Do you have talent and knowledge for landscape photography? Then all you need to improve your art is a quality camera intended for shooting landscapes to improve image quality. Finding the best camera for landscape photography depends on your preferences and the camera’s features, of course.
Do you have a hard time picking? We have put together the top five best cameras for landscape photography that you need to consider.
Our Top Camera for Landscape Photography Reviews
Selecting the best camera for landscape photography you can find on the market today can be both challenging and time-consuming. Lucky for you, we have narrowed it down to only five to make it simple for you.
Best Camera for Landscape Photography Overall: Canon EOS R5
The Canon EOS R5 Mirrorless Camera is a capable and versatile full-frame mirrorless camera that can shoot 45-megapixel stills at up to 20 frames per second and capture 8K video. It has a very comfortable grip, well-positioned autofocus controls, and three control dials for fast setting changes.
One of the best perks of the Canon EOS R5 is the great resolving power of its RF lenses. So expect to receive natural landscapes, which are sharper with better definitions, especially when the fine details rendered by the lenses can be captured through an ultra-high resolution image sensor like the one on this camera.
The screen and viewfinder are wonderful, along with a high fps setting, which looks fantastic but lowers battery life. However, the camera itself feels solid enough without being too bulky and promises weather-sealing.
This best landscape camera for landscape photography comes with a hefty price tag and is a big investment for somebody who does landscape photography as a hobby.
If you love the sound of this camera but still do not have a big budget for it, we would like to suggest the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, which costs substantially less.
Pros:
- 8K video
- Great resolving power
- Sharper with better definitions
Cons:
- A bit pricey
- High Image Quality featuring a New 45 Megapixel Full-frame CMOS Sensor..Working Temperature Range : 32–104°F / 0–+40°C, Working Humidity Range 85% or less
- DIGIC X Image Processor with an ISO range of 100-51200; Expandable to 102400x1.
- High-speed continuous shooting of up to 12 fps with Mechanical Shutter and up to 20 fps electronic (silent) shutter.
- Dual pixel CMOS AF covering approx. 100% area with 1,053 AF areas.
- Subject tracking of people and animals using deep learning technology.
Best Camera for Landscape Photography for the Money: Fujifilm X-T3
The Fujifilm X-T3 Mirrorless Digital Camera sits o t5op of any other APS-C camera these days. This is currently the ideal option if a full-frame camera is not on your budget. This new camera from Fujifilm has many features to offer that include enhanced low light performance, awesome image quality, and a 26 Megapixel image sensor.
It’s worth mentioning that it has a base ISO of 160 and 425 phase-detect auto-focus points across the overall sensor.
When we talk about the image quality, you’ll like the images coming out of this landscape photography camera. It will shock you with its remarkable high dynamic range. That will offer you enough flexibility to capture images early in the morning or late in the night.
Further, the details in the highlights and shadows will stay intact in the post process. As for your night photography, capturing the milky way and star trails, the Fujifilm X-T3 will give great image quality along with vivid colors and low noise.
Other features of this camera include a touch screen, headphone jack, two SD card slots, and a USB charger. The lack of in-body image stabilization is a thing that other users would find helpful. However, compared to Canon EOS R5, you cannot ask for more at this price range!
Pros:
- Great image quality
- Low light performance
- A wide variety of lenses
Cons:
- Lack of in-body image stabilization
- Other lenses cannot cope with the speed of X-T3
- New 26.1MP X trans CMOS 4 sensor with X processor 4 image processing engine
- 4K movie recording: Internal SD card 4K/60P 4:2:0 10 bit recording and the first mirrorless digital camera with APS C or larger sensor that is capable of 4K/60P 4:2:2 10 bit HDMI output
- 2.16M phase detection pixels across entire frame and low light phase detection limits has been increased over X T2 by 2 stops, from 1EV to 3EV
- 3.69 million dot OLED color viewfinder with 0.75x magnification and blackout free burst shooting
- 16 film simulation modes: Including eternal/ cinema, B and w adjustment: 9~+9
Best Cheap Camera for Landscape Photography: Nikon D5600
The Nikon D5600 DSLR Camera is, for sure, the cheapest camera for landscape photography on this list! This is an entry-level camera, not bulky but not small either. It feels good when you are holding it. The speaking touch-enabled screen makes this camera simple to use and ideal for landscapes and other scenes too. Further, the menu is simple to navigate and perfect for all beginners and advanced photographers alike.
The photos are up to the reputation of Nikon, along with a dependable auto-focusing system. That way, the camera enables you to focus on composition. Compared to Fujifilm X-T3 with 26.1 megapixels, this camera only has a 24-megapixel APS-C size sensor that offers decent quality images under challenging or ideal conditions.
Using the auto-mode feature makes the Canon D5600 a delight to use, especially for anyone who is only beginning in landscape photography. In addition, the camera is simple to master with a rational and minimum control set.
More camera features of the D5600 include a small HDMI port sitting on the right portion of the camera and one SD card slot. An accessory port for remote controls, mic input, and a USB can be seen in the left area. But remember that the Nikon 5000 series don’t provide 4K video recording.
Pros:
- Great image quality
- Best articulating touch screen
- Small and relatively simple to use
Cons:
- It lacks 4K video
Best Performance Camera for Landscape Photography: Nikon Z7 II
The Nikon Z7 II, FX-Format Mirrorless Camera, is a 45.7 full-frame mirrorless camera that can shoot up to 10 fps bursts, 60p/4K video with a small crop provides some of the best ergonomics you can find in the market today.
Did you know that the Z7 II offers enough well-placed controls and a big handgrip, despite its compact body? The added option to include a battery grip with duplicate controls is highly valuable.
The auto-focus performance is great, and the eye/face AF continues to be enhanced with firmware updates. However, the interface is not as refined as the Canon EOS R5. You will have to choose whether to utilize face detection, subject tracking, or a simpler AF area mode that is automatic on some of its competitors. Still, the results are more likely to be great.
The image quality of the Nikon Z7 II often impresses. It will match its peers in everything except resolution, and in cases where you can utilize the higher exposure required for ISO 64, it has an advantage when it comes to tonal quality.
The addition of 4k/60p capture along with a 1.08x crop is very much welcome. It will not likely deliver as many details as more video-oriented cameras with less resolution, but it is solid.
Pros:
- 4k/60p with a minor crop
- Great ergonomics
- The sensor provides some of the best image quality
Cons:
- Customization is a bit limited
- Auto-focus interface is quite clunky
- Every little detail matters. 45.7MP. Powerful AF performance. NIKKOR Z lenses. Intuitive functionality. The most sophisticated tool for high resolution imaging.
- Subject acquisition with speed and precision. 3.3x more buffer capacity than the original Z 7. Faster continuous shooting. Improved AF performance and functionality.
- Dual card slots (CFexpress/XQD and UHS-II SD). Flexibility and peace of mind when shooting important moments or on assignment, such as wedding and event photography. Comfortable. Durable. Intuitive. Z 7II’s exterior and interior have been thoughtfully designed to be handled and used with max comfort and ease of operation.
- Vertical Grip Ready. Now compatible with the new vertical battery grip for those in need of more power and easier shutter operation when shooting vertically. 4K UHD 60p video. Smoother action, smoother camera motion and the ability to slow down 4K UHD footage in post. USB-C constant power and charging. Never run low on power during livestreams, video shoots and timelapses.
- One mount accepts them all. Compatible with a growing line of NIKKOR Z lenses as well as approx. 360 F-mount NIKKOR lenses with FTZ mount adapter (sold separately).
Best Camera for Landscape Photography for Professional Level: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV
The Canon EOS 5D DSLR Camera is about twelve stops of dynamic range, which includes low light. Also, it is a full-frame sensor camera, so it will not crop the photo after it is taken unless you require it. The full frame of the Canon EOS guarantees you always get amazing landscape shots.
For a significantly lower price than the Canon EOS R5, this camera features a massive array of superb features, including Canon’s newest AF system and a 30-megapixel full-frame CMOS imaging sensor. That versatility and value launched the Canon EOS 5d Mark IV to fantastic fanfare and a powerful demand.
You see, the versatility and value seen in this specific camera have enabled it to become a crowd favorite amongst professionals and enthusiasts alike. Geared with Wi-Fi features, the Canon 5d Mark IV can be utilized in combination on a tablet or a smartphone with the Canon Connect app.
Pros:
- High quality cinema 4K video
- Superb image quality from RAW files
- Great high ISO performance
Cons:
- 4K video codec is quite complicated
- New 30.4 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor for versatile shooting in nearly any light, with ISO range 100-32000; expandable up to 50-102400 (equivalent ISO).
- 4K Motion JPEG video (DCI cinema-type 4096 x 2160) at 30p or 24p; in- camera still frame grab of 4K 8.8-Megapixel images; multiple video options include Full HD up to 60p, and HD up to 120p.
- Superb Dual Pixel CMOS AF for responsive and smooth AF during video or live view shooting; LCD monitor has a full touchscreen interface, including selection of AF area.
- Excellent performance - up to 7.0 fps continuous shooting speed with high-performance DIGIC 6+ Image Processor for improved speed and excellent image quality.
- Use the EOS Utility Webcam Beta Software (Mac and Windows) to turn your Canon camera into a high-quality webcam, or do the same using a clean HDMI output.
Features to Consider for the Best Camera for Landscape Photography
The right features for the best camera for landscape photography can be quite subjective, depending on the photographer. Nonetheless, you will find some important features that all landscape photographers can agree on.
Image Sensor Size
One of the crucial features you need to consider when buying a camera for landscape photography is its sensor size. That determines how much light the lens needs to capture the ideal image. In addition, the data it gathers includes intensity and light color.
Once that data hits the lens, the shutter speed then decides how long the camera needs to read that information. So you see, the ISO sensitivity identifies how much light must be amplified for the ideal image as it saves it to the camera.
Keep in mind that landscape photography is wide, obliging you to have a high sensor size. The higher the image sensor size, the more information your camera can process to make its decision.
Dynamic Range
The dynamic ranges are crucial and popular features you need to consider when choosing the best camera for your landscape photography needs. It refers to the ratio of the camera between the minimum measurable light intensity to the maximum measurable light intensity.
In short, the shadows and the highlights in the image. You will need a wide dynamic range for your landscape photography camera. After all, you don’t like to have to think about underexposed or overexposed images since you are taking a wide shot with various elements.
Remember that your camera’s dynamics will match the dynamics of the image you are ready to capture.
Weight and Size
You need to consider your camera’s packing size and weight since you will be spending a long time bringing it in your search for the ideal shot. Cameras come in all sizes and shapes, but you can go for a point-and-shoot or mirrorless if you would rather save some space for other stuff in your bag.
DSLRs could be heavy even though they can produce great images. That’s especially true if you carry them around your neck for a longer time.
Resolution
The camera’s resolution identifies the amount of detail and size that will be seen in your image. It’s measured in megapixels, and it could make a huge difference for most landscape photographers. A lot of modern cameras these days can capture high-resolution photos of 20 megapixels or more. That’s perfect for framing rich and realistic compositions.
Camera Type
You also need to consider the type of camera you would like to use for your landscape photography. You will find three types of cameras to use: mirrorless, point-and-shoot, and DSLR. All of them come with their unique pros and cons.
- Mirrorless – This type of camera is very much the same as DSLRs. The only difference is that it doesn’t have a mirror. Such modern cameras are compact and lightweight, enabling the lenses to be changed for various occasions and perform well in low-light conditions. They are also more likely to have a shorter battery life compared to DSLRs. However, there’s little to no difference when it comes to image quality.
- Point-and-Shoot – These cameras are straightforward to use and need little technical expertise in photography. Point-and-shoot cameras don’t allow lenses to be changed, but they can capture awesome photos without putting a hole in your pocket. These camera types are often the most portable and lightest cameras out there. That makes them suitable for travel if you are not anxious about capturing the best photos from your travel.
- DSLRs – DSLRs are semi-professional or professional cameras that shot photos by reflecting the light coming through the lens into the sensor through a mechanical mirror. These are sturdy and powerful cameras with long battery life, great image quality, and transposable lenses. The only disadvantage of owning this camera is that it can be heavy and bulky to pack your travel adventures.
Lens Availability
You’ll also like to ensure the camera you pick for your landscape photography has enough compatible lenses for that activity. This type of photography is often done with wide-angle lenses, letting the frame of vast scenes.
The lens’ focal length is measured in millimeters, along with lower numbers means wider perspectives. You may choose something as wide as a fisheye lens or narrower like 35mm, depending on your store. Ensure there’s enough selection accessible on the market for your camera, especially if you plan to expand or upgrade your gear in the future.
Conclusion
Landscape photography is a wonderful field to work in, and the ideal camera can elevate your entire landscape photography game. We hope this post helps you find the best camera for landscape photography. We wish you the best of luck in your buying journey!