The short answer
There is no single best focal length for travel, but 35mm on a full-frame camera is a popular all-round choice, and a standard zoom covering roughly 24-70mm is often seen as the most practical way to cover landscapes, streets, architecture and portraits with one lens. Your answer depends on what you photograph and how much you want to carry.
If you need a refresher on terms, read camera lens basics. Remember that focal lengths here refer to full-frame equivalents; on smaller sensors the view is narrower.
What each focal length does for travel
- 16mm to 24mm: Ultra-wide to wide. Good for architecture, interiors, landscapes and tight streets. Be careful of distortion near edges.
- 28mm: A wide but not extreme view, helpful for scenes and context.
- 35mm: Close to a natural view for many people, flexible for streets, food, people and sights.
- 50mm: A standard focal length, good for details, portraits and low light. See street photography with a 50mm lens.
- 85mm and longer: Useful for details, distant subjects and compressed views, and for portraits as discussed in the best portrait lens.
35mm or 50mm? 28mm or 35mm?
- 35mm vs 50mm: 35mm shows more of the scene, which usually suits travel better, especially in crowded or tight places. 50mm is better for isolating subjects and details, but you may find it restrictive.
- 28mm vs 35mm: 28mm is better for landscapes, cityscapes and architecture in cramped spaces. 35mm feels more natural for people and everyday scenes. Many photographers choose by trying each for a week.
If you often shoot a certain subject, choose the focal length that fits it, rather than trying to cover everything.
Zoom vs prime for travel
Zooms such as 24-70mm or 24-105mm are flexible and reduce lens swaps, which is helpful in dusty, wet or busy places. Their downsides are size, weight and, in some cases, a narrower maximum aperture.
Primes such as a 35mm f/2 or 50mm f/1.8 are typically smaller, lighter and brighter, which helps in low light and when you want to travel discreetly. You lose the ability to zoom, so you move to frame.
Compact or lightweight zooms with slower apertures are popular travel compromises, though image quality and aperture vary between models.
One lens, two lenses or a bag of primes
- One lens: A 24-70mm zoom or a single 35mm prime. Simple and light.
- Two lenses: A wide prime or zoom plus a short telephoto, or a standard zoom plus a fast prime for evenings.
- Several primes: Rewarding but heavy to carry, and you risk missing shots while swapping.
For many trips, one versatile lens plus one fast prime is a sensible start.
The 20-60-20 rule
There is no single standard definition of the “20-60-20 rule” in photography. It is sometimes used as an informal guide to how a travel kit or shots might be split, such as roughly 20 percent wide, 60 percent standard and 20 percent telephoto. Treat it as a loose idea, not a rule, and base your kit on your own results by checking which focal lengths you actually use in your photo library.
Weight, aperture and weather
- Weight: A lighter kit means you carry it more often.
- Aperture: A wide aperture helps at dusk and indoors; stabilisation can partly make up for a slower lens with still subjects. See camera lens settings for how stabilisation works.
- Weather sealing: Valuable in rain, dust or sea spray, though not essential for every trip.
- Filter size: Sharing a filter thread across lenses simplifies packing.
Sample kits
- Minimalist: A 35mm prime.
- Flexible: A 24-70mm or 24-105mm zoom.
- Landscape and city: A wide zoom or 20mm to 24mm prime plus a standard prime.
- People and nights: A 35mm and a 50mm prime.
Test your chosen setup before you leave, so you are comfortable with it on the trip.