I've spent a lot of time shooting landscapes, and in my opinion, these are the absolute best cameras for landscape photography. Offering high resolution, wide dynamic range and rugged ergonomics for outdoor shooting, these are the cameras I'd pick for creating spectacular imagery of the natural world.
There are also some features that you don't particularly need for landscape photography, such as fast burst rates or subject-detection autofocus, and can potentially save some cash by opting for a camera without them – hence why in some cases I have picked an older model rather than the newest in the line.
Having access to a broad range of wide-angle lenses is a high priority for landscapes – as you'll see, I've picked mostly mirrorless cameras and DSLRs with broad lens ranges, though I have also included a compact for those who like the idea of an all-in-one option. You can scroll to the bottom of this page for more detail on how I've made my picks and how we test cameras at DCW – otherwise, let's dive in.
Phil used to work on What Digital Camera magazine, and was the editor of Techradar's camera channel. He is an accomplished photographer – and although his passion is shooting cars, he also loves shooting landscapes (see his portfolio of seascapes here).
The Quick List
The new highest-resolution full-frame camera, the Sony A7R VI is one of the most capable full-frame cameras on the market, and is capable of producing a simply stunning amount of detail in images.
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For landscapes, a huge sensor is the dream! This mirrorless medium-format camera is more lightweight, portable, useable and affordable than traditional medium-format cameras – and blows away the competition with a gorgeous 102MP sensor.
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With its 45MP sensor, the EOS R5 is one of Canon's highest-resolution cameras. It's party piece is that it can deliver huge 400MP images via pixel-shift technology – which the newer and pricier EOS R5 Mark II can't do. Perfect for landscapes where there is zero movement!
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The Z7 II is our pick if you want a Nikon camera for landscapes. It has an impressive 45MP full-frame sensor, and the ever-improving Z-mount lens range offers plenty of fantastic optics. The Z7 II offers better value for landscapes than the Z8 or Z9, which are built for speed.
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This is undoubtedly one of the best DSLRs ever made – and is now something of a bargain for such a professional, full-frame camera. The weather-sealing is best in class, and you'll find lots of affordable F-mount lenses still available, particularly second hand.
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Fujifilm's medium-format compact camera, styled after the legendary X100 series of APS-C compacts, is your best option if you want to use an all-in-one camera for landscapes. Pairing a large sensor with a fixed 28mm equivalent lens, it produces images of stunning depth and detail.
Best cameras for landscape photography
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Best camera for landscapes overall
✅ You want the highest-resolution full-frame camera: With a native 66.8MP resolution, the Sony A7RVI is the full-frame pixel king.
✅ You want to maximize dynamic range in RAW: The A7R VI boasts a dynamic range optimizer for maximum detail in highlights and shadows.
❌ You're on a budget and don't mind slightly lower resolution: The A7R VI is a very expensive, powerful camera – there are cheaper options with similar resolution
❌ You want stylish in-camera JPEG looks: Sony offers a few 'Picture Styles', but Fuji's Film Simulations are far superior for JPEGs.
When it comes to landscape photography, resolution is king. The more pixels you can get, the bigger and better prints you can make, the more fantastic detail you can capture. The Sony A7R VI is the new king of resolution in full-frame cameras, boasting an incredible 66.8MP on its stacked sensor. The only way to get more pixels is to go medium format – see the next entry for more on that.
As Gareth found in our review, all those pixels make the Sony A7R VI capable of resolving a simply stunning level of detail in its images. Its dynamic range in RAW is top-tier, and Sony’s dynamic range optimizer has been boosted to eight selectable levels, ensuring you can capture the maximum detail in highlights and shadows.
If 66.8MP isn't enough for you, Sony also offers 270MP pixel shift shooting, producing multiple exposures which can be combined in Sony's Imaging Edge Software to produce a single ultra high-res file. Or, if you prefer to work in JPEG, Sony also offers a selection of Creative Looks. They're not a patch on Fuji's Film Simulations or Panasonic's in-camera LUTs, but they're not bad.
The only reason you might not want to use the Sony A7R VI for landscapes is that it could be quite overpowered for your needs. Sony has given this camera a serious kick up the backside in terms of its speed, adding 30fps shooting with a big shot buffer and pre-capture (the previous A7R V could only manage 10fps with its electronic shutter). This is paired with one of the best autofocus systems in the business, augmented with subject recognition, and all this functionality does mean that the Sony A7R VI is a very expensive proposition.
If you don't need all that speed and don't mind a small resolution cut, you could also consider the A7R V or A7R IV, both of which use a 61MP sensor and can be picked up for a smaller (though still not small) outlay. Still, I feel confident saying that the Sony A7R VI is the best full-frame camera you can get for landscapes right now, and my pick for the best landscape camera overall.
Read our full Sony A7R VI review for more details
Features |
Stacked with features for landscape, arguably more than you need. |
★★★★½ |
Design |
Deep grip, excellent EVF, four-axis screen, illuminated controls – near-perfect! |
★★★★★ |
Performance |
Astounding detail and dynamic range from the 66.8MP stacked sensor. |
★★★★★ |
Value |
A very expensive price for a very, very good camera. |
★★★½☆ |
Best medium format camera for landscapes
✅ You want maximum image quality: Medium format sensors deliver image quality that's a cut above, and 102MP resolution offers detail to die for.
✅ You want top-tier IBIS: While landscape photography tends to be tripod-bound, the excellent stabilization on the GFX100S II makes it great for handheld work too.
❌ You want long battery life: Power consumption was an irritation in our time with the GFX100S II – be sure to pack spares!
❌ You want a broad lens selection: The GFX lenses are very good, but you'll have a lot more choice with Sony E-mount as it's been around much longer.
For shooting landscapes, a large medium format sensor is the dream, but the expense and the bulk puts it beyond the reach of the majority of photographers. That's why Fujifilm's GFX series has been such a hit – these mirrorless medium format cameras are more lightweight, portable and useable than more traditional medium format cameras, and while the cameras are still expensive, they're cheaper than the likes of Hasselblad.
The GFX100S II is a superb option for landscape photography, offering sublime quality thanks to its 102MP sensor. It's not quite the top dog of the series, but is a little more affordable than the flagship GFX 100 II, and probably makes more sense as a purchase for most landscape shooters.
Despite boasting a larger sensor than full-frame rivals, the GFX 100S II isn't all that different in terms of size and weight, and its price tag is also not wildly beyond that of a flagship Sony or Canon mirrorless model. Image quality is quite simply spectacular – a new ISO 80 mode allows you to maximise detail, and you can crop in to your heart's content without losing quality, effectively giving you multiple lenses in one! There's also a pixel-shift mode that allows you to create images up to 400MP in resolution (as long as your subject doesn't move).
Autofocus has also been majorly improved from the previous GFX 100S – it's not up to the level of full-frame mirrorless cameras, but for landscape shooting this isn't as much of an issue.
Read our full Fujifilm GFX 100S II review for more details
Features |
The highest-resolution sensor around is paired with an upgraded processor. |
★★★★★ |
Design |
It's light for medium format, but still heavy and bulky compared to full-frame. |
★★★★☆ |
Performance |
Jaw-dropping performance from one of the best sensors ever made. |
★★★★★ |
Value |
Expensive – but these days, it's about the same price as top-tier full-frame. |
★★★★☆ |
Best Canon camera for landscapes
✅ You want to push resolution even further: Thanks to the pixel-shift mode, the 45MP sensor can be pushed to create 400MP images.
✅ You want a huge lens selection: Not only do you have all of Canon's RF lenses to play with, but the EOS R5 can also be adapted to take EF-mount DSLR lenses.
❌ You also want to shoot 8K video: The EOS R5's well-publicized overheating issues make its video offering less compelling than stills.
❌ You want the newest model: Canon has since released the EOS R5 Mark II, which doesn't provide a resolution upgrade, but does have the latest autofocus advancements.
One of Canon's most game-changing mirrorless cameras, the EOS R5 is an obvious choice for landscape photography thanks to its 45MP sensor – the highest resolution of any current Canon product. However, the R5 has a trick up its sleeve: it can actually shoot 400MP images!
Thanks to the magic of pixel-shift, powered by the camera's in-body image stabilization system, the surface area of the sensor is artificially increased to deliver an almost tenfold boost to resolution. The caveat, however, is that both camera and scene have to be completely still with no movement whatsoever – which includes water and trees or foliage (so it is not ideal for all landscape shots).
The R5 also employs Canon's cutting-edge line of RF mount lenses, but it can also use EF mount DSLR lenses with native performance using an EF-EOS R adaptor – giving it one of the richest ranges of optics on the market.
A successor to the Canon EOS R5 has since been released, the Canon EOS R5 Mark II. It's an absolute monster of a camera, packing a new Digic Accelerator chip that works in tandem with the processor to deliver ultra-fast focusing speeds and preternatural AI-powered subject-tracking.
However, the majority of its improvements aren't all that useful for landscape photographers, who don't need all that AF speed – and it even loses the 400MP pixel-shift mode in favour of (admittedly impressive) 180MP in-camera upscaling. Then there's also the fact that the EOS R5 Mark II is currently almost double the already considerable price of the EOS R5. The Mark II is undoubtedly a hell of a camera – but for our money, landscape photographers will get better value from the original EOS R5.
Read our full Canon EOS R5 review for more details
Features |
Excellent resolution meets impressive speeds – it does it all. |
★★★★★ |
Design |
Nicely designed, as all Canon's cameras are, with a sensible control layout. |
★★★★☆ |
Performance |
Superb stills and a great choice for landscapes. |
★★★★★ |
Value |
Has held its price – it's worth considering the used market. |
★★★★☆ |
Best Nikon camera for landscapes
✅ You want to use Nikon's excellent lenses: The Z7 II provides access to the excellent Z-mount – and can be adapted for F-mount DSLR lenses.
✅ You want a lightweight but hardy camera: The Nikon Z7 II isn't too heavy, but it's fully weather-sealed and suitable for outdoor use.
❌ You want a fully vari-angle rear screen: The Z7 II's screen is only of the tilting type, and isn't fully articulated.
❌ You want the best, brightest, sharpest viewfinder: The Z7 II has a decent OLED EVF, but rival cameras have better ones.
The Nikon Z7 II is an older camera in the Nikon mirrorless range, but there's still lots to attract the serious landscape photographer. The 45.7-megapixel full-frame sensor delivers brilliant images as you'd expect, while it's a bit lighter and more compact than the Z7 II's DSLR stablemate, the D850, making it a bit easier to live with if you're going to be lugging it about all day.
The electronic viewfinder is very good, but bear in mind that rivals like the EOS R5 and the Sony Alpha A7R VI enjoy even better resolutions. Autofocus is more than up to the job when it comes to landscapes as well – there are better systems out there, but focusing is swift and we were pleased to note that it achieves focus even in the poorest of conditions.
There's a growing range of dedicated Z series mirrorless lenses available for the Z7 II, while the FTZ II adapter means you can choose from a huge back catalogue of Nikon F-mount lenses should you prefer. Though it's not as new as the Nikon Z8 or Z9, cameras that focus more on sports and speed, the Z7 II represents better value for the landscape photographer. It's still also one of the higher-res cameras in the Nikon Z stable, making it a better option for landscapes than the newer Z6 III or Z5 II, both of which offer a top-line resolution of 24MP.
Read our full Nikon Z7 II review for more details
Features |
Produces excellent high-res images, and offers plenty of lens options. |
★★★★☆ |
Design |
Nice ergonomics with a deep grip, though the LCD and EVF aren't the best. |
★★★★☆ |
Performance |
Excellent image quality and dynamic range, with more than enough pixels |
★★★★½ |
Price |
Good value these days – cheaper than flagship rivals. |
★★★★★ |
Best DSLR for landscapes
✅ You want classic DSLR ergonomics with an optical viewfinder: While mirrorless cameras are boasting the latest tech, some photographers prefer the feel of a DSLR.
✅ You want a pro camera for a competitive price: The D850 is cheaper than it used to be, especially if you're willing to shop second-hand.
❌ You want a small, lightweight camera: The D850 is a big bruiser of a DSLR, contrasting sharply with the comparatively slender Nikon Z models
❌ You want to use Z-mount lenses: Nikon F-mount lenses can be adapted to fit Z-mount cameras – but the reverse is not possible.
Mirrorless camera fans will often complain about the size and weight of DSLRs, and they have a point. The Nikon D850 is a big bruiser of a camera compared to the Nikon Z models.
But this size works in your favor if you're shooting with big, heavy lenses, and most pro lenses are big and heavy! This is a handling factor that many mirrorless users don't take into account. Being a DSLR, the D850 has a bright, clear optical viewfinder that many landscape photographers still prefer over a digital display, no matter how good the latter.
The D850's 45.7MP sensor produces quite a superb image quality, yet it can still maintain a shooting speed of 7fps. The D850 has an amazing battery life of 1840 shots – far more than any mirrorless rivals – and it comes with two memory card slots; one for an XQD/CFexpress card and one for regular SD/SDHC/SDXC.
Read our full Nikon D850 review for more details
Features |
Big battery life, dual card slots, spectacular image detail. |
★★★★☆ |
Design |
It's a big boy, but DSLR ergonomics and a beautiful optical viewfinder score big points. |
★★★★☆ |
Performance |
The 45.7MP images from the full-frame sensor are reliably superb. |
★★★★☆ |
Value |
For what you get, the D850 represents excellent value, especially second-hand. |
★★★★★ |
Best compact camera for landscapes
✅ You want a 102MP medium format sensor for a relatively affordable price: This is the most affordable way to get a new camera with Fuji's 102MP sensor.
✅ You want all-in-one convenience: With a fixed 28mm equivalent lens, the GFX100RF means you don't ever have to fuss with changing lenses.
❌ You want to shoot at ultra-wide angles: The 28mm equivalent lens is as wide a perspective as you're going to get.
❌ You want to shoot in low light: The lens is limited by an f/4 aperture in order to keep the camera at a manageable weight.
While many landscape photographers would advocate an interchangeable-lens system camera as the best choice, allowing you to take advantage of a range of wide-angle lenses, there are some fixed-lens compacts that work well for landscape shooting. If you like the idea of an all-in-one camera for landscape photography, then your best bet by far is the superb Fujifilm GFX100RF.
Essentially, this stylish compact takes the superb 102MP sensor from the GFX 100S II, and houses it in a body with a fixed 28mm equivalent f/4 lens attached, making for one of the lightest and most portable medium format cameras you can buy. It's also one of the most affordable ways to get hold of Fujifilm's medium format sensor, costing less than the GFX100S II.
The trade-off, of course, is that you can't change the lens. While the GFX100RF offers handy digital crop modes that allow you to simulate a telephoto perspective, there's no way to get anything wider than the 28mm equivalent lens on the front of the camera. This could be quite limiting for landscape photography, in which practitioners often employ focal lengths as wide as 12mm or even 10mm. The lens also has a maximum aperture of f/4 – this isn't a huge issue for landscape shooting, in which stopping down is quite common, but could be an issue for shooting in low light.
Still, it undeniably looks gorgeous, and is the only medium format camera I'd ever really consider as an everyday carry. Bear in mind that you need to buy an optional kit in order to make this camera fully weatherproof – which uses a filter to seal the lens against the elements.
Read our full Fujifilm GFX100RF review
Features |
Stunning image quality, held back only by a middling aperture. |
★★★★☆ |
Design |
Beautifully engineered, though landscape shooters may find the prime lens restricting |
★★★★☆ |
Performance |
102MP photos are sublime with so much capacity for cropping. |
★★★★☆ |
Value |
The price is premium, but it's cheaper than its stablemates. |
★★★★☆ |
Lab Data
As part of our review process, we collect lab data on each camera in the guide, these show the resolution, dynamic range, and noise from each camera's sensors expressed as a value – for more info on these numbers check out the table footer. You can see how my picks for this guide compare below.
How to choose the best camera for landscapes
There are a number of things to take into account when choosing a camera for landscape photography - your budget is key, of course, but also you need to decide how much kit you want to take with you. A good landscape camera needs a few very specific things.
More than most other genres, landscape photographers need resolution and a large sensor. Lots of megapixels on a large sensor mean you can capture all of the tones and details in a big, gorgeous landscape scene, crop in if you need to, and print large-scale. You don't need to worry about features like burst mode or super-fast autofocus as you won't be shooting anything fast-moving.
Weatherproofing is also important, as landscape shooting can often involve long treks in inclement conditions. The physical weight of the camera and lens can also be crucial. If you're going to have to carry a kit through the desert, the forest or wherever else, you probably don't want something that becomes a huge burden on your back..
How we test cameras
We test cameras both in carefully controlled lab conditions where we think appropriate - but for cameras for landscapes, the capabilities of a camera in real-world conditions are just as important. We therefore try out cameras in a range of shooting conditions, analyzing the images taken and comparing them to the hundreds of other models we have reviewed over the years.
For interchangeable lens cameras, our Lab Manager, Ben Andrews, measures resolution, dynamic range, and signal-to-noise ratio – which we can then compare to results in the huge database of other cameras we have tested. Resolution is measured using ISO resolution charts, dynamic range is measured using DxO Analyzer test equipment, and DxO Analyzer is also used for noise analysis across the camera's ISO range.
Lab test results
Lab test charts
These graphs show the signal-to-noise ratio, dynamic range and resolution for all the cameras in this guide at different ISO settings
| Timestamp (ISO) | Sony A7R VI () | Fuji GFX 100S II () | Canon EOS R5 () | Nikon Z 7II () | Nikon D850 () | Fujifilm GFX 100RF () |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 40.54 | 43.81 | 40.28 | 38.84 | 41.42 | 43.27 |
| 2 | 37.8 | 40.96 | 38.1 | 34.7 | 38.38 | 40.32 |
| 3 | 34.89 | 38 | 37.35 | 33.06 | 34.34 | 37.1 |
| 4 | 31.86 | 34.37 | 34.06 | 29.5 | 31.48 | 33.42 |
| 5 | 29.56 | 31.86 | 30.38 | 28.83 | 28.12 | 30.8 |
| 6 | 26.36 | 28.51 | 27.37 | 26.71 | 25.06 | 27.39 |
| 7 | 23.29 | 25.87 | 24.02 | 24.91 | 22.63 | 24.84 |
| 8 | 20.1 | 22.86 | 20.66 | 21.23 | 19.74 | 22.03 |
| 9 | 18.58 | 19.43 | 17.28 | 19.35 | 16.39 | 18.99 |
| Timestamp (ISO) | Sony A7R VI () | Fuji GFX 100S II () | Canon EOS R5 () | Nikon Z 7II () | Nikon D850 () | Fujifilm GFX 100RF () |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12.38 | 12.52 | 12.74 | 12.5 | 12.23 | 12.55 |
| 2 | 12.37 | 12.41 | 11.97 | 11.93 | 12.22 | 12.55 |
| 3 | 12.37 | 12.13 | 12.74 | 12.03 | 11.96 | 11.92 |
| 4 | 12.36 | 12.13 | 11.69 | 11.85 | 11.87 | 12.2 |
| 5 | 11.85 | 11.72 | 10.49 | 11.36 | 10.4 | 11.93 |
| 6 | 10.71 | 11.06 | 9.25 | 10.64 | 9.76 | 10.62 |
| 7 | 9.85 | 9.88 | 7.97 | 9.91 | 9.02 | 9.78 |
| 8 | 9 | 8.41 | 6.81 | 8.68 | N/A | 9.14 |
| 9 | 8.21 | 8.3 | 5.9 | 6.94 | N/A | 8.62 |
| Timestamp (ISO) | Sony A7R VI () | Fuji GFX 100S II () | Canon EOS R5 () | Nikon Z 7II () | Nikon D850 () | Fujifilm GFX 100RF () |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45 | 59 | 36 | 36 | N/A | 60 |
| 2 | 45 | 59 | 36 | 36 | N/A | 60 |
| 3 | 45 | 59 | 36 | 36 | N/A | 60 |
| 4 | 45 | 59 | 36 | 36 | N/A | 60 |
| 5 | 45 | 59 | 36 | 34 | N/A | 60 |
| 6 | 45 | 59 | 36 | 34 | 40 | 60 |
| 7 | 44 | 56 | 36 | 34 | N/A | 60 |
| 8 | 41 | 56 | 34 | 32 | N/A | 58 |
| 9 | 38 | 49 | 30 | 28 | N/A | 54 |
FAQs
How important is sensor size?
Having lots of megapixels to capture of the detail of a mountain scene are important, up to a point. But it is the overall quality of the image that counts. So almost as important is the size of the sensor. We therefore recommend that you at least go for a camera with an APS-C sensor. But better still opt for a full-frame sensor that is over twice the size. For ultimate image detail however, you can go large and use a medium format camera. The downside, however, is that the bigger the sensor, the bigger the camera and the lenses…
What does weatherproofing on a camera actually mean?
Protecting your camera against rain, condensation, and dust is an important consideration if you are using it outdoors in all weathers. Unfortunately, it is not feasible to make mirrorless or DSLR cameras fully waterproof, as the interchangeable lenses, the memory card slots, and battery compartments are all weak points in the construction. However, cameras come with varying degrees of weatherproofing - thanks to the use of rubber-like seals at key joints and openings in the construction of the body. All the cameras in our selection have weather sealing – but generally the more professional the camera, the better this weather sealing will be. The one compact camera in our selection (the Fujifilm X100VI) doesn't have a removable lens – however to make it weather-sealed you need to purchase an optional Weather Resistant Kit which comprises of an adapter ring and protective filter to attach to the front of the lens.
What's the best lens for landscape?
We usually think of wide-angle lenses as being the best option for landscape photography - as these allow you to include a wider sweep of a scene. On a full-frame camera, any lens with a focal length of 35mm or less is considered to be a wide-angle (that's 24mm or less on an APS-C camera, or 45mm or less on a medium format camera). A wide-angle zoom is a great all-round option for landscapes - allowing you to crop your angle of view to fit the landscape. A good all-round choice would be 16-35mm on a full-frame camera, or a 10-24mm on an APS-C camera.
However, telephoto lenses can be just as useful for landscape photography - allowing you to pull out details from the scene that are more interesting than showing the whole view.
