Which weather-sealed Canon lenses are good for desert landscape photography?
Asked 1/27/2012
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I’m traveling to the Middle East and want to photograph desert landscapes. My current kit is a Canon 7D with an EF 50mm f/1.8 II and EF-S 18-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS, plus a UV filter and tripod. Since my current lenses are not weather-sealed, I’m considering renting a weather-sealed EF-mount lens. What focal lengths or types of weather-sealed lenses are best for desert landscape photography? Also, are there any general tips for protecting gear and shooting in sandy, windy desert conditions?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
5
Those lenses will die in seconds in the desert if there is wind. Actually I saw another non-weathesealed Canon lens stop working in less than 10s while in the Peru desert. In Egypt we had more luck but still a lot of people in the group had sand infiltrate their lenses. This is a good time to use a Clear or UV filter too as even a weather-sealed lenses get scratched, the filter will be ruined after that. I had an expensive polarizer damaged on the first sand-dune, luckily nothing happened to the weather-sealed lens I had.
Fortunately you have a weather-sealed camera and you shout match it with weather-sealed lenses. There are plenty for Canon mount. Normally for landscapes people go with something on the wide side but a medium telephoto is good to compress perspective which renders desert photos more interesting. The 17-40mm F/4 or 24-105mm would both make great choices. On the 7D the 24-105mm does not give you wide-angle, so you probably want a wider lens for monuments and such.
Originally by user1620. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1620
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For desert landscapes, a weather-sealed lens is a smart choice, especially if your 7D is also weather-resistant. In sand and wind, non-sealed lenses can quickly suffer from sand infiltration.
For focal length, don’t limit yourself to only ultra-wide options. Wide lenses are great for expansive landscapes, but a medium telephoto can also work very well in the desert by compressing distant dunes and layers of terrain.
Practical tips:
- Use a clear or UV protective filter to shield the front element from blowing sand and scratches.
- Be cautious with expensive filters like polarizers in abrasive conditions; they can get damaged quickly.
- Minimize lens changes in the field to reduce the chance of sand entering the camera or lens.
- Consider a protective lens cover or neoprene-style lens protection for extra defense in harsh conditions.
- A tripod can be useful, but keep all gear covered as much as possible when wind picks up.
So the key is: rent a weather-sealed EF lens, favor either wide-angle or medium telephoto depending on the look you want, and prioritize protection from blowing sand.
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