Canon T6i Landscape Settings: Getting Started
Getting the right Canon T6i landscape settings can dramatically improve your outdoor photography. With its 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor and compatibility with a wide range of Canon EF and EF-S lenses, the T6i (also known as the 750D in some markets) is a solid choice for landscape work. It won’t break the bank, but it has the features you need to capture sharp, detailed outdoor photos.
Let’s walk through the four key settings and techniques that’ll make the biggest difference in your landscape shots.
Step 1. Pick the Right Lens for Landscape Work
The kit lens (18-55mm) is an OK starting point, but a dedicated wide-angle lens changes everything for landscape photography. The Canon EF-S 10-18mm f/4.5-5.6 IS STM is an affordable wide-angle option that gives you a much broader field of view. If you want something sharper with a faster aperture, the Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 or the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 are both excellent on the T6i’s APS-C sensor.
Look for lenses with weather sealing if you shoot in rain or dusty conditions. A lens with an ultrasonic motor (USM on Canon lenses) gives you faster, quieter autofocus, which helps when you need to refocus quickly on a changing scene. The T6i’s 24.2MP sensor has enough resolution to show the difference between a sharp lens and a mediocre one, so investing in good glass pays off.
Step 2. Use Aperture Priority Mode for Easy Brightness Control
Turn the mode dial to AV (Aperture Priority). This mode lets you set the aperture while the camera picks the right shutter speed automatically. For landscape photography, you’ll typically want a narrow aperture between f/8 and f/11. This range gives you deep depth of field, keeping both nearby foreground elements and distant subjects sharp.
Wider apertures like f/4 or f/2.8 let in more light but create a shallow depth of field, which usually isn’t what you want for landscapes (unless you’re deliberately blurring the background behind a foreground subject). Narrower apertures like f/16 or f/22 give you even more depth of field but introduce diffraction that softens the image. Stick to f/8 through f/11 for the sharpest results overall.
Step 3. Control Shutter Speed for Motion Effects
Shutter speed determines whether moving elements in your scene appear frozen or blurred. Fast shutter speeds (1/200 second and above) freeze motion, which is useful for waves crashing or birds flying through the frame. Slow shutter speeds (1/60 second and below) blur movement, creating silky water effects in streams and waterfalls.
When shooting at slower shutter speeds, use the T6i’s viewfinder instead of Live View for a steadier grip, and brace your elbows against your body. Better yet, put the camera on a tripod and use the 2-second self-timer or a remote shutter release to eliminate camera shake entirely. The T6i doesn’t have in-body image stabilization, so a tripod matters more here than with some newer cameras.
Step 4. Switch to Manual Mode for Full Control
Manual mode (M on the dial) gives you independent control over both aperture and shutter speed. This is useful when the camera’s automatic metering gets fooled by tricky lighting, like a bright sky against a dark foreground, or a snowy scene that the meter wants to underexpose.
For the best landscape results in manual mode, start with these settings: aperture around f/8 to f/11 for deep depth of field, ISO 100 for the cleanest image, and adjust shutter speed until the exposure meter is centered. Use a tripod for stability, especially at slower shutter speeds. Shoot during golden hour (the first and last hour of daylight) for warm, directional light that brings out texture and depth in the scene. A polarizing filter will darken blue skies and reduce glare on water and wet surfaces.
The Canon T6i is an affordable camera that punches above its weight class in landscape photography. With the right settings and a good lens, it’s fully capable of producing prints you’ll be proud to hang on the wall.
