Claude DiBugnara - The Amateurs Guide to Landscape Photography: 2022 Edition

It is often said that the photographer makes the picture, not the camera. Nevertheless, landscape photography was built on a tradition of stunning imagery achieved with large and medium format cameras. In keeping with that tradition, my advice is to stretch your budget to purchase a camera (and lenses) that produces the best image quality possible. Some key considerations are low noise, good dynamic range, and accurate color. I further recommend, in keeping to that goal, to buy only a full-frame camera. There are of course legitimate reasons for buying smaller APS-C cameras (cost for one) and they are still capable of producing images that will not disappoint. But in my opinion, full-frame cameras are the definite sweet spot between cost and high image quality.

To help with your search, there are many resources available that review most brands. Below, Ive listed the websites I often consult.

Digital Photography Review

DxO Mark

Photozone

Imaging Resource

How Many Pixels?

You neednt equate high image quality necessarily with pixel count. Some high-end full-frame cameras now rival medium-format cameras in resolution. But are all those pixels necessary to produce a gallery-quality print? Many feel that high-megapixel cameras are just the ticket for landscape photographers who want to produce large prints." It was never clear to me just how large large is, but regardless, there is one fundamental fact that may make it a moot point. That is that the human eyesight has finite resolving power at any given distance and, beyond that, more resolution simply isnt perceived.

Convention is when you view any print, from a 5x7 inches to a billboard, the appropriate viewing distance is no closer than the diagonal length of the print. You can demonstrate to yourself that in practice, a natural viewing distance is even a little further away. Given that premise, then youre not likely to see much, if any, improvement in resolution beyond a very-good 12-megapixel camera (or there about) no matter how large the print is.

Unfortunately, many of us love to scrutinize up close at the fine details of a print, even if it is contrary to its proper presentation. Then there are photographers (myself included) that find security in all that extra detail. Maybe someday youll make a wall mural or you need extra cropping room.

So, if your big print is 16x24 inches and instead of viewing it at 29-inches you view it closer than 12-inches (and you have excellent eyesight), you'll need a high-megapixel camera along with good optics. But thats if you want the confidence your prints can withstand scrutiny at any distance. Otherwise, if you display your work in a more practical gallery-like setting, then a camera in the over-twenty megapixel range will be adequate most times and still provide sufficient cropping margin. The main point is that while its fine to be tempted by the new ultra-high pixel cameras, just remember that dynamic range and noise (two key image-quality criteria) may suffer as a result.

The DSLR is available in two different sensor sizes, full-frame and the smaller APS-C. The configuration uses a mirror to support an optical viewfinder as opposed to an electronic viewfinder used in mirrorless cameras. While this made the DSLR the preferred optical viewing and focusing system (especially for action photography), the current generation of electronic viewfinder systems have mostly closed the gap.

Nikon D850: This popular 45.7 megapixel full-frame camera supports WiFi, 4K video, tilting touch-sensitive LCD, GPS, and Bluetooth. Though likely to be discontinued, recent deep discounts make this an attractive option to those who want high-end quality at a budget price.

Full-Frame Sensors and APS-C

The full-frame sensor is equivalent in size to a 35mm film image. The smaller APS-C is derived from the Advance Photo System film standard introduced in 1996. Full-frame sensor cameras are usually associated with better dynamic range, lower noise, and finer image detail. They also accommodate legacy 35mm lenses without suffering the effective focal-length increase of a smaller sensor (aka crop factor).

On the other hand, APS-C cameras have their own unique advantages. They are less expensive, smaller, and lighter than full-frame cameras. Additionally, the APS-C crop factor though it reduces wide-angle coverage increases the effective focal length of a telephoto lens by over 50%, which is an advantage in wildlife photography. Nevertheless, unless there is a very specific reason to choose an APS-C camera, I strongly recommend you go with a full-frame format.

RIP DSLRs?

It shouldnt be surprising that all the latest cameras from the major manufacturers are all mirrorless. I think its fairly clear that mirrorless cameras are no longer just an optional choice to DSLRs, but soon to be the only choice. One example is the numerous Canon EF lenses (their DSLR mount) that are being discontinued while all their new lenses are for their mirrorless cameras. Simply put, the handwriting is on the wall. If youre in the market for a new camera, you best future-proof your purchase by considering only mirrorless cameras.