Best Camera for Landscapes | 2024

The best cameras for landscapes will enable you to show off the natural world in all its glory. Landscape photography is one of the oldest genres of photography, and is still hugely popular today, with dazzling images regularly topping the lists of popular competitions.

While any camera can be used to shoot landscapes, if you do a little research and pick out a camera that’s especially suited for it, you’ll find a host of interesting creative options open up for you. For our money, the below are they key specs to keep an eye on when picking your landscape camera:

Resolution - Megapixel counts aren’t always as important as some photographers like to make out, but with that said, in landscapes it pays to have a decent amount of resolution in your pocket. Having more pixels in your images means it’s possible to make them into larger, higher-quality prints, and printing is often a big part of landscape photography – competition-winning images are often printed to be exhibited. 

Sensor size - Different sensor sizes have different advantages, but large sensors are especially suited to landscape photography for two reasons. One, larger sensors provide greater dynamic range (the range of lightest to darkest tones in an image), opening up your options in low light. And second, landscape photography often requires a wide-angle perspective, and smaller sensors incur a crop factor on lenses that narrows their field of view (see our Photography Jargon Buster if you need an explainer on how this works).

Lens selection - We’ve stuck to interchangeable-lens cameras for this guide, as landscape shooters generally need more options than a fixed-lens camera can provide. When picking your camera for landscape, it’s worth looking at the lens selection, focusing in particular on whether there are some good, sharp wide-angles in your price range. See our guide to the best lenses for landscapes for some more suggestions. 

We’ve picked out great landscape cameras from all the major manufacturers, and have included some budget-friendly options as well as premium options. No matter your skill level, there should be a great landscape camera for you – click the quick links below to jump straight to specific sections.

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Best Mirrorless Camera for Landscapes

If you’re looking for the best camera on the market for pretty much anything in 2023, you’re almost certainly looking for a mirrorless camera. Almost all the major manufacturers now produce their flagship professional and enthusiast cameras in mirrorless format, and this is the area where all the most exciting developments in camera tech are happening. This is especially true for mirrorless landscape cameras. 

With ultra-high resolution sensors and the latest computational photography features, the best mirrorless cameras for landscapes are some seriously capable bits of kit. We’ve restricted ourselves to just three exceptional choices, but there are a lot of cameras that could have made this list, and we’ve suggested a few cheaper alternatives in case these models are a little out of your price range (check out our best budget landscape cameras section for more cheap options). No more time to waste – let’s get into it.

Pros:

• Gorgeous full-frame image quality
• Exceptional in-body image stabilisation
• Lovely high-res viewfinder

Cons:

• Video recording limits
  
  

The EOS R5 is one of the finest stills cameras that Canon has ever created, and landscape photographers are absolutely spoiled by its feature-set. Capable of capturing 45MP stills in full-frame quality, the EOS R5 delivers photographs of absolutely dazzling detail and colour rendition. The dynamic range is excellent, the noise performance very good even at high ISO settings, and the in-body image stabilisation is still some of the best you can get for your money. 

With the RF-mount lens range expanding at a pace, Canon’s EOS R mirrorless series offers a seriously compelling proposition for landscape shooters. Also, if you’ve been using DSLRs for a while and are reluctant to make the switch, Canon’s EF-EOS R lens mount adapter lets you use all your old EF-mount glass with full functionality – and some of the newer adapters have useful landscape filters like polarizers and variable ND filters already built in!

Best DSLR Camera for Landscapes

Photographers have been using DSLRs to capture exemplary landscape images for decades now, and if this is the route you want to go down, you’re in good company. DSLRs have many advantages of their own for landscape shooters – they tend to be built tough, with solid weather-sealed bodies that can stand up to some inclement conditions. While DSLRs are often heavier than mirrorless bodies, the fact that the systems have been going longer means you’ll generally have a lot of lenses to choose from.

The big three players in the DSLR world are Canon, Nikon and Pentax, and all three produce cameras that are perfectly suited to landscape shooting. We’ve picked out a few of our full-frame favourites, many of which can be picked up for a cheaper outlay than they were upon their original launch. However, if they’re still out of your budget, all three manufacturers produce excellent APS-C DSLRs that are more affordable.

Pros:

• Excellent weather sealing
• Pixel-Shift mode works straight out of camera
• Max ISO of 819,200

Cons:

• Fewer lens options than Canon/Nikon
• AF and burst systems quite dated
  
  

The Pentax K-1 Mark II is Pentax’s flagship full-frame DSLR, and it is unashamedly that – a throwback camera in an era increasingly dominated by mirrorless. If you enjoy rugged DSLR weatherproofing, big optical viewfinders and cameras that let you get a good solid grip, you’re going to find a lot to like here. 

With its full-frame 36.4MP CMOS sensor, the K-1 Mark II is certainly no lightweight when it comes to imaging performance. It also has several Pixel-Shift multi-shot modes that allow you to boost the resolution – including a JPEG mode that can assemble the image straight out of camera. If you like shooting the stars, the clever Astrotracer mode combines sensor-shift technology with GPS to produce long-exposures of the night sky without any star streaks. While its burst-shooting and AF systems look quite dated next to Canon and Nikon rivals, this isn’t too much of a bother for landscape photographers, making the K-1 Mark II a very compelling alternative indeed.

Best Medium Format Camera for Landscapes

Medium format sensors are even larger than full-frame. For those who love images full of depth and detail, these larger chips can’t be beaten, and while they used to be too unwieldy and expensive for most people to use, recent disruptions in the market have changed the game somewhat. Thanks to innovations by Fujifilm and Hasselblad, mirrorless medium format cameras are more affordable and portable than they have ever been, and this means more and more landscape photographers can take advantage of that distinctive, impossible-to-replicate medium format ‘look’.

These newer medium format systems are going from strength to strength, and while they may or may not make the leap to becoming truly mainstream, it’s an exciting time to hop on board. We’ve picked out a couple of our recent favourites for this section – if you like big pixel counts, you’ll be right at home.

Pros:

• Gorgeous 16-bit RAW images
• Very impressive dynamic range
• Great touchscreen and EVF

Cons:

• A little slow in operation
  
  

Hasselblad’s 50MP medium-format camera delivers distinctive images with breathtaking depth. Its 16-bit RAW files with around 14 stops of dynamic range are unmistakable in their sheer scale and quality. Pair the camera with one of Hasselblad’s larger-aperture XCD lenses, and you’ll be able to appreciate the razor-thin depth of field that’s possible with this camera. Dual fast UHS-II SD slots are included to handle the large volumes of data you’ll be chugging through, and we are also particularly impressed by the high-quality electronic viewfinder and touchscreen that make the X1D II 50C a satisfying handling experience.

It’s not the fastest camera in operation, even by medium-format standards, and you shouldn’t hold out much hope for quick autofocusing. But landscapes aren’t known for running away from the lens, and once again, the strengths of the Hasselblad X1D II 50C play right into the needs of landscape shooting. If you have a bigger budget and want more pixels, you may also want to consider the recently released Hasselblad X2D 100C.

Best Budget Camera for Landscapes

Not everyone has the money for medium-format and full-frame professional cameras. Landscape photography doesn't have to be an expensive pursuit, and if you’re looking to get started shooting landscapes on a modest budget, here are some suggestions for cameras to try.

One of the best ways to save money on new cameras is to look at models from a couple of generations previous. Many manufacturers keep older cameras in production long after newer ones have nominally replaced them, and this can be a fantastic way to get a discount on a camera’s original retail price. It can also be worth doing some planning ahead, e.g. buying a cheaper camera in a system that also offers some premium, higher-end models, so you have an easy path to take when you get the itch to upgrade.

Here are our picks for the best budget landscape cameras.

Pros:

• One of the cheapest full-frame cameras
• Relatively lightweight
• Powerful 5-axis stabilisation

Cons:

• No 4K
• 24MP starting to look dated
  
  

Proof that full-frame quality doesn’t have to cost the earth, the Sony A7 II is a sublime mirrorless camera that’s available for less than £900. This was the first full-frame camera to sport 5-axis image stabilisation, a feature that has since become so standard as to be expected, and it delivers the goods on this camera, enabling the use of slower shutter speeds without incurring image blur due to camera shake.

The 24MP on the Sony A7 II will very much do the job for printing – it’s not a patch on the resolutions we’ve seen from subsequent cameras, but let’s not lose perspective, it’s still plenty of pixels. Video users will note that the A7 II pre-dates the 4K boom, and so tops out at Full HD. If you’re a pure landscape photographer this obviously won’t bother you, but it’s worth bearing in mind if you do like to mix video in with your stills.

FAQs

What kind of camera is best for landscape photography?

Generally, a camera with a high-resolution sensor and a wide-angle lens is best for landscape photography. Many professional landscape photographers prefer full-frame cameras because they provide better image quality and low-light performance, as well as more versatility when editing.

What are the best settings for landscape photography?

This depends on the lighting conditions and the desired outcome. Generally, you'll want to use a small aperture (high f-number) to get a larger depth of field, a low ISO to reduce noise, and a slower shutter speed to capture movement and create a sense of motion.

How do I compose a good landscape photograph?

You should consider the rule of thirds, which divides the image into thirds both horizontally and vertically. Place the main subject in one of the intersections of these lines to create a balanced and aesthetically pleasing composition.

What accessories are essential for landscape photography?

Essential accessories for landscape photography include a sturdy tripod to stabilise the camera, a polarising filter to reduce glare and increase contrast, and a remote shutter release to prevent camera shake. Additionally, a backpack to carry your equipment and extra batteries and memory cards is a good idea.

What post-processing techniques can I use to enhance my landscape photos?

Adjusting the exposure, contrast, saturation, and white balance can help enhance the colours and details in your landscape photos. You can also use tools like cloning and healing to remove distractions or add a vignette to draw attention to the main subject. However, be careful not to over-edit your images and maintain a natural-looking result.

How can I protect my camera equipment while shooting landscapes?

Protect your camera equipment from dust, moisture, and impact by using a camera rain cover, a camera bag with padded dividers, and a protective UV filter for your lens. Additionally, keep a microfiber cloth handy to wipe off any debris or moisture that may come in contact with your lens or camera body.

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