Landscape photography settings

The short version

• Aperture f/8 to f/11: the sharp zone for most lenses.
• ISO 100 on a tripod for maximum detail and zero noise.
• Focus about a third of the way into the scene for front-to-back sharpness.
• Golden hour and blue hour beat midday light every time.

Last updated October 4, 2026 · Exposure Triangle Simulator editorial team · How we test

Landscape settings chart

These are starting points. Let the meter guide the shutter speed; aperture and ISO stay locked.

Why f/8 to f/11, not f/22

Beginners assume the smallest aperture gives the sharpest landscape. It does not. Past about f/11, diffraction softens the whole image. Most lenses are sharpest around f/8, and f/8 to f/11 gives huge depth of field without the diffraction penalty. See how aperture shapes sharpness on the aperture guide.

1. Set f/8 as your default landscape aperture.
2. Go to f/11 when the foreground is very close to the lens.
3. Avoid f/16 and beyond unless you need the slower shutter for water.

Tripod, ISO 100, and where to focus

On a tripod, shutter speed stops mattering for sharpness, so ISO can sit at 100 and the shutter can stay open as long as the light needs. Focus about a third of the way into the scene: depth of field stretches roughly twice as far behind the focus point as in front of it.

• Tripod: turn off image stabilization on the tripod, use the 2-second timer so your finger does not shake the shot.
• ISO 100: the cleanest files your camera makes. Skies stay smooth.
• Hyperfocal distance: the focus distance that maximizes depth of field. The depth of field calculator computes it for your lens and aperture.

Timing is the whole game

Landscape photography is mostly showing up at the right time. The hour after sunrise and the hour before sunset rake low warm light across the land. Blue hour, the 20 to 40 minutes after sunset, turns skies deep blue while city lights glow.

• Golden hour: warm side light, long shadows, texture everywhere.
• Blue hour: best for skylines and water; bring the tripod.
• Midday: flat and harsh. Scout compositions now, shoot them at golden hour.

Common landscape mistakes

• Shooting at f/22 for sharpness. Diffraction softens everything. f/8 to f/11 is sharper.
• No tripod, slow shutter. At 1/15 handheld the whole scene smears. Use the tripod or raise ISO.
• Focusing on the horizon. That wastes half your depth of field on the sky. Focus a third of the way in.
• A tilted horizon. Turn on the electronic level or the thirds grid and check before every shot.

Five tips that show immediately

1. Put something in the foreground. A rock or flowers in the lower third gives the scene depth.
2. Shoot RAW. You will want the extra room to lift shadows and tame skies.
3. Bracket when the light is extreme. Three shots, two stops apart, blended later.
4. Protect the highlights. Blown skies never come back; shadows usually do.
5. Return to good spots. The same scene at golden hour is a different photograph.

Take these settings into the field

The free camera settings cheat sheet packs starter settings for portraits, landscapes, sports, street, night and more onto two printable pages. Keep it in your camera bag.

Get the free cheat sheet

Frequently asked questions