What are the best landscape lenses for Nikon Z6 II?

Question

So I finally saved up enough to get a Nikon Z6 II because I wanted to take better pictures of my travels but honestly I have no idea what I am doing half the time. I took it to Zion last month and used the lens it came with - the 24-70 one I think?

and the photos were okay but they just didnt feel wide enough for the huge canyons and everything looked kinda small in the frame. Im planning a big trip up to Oregon and Washington in October and I really want to get those epic shots of the coast and the forests but all the talk about focal lengths is super confusing to me. Like people keep saying I need a wide angle but then there are so many options and the prices are all over the place and I dont get what the numbers like f/4 or f/2.8 really change for a mountain photo.

My budget is probably around $900 tops since I spent so much on the actual camera body already. I need something that is easy to carry because we do a lot of hiking. I keep seeing stuff about prime lenses vs zoom lenses but I dont know if I want to be swapping them out in the rain in the PNW.

is 14-30mm good for a beginner

do I need a tripod for these lenses

should I buy used to save money

Sorry if this is a really basic thing to ask I just dont want to waste my money on the wrong thing before my trip. What are the best landscape lenses for the Z6 II that wont break the bank?

hneepkvpew · Accepted Answer

Jumping in here to say I totally agree on going used! I grabbed a used Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S before my Oregon trip and it was honestly amazing for those wide coastlines. It fits your $900 budget if you shop around. Since you're shooting mountains, the f/4 is plenty. Ngl, its super light for hiking which is a huge plus!

HawkLive · Answer

Honestly, 24mm is just too tight for those massive vistas. Unfortunately, the 24-70mm kit lens has some pretty noticeable chromatic aberration at the wide end, and the corner sharpness was not as good as expected when I tested it. To stay under $900, you should definitely hunt for a used Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S. New its $1346 which is a ripoff, but used copies go for $850. It is great for beginners because the zoom range is flexible and it only weighs 485g. The f/4 aperture is totally fine for landscape since the diffraction limit on the Z6 II starts hitting around f/11 anyway. Buying used is definitely the way to go to save cash. Use the leftover money for a tripod... you wont get those blurry water shots on the coast without one.

brandon_simmons766 · Answer

Building on the earlier suggestion about shopping used, I actually have to push back a tiny bit on the kit lens hate! I carried my Nikon NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S all through Olympic National Park last fall and it was honestly amazing for most shots. The sharpness is fantastic for a kit lens. But, I totally get that feeling of being trapped at 24mm when you are standing in front of something massive like Mt. Rainier and it just wont fit in the frame. If you want those epic wide vistas, you should definitely grab the Nikon NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S. It is such a cool lens because it is super light and actually lets you use regular screw-on filters, which is a lifesaver in the PNW drizzle. I found a used one for about $820 and it literally never leaves my bag now. About the f/4 vs f/2.8 thing... for mountains, you usually want everything sharp from the front to the back, so you will be shooting at f/8 or f/11 anyway. You really dont need to pay the extra weight and cash for f/2.8 unless you are doing astro or milky way stuff. Definitely grab a tripod tho! For those moody forest shots or waterfalls in Oregon, you will need it to keep the camera still for longer exposures to get that blurry water look. I use a Vanguard Alta Pro 263AB 100 Aluminum Tripod which is sturdy enough for the wind. Buying used is definitely the way to go, saves you so much cash for gas and park fees!