The 6 Best Cameras For Landscape Photography - Fall 2024

The Sony α7 IV is the best camera for landscape photography that we've tested. Its 33-megapixel full-frame sensor captures stunning image quality, with plenty of dynamic range to capture detailed, high-contrast landscapes. It isn't the highest-resolution option on the market, but it's a step above its predecessor, the Sony α7 III, and most other cameras in this price range, giving you just a touch more leeway to crop in your photos.

Beyond its stellar image quality, it's very well-built, with a weather-sealed body that'll give you more peace of mind when shooting outdoors on rainy or snowy days. It also has an amazing battery life, especially relative to other mirrorless cameras, so you'll get plenty of shots on a full charge throughout longer shooting days. Throw in a wide range of native and third-party lens options, and you've got one of the best landscape photography cameras at its price point.

While the mirrorless Sony α7 IV captures very detailed high-resolution photos, the Nikon D780 is the best DSLR option that we've tested for landscape photography. It's bulkier than mirrorless alternatives, but it has an unmatched battery life that can easily last you throughout long shooting days at remote locations. It's also remarkably well-built, with a weather-sealed body and fantastic ergonomics, with a design that's chock-full of customizable controls.

Aside from its design, it's well-suited to landscape photography thanks to its fantastic backside-illuminated sensor. This is evident in how well the camera performs in low light, with incredible noise handling in low light. That and its wide dynamic range make it a great choice for landscapes taken in trickier lighting conditions. While it has a lower resolution than the α7 IV at 24.5 megapixels, it's still more than enough for most landscape photographers, whether you're sharing your work online or making prints.

The Nikon Z 5 is Nikon's entry-level full-frame offering and one of the best-value cameras for landscape photography. You won't find a better full-frame option for less. Though it's less versatile for faster subjects and video, with a slow max burst rate and severely cropped 4k video recording, it's a fantastic choice if landscape photography is your main focus.

Its 24.3-megapixel sensor delivers amazing image quality, with plenty of dynamic range to bring out a wider array of detail. And despite being an entry-level model, it still has features you'd expect to find on higher-end models, like a high-resolution viewfinder and weather-sealing. Its battery life is also impressive, though not nearly as good as DSLR options like the Nikon D780. Nikon Z lenses also aren't the cheapest, especially the premium S Line, with limited third-party options. However, this is a great choice if you're looking for a full-frame body that won't cost you a fortune.

Full-frame sensors may be ideal for landscape photography, but APS-C cameras like the Fujifilm X-T5 prove that sensor size isn't everything. You might prefer a crop sensor camera for many reasons, from portability to smaller lenses. The X-T5 is a relatively compact option that doesn't sacrifice build quality or weather sealing. It also has a very effective IBIS system, which can come in handy when shooting at slower shutter speeds without a tripod.

The real selling point of the X-T5, however, is its high-resolution 40.2-megapixel sensor. It's the highest-resolution APS-C sensor on the market, giving you plenty of detail and room to crop in your landscape shots if needed. It even performs admirably in low light, with decent noise handling. Overall, this is the camera to get if you want a more portable camera system for landscapes and don't mind a slight trade-off in dynamic range and noise performance. If you're looking for something a tad cheaper, with a wider range of third-party lens options, the Sony α6700 is another fantastic APS-C option. It's more well-rounded for hybrid shooters but uses a lower-resolution sensor.

If you're looking for something cheaper than our picks above, the Canon EOS 90D is a great DSLR option at a mid-range price point. Fitted with a 32.5-megapixel APS-C sensor, the 90D can capture excellent landscape images with a good amount of dynamic range to bring out detail in high-contrast scenes. The higher resolution is also great if you need to crop your photos or want to make prints.

The 90D has a few other benefits over mirrorless alternatives, including a longer battery life, great ergonomics, and a well-established lineup of compatible EF and EF-S lenses, which include more affordable options as well. Plus, it's weather-sealed to give you some peace of mind in more adverse weather conditions. If you'd prefer something more portable, a mirrorless alternative like the Canon EOS R10 is also a great choice. However, Canon's RF system doesn't have as wide a lens selection, and the camera uses a slightly lower-resolution sensor.

If you're on a tighter budget or you're just getting into photography, opting for a budget camera like the Canon EOS Rebel SL3/250D or another older used DSLR is a great way to get started. This model has an excellent 24-megapixel APS-C sensor with impressive dynamic range. Like the Canon EOS 90D, it has an excellent battery life, great ergonomics, and simple, intuitive controls, making it a great choice for beginners. While it isn't as portable as mirrorless options, it's also one of the most portable DSLRs around.

A budget mirrorless option like the Canon EOS R50 is a great alternative if you'd prefer a more portable camera. However, it has a much shorter battery life, and lens options for Canon's RF mount are more limited. The SL3, on the other hand, has a long line of DSLR lenses to choose from, including more affordable options, so you can easily step up your landscape game as your skill level increases.