There are a ton of very capable cameras on the market today, but landscape photography has its own requirements. Unlike wildlife photography, autofocus and speed are less important. Instead, image quality is king. A higher megapixel count can help, but thankfully, most modern cameras released within the last several years can capture high-quality images regardless of sensor size and resolution. High-end professional models like the Sony α7R VI, the Nikon D850, and the Canon EOS R5 Mark II have very high-resolution sensors that are ideal for pros. However, there are plenty of amazing options at more affordable price points for enthusiasts and hobbyists, and you can still capture stunning images with older or lower-resolution sensors.
Whether you prefer the longer battery life afforded by a DSLR or the portability of a mirrorless model, your lens will ultimately make the biggest difference for landscape photography, along with composition and technique. As a general rule, it's better to invest in a less expensive camera body and higher-quality lenses than it is to invest in an expensive camera body and cheap lenses. Portability, battery life, and weather sealing can also be important considerations depending on your needs and preferences, whether you're hiking up mountains or capturing scenic views while traveling.
We've bought and tested over 125 cameras in our lab, and below, you'll find our top recommended cameras for landscape photography. If you're looking for something more portable to capture landscapes while you travel, check out our picks for the best travel cameras or the best cameras for hiking and backpacking. Or, if you want more options for other kinds of photography, you can look at our recommendations for the best cameras for low light, the best cameras for portraits, or the best cameras for photography more broadly.
We've independently purchased over 100 cameras and tested them using a standardized methodology. All the results are available to help you make the right purchasing decision for your needs, with objective, data-driven reviews. We keep every product in our lab inventory to ensure we can go back, retest models, and verify that all the information we provide is still accurate.
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Best Camera For Landscape Photography
Landscape Photography8.4Body Type:SLR-StyleMirrorless:YesSee all our test resultsSensor Size:Full FrameThe Sony α7 IV remains our pick if you're looking for a landscape-photography camera. We have now tested its successor, the Sony α7 V, which adds a few interesting features, such as blackout-free shooting and a 30 FPS burst rate with the e-shutter. However, we consider these additions mostly useful in fast-shooting scenarios, and the money you'd save by going with the older body is better spent on glass. Nevertheless, if money isn't a factor, you should get this new model instead. No matter which model you pick, you'll get a 33-megapixel full-frame sensor that delivers stunning image quality, with ample dynamic range for detailed, high-contrast landscapes. It isn't the highest-resolution option on the market, but it's a step above other cameras in this price range, like the Nikon Z6III, giving you just a touch more leeway to crop in your photos.
Beyond its stellar image quality, the α7 IV is 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.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Camera For Landscape Photography
Landscape Photography8.5Body Type:SLR-StyleMirrorless:YesSee all our test resultsSensor Size:Full FrameThe Nikon Z 5II is our pick for the best upper mid-range camera for landscape photography. Its performance is quite comparable to that of the Sony α7 IV above. While it sits at a slightly lower 24.5 megapixels, its backside-illuminated sensor delivers similarly outstanding dynamic range and level of detail. It's a very well-built weather-sealed camera that's thoughtfully designed in terms of ergonomics. Its grip is comfortable, and it remains well-balanced even with larger lenses. The Z5II includes Nikon's EXPEED 7 processor, which delivers excellent autofocus and image-processing performance. The Z-mount lens ecosystem isn't quite as well-established as Sony's, but you should still be able to find a lens that fits your needs.
If you want a smaller overall package, the Fujifilm X-T5 is an excellent alternative. Its high-resolution 40.2-megapixel sensor is 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. It also has a very effective IBIS system, which can come in handy when shooting at slower shutter speeds without a tripod. 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.
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Best Mid-Range For Landscape Photography
Landscape Photography8.1Body Type:SLR-StyleMirrorless:YesSee all our test resultsSensor Size:Full FrameThe Nikon Z 5 is Nikon's older 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 than its successor above 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. While we have yet to test this camera's successor, the Nikon Z5 II, we expect it to perform better across the board, though it comes at a higher price point, which may not make it as good a value pick.
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 D850. 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.
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Best Budget Camera For Landscape Photography
Landscape Photography7.5Body Type:SLR-StyleMirrorless:YesSee all our test resultsSensor Size:APS-CIf you're shopping for a brand-new camera on a budget, the Canon EOS R50 is one of the best entry-level mirrorless options available. It's particularly well-suited to first-time camera buyers, thanks to its straightforward controls, fully articulating screen, and compact, lightweight design. Its APS-C sensor produces excellent image quality, while Canon's pleasing color rendition means you'll need little to no editing to turn out great images.
The main drawback is Canon's relatively limited selection of APS-C lenses for the RF mount. That said, the R50 can still be a smart long-term choice if you eventually plan to move up to a full-frame Canon mirrorless camera, since it uses the same RF mount as Canon's higher-end models. If your budget permits it, the slightly more expensive Sony a6400 is worth considering. It offers comparable overall performance but benefits from Sony's much more established E-mount lens ecosystem. With extensive third-party support, there are far more lenses to choose from, often at more competitive prices.
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Best Cheap Camera For Landscape Photography
Landscape Photography7.6Body Type:SLR-StyleMirrorless:YesSee all our test resultsSensor Size:APS-CFinding a cheap camera is difficult if you want to buy a new product. Your best bet is to look at the used market, but if you'd rather avoid the risks of buying used, the Canon EOS R100 is a solid choice for beginners who want to keep costs as low as possible. You'll still get Canon's trusty 24.1-megapixel APS-C sensor paired with a DIGIC 8 image processor and Canon's generally pleasing color science. Pictures should be great straight out of the camera if you don't want to delve into editing.
The Canon R100 keeps things simple. It lacks a tilt screen, offers minimal controls, and has limited video features. However, its high-resolution APS-C sensor captures great images, and its range of useful auto modes makes it easy for beginners to get started. More importantly, if you've never used a camera before and the R100 is the only model that fits your budget, it gives you what you need to get out there and start shooting. That matters far more than having the latest and greatest camera technology.
The main issue is lens selection, which remains limited, and the available options can be pricy, especially if you opt for full-frame RF lenses. If you want to experiment with lenses and have access to a wide range of lenses, the Olympus OM-D EM-10 Mark IV is another great option at this price point. While it uses a smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor, it offers access to a mature lens ecosystem in a small, very portable package. It even includes in-body image stabilization, which can be great if you don't plan to carry a tripod.
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Best DSLR Camera For Landscape Photography
Landscape Photography8.2Body Type:DSLRMirrorless:NoSee all our test resultsSensor Size:Full FrameWhile the mirrorless Sony α7 IV captures very detailed, high-resolution photos, the Nikon D850 is the best DSLR option that we've tested for landscape photography. While this is a large, heavy camera, even among DSLRs, it has a few benefits that you won't get with mirrorless alternatives, including a superb battery life and an optical viewfinder that lets you see the scene as it is. Plus, it's built to withstand heavy use, with a weather-sealed build and robust materials, on top of having extensive hands-on controls and a high-resolution tilting screen.
The main reason to go with a D850, however, is its fantastic sensor, which offers a very high 45-megapixel resolution that captures an incredibly wide dynamic range and gives you more leeway to crop. Beyond that, you'll also have access to an entire decades-long catalog of F-mount lenses, many of which can be found for reasonable prices now that the mirrorless models have overtaken the market.
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Best Mid-Range DSLR Camera For Landscape Photography
Landscape Photography7.3Body Type:DSLRMirrorless:NoSee all our test resultsSensor Size:APS-CIf you want to maximize resolution and are 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 longer battery life, great ergonomics, and a well-established lineup of compatible EF and EF-S lenses, which includes more affordable options. Plus, it's weather-sealed for peace of mind in more adverse 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.
Notable Mentions
- Canon EOS R6 Mark II: The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is a premium full-frame mirrorless camera with fantastic image quality. It's right up there with the Sony α7 IV but has a lower-resolution sensor and slightly worse battery life. See our review
- Fujifilm X-H2: The Fujifilm X-H2 uses the same high-resolution sensor as the Fujifilm X-T5, so image quality is comparable. However, it's more of a hybrid model aimed at those who also shoot video. It's a bit more expensive and has a bulkier body. See our review
- OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II: The OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II is a great choice for landscapes if you need something more rugged and portable. It uses a smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor and lenses, so it isn't as well-suited to low light as the Sony α7 IV, but it still has neat features like a High-Res Shot mode for very high-resolution composite images. See our review
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Sony α7 III:
The Sony α7 III is the predecessor to the Sony α7 IV and, despite its age, is an excellent photography camera for its price. However, while it's quite a bit bigger, the Nikon D850 is better built and has a longer battery life.
See our review -
Fujifilm GFX100RF:
If you want the largest possible sensor that'll also give you the most resolution to play with, the Fujifilm GFX100RF is an excellent alternative to the Sony a7 IV. Its 102 MP medium-format sensor produces files with a high level of detail and dynamic range, giving you a lot of leeway for editing. That said, it's very expensive and less versatile than the Sony.
See our review
Recent Updates
Sep 10, 2026:
We added a reference to the newly released Sony α7 V in the top pick. The Nikon Z 5II is our new upper mid-range pick thanks to its outstanding overall performance, with the Fujifilm X-T5 serving as a more portable alternative. The Canon EOS R100 is our new cheap pick for people who want the most accessible entry point into landscape photography. We also added the Fujifilm GFX100RF as a Notable Mention for the exceptionally detailed files it produces.
Jan 10, 2025:
We replaced the Nikon D780 with the Nikon D850 as the 'Best DSLR For Landscape Photography' because it's more suited to this usage, with a higher-resolution sensor.
Oct 11, 2024: We renamed the Nikon Z 5 as the 'Best Entry-Level Full-Frame Camera' and restructured the article slightly to more accurately reflect the market positions of our chosen picks.
Jul 12, 2024: We reviewed the article to ensure our picks are still available and relevant for user needs.
May 21, 2024: We removed the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV from the Notable Mentions since it's a bit dated now and overly bulky compared to other options. We also added the OM SYSTEM OM-1 Mark II to the Notable Mentions because of its relatively portable, sturdy design and features that are useful for landscape photography.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best cameras for most people to buy for landscape photography, according to their needs. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability (no cameras that are difficult to find or almost out of stock in the U.S.).
If you'd like to choose for yourself, here's the list of all of our camera reviews, arranged by their landscape photography score. Be careful not to get caught up in the details. There is no single perfect camera. Personal taste, preference, and shooting habits will matter more in your selection.