Landscape photography requires excellent photography skills, as well as the best camera for landscape photography to get quality images in any weather conditions. In this article, I picked point and shoot, mirrorless, and DSLR cameras for different kinds of landscape photography and at the different price ranges. Let’ find your camera for landscape pictures together!
What is Important When Choosing the Best Camera for Landscapes?
For shooting landscapes, a photographer does not need a high shutter speed, maximum ISO values, or an increased memory buffer — all that the latest developments in the photo industry tend to be comparable.
- Sensor size (meaning the physical dimensions of the image sensor), because the bigger it is, the better the picture you will have;
- The number of megapixels (as a consequence of the first paragraph, but it is not worth chasing only megapixels);
- Camera protection from environmental phenomena (moisture and dust);
- Wide dynamic range (to obtain a detailed image under difficult lighting conditions);
- Battery capacity;
- Set of compatible optics.
The best cameras for landscape photography are divided into several main types: compact, mirrorless, and digital single-lens reflex (DSLR).
The Best Point and Shoot Camera for Landscape Photography
The first type are called compact cameras. These devices usually have built-in lenses. As a rule, they are of low weight and small dimensions. There are models with an automatic system without no need to set shooting parameters or with a limited set of required settings, which are also called point and shoot cameras.
Several years ago, this kind of cameras was the best camera for amateur photographer. However, nowadays good cameras for nature photography of this type have come far forward and improved their performance significantly. They can seriously compete with all other models in terms of the output quality, and some of their capabilities simply exceed all expectations and make outdoor photography fantastic. Since the shooting depends on the amount of light reaching the matrix through the lens, we will consider compact cameras with the largest lenses, so-called ultrazoom or superzoom (cameras with a large optical zoom).
1. Canon Powershot SX60 HS
This best camera for landscape photography is one of the leaders of Canon ultrazoom line. It was released in October 2014. Nevertheless, it hasn’t lost its relevance yet. The most obvious SX60 HS design update concerns the grip. As the manufacturer says, it was made in “EOS-style.” Having borrowed the handle design from DSLRs, the camera has a comfortable and stable grip. It is especially important while zooming and shooting landscape scenes with a camera in your hands (without a tripod).
Photo taken by Canon Powershot SX60 HS 2. Nikon Coolpix P900
Nikon has released its compact superzoom, Coolpix P900, with a crazy 83x optical zoom that allows shooters to cover large distances. A Nikkor Super ED glass lens covers focal lengths from 24mm to 2000mm in 35mm equivalent. Zoom expands to 166-fold with Dynamic Fine Zoom function. This best compact camera for landscape photography appeared on the market in April 2015 and it cost $600. Now, the price is slightly reduced.
Photo taken by Nikon Coolpix P900 3. Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000
The release of the Panasonic FZ1000 superzoom is great news for anyone who has been looking for one universal camera for a long time but was dissatisfied with the image quality of past generation superzooms. Superzooms have been waiting for something new for quite a while and, finally, this moment has come. This best camera for landscape photography 2018 can be used for almost any task, except for underwater shooting. The Superzoom does not only produce a decent picture, even at the maximum zoom, but it is also great for shooting videos. The 25-400mm lens is completely distant from competition, and a slight loss of lens speed, in this case, is not terrible. It is an excellent all-in-one camera that can do almost anything, and if you don’t plan to develop your photo system with significant investments, this best camera for landscape photography can be an ideal option for you.
Photo taken by Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ1000 4. Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX10 IV
The Sony RX10 superzoom cannot be classified as a compact digital camera. For many photographers, it will serve as an alternative to DSLRs. This landscape photography camera will be interesting to users who do not like to change lenses and prefer to work with a universal all-in-one camera. This kind of the best camera for landscape photography offers better image quality compared to compact ones and you will have a lot of manual control for creative experiments. In general, a large sensor is a new trend in the superzoom market. The Sony RX10 is among those cameras that use a large zoom and sensor, as well as a high-aperture lens.
Photo taken by Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX10 IV
Best Mirrorless Camera for Landscape Photography
Mirrorless cameras have become a new evolutionary step in the world of photographic equipment. These are cameras without a system of mirrors and optical viewfinder. This is the newest type of cameras that has great potential and is not connected with film era technology. These best nature photography cameras are lighter and more compact, have many advantages, and their resulting images are not inferior to the photos taken with large and cumbersome DSLRs.
The only point worth mentioning about this best camera for scenery is that there is a slight delay in what is seen on the display from what is actually happening. Only DSLR cameras are free of this defect. But it is unlikely that this feature can hinder with anyone because the process of landscape shooting is inherently devoid of any haste and split seconds play absolutely no role.
5. Fujifilm X-E3
The camera body looks minimalistic. There is no built-in flash because of the compactness, but this best camera for landscape photography comes with a small camera flash. The X-E3 is able to solve professional problems and produce high-quality images. This is a great option for those who do not need maximum functionality, but who are fond of the Fuji ecosystem with all its inherent traditions and color rendering features.
Recommended camera lens:
Fujifilm XF 23mm F2 R WR
It has excellent focusing characteristics and 2 aspherical elements. The diaphragm opens to F2. It weighs only 180g and length is 52mm.
Photo taken by Fujifilm X-E3 6. Sony Alpha A6500
The Sony A6500 has a 24.2-megapixel Exmor CMOS sensor and BIONZ X processor. The native ISO range of this best camera for landscape photography is from 100 to 51,200.
Continuous shooting speed is 11 frames per second, accompanied by tracking autofocus and exposure measuring on each frame, 8 frames per second in live-view mode.
The advanced buffer of this best nature camera allows you to take up a long series of 307 consecutive frames.
The A6500 is the first Sony APS-C camera with 5-axis optical image stabilization. It provides up to five expo stages.
Recommended camera lens:
Sony FE 16-35mm f/2.8 GM
It’s sharp with an open aperture. It has low levels of chromatic aberration and geometric distortion, and a pleasant background blurring. The lens has a fast and silent autofocus, equipped with a dust and waterproof case.
Photo taken by Sony Alpha A6500 7. Sony A7R II Alpha
This is a professional full-frame landscape photography camera from Sony – the leader in the field of digital image sensors. The Japanese company put the finest innovations in the body of their new full-frame mirrorless camera. In addition to high resolution and a wide range of light sensitivity (ISO from 100 to 102,400), the shutter speed is increased by 40 percent in the new camera. The focus system includes 399 phase-detection AF points and 25 contrast-detection AF points. The back-lit sensor enables the camera to combine high resolution and high sensitivity uncompromisingly. The Sony Alpha 7R II is equipped with 5-axis image stabilization as well as Silent Shooting mode, which helps to avoid camera shaking at shutter movement (reduces vibration by 50 percent). Shutter life is designed for 500,000 clicks. There is no optical low-frequency filter.
Recommended camera lens:
Sony Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar FE T* 24-70mm f/4 ZA OSS
It is sharp with an open aperture, features a low level of chromatic aberrations and geometric distortions and beautiful background blurring. The lens has a quick and silent AF, and a dust and moisture resistant case.
Photo taken by Sony A7R II Alpha 8. Nikon Z7
Nikon Z7 is a full-frame mirrorless camera with a new bayonet. The camera is equipped with a 45.7 MP CMOS backlit sensor with an ISO range of 64-25,600 points. The built-in EXPEED six image processor provides continuous shooting with the frequency of 9 shots per second so that it has been added to the list of the best cameras for landscape photography. EVF, with 0.8х zoom and visual 37° field angle has a special coating: dust resistant, resolution of 3.69 million points with 100 percent frame field coverage. The camera is equipped with the hybrid AF system, which operates using an algorithm for automatically switching between phase-detected and contrast-detected AF in 493 points. A brand-new light adapter for the Nikon FTZ ensures the compatibility of all Z-line system cameras with a wide range of 360 existing lenses with the F bayonet. For sure, it is the best camera for landscape photography in any condition.
Recommended camera lens:
Nikkor Z 35mm F/1.8 S
A completely new Nikon S lens line is dust and moisture resistant. In addition, it has Nano Crystal Coating and meets the highest quality standards.
Adjustable rings on the new lenses provide silent and smooth aperture and focus setting. The new multi-focus system is designed to reach fast speed, sharpness, and low noise levels.
Photo taken by Nikon Z7
Best DSLR for Landscape Photography
A DSLR is the most common and popular camera type. The name originated from the optical viewfinder, which consists of a prism with a mirror (or array of mirrors).
Namely, these cameras are considered the most powerful with the widest range of capability. Unfortunately, size is connected to quality. The bigger and the heavier the camera is, the more professional characteristics it has. The best DSLR for landscape photography requires a tripod so its weight is not a problem, except for situations when we have to carry it to a shooting location. A DSLR will provide you with the best quality for the budget.
9. Nikon D850
It is the best camera for landscape photography and, undoubtedly, an uncompromising leader among professional full-frame mirror cameras. It is reliable, easy-to-use, and has no drawbacks. Besides, it is considered the best budget camera for landscape photography on our list. The D850 has been recently announced as first Nikon camera with a built-in function for film negative digital conversion. The Nikon D850 is equipped with a CMOS matrix with the backlit sensor. It supports RAW file shooting, which enables you to photograph at 45.4MP, 25.6 MP and even 11.4MP. The tilted TFT LCD screen with 8cm diagonal, resolution 2.36 million points, and 170-degree panorama is installed at the rear panel.
Recommended camera lens:
Nikon AF-SFX NIKKOR 24-120mm f/4GEDVR
It is designed as a multifunctional zoom lens.
Photo taken by Nikon D850 10. Nikon D7200
It is an advanced crop-camera for experienced amateurs who are searching for the best camera for landscape photography. The dust and moisture resistant body is made from magnesium alloy. There are two slots for memory cards, ergonomics, and the D7200 build quality makes it one of the best cameras for landscape photography 2018 in any weather and lighting conditions. DxOMark informs: the D7200 camera sensor was estimated from 87 scores, and was ranked 20th of all tested cameras and won the first prize among crop-sensor models. The D7200 sensor showed brilliant dynamic range results and got the 1st place prize in the DxOMark database of APS-C format sensors and the second place among tested cameras.
Recommended camera lens:
Nikon AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED
It is designed as a standard zoom. It is a professional lens for an amateur cropped camera. You will forget about all other options while traveling and shooting scenery.
Photo taken by Nikon D7200 11. Pentax K-1 Mark II
Pentax cameras have always stood out among other products. The company’s products differ with their independence and the engineers with a creative approach. While everybody was struggling to increase focus and matrix resolution, Pentax engineers took their time and worked on convenient control, image quality and color vividness to present the best camera for landscape photography.
Recommended camera lens:
Pentax HD-D FA 24-70mm f/2.8 ED SDM
Standard AR Zoom for any weather.
Photo taken by Pentax K-1 Mark II 12. Canon EOS 5DSR
Canon Corporation has revived a renewed megapixels war with an officially announced full-frame EOS 5DS R mirror camera. The company supplemented the 5D series, “jumping” from 22.3 to 50.6 megapixels. The new camera design is reminiscent of the previous version. There is the same fixed LCD screen: 3.2 inches with 1,040,000 points. It is equipped with the DIGIC 6 processor. A 61 point AF system is used with 41 cross-type AF, as well as 150,000 pixel RGB exposure control and the EOS iSA System with 252-zone metering. The design and its functions, along with high resolution, are aimed at minimizing the vibration. In addition to physical design features (for instance, advanced stability of inner elements), the camera has an updated mirror vibration control. Along with it, there is the Arbitrary Release Time Lag in a mirror lock mode. It allows you to take shots within a certain period of time after shutter release to let shaking finish before the exposure. If a photographer aims to do night shooting or photograph stars, he/she cannot do without this function.
Recommended camera lens:
Canon EF 11-24 f/4L
The company introduced super wide-angle lenses. Canon released the outstanding full-framed wide-angle lens. Nowadays, it might be the most expensive lens with a stunning range with a focal length of 11-24 mm. Perfect geometry with sharp definition, even with a wide open aperture.
Photo taken by Canon EOS 5DSR Top 12 Best Cameras for Landscape Photography
| IMAGE | NAME | DETAILS | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |
Canon Powershot SX60 HS
ULTRA ZOOM |
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
Nikon Coolpix P900
POWERFUL ZOOM |
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ 1000
FOR TRAVELING |
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-RX10 IV
|
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
Fujifilm X-E3
BEST PRICE |
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
Sony Alpha A6500
WIDE ANGLE ZOOM |
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
Sony A7R II Alpha
FULL FRAME |
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
Nikon Z7
FOR PROFESSIONALS |
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
Nikon D850
OUR CHOICE |
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
Pentax K-1 Mark II
|
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
Canon EOS 5DSR
|
CHECK PRICE→ | |
 |
Nikon D7200
|
CHECK PRICE→ |
If you still have some questions, view this video of tips from a professional photographer to make the process of choosing a camera for nature photos easier.
Ann Young
Hi there, I'm Ann Young - a professional blogger, read more
