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Landscape Photography Cameras
Are you into landscape photography? If so, you have come to the right place. Today we are talking about the best camera for landscape photography. We are going to look at a range of different SLR and mirrorless cameras that can enhance your experience when taking landscape photographs.
Landscape photography is different from other kinds of photography, especially wildlife photography or sports photography. The main difference is that landscapes don’t tend to move very quickly. If you are standing on the side of a mountain taking photographs of the view at sunset, you don’t really need a high frame rate, and you don’t really need the most advanced autofocusing system – nothing is moving in your shot to focus on!
So, rather than worry about having the best AF in your camera, it is a little more important to have a better ISO performance, a stabilization system that works well with a tripod, and maximum image quality. You definitely need a camera that can capture a sharp image across the entire frame. Landscape photography is vast, and so you need lots of megapixels, a solid dynamic range, and good low-light capabilities for shooting at night.
Other features you want to keep a lookout for include weather-sealing. That way, your camera will keep working in rough outdoor conditions, especially in the rain or snow; LiveView, since you can use it to fine-tune your composition while taking shots; and versatility, because you will be carrying your camera to many wild places, and you need the best versatility for different environments.
1. Nikon D850 Digital SLR Camera
The Nikon D850 has everything you need for landscape photography. This is the newest and best digital SLR camera from Nikon, and it sets the benchmark pretty high for image quality with its incredibly high resolution, fast action, and 45.7 megapixels. The camera is a remarkable achievement in design, with an advanced sensor, incredible dynamic range, great sensitivity, enhanced battery life, and so much more.
This camera comes equipped with EXPEED 5 for lightning-fast processing, low noise, and great textual details. You also get continuous shooting and full-frame 4K movie recording. The full-frame XMOS sensor gives unmatched image quality, superior light gathering, and the truest colors imaginable. All your landscape photographs are going to look like they just came out of National Geographic when you use this camera.
It also has fantastic ISO capabilities, expandable all the way down to ISO 32. This makes it ideal for low-light situations. You can take silent photographs, the touchscreen tilts for maximum convenience, and the subject tracking is intense – if you ever need to take some wildlife photos while out exploring.
Pros
- Robust & Truly Advanced
- High-Tech CMOS Sensor w/ 45.7MP
- 8K Time Lapse
- Full Connectivity w/ Bluetooth & SnapBridge
- Stunning Resolution & Excellent ISO
Cons
- Outrageously Expensive
- Wireless iOS App is Not Great
2. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Digital SLR Camera
While lacking in megapixels with only 30.4 of them, this is still a top-notch camera from Canon with a 61-point AF system and incredible operational enhancements. For landscape photography, you can expect high-resolution photographs, legendary performance, and full reliability. You get excellent 4K video capabilities, sharp still images of the outdoors, an impressive ISO range of between 100 and 32000, and a powerful full-frame sensor.
This camera is a powerhouse. It performs continuous shooting at 7fps with precise exposure and perfect focus tracking. You can take individual frames from your 4K video shooting. The AF sensor has 61 AF points and 41 cross-type AF points. There is even a built-in GPS to remind you exactly where your great landscape photos were taken!
Talking technology, the EOS 5D has everything, including an intelligent viewfinder that makes shooting more comfortable. The viewfinder is bright, fully customizable, and easy to master even for someone new to photography. But where the camera really shines is with its incredible 4K video recording, which is awesome for making short videos while waiting for the perfect shot.
Pros
- Incredible Focusing Power
- Excellent for 4K Video Capturing
- Low Megapixels are Easier for Processing
- ISO Range is Perfect for Night Shooting
- The Viewfinder is Advanced & Easy to Use
Cons
- Screen Doesn’t Tilt
- A Little Heavy
3. Sony a7R IV Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera
The Sony a7R IV is at the top of the pack for premium cameras, and it is an absolutely stunning piece of equipment. This is a full-frame mirrorless camera with all the newest in optical technology. The price tag is definitely alarming, and certainly not affordable for everyone, but if you have a big chunk of money to go to a camera, this is definitely going to be the best one. It might even be the last camera you ever buy, as the technology will remain relevant for at least another decade or two. This is one of the most powerful, most reliable, and most advanced cameras ever manufactured by Sony.
And it’s great for landscape photography! You get 61 megapixels, which deliver a previously unimagined resolution. The Exmor R CMOS sensor works with the BIONZ X imaging engine to give you the highest level of clarity and visual perfection in every photograph, with entirely new levels of detail not seen before on older cameras. It’s really difficult to describe the noticeable difference in landscape photographs when using the a7R IV compared to an older model. The Sony a7R IV is simply exceptional.
You get great burst speed to capture moving targets in amazing detail, real-time AF for eye tracking in both humans and animals, and AI-assisted technology for superior portrait shooting. The AF tracking is flawless, the 4K movies look better than the big screen, and the advanced connectivity features work flawlessly with all the newest devices.
Pros
- Real Quality Improvement from Last Model
- Focus Tracking is Perfect
- 61 Megapixels for Unreal Photographs
- Best Landscape Camera w/ Dynamic Range
- Lightweight/Durable/Highly Portable
Cons
- Navigation Can Be Tough
- More Noise than Expected
4. Fujifilm X-T3 Mirrorless Digital Camera
The Fujifilm X-T3 is much more affordable than the other models on today’s list – though it is still not cheap by any means. And even though the X-T4 has since been released, it is significantly more expensive and doesn’t offer any wildly amazing new features. You will be perfectly comfortable with the X-T3 for landscape photography. This is a premium camera specially designed to satisfy the fussiest photographer with excellent features, a robust design, and superior image quality.
This is the first X Series model to feature the new back-illuminated X-Trans CMOS 4 sensor. This newly developed sensor boasts an impressive resolution of 26.1 megapixels. While it may not seem like much, you are still going to get incredibly vivid photographs with amazing depth, stunning details, and enhanced image quality. Additionally, the ISO has been extended so that you get images without noise that are incredibly clean, and so that you get excellent photographs in low-light situations.
Aside from the main technology inside the camera, you also get a 3-way tilt touchscreen panel, improved dials and buttons for easier operation, professional 4K video recording with the option for high-tech lenses, and precision AF phase detection. And most importantly, the camera is lightweight and highly functional for landscape photography, delivering photographs that will take your breath away.
Pros
- Phenomenal Video Capabilities
- Supports 2 SD Cards
- Huge Increase in Power from X-T2
- Solid Build Quality + Durable
- 16 Film Simulation Modes
Cons
- Older Model
- Complicated for Beginners
5. Canon EOS R Full-Frame Mirrorless Camera
The original EOS R camera comes with a fantastic new mount, a whole slew of dedicated lenses, total compatibility with EF and EF-S lenses, and significant improvements in all its technologies, giving you a better platform for taking stunning landscape photographs with. It has a 30.3 megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor with a DIGIC 8 image processor, it can take 4K videos, it has integrated EVF with 3.69 million dots, a unique touchscreen, and 655 manually selectable AF points.
This is definitely a high-tech camera for landscape photographers. But it is also outrageously expensive. If you have a good deal of cash to spend on a new Canon camera – lightweight, smartly-designed, and totally reinvented – you should absolutely go for the EOS R.
Pros
- Silent Shutter
- Excellent Dedicated Lens
- Face Detection + Eye Detection
- Superior Battery Life
- Touchscreen is Intuitive
Cons
- Could Use More Customizing Options
- Touch & Drag Need to Be More Responsive
Final Thoughts
You have a lot of options when it comes to getting the best camera for landscape photography. But which camera is the best for you, a digital SLR camera or a mirrorless camera?
Digital SLRs are definitely the most popular for landscape photography, seeing as they are versatile, have great ergonomics, and are pretty fast. They also typically come with big full-frame sensors that show off an impressive dynamic range. In plain English, they take stunning photographs!
But mirrorless cameras are great, too. They are lighter and easier to carry while hiking. You can shoot great photographs without needing to use a tripod, and they come with loads of great accessories. Though you do trade battery life for portability.
It will all come down to your own preferences, current availabilities, favorite brand, and price. You may even find a great camera that is not an SLR or a mirrorless model – hey, whatever works for you! At least now you have a bit more understanding of what to expect from landscape photography cameras.
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