/320 sec, 44mm, ISO 400

Telephoto Lenses for Action and Compressed Perspectives

Telephotos allow you to compress dramatic landscapes, isolate moving action sports subjects, or capture tight shots of people against large backgrounds. The downside is weight, but when you used thoughtfully, these lenses help create striking adventure photographs.

Sony A7 III with Sony FE F4 70-200mm G OSS, F4, 1/2000 sec, 133mm, ISO 100

Prime Lenses for Increased Performance Low Light Settings

Primes trade versatility for sharpness and weight savings. A 24mm f/1.8 or a 50mm f/1.4 is perfect for low-light campsites, astro-adventure imagery, or any other low-light scenarios. Carrying a small prime alongside a mid-range zoom can be a smart, lightweight setup for many activities.

Sony A7 IV with Sony FE 1.8 20 G, F1.8, 1/60 sec, 20mm, ISO 10000

Final Thoughts on Choosing the Best Lenses for Adventure Photography

Choosing the right lenses is as much about the story you want to tell as it is about the equipment's technical specs. The right lens choice helps balance creative capacity with practicality, giving you the freedom to focus on the moment rather than second-guessing your gear. After reading this article, you should experiment with different setups, find what fits your unique style, and don’t be afraid to adapt your kits as your adventures evolve. After all, it's a learning process that takes years to master. You’ll encounter moments where you wish you had brought that one lens you left at home and other times where you carry your heavy telephoto with you for multiple days and don’t use it a single time. Ultimately, those moments will push you to become a better photographer by forcing you to find a way to tell the story of your epic adventure no matter what gear you have with you.

If you found any of this helpful, have questions, or just want to make a comment, please write them below! I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic. Thank you for reading, and I’ll catch you on the next one.

All Media shot by Matt Stacy / Andes Adventure Visuals LLC