All-in-one-lens are best for traveling to avoid carrying and changing the lens. Whether you are at a zoo or travel vacation, you can tackle everything with a single walk-around lens. I had ranked the best walk-around lens base on image quality and its size. I’m still waiting for the Panasonic L mount all-in-one lens; if you are Panasonic S5 or S1 user, then you are out of luck. I will show you which is the most versatile lens mount you should invest in.
What is the Best Walk Around Lens?
It’s a Wide to Telephoto lens which covers most of your photography needs without changing the lens. First, we need to answer what is wide and telephoto focal lengths. The wide coverage starts with 24mm to 35mm focal length in 35mm full-frame equivalent. Now for the telephoto lens, which starts at 100mm to 300mm, there are also super-telephoto lenses such as 800mm for RF mount. If you need the finest image quality, then don’t purchase an all-in-one zoom lens because image quality will suffer both wide and telephoto. The all-in-one lens is the most versatile lens for traveling.
One Lens for Travel Photography vs. Multiple Lenses?
If you are out shooting, and you had mounted a wide to the mid-telephoto lens such as 24-75mm on full-frame. But you saw something special or an animal, and you want to capture it before you can press the shutter button. You can change the lens, but it requires time, and most likely, you will miss the shot if it’s a moving subject.
The best solution is to carry two cameras with different lenses, increasing the second camera bodyweight and cost. There is a simple solution to the changing lens problem. Mount an all-in-one walk-around lens from which you can capture wide to telephoto without changing the lens. If you are on a Safari, changing lenses can introduce dust on the sensor, and you want to avoid it at all costs.
Best Superzoom Lens for Nikon & Canon
19. Tamron 18-400mm F3.5-6.3 Di II VC
If you are looking for a most reach zoom lens, you need to consider the Tamron 18-400mm. But up-front, there is horrible focus breathing. But if you are going to use the Tamron 18-400mm on the latest DSLR such as Canon 90D, it will perform very desirable. Sharpness lacks on the longer end, but it is still very acceptable for the price range. Also, keep in mind that it’s a hefty lens at 710g for being an APS-C lens.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| EF-S | DX | 27-600mm | 710g | 124mm | Yes | $500 |
Best Walk Around Lens for Canon & Nikon
18. Tamron AF 18-200mm F/3.5-6.3 Di-II VC
If you are on a tight budget, consider the Tamron AF 18-200mm, the cheapest all-in-one lens under $200. You get what you paid for at the end of the day, and the image quality is mediocre. One of the outstanding aspects of this lens, its lightweight design with some weather sealing. Don’t use the Tamron AF 18-200mm in the rain, and it’s not up to the rugged weather-sealed lenses on the market. Overall, it’s a substantial value for money.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| EF-S | DX | 27-300mm | 400g | 97mm | Yes | $200 |
Best Tamron All-in-One Lens for Image Quality
17. Tamron 16-300mm F3.5-6.3 Di-II VC PZD
Suppose you ask me which is my favorite Tamron all-in-one lens. The answer will be Tamron 16-300mm because of its fantastic image quality for the focal length. First, the negative, the weight is a meager bit on the heavier side. Tamron 16-300mm is sharp even on the 300mm. Maybe my lens copy was perfect. Who knows? I used the Tamron 16-300mm with my Nikon D7500 in the past, and the weather sealing is quite satisfactory on the lens.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| EF-S | DX | 24-450mm | 540g | 100mm | Yes | $500 |
Best E-Mount All-in-One Lens
16. Sony E 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 OSS LE
For the E mount Sony lens, there are lens few which I can recommend without hesitation. One lens I admire for its compactness and weight is the Sony E 18-200mm. This is one of the underrated lenses from Sony. Also, there is no focus breathing on it, which performance preciously superior for videos. I recently tested with the Sony A6400, which is suitable for 4K videos and photos.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| E-Mount | 27-300mm | 460g | 97mm | No | $650 |
Best Compact Sony E-Mount Travel Lens
15. Sony E 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 OSS
If you don’t need a longer focal length on E-mount, there is no reason to pick any other lens. Just grab the Sony E 18-135mm; you will be pleased with it. The most pleasing thing about the Sony E 18-135mm is lightweight. Pair with A6400 or A6100; it’s only around 700g and light on the shoulder to carry all day. The images it produces at 135mm is very sharp, perfect for vacation traveler.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| E-Mount | 27-202mm | 325g | 88mm | No | $600 |
Best All in One MFT Superzoom Lens!
14. Olympus 12-200mm F3.5-6.3
If you are looking for the longest focal length all-in-one travel lens, you can’t go wrong with the Olympus 12-200mm. Remember, MFT can’t match APS-C’s image quality when it comes to an all-in-one lens. The Olympus 12-200mm produces pleasing images, and it does not focus hunt when using for 4K videos. Overall, it’s one of the best Micro Fourth Third all-in-one lenses on the market right now.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| MFT | 24-600mm | 455mm | 78mm | Yes | $800 |
Best Wide to Telephoto Lens for Canon
13. Canon EF-S 18-200mm F3.5-5.6 IS
This one is the less popular lens for Canon DSLRs, but it’s underrated for the focal length. Today, it’s a little bit hard to find because of 2 significant downsides of the lens, making it less desirable. One reason is that; after 150mm, it’s not sharp. The second reason is the weight of around 600g. But you will question why I call it underrated? Canon EF-S 18-200mm still produces sharper images on 200mm than any Tamron all-in-one lens for EF-S. If you need the 200mm on the EF-S DSLRs, then go for it. If not, then buy the Canon EF-S 18-135mm, which I will mention next.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| EF-S | 29-320mm | 595g | 102mm | No | $400 |
Best Canon Starter Lens for Traveling Photography
12. Canon EF-S 18-135mm f3.5-5.6 IS STM
If you need the best all-in-one lens for Canon for under $300, then Canon EF-S 18-135mm is the best option for you. The good about the Canon EF-S 18-135mm is images even at the 135mm are acceptable sharp. I had tested the Canon EF-S 18-135mm on Canon 90D for 4K videos, and it kept the focus all the way along. Remember to buy the recent version of the lens, which improved the OIS. Overall, you can’t go wrong with this Canon EF-S 18-135mm lens.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| EF-S | 29-216mm | 480g | 96mm | No | $400 |
Best Budget APS-C All-in-One Lens!
11. Sigma 18-200mm F3.5-6.3 Contemporary
If your max budget is $300, I will treat you with a lens capable of producing outstanding color rendition with a longer focal length. The new contemporary version, the Sigma 18-200mm, produced sharp images at a long end of 200mm. The right reason to purchase the Sigma 18-200mm is the very compact size with lightweight construction. The downside of the lens is the no weather sealing compare to some of its counterparts from Tamron.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| EF-S | DX | SA | 27-300mm | 430g | 86mm | No | $300 |
Best Walker Lens for Pentax Cameras!
10. Pentax DA 18-270mm F3.5-6.3 ED SDM
If someone asked me which is the best all-in-one lens for the extreme environment? I will shout; the Pentax DA 18-270mm. I had over five years of shooting experience with the Pentax DA 18-270mm. I never used the rain cover for this lens when shooting in the monsoon season in East Asia. The image quality is magnificent, but the best it’s the rugged construction. This lens alone is the reason to purchase a Pentax DSLR.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| KAF | 27-405mm | 453G | 89mm | Yes | $400 |
Best Wildlife Photography Lens for Micro Fourth Third
9. Panasonic Lumix G Vario 14-140mm F3.5-5.6 II
Is there a better lens than the Olympus to 12-200mm I will say yes, the Panasonic 14-140mm because it is super sharp. This is the sharpest all-in-one lens I have ever seen. The image quality will be a little lackluster, and it’s subjective even when I’m shooting with 14-140mm in low light. The ISO gives a grain look if there is not enough light. Overall, it’s much sharp than the Olympus 14-150mm, and Olympus 12-200mm.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| MFT | 28-280mm | 265g | 75mm | Yes | $500 |
Best Lightweight Traveling Lens for Canon Mirrorless!
8. Canon EF-M 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM
The best lightweight all-in-one lens for the EF-M mount. There are rumors for many years about Canon discontinuing the EF-M camera line. But why will Canon do that when EF-M cameras are the top-selling around the world at the number 1 spot. The Canon M50 II and M6 II are selling in millions in Japan and the USA. If you want to invest in a lightweight travel system, you can’t go wrong with the EF-M mount. This fantastic Canon 18-150mm is lightweight and gives you an extra 15mm over the Canon 18-135mm. There is no reason why you want to use the EF-S 18-135mm over the EF-M 18-150mm because the 18-150mm is sharp across all the focal range.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| EF-M | 29-225mm | 300mm | 87mm | No | $400 |
Best Fuji Lens for Road Travel Trip
7. Fujifilm XF 18-135mm F3.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR
The most underrated Fuji lens of all time after the 18mm F2, so what so unique about the XF 18-135mm? It all comes down to the Fujifilm colors rendition. I’m one of the Fuji colors lovers, and if I can carry one Fuji travel lens with me, it will be no other than the Fujifilm 18-135mm all-in-one lens. There is a new Fujifilm 16-80mm; therefore, I wouldn’t say I like the new 16-80mm over the 18-135mm because of the limited 80mm telephoto range. The only drawback I can see is the weight of around 500g for the Fujifilm 18-135mm lens. However, you can pair it with a lightweight body such as X-E4 or X-S10.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| X-Mount | 27-202mm | 490g | 98mm | Yes | $800 |
Best Sony Full Frame All in One Traveling Lens!
6. Sony FE 24-240mm F3.5-6.3 OSS
Suppose you need an all-in-one lens for your Sony full-frame, such as the A7C or A7S III. The Sony FE 24-240mm is a pleasing option for you. The 24-240mm is a full-frame lens; even at 240mm, the aperture is only F6.3. The image quality is superb when comparing to the MFT all-on-lens. Suppose you are pairing it with the new Sony A7C, and it performs nicely on new Sony cameras, but its weight is slightly on the heavier side. The primary reason to pick the Sony 24-240mm over the Tamron 28-200mm is the OIS; even at 240mm, you can capture handheld steady 4K videos on the new A7C.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| Sony FE | 24-240mm | 780g | 119mm | Yes | $1000 |
Best Constant Aperture Lens for Travel Video!
5. Sony E PZ 18-105mm F4 G OSS
If you are looking for the best video lens, let’s talk about the Sony E PZ 18-105mm lens. For video shooting, a constant aperture lens is a way to go. When you are zooming during video recording, it will change the aperture if the lens is not a constant aperture. F4 on the Sony E PZ 18-105mm is the lens to get if you love to shoot travel videos. I prefer the electronic zoom on the lens, which makes it a silent lens. I will recommend you to pick the Sony E 18-135mm because of its compact size for photography.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| E-Mount | 27-157mm | 425g | 110mm | No | $600 |
Best Constant Aperture All in One Lens!
4. Olympus 12-100mm F4.0 IS Pro
The argument against Micro Four Third is it cannot shoot images comparable to APS-C or even Full Frame. You need to take a look at the Olympus 12-100mm F4.0 IS Pro. This lens is so rugged that you can shoot in heavy rain without a problem. The images it produces it’s stunning and breathtaking. If you need the best all-in-one lens for your professional travel work, you can’t go wrong with it. I admire the long focal length of this lens, which can easily tackle many wildlife animals. Suppose someone comes to me and asks me which is the best MFT lens to buy if the budget is not a problem. I will full-hearted say grab the Olympus 12-100mm F4 Pro.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| MFT | 24-200mm | 561 | 117mm | Yes | $1,100 |
Best Nikon DSLR All in One Lens for Travel!
3. Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm
In the last few years, Nikon is going downhill for travel photography. But if you want to buy a budget DSLR such as D3500, then pair the Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm with it. The Nikon 18-140mm images are some of the best you can get on APS-C. I recently tested Nikon AF-S DX Nikkor 18-140mm on my Nikon Z50 with an FTZ adapter. The Nikon 18-140mm worked perfectly with my mirrorless Z50. The only downside to me is the bulky size and weight.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| DX | 27-210mm | 490g | 97mm | Yes | $200 |
Best Canon Full Frame All in One Lens for RF Mirrorless!
2. Canon RF 24-240mm F4-6.3 IS USM
This lens gets a lot of poor reputation because of heavy vignetting when shooting in RAW files. But if you shoot in JPEGs like you should because of better compression and small file size. Then you don’t have to worry about the vignetting. The second complaint was the dark F6.3 aperture at 240mm; you need to remember the F6.3 is like F3.2 on MFT at 120mm. So, the aperture is not dark when you take into consideration the sizeable full-frame sensor. Also, the OIS in the lens is perfect for video up to 5 stops. The newest Canon R5 and Canon R6 had IBIS, but the cheaper Canon R and Canon RP don’t. So, this Canon RF 24-240mm is the perfect lens to pair with the RP’s most affordable 4K Full Frame camera.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| RF | 24-240mm | 750G | 123mm | No | $800 |
Best Nikon Full Frame All in One Lens for Z Mirrorless!
1. NIKKOR Z 24-200mm F4-6.3 VR Zoom Lens
Nikon is back in the game thanks to the fantastic NIKKOR Z 24-200mm lens. I don’t know where to start, but Nikon drops the ball with the NIKKOR Z 24-200mm because of its price & weight. For less than $800, you are getting a solid all-in-one travel lens that weighs less than 600g. The NIKKOR Z 24-200mm is the perfect companion for the Nikon Z5, also cheaper and weighs around 650g. So, the total combo of NIKKOR Z 24-200mm + Nikon Z5 full-frame camera will be about 1250g. The images that come out of my new Nikon Z5 is tact sharp. You can also use it on the Nikon Z50 APS-C camera, which gives a 36-300mm focal length. Overall, I’m impressed with this new Nikon all-in-one Z mount lens and continue using it on my upcoming travel trips.
| Mount | 35 FE | Weight | Length | WR | Price Range |
| Z | 24-200mm | 570 | 114mm | Yes | $800 |
