If you are into landscape photography, you might be wondering which camera on the market today is the best. With so many great cameras out there, it is hard to pick a winner. We decided to put together a detailed guide that shows the top cameras we recommend for your landscape photography needs. It is important to note that every single tool in the list below has been tested extensively by our team members, so we only provide recommendations based on our real world experience.
While most digital cameras can work great for landscape photography, some are going to be better than others based on such metrics as total megapixels, dynamic range, in-camera features and lens selection.
Landscape photographers often desire cameras that have as many megapixels as possible, as wide of dynamic range as possible, great battery life, in-camera features such as focus stacking, as well as ability to withstand tough weather conditions. Often times, high ISO performance, high frame rates, deep buffers and fast autofocus systems are of little use for landscape photographers.
At the same time, other features such as in-body image stabilization (IBIS) can be quite helpful, especially when cameras are able to take advantage of sensor movements in order to track stars or to create high-resolution images using pixel shift technology. Ability to capture more dynamic range when shooting at higher ISOs, as well as ability to focus easily in low-light conditions can also be vital for those who shoot the night sky. So if you are into astrophotography, you might need to evaluate such criteria separately when picking a particular camera or camera system.
Lastly, it is important to point out that a good camera for landscape photography requires a solid selection of high-performance lenses. A landscape photographer should be able to pick lenses based on their particular needs and their budget.
Although many photographers continue to rely on DSLR cameras that have a proven track record for landscape photography needs, some are shifting towards mirrorless systems. Both certainly have their advantages and disadvantages, and depending on your needs, you might want to evaluate each to see what works better for you.
Lastly, sensor size is going to dictate the size of the overall system, its weight, as well as its overall cost. While medium format digital cameras offer the best overall image quality for landscape photographers, they are often large, heavy and very expensive. For these and other reasons, most enthusiast and professional landscape photographers often choose full-frame DSLR and mirrorless cameras for their needs. Still, even full-frame cameras can end up being too heavy and expensive for many hobbyists, which leaves APS-C and smaller sensor systems as the best choices. In this article, we will first go over our top camera picks for landscape photography, then go over some of the budget options.
As of 2019, there are many mirrorless cameras available from a variety of different manufacturers, including Panasonic, Olympus, Fujifilm, Hasselblad, Sony, Nikon, Canon and Leica. Most of these cameras are capable of exceptional image quality, thanks to their high resolution image sensors, wide dynamic range and superb built-in features, making them all perfectly suitable for landscape photography. Let’s take a closer look at the six cameras we picked from different manufacturers. The below list is sorted by our order of preference, although every camera we present is more than capable of yielding exceptional images.
Fujifilm GFX 50S
Our top pick is the Fujifilm GFX 50S, the only medium format camera that we decided to include in our top cameras for landscape photography. The Fujifilm GFX 50S is a superb choice for landscape photography for many reasons. First, it has a high resolution 50 MP sensor that produces images with very wide dynamic range. Second, it has a wide selection of exceptionally good lenses suitable for landscape photography, as well as all kinds of useful accessories and bellows from both Fujifilm and third party manufacturers. And lastly, Fujifilm provided plenty of in-camera tools in the GFX 50S specifically for landscape photography needs such as easy to use focus stacking, bracketing, focus peaking and on-screen histograms to assist photographers in yielding optimal exposure.
Its cheaper and lighter brother, the GFX 50R is also an excellent camera, but we favor the GFX 50S over it due to its superior ergonomics and better balance when using GF-series lenses. The camera that we expect to top this list once we use it in the field is going to be the new Fujifilm GFX 100, which looks better than the GFX 50S in almost every way.
See our detailed review of the Fujifilm GFX 50S for more information about this camera.
Nikon D850
Although mirrorless cameras have been gaining quite a bit of traction lately for a number of reasons (see mirrorless vs DSLR), they still have some catching up to do with DSLRs when it comes to things like battery life and lens selection. For landscape photography needs in particular, none of the camera manufacturers have made tilt / shift lenses yet, so one has to either use adapters with them, or resort to bellows systems to be able to tilt the plane of focus. Nikon has a wide array of tilt / shift lenses available today and although they are quite expensive, they are among the many lenses available for the system, giving lots of different options for landscape photographers.
After testing out the Nikon D850, our team at PL agreed that it is the most complete DSLR on the market today. Thanks to its phenomenal 45 MP sensor with the capability to go down as low as ISO 64 and yield class-leading dynamic range performance, proven Nikon ergonomics and easy to use menu system, rich lens selection, excellent in-camera features, great weather sealing and amazing battery life, the Nikon D850 is our top recommendation among all full-frame cameras on the market today for landscape photography needs.
For more information, see our in-depth Nikon D850 review.
Another Nikon DSLR that we highly recommend is the older D810, which is another phenomenal camera for landscape photography needs. We did not include it in this list because of the D850 that replaced it. Personally, I decided to keep shooting with my Nikon D810 even after the D850 release, because it was such a phenomenal camera. I later sold it off in favor of the Nikon Z7, which I talk about below.
Sony A7R III
While both the original Sony A7R and its second revision suffered from a number of issues, Sony really came around and addressed most of our concerns with the release of the A7R III. Thanks to its superb 42 MP BSI CMOS sensor that yields excellent dynamic range, great battery life and rich lens selection, the Sony A7R III is our top pick among full-frame mirrorless cameras on the market today. While the initial version lacked a built-in intervalometer, Sony went back and added it in its firmware 3.0, which is something many landscape photographers anticipated for a while. Getting rid of the store in the A7-series to buy extra features was a great move on behalf of Sony, as it is something that irritated us for a long time.
Sony has also done an amazing job with its lens releases, giving plenty of options from ultra-wide angle to super telephotos for landscape photographers. Its willingness to open up the E mount and work with third party lens manufacturers resulted in addition of many third party lens options in a relatively short amount of time, which is an amazing achievement on behalf of Sony. Our biggest criticism of the Sony A7R III lies with its ergonomics and poorly organized menu system, which can make it painful for photographers to use the camera in the field.
Pentax K-1 / K-1 II
Another well-rounded DSLR in our list is the Pentax K-1, which rightfully earns its spot, thanks to its 36 MP CMOS sensor with 5-axis IBIS that is capable of taking high-resolution images with pixel-shift technology. With pixel-shift, the Pentax K-1 is able to yield highly detailed, noise-free images up to 42 MP. While 42 MP might not sound like a lot when we have 45 and 50 MP cameras on this list, it actually yields more pixel-level details compared to other cameras. In addition, the ability to move the image sensor also allows the Pentax K-1 to capture moving stars with its “AstroTracer” feature, making the K-1 arguably the best camera in the list for astrophotography needs. The Pentax K-1 comes with a great set of in-camera features for landscape photography, including built-in GPS and Compass which automatically get written into every captured image, which can be helpful for tracking movement and position of the camera.
Pentax replaced the original K-1 with the K-1 II in early 2018, which provides even more features such as hand-held pixel shift mode, superior AF tracking algorithm and other improvements to its pixel shift feature. All this makes it worthwhile to upgrade to the latest version.
Nikon Z7
While the Z7 might be Nikon’s first attempt at a high-resolution mirrorless camera, it is a strong contender in our list of best cameras for landscape photography needs thanks to its strong overall performance. It mirrors the Nikon D850 sensor and its ISO / dynamic range capabilities, comes with very effective in-body image stabilization (IBIS), and packs everything (and more) the D850 has to offer in terms of in-camera features designed for landscape photography, all with a smaller and lighter footprint. Its biggest negatives are comparably poor battery life, limited native lens selection, awkward to use FTZ adapter and a single XQD card slot. Spencer and I do not consider these to be deal breakers, which is why we included the Z7 in our list of top cameras for landscape photography.
So far we have used the Nikon Z7 extensively for local and international travel, and aside from a little wear on the rubber grip, we cannot identify any serious issues that would prevent us from recommending the camera to our readers. We absolutely love Nikon’s implementation of IBIS, which allows us to hand-hold the Z7 even in very low light situations, and we have been praising Nikon’s Z mount lenses, which have all been exceptionally good (for the most part). With the recent $600 price drop on the Z7, it has become an even more attractive option for landscape photographers. Still, we do want Nikon to pay more attention to firmware updates, so we created our detailed wishlist of camera features we would like to see on Nikon Z-series cameras. Lastly, we really hope Nikon continues to push for high-quality Nikon Z lenses and releases more lens options for landscape photography needs (Z 70-200mm f/2.8 / f/4, Z 20mm f/1.4 / f/1.8, Z 24mm f/1.4 / f/1.8, etc).
For more information about the camera, see our Nikon Z7 review. For more information about Nikon Z lenses, please see Everything You Need to Know About Nikon Z Lenses
Canon EOS 5DS R
Last, but not least, is the Canon EOS 5DS R DSLR. The 5DS R is a top choice for Canon shooters, thanks to its 50.6 MP CMOS sensor and lack of low-pass filter, which results in extremely detailed images with enough resolution to print billboard-sized images. In addition to excellent ergonomics and easy to understand menu system, the Canon EOS 5DS R has a tough magnesium alloy construction, superb weather sealing and great battery life to make the camera a very practical tool for landscape photography. Similar to Nikon, Canon has an extensive choice of top quality lenses for landscape photography – everything from ultra-wide angle and tilt / shift, to super telephoto. My personal favorites for landscape photography are the Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM, Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM, Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM and Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS II USM, as well as Canon’s excellent line-up of tilt-shift lenses like the Canon TS-E 17mm f/4L and Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II.
Unfortunately, Canon has not updated the 5DS R for several years now, making it look somewhat outdated compared to its competition (and even its own DSLR and mirrorless cameras). It is unclear whether Canon is going to discontinue the 5DS R line in favor of its new mirrorless offerings in the future, as we have been seeing a rather aggressive release of high-quality RF-mount lenses, which would all work great in a future high-resolution mirrorless camera body. Either way, the Canon EOS 5DS R is still worthy of being listed as one of the best cameras on the market today for landscape photography needs.
Best Budget Camera for Landscape Photography
If you are not ready to spend thousands of dollars on a medium format or a full-frame system, you might want to consider a few budget-friendly options with smaller sensors that offer a bit less resolution. Many photographers who do landscape photography as a hobby might want to consider these cameras, which we have had good experience with:
- Fujifilm X-T2 / X-T3 – Our top picks among APS-C cameras are the X-T2 and X-T3, both of which offer great image quality with a relatively small footprint.
- Nikon D7500 – Nikon’s enthusiast-grade DSLR with an APS-C sensor offers wide dynamic range and a solid selection of Nikkor lenses
- Nikon D5600 – Another great choice for those on a lower budget is the Nikon D5600, which is capable of amazing image quality, even when coupled with kit lenses
- Canon EOS 80D – A strong 24 MP camera from Canon that can be coupled with an extensive list of Canon EF and EF-S lenses to deliver stunning results
- Canon EOS T7i – Sporting a similar 24 MP sensor as the 80D, the T7i is another great camera from Canon
- Sony A6000-series – Sony’s A6000-series cameras are all very good mirrorless options for landscape photography needs
What camera do you shoot landscapes with and why? Please let us know in the comments section below!
I am a 64 year old amateur, who started photographing when I was 13. I stopped when I had to give up my darkroom, but now, with modern software, and modern photo printers, and our internet, I am more excited than ever. Photography has always been expensive, and anyone could spend amazing amounts of money on camera gear, but I think even the low end gear is better than anything we had in the 20th century! I use a Canon SL2, the Canon aps-c zooms and primes, and the Sigma Art zooms. My daily lens is the optically stabilized Sigma 18-50 f/2.8, but my landscape lens, if the angle of view is appropriate, is a non-stabilized Art lens. The size and weight of modern lenses, not to mention cost, are huge compared to historic lenses!
Photography is much more meaningful for me when I can present in the photograph what I saw and felt capturing an image in the way I imagined it. The viewfinder, and whether or not you use a tripod are the most important equipment influences on how you see and work. The lens matters more than the body or size of the sensor, but nothing matters more than getting out there, improving your skill, and sharing the passion with others.
Bill, I fully agree with pretty much everything you said, especially the last sentence! Most cameras today are simply amazing and you can take phenomenal images with any of them. Sometimes we dig too much into “what’s best” without looking at things that actually matter: light, subject, composition, skill / knowledge / technique, post-processing and simply getting out there. People don’t realize that getting the best camera also requires getting better lenses and techniques to be able to take advantage of all that extra resolution.
At the same time, we are living in the golden age of photography, where you have any tool for any need at such low costs. For some photographers like myself, being able to get a noise-free, detailed photograph that I can enjoy on a large print or on my monitors is really exciting! It gives us something to keep us busy and engaged. I don’t particularly enjoy conversations comparing brand X to brand Y, or comparing camera X to camera Y, but I really do enjoy using the latest and greatest tools to get the best image quality I can possibly get. It is an exciting time to be a photographer. Tools that used to cost tens of thousands of dollars can be easily obtained at a fraction of the cost. Once equipment is obtained, images are free to make, not requiring us to develop it, or to send to a lab. Post-processing tools and accessories are better than ever. Amazing, nothing else to say!
Just a quick note on newer lenses being larger and heavier. All that extra resolution on modern cameras is putting quite a bit of strain on lenses. Older lenses simply cannot resolve enough detail to be “good enough” on those sensors, so new lenses with more corrective elements had to be developed. That’s why modern lenses are bigger and heavier :)
Nice list. But for an amateur like me, they are unaffordable (before the budget list). I still use a Nikon D7200 with Sigma 18-70, Nikon 10-20, and Nikon 16-80 DX lenses. When I am able to compose right, I am OK with the result. Of course, with much less details than those gears with medium and full frame sensors.
Debasis, thank you for sharing your equipment list! The D7200 is a superb tool and it looks like you have some nice lenses to complement the camera. I would also suggest to add a telephoto lens like a 70-300mm, as it can be very useful when shooting distant landscapes.
Confirming Nikkor AF-P 70-300mm is very usefull lens. But for D7200 i may suggest buying FX version of lens instead DX. DX has some problems like not so good image quality, missing option disable VR and inferior aperture f/4,5-6,3 (FX has f/4,5-5,6). FX version is more expensive but worth money.
Yep, I got Sigma and Nikon telephoto up to 300 mm DX. Didn’t list being a landscape discussion. Use them for shooting birds and flowers and distant small stuff.
Not the cheapest option by a long shot, but amongst the lightest, my travel/landscape photography kit has been a combination of a Leica M with a few primes since the day I could afford a second-hand M8. My Nikon DSLR is now only used for action/sports photography and whenever I leave home for more than a couple of days, it is with an M body with 2-3 small primes (usually 21, 28 and 50mm for landscape photography).
Thank you for sharing Fiatlux! Leica cameras are of course superb, but quite cost-prohibitive for many, which is why we did not include them in the list. I am anxious to try the new Panasonic full-frame system – it looks quite promising with its pixel-shift technology and the system is able to accommodate Leica SL lenses, which are some of the best in the industry.
Great insight into all the camera’s listed. I use a D810 with a Sigma 24-105 and Nikon 70-200 f4 for most of my Landscapes. I like the longer lenses for Landscapes rather than the very wide angles. My main focus is wildlife and nature and maybe the influence from using telephoto lenses influence my approach. For me the D810 remain an incredible camera alongside my D4s and Df for traveling. Thus far have not found any reason to replace these and spend an additional $xxxx to “upgrade”. I agree with Bill, carry less, shoot more, have fun. Great website I like what you guys do.
Jacobus, thanks for sharing! The D810 is an exceptionally good camera – it was painful to let mine go. Looks like you have a great and lightweight kit for landscapes!
My kit: Nikon D750, Nikkor 14-24 f/2.8, Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 G, and Nikkor 70-200 f/4. Cannot ask for more! For me this a superb kit for pretty much any landscape photography situation. <3 Personally I have never longed for more megapixels.
Tuomas, that’s a great kit! If you don’t need more than 24 MP of resolution, why move up to more megapixels? High megapixel cameras put a lot of strain on lenses and upgrading them isn’t cheap!
Dynamic range. The D850 (I own both 850 and 750) is far superior, as are features like electronic front shutter for landscapes. And the sensitive touchscreen and focus peaking are both game changers.
And the winner is: the Fuji GFX 100… ;-)
Emil, it is on its way for testing. Once we review it, we will update this article :)
Well obviously, if you are on a budget, why not put the Sony a7rii ? Got the same sensor as the mark iii, so perfect for landscape as well, 4k video, stabilization…
Julien, we didn’t include it in the list for the same reasons the Nikon D810 was not included – it got replaced by a newer model. I agree, the Sony A7R II is still a great camera for landscape photography needs and it can be purchased at a fraction of the cost of the new A7R III.
Nicely put article! I’m working with my old trusted Canon 6D (mark I) fellow, 6 years on the road and never failed a shot. With some good lenses, it still produces great images: own the 24-70 f/2.8L vII – one of the most amazing zooms I tested! -, the 70-200 f/4 IS and the 16-35 f/4 IS, all of them being top nocht for what I do. I still think that just for photography and image quality the 6D is still relevant for people on a budget. Maybe its files require a bit more carefulness in exposure and post-processing. But all in all, if you know your gear and the proper way to get the best out of it (I think that’s a key point here!), it can still rewards you with excellent images.
Landscape bag contains Nikon D610 (bought used), 18-35, 50/f1.8D (rarely used) and 70-200/f4 (also bought used). Total cost £2,100. Plus polarisers, Lee 2-stop ND grad and little stopper and Manfrotto 055.
Very happy to be the first to add:
7. Any medium format film camera (real medium format)!
Respect.
Burghclerebilly, agreed, a medium format or a large format film camera would be a great choice for landscape photography.
In a few days (when it finally arrives) I will be using a GFX100 with either a 120mm f4 macro or 32-64mmm f4 zoom. Currently I use both of those lenses on a GFX50S (this camera has led my movement away from Leica to Fuji which I never thought possible). I also use a Hasselblad X1D if I really need to travel light with the 45mm f3.5. With 50-100 MP and excellent Hassy and Fuji glass, getting great landscapes has become way easier now I am firmly entrenched in the medium format world. I still use a Leica TL2 with 23mm f2 lens and 7A 55mm f1.4 manual lens for travel and an only TG5 for anything where I am going to get wet (swimming, surf etc).
Cameras come and go and good glass is key, but both are just a tool to realise the users vision.
I whole hearted underline and agree with your last statement. The most important gear elements in a photographers tool kit is the brain, eyes, and vision of the person. Tech improves over time, but without intentional practice and work to develop the photographer, the gear only captures meh images with greater resolution.
Thanks for sharing Paul, looks like you’ve got some great gear to shoot landscapes. I am anxious to try out the new Hasselblad X1D II. Since my review of the X1D, Hasselblad has also released a few great lenses that should be pretty amazing to shoot with.
Hi Nasim:
Will you get a chance to look over the newly announced Hasselblad X1D II 50c? I know the first model had some serious issues and drawbacks so I would be curious to know if the company has managed to improve on some of the features that were lacking. I would be curious to know how the newer model will compare to the Fuji GFX-50S in terms of landscape photography.
Michael, my current priority is the new Fuji GFX 100, which I just received. After I am done with it, I would like to try out the Hasselblad X1D 50c II – it looks great!
Nassim, I do respect your “opinion” but that’s exactly what this is – an opinion. You omitted few excellent mid and full format options, but at the end most of the high end cameras on the market today are more than enough to capture amazing landscape pictures. My 5 cents…
JJ, it absolutely is an opinion. Any “best” article is going to be an opinion in the camera world, because there are way too many variables at play.
FYI, the A7Riii does have pixel shift shooting.
Dale, I should have worded it differently when describing pixel shift on the Pentax K-1. I meant to say that Pentax K-1 does a better job than any other camera with its pixel shift technology. I didn’t have great experience with Pixel Shift on the Sony A7R III. The initial versions had too much of an interval and after many complaints, Sony reduced the interval to 0.5 seconds via firmware, which is still not enough. In comparison, you can do Pixel Shift even hand-held with the Pentax K-1 and the company expanded the capabilities of sensor shift technology even further to do things like tracking stars. I am happy to see others embrace Pixel Shift and I hope to see more of it in the future, but the current implementation still leaves a lot to be desired. RAW conversion is also quite painful to deal with, with limited software support at the moment.
Hi, Im loving all the photos here! I would love if you indicated where the locations of the photo is in addition to the camera and settings used. Thanks
Jilliane, thank you for your feedback! I will try to go back and update the article with the locations. They are all over the place – from Colorado and Utah, all the way to Turkey.
I have been using Olympus cameras with Panasonic and Olympus lenses for a few years now. I seldom go to enlargements beyond 13×19 inches and my gear has been very capable of giving me excellent landscape shots full of color and details.
I am no expert nor make any claims to be one but if you ask me any camera today is very capable of outstanding results when using good optics.
William, absolutely! Any camera, even a smartphone can make surprisingly great images. It all depends on your output size and the amount of work you are willing to put in post-processing. Images from some M43 cameras that utilize pixel shift can offer superb image quality that could rival bigger cameras. Sadly, it doesn’t work very well with all scenes, but for stationary subjects, pixel shift is excellent.
I used to use Nikon D5600 w/ AF-P 18-55, AF-P 10-20, AF-S 55-200. Just upgraded at beginning of year to Nikon Z 6 w/ 24-70 f/4 S, 14-30 f/4 S, and using AF-S 300 f/4 w/ ftz for telephoto landscapes – IBIS has breathed new life into the latter lens. The upgrade has upgraded my photography significantly.
Mathew, that’s a big step up for you, congratulations! The Nikon Z6 is an excellent choice. I bought one to replace my Nikon D750 and I have no regrets whatsoever.
Title :”Best camera for landscape photography”….One reds the article and…there is 12 alternatives including “budget” section. Now, dear Nasim how exactly did your article answer the question you asked in your own title ?
It did not.
Slow day in the office ? Better no publication then this “article”. Really, literary better to not write anything at all.
Red, the first camera in the list is the best and the rest are alternatives. Not sure why you found listing the alternatives so offensive :)
Photography Life is a valuable resource for me. I read every article that is posted. But this article is misleading.
“Best” is usually based on an assessment of product capabilities vs requirements. I didn’t see that in this article. Is there a requirement to print or are the images just destined for social media? If the requirement is for prints, what size print is required? For the intended use (social media or print) can anyone tell the difference in between the output of alternative cameras? Is camera system weight a factor: Will the camera system need to be carried in a backpack on a hike, camping, or just a short distance from a vehicle? Since requirements will differ between landscape photographers, your “preferences” ranking will be appropriate only for a small number of landscape photographers and could lead to someone who choses a camera based on those preferences to make an expensive mistaker. If your criteria are only megapixels and dynamic range, you should have stated so and awarded the honors to the 150 megapixel Phase One camera.
Jack, I agree, the word “best”’ might not be an ideal choice for this article, since there are way too many variables at play here and it all depends on one’s requirements and budget. I thought of different titles, but they were all too long. Either way, please note that this article (and I would argue any similar articles on the Internet) is going to be subjective, based on one’s personal experience. If you were to ask me what my top choices for landscape photography are, I would name the above cameras. If I had unlimited budget, time and patience, I would probably pick a Phase One or Hasselblad 100 MP+ digital back, and an 8×10 film camera for ultimate image quality. But those aren’t practical choices for many of us, which is why I did not include them in the list.
Very interesting indeed – to me it seems that each and every camera you recommended can take terrific landscapes ! The old adage ” its not the steering wheel that controls the car but the driver holding the wheel ” applies in that the camera does not take a photo – the photographer does. There are many many factors involved in choosing the best camera for landscape photography obviously starting with budget then moving along to usability etc.etc. Is your photography planned or spontaneous i.e. I cycle and bushwalk – no way do I take bulky heavy gear ! My Olympus OMD-EM1 with a 12-200mm lens covers just about anything I might see on my travels and if it rains – well its weatherproof so thats covered as well.
Anyway – great article with terrific pics.
John, I fully agree with you, it all depends on budget, size, weight and many other factors. Every modern digital camera today can take phenomenal images of landscapes. Speaking of which, your OM-D E-M1 can do pixel shift – have you tried that out for landscape photography?
Nice listing!
From my Experience going through Canon to Nikon to Fuji back to Canon i can say this.
#1 Don’t get a Fuji for serious landscape photography.
The Pictures are nice and Contrasty for ur Instagram Profile, but every time the shadows are just mushy…. well its still APS-C and can NEVER replace a Full-Frame Camera. (X-T1, X-Pro 1, X-Pro2, 50-140mm, 10-24mm). Also I had many problems with reliability! X-T1 and XPRO2 died twice in Snow or High Mountain Conditions and had returned to Fuji 2 times. They have amazing customer service, but without my canon(My wife got to carry it :-)) as backup they would have ruined 2 trips to Nepal. As much as I like them for any Social Media work, no one could convince me to go back to fuji, not even Andy Mumford .) I would not trust the Fuji GFX in a Long Run in real landscape conditions(Severe weather and extreme places make more amazing pictures most of the time, but not always).
#2 Nikon is just amazing if u have the power to carry it.
As much as I liked my Nikon D800E and D810, as much did I hate to carry the beast of a body. Don’t get me wrong they do amazing picture with great dynamic range and have amazing Lenses, but for Hiking/Mountaineering (Multi-Day-Trips and Camping) u have to be very strong and like the Competition to carry the extra load.
#3 Canon, cam from there and going back.
I started my photography with and APS-C Body (I Think it was an EOS 350D) and switched to the 5D Mark II with 70-200 F4 non IS and 16-35 F4 / 17-40 F4. I never sold the 5D MK II and used It from to time again comparing it to my other Systems.
After all the Fuzz with the FUJI System I am back to my 5D Mark II. She never let me down, not it freezing conditions with low oxygen or hot days in the desert. She does amazing photos the will still sell and amaze anybody seeing them printed or on any webpage(well, apart from the Pixelpeepers that use 5K IMAC Screens). Its cheap! Get one for 300€ in Germany now and the 2 lenses I use most (70-200 f4, 16-35 f4) for around 1000€. A Complete Full Frame System for 1200$ capable of amazing Pictures and reliable than anything else.
#4 Sony….. id get one if they were not so expensive. If the stills get any better with the adapters and my Canon lenses I would try them. But mirrorless, batteries and cold weather is not a good combination.
# In the End every camera is taking the same picture, it only depends how and what we photograph. I rather take a bad picture then no picture at all.
I think the Sony A7R III also has pixel shift technology, which in my research is a trick that isn’t impressive for anything other than architectural work. The sensor, compared to the D850 and even the 24mp version of Sony’s same camera, just doesn’t hold up without pixel shift.
Just doesn’t hold up? You’ve no doubt done extensive testing of all 3 sensors? And your conclusion from this testing is that the the sensor in Sony’s APS-C range exceeds that in the a7rIII. By what measure and in what regard??? The D850 sensor was made by Sony btw.
“Our biggest criticism of the Sony A7R III lies with its ergonomics and poorly organized menu system…”
If we’re judging cameras for landscape photography, why are we downgrading Sony for ergonomics when most landscpae photographers use their camera on a tripod. Seriously? Are we saying that the ergonomics affect the act of taking the camera form the bag and placing it on a tripod?
I personally find the “what you see is what you get” capability of the viewfinder to be invaluable in tricky lighting and for bracketing. Moreover, the ability to adjust exposure compensation and ISO on the fly without taking my eye from the viewfinder (thanks to well placed dials on the body) is priceless for landscape shooting.
As for the menu, the complaint typically comes from photographers/reviewers who haven’t taken the time to learn the system. I have no issue with the menu and a plethora of customizable buttons greatly assist in this regard.
Steve, whether you use the camera on a tripod or not, you are still touching those buttons and changing camera settings right?
I have spent a considerable amount of time with every released Sony camera and my negative comments towards the horrible menu system still stand. Very disorganized and confusing menu system with a bunch of poorly labeled buttons are a bad ergonomic combination. Hand me any Nikon, Canon, Fuji or Panasonic camera and I can shoot with it. Hand me someone’s Sony camera and I will need to reset it to factory defaults before I can do anything with it. Speaking of which, resetting a camera is not a problem until you do it for a Sony shooter. Watch the person struggle through the menu system to try to set it back up the way it was before. I have seen it so many times when shooting in the field and teaching workshops. Those who ask the most about camera settings and get frustrated with them are typically Sony shooters. Sorry, but Sony gets no praise from me for its ergonomics…
Mamiya 7II. One of the best cameras for landscape photography ever. No other camera can beat its sharpness and resolution.
THe Mamiya VII is a Startling Performer –
even though it is in the FILM Genre .
I Look in AWE at the Images I get on my Studio Imac .
But, then again – I do the Same with the Fuji XH1 .
Thanks Andi Mumford. My Xpro2, and XH1 have
NEVER failed me – in terrible, sub zero, sleet & hail conditions !
Ie. ~ Frozen Niagara, Frozen Taquamenon – etc. . .
P.S. The Canon system has the tone & feel of my M9 – and I Love that too !
But, the M9 is a TINY FF Workhorse ! It EXCELS BEST at PORTRAITS . . .
THough – I really like the Kodak Portra LOOK of the Images it cranks –
even for Landscapes . . . They’re Beautiful in a Pastel Look .
P.S. Thanks Nasim ~ well done !
I never really get this equating of landscape photography with “big cameras”. Plenty of work done on 35mm slide film still holds up today. I’m not advocating going back to film, but I would suggest that factors such as reliability, robustness, ease of use in difficult conditions, system-level bulk are significantly more important than megapixels in the vast majority of cases. Of course if you limit yourself to photography from car parks then sure, any of the above would be great. Otherwise, personally each one of the top list, when couple with a useful range of good optics, would have me backing away rapidly…
In contradiction of the text in the A7RIII section, isn’t the GFX50s your highest rated mirrorless camera?
Chris, yes, the GFX 50S is the highest rated mirrorless camera. With the A7R III, I meant to say among full-frame mirrorless cameras…
Thank you for such a detailed review and recommendation on landscape cameras. I currently use a Z6 and a D500. None of these cameras are on your list and I wonder what is missing or needed for the Z6 in landscape photography, besides the cropping capability of the z7. The same question is for D500 vs D7500 that you listed on your list.
Albert, the Z6 could be a great landscape camera, but we primary went over those cameras that have very high resolution sensors. The other cameras listed below are “budget” options for those who cannot afford going full-frame.
Nasim, is there a reason why the team of two only tested digital cameras? Why did you not include film cameras (35 mm, medium format, large format), which are also widely used in landscape photography?
Martin, I don’t think there are many 35mm film shooters doing landscapes anymore. As for medium and large format film, there are so many choices out there that it would be impractical to do a comparison between them…
Wow… I can’t believe I am actually reading this.
There aren’t many 35mm shooters doing landscapes?
“So many choices”, as if there aren’t so many choices among digital cameras to make it practical to do a comparison between them?
Honestly, this is embarrassing, Nasim.
Martin, I have shot landscapes for many years now and not once did I come across someone who was doing landscapes with 35mm film. Those who shoot landscapes with 35mm film probably do it for fun, because digital has practically fully taken over – it makes much more sense to shoot 35mm digital than 35mm film nowadays. This is why I wouldn’t even bother with 35mm film, as aside from a couple of people here and there, there would be no audience for such material.
As for medium and large format film, the choices are far larger compared to digital. With digital, I only need to worry about the most current generation of cameras from a handful of manufacturers, whereas film cameras date back so many years – any of them are still great. Throw different format sizes on top of that and we are dealing with a practically unlimited choice of film backs and view cameras. 120, 4×5, 5×7, 6×7, 8×10 and everything in between. If I were to only pick cameras that are available to buy brand new today, then the choice is too small and highly dependent where you buy from.
Lastly, how would I be able to compare and rank film cameras? The point I am trying to make is, there is no practical way to compare film cameras. And nobody, including Photography Life is willing to put out the time and resources to do such assessments. Even the most popular sites and magazines with much bigger budgets would not want to do something like this, because they know that the amount of time they spent doing such an assessment would not justify the end result. I know this might be disappointing to hear, but that’s the reality.
“While medium format digital cameras offer the best overall image quality for landscape photographers…”
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Medium format film cameras and large format cameras offer the best overall image quality for landscape photographers.
Nasim, Your list doesn’t include any of the micro four thirds cameras, which are quite useful for landscape photography. I have full frame (Sony A 7III), Crop sensor (Fuji X-T3), and micro 4/3 (Panasonic G-9), all with full complement of lenses . . . but being sorta old (78) . . . I find that the pleasure of carrying the lightweight Panasonic and Olympus lenses, makes my landscape picture taking a lot more fun and far less fatiguing.
They say that four thirds is dead, but in the meantime, four thirds cameras do take mighty good pictures – even of landscapes.
I mostly shoot landscapes and wildlife and have a Nikon D7200 which I use almost exclusively with either a Nikkor DX 18-140mm or a Tamron 10-24mm lens. I am considering buying a Sony A7 for its full frame, mirrorless body and for it being a little smaller and lighter than the D7200 to carry up the mountains I love to climb. Am I doing the right thing?
Is there not a Nikon Z announcement due sometime in July?