What camera type to choose for landscape photography?

As landscape photographers, choosing the right camera for our use is extremely important. It will be the tool that helps us represent the breathtaking moments we experience in nature. During my photography workshops, I've seen people use everything from compact point-and-shoot cameras to advanced medium format systems with stunning results. While noticing these facts, I thought it could be interesting to share a a quick guide to decide which camera to choose for landscape photography.

In this comprehensive guide, we will break down the pros and cons of the most popular camera types for landscape photography: Point and Shoot, Bridge, Micro Four Thirds (MFT), APS-C, Full Frame, and Medium Format.

Hopefully by the end of this article, the general view you might have had on each of them will broaden and maybe open new opportunities.

Bottom Line:

There isn't a perfect camera for landscape photography; any camera can work. While full frame cameras are often seen as ideal, Micro Four Thirds and APSC cameras also have some strong and non-negligible advantages, despite having some drawbacks. Point-and-shoot and medium format cameras are less versatile, with notable downsides, particularly for the point-and-shoot.

Ultimately, the type of camera is less important than the experience of photographing. What truly matters is using equipment that inspires your passion. Remember, knowledge, practice, and vision are far more important than gear.

1. Point and Shoot

2. Bridge

3. Micro 4/3

4. APS-C

5. Full frame

6. Medium format

Let me break down here what gear you might want to consider according to your profile. I will exclude professinals from the list, as there are other parameters that enter into account here.

Profile	Budget	Ambitions	Camera type recommended	Comments
Amateur - beginner	$ - $$	Don't want to bother with processing. Quick snaps on the go and too much process thinking is not your thing.	Point and shoot or bridge might be best. Used MFT or APSC with one do it all lens in case photography could become something more interesting.	Budget does not matter. If only the final result matter, no real need for interchangeable lenses and spend big money on a camera that will be overwhelming, big and heavy to carry.
Amateur - Enthusiast	$ - $$	Curious to learn more, and willing to put the effort into it.	MFT and APSC	If willingess to learn but budget constraints, get a MFT or an APSC on second hand, with possibly some used lenses. The investment will be limited and the opportunity to learn pretty big. They will allow to discover all landscape photography with acceptable compromise while remain within an acceptable budget.
Amateur - Enthusiast	$$$	Curious to learn more and willing to put the effort into it. You have the budget, you want to learn but you do not aim at being a pro.	MFT and APSC	A new MFT (Olympus) or APSC (Fujifilm) will be a good way to get good satisfaction with extremely capable camera. You won't have to carry heavy gear and your back won't break. You'll be good to go! You probably don't need an expensive FF as these will not add much to your photography. You will save on weight and space. However, if full frame are desired, then targeting cameras with a lower pixel count might do just fine.
Serious Enthusiast	$-$$	You already know about photography and own some gear. You want to upgrade but you are unsure what to get.	APSC - FF	Used or new higher-end APS-C (e.g. Fujifilm, Sony, etc.) or FF with lower pixel count (e.g. Nikon z6 series, Canon R6 or R8, etc.). These cameras are more than capable for all type of landscape photography. They also offer good to great video capabilities. They won't break the bank and will allow for a great experience in landscape photography.
Serious enthusiast	$$$	You know about photography and that landscape photography is you thing, budget is not an issue, and you just want to make yourself happy with top notch-gear.	FF - MF	FF and MF should be your way to go. No Compromise to be made here as you know about photgraphy, and your budget is not the main constraint. Getting a Full Frame will allow for multiple styles, while not compromising on quality, and offering good video opprtunities as well. MF will be the one to go for if only landscape photography matter. Resolution will be perfect so printing will be without compromise. Cautious: in case of having back issues or being space conscious considering top notch APS-C should not be out of the equation.

1. Point and Shoot Cameras (back to top)

The minimalists' ally

These compact, pocket-sized cameras are often underestimated, and they definitely have their place as a camera type that can be choosen for landscape photography. While they lack interchangeable lenses or advanced manual controls, they make up for it with their simplicity and portability. They also usually lack advance techniques such as bracketing, raw shooting, limited aperture, low dynamic range, etc.

Last time I went to Namibia with a group, one person had one of those, and his wife had an APS-C for the more serious work. While he had a good eye and took amazing shots, in good lighting conditions, the point and shoot quickly became a limitation at sunset or sunrise time for example. I would recommend using them in addition to another more performing camera for some quick souvenir shots.

Pros:

• Extremely lightweight and compact

• Simple to use – ideal for beginners

• Some more performing

• Affordable

Cons:

• Limited dynamic range and low-light performance

• Fixed lens, limiting creative control

• Minimal manual settings

• No wide angle possibility

• lacking overall technology and performance for serious landscape photography

  
  

Reference Brands & Models:

• Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

• Sony RX100 VII

• Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

2. Bridge Cameras (back to top)

The versatile all-rounder camera type

Bridge cameras sit between point-and-shoot compacts and interchangeable lens systems. They offer DSLR-style handling with a built-in zoom lens that covers a wide focal range, making them an appealing option for landscape photographers who want versatility without the bulk of multiple lenses.

So far I never seen any in my workshops, but I would not be surprise if that comes up. Usually workshop participant want to go from the point and shoot to interchangeable camera lenses lift up their knowledge. Other photographers go the other way around as changing lenses is becoming a burden and they want something is to work with.

Pros:

• Long zoom range—great for distant landscape elements

• DSLR-like ergonomics and controls

• Usually includes a viewfinder, hot shoe, and manual modes

• Lighter than DSLRs or mirrorless systems with multiple lenses

Cons:

• Smaller sensor size (usually 1” or smaller) = limited dynamic range

• Digital zoom quickly creates poor quality

• No wide angle possibility

• Lower image quality in low light

• Not upgradeable—stuck with the built-in lens

Reference Brands & Models:

• Sony RX10 IV

• Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 II

• Canon PowerShot SX70 HS

3. Micro Four Thirds (MFT) (back to top)

The traveler's hybrid

Micro Four Thirds systems are definitely cameras worth choosing for landscape photography. They strike a balance between portability and performance. With a smaller sensor than APS-C or full-frame, they still offer interchangeable lenses, manual control and all if not more bells and whistles than other higher range cameras. In order to keep attractivity, asides for their pricing point, camera makers have to make little peroforming beasts such as the OM System OM-1 Mark II that does pretty well in various areas inlcuding landscape and even wildlife. They for example have an embedded filtering systeming, avoiding it's user to carry additional filters. The result is fairly good.

I regularly see people having these system in my tours, and I keep on being surprise about how well they perform. Some pro photographers, who got older and do not want to bother carrying heavy gear have been switching to the OM System for it's lightness clearly balancing the slight and questionable loss in image quality, and noise level.

Pros:

• Lightweight with interchangeable lenses

• Good image quality in well-lit conditions

• Compact lens ecosystem

• Shallower depth of field control compared to larger formats (good for landscape photography, less for other styles)

Cons:

• Smaller sensor means less dynamic range and more noise at high ISOs

• Less offer available for camera and lenses

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Reference Brands & Models:

• Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

• Panasonic Lumix G9

  
  

Example Photo Suggestion:A dramatic mountain range at sunrise—demonstrating how MFT cameras can handle contrast and subtle light variations effectively with the right settings.

4. APS-C Cameras (back to top)

The sweet spot

APS-C sensors offer a solid middle ground for landscape photographers. They deliver good resolution and dynamic range, and are widely available across brands. APS-C cameras are some of the best cameras to choose for landscape photography. They generally compete fairly well with the Full Frames cameras that get more attraction. They deliver similar quality generally. However, resolution is lower which does not really matter in most cases, and noise management is a little more challenging, although totally manageable for most. APS-C cameras definitely benefit from strong advantages such as size, weight and cost.

I personally use Fujifilm for years now, and I like the system, and it is perfectly capable. It used to be well in advanced compared to most brands a few years back, it is much less true today, unfortunately. Weight, size and cost, are still major factors that are usually important in landscape photography as not all spots are close to parking spots. For Fuji, the less performing AF compared to other brands can be a drag for some. Most system have pretty good APS-C's systems such as Canon and Sony, but some brands clearly have a much stronger bet on Full Frame such as Nikon.

Pros:

• Better dynamic range and detail than MFT

• lower weight and size than Full Frame, very important in landscape photography

• Broad lens options

• Often more affordable than full frame

Cons:

• Usually noisier than full frame, but today's denoiser are helping to redce the gap

• Lower resolution, especially impactful for printing larger format

• Autofocus lags behind on some brands such as Fujifilm

Reference Brands & Models:

• Fujifilm X-T / X-H series

• Canon EOS R7

• Nikon Z50

• Sony a6700

5. Full Frame Cameras (back to top)

The landscape workhorse

Full-frame sensors (FF) have become the standard for many professionals and serious enthusiast, but that doesn't come without a cost. Full frame cameras are choosen by many landscape photographers for good reasons. With very good dynamic range, low-light performance, and depth of field control, they offer a great tool set for creative expression in landscapes as well as other photography styles. FF benefits from a very wide offer from the main camera brands as well as third party brands for lenses. With a large sensor, they benefit also from higher resolution, even if it really makes sens while printing very large for format.

During my workshops, there are always a few people who have great full frame cameras, and these cameras always deliver on quality, autofocus and other newer fancy modes. But for landscape photography, I honestly don't see a huge difference between what an APSC and a FF delivers. In addition, these are usually highly priced cameras at around USD/EUR 3'000 or more, without lenses or with a kit lens depending on the models.

Pros:

• Excellent dynamic range and detail retention

• Better performance in low light

• Great lens compatibility and choice

Cons:

• Shorter focal reach than APS-C and MFT

• Larger and heavier than APS-C or MFT

• Higher price point that keep on rising (cameras and lenses)

Reference Brands & Models:

• Sony Alpha a7R/S III - IV - V

• Canon EOS R3 - R5 R6

• Nikon Z6 -Z7 - Z8 - Z9

• Panasonic Lumix S1R

Example Photo Suggestion:A wide-angle shot of a vast valley at golden hour, with dynamic clouds and subtle tones in shadows—demonstrating how full-frame handles tonal range and depth beautifully.

6. Medium Format Cameras (back to top)

The high-resolution specialist

These are the giants of the photography world. Medium format are worth considering when choosing a camera for landscape photography. With massive sensors and unparalleled image quality, medium format systems are designed for the ultimate level of detail and tonal range. For landscape photography, these are among the best cameras, especially for people looking at printing and getting perfect final results. A few years back, they were still quite inaccessible for most people. But today, Fujifilm has democratized them thanks to its GFX line, making them more visible and affordable to the public. Although, they still have great quality they also have a very limited use mostly in landscape, portrait and studio photography, making them less attractive for many people. A few drawbacks including extremely large raw files at 100mb or even 200mb for the GFX 100 for example, cost which is on the higher end of the spectrum for both body and lenses, weight and size which is on par or above full frame cameras and also very slow, so unusable for wildlife.

I saw a few people having them on tours, it is always interesting to see what these cameras can deliver. These are almost piece of arts to be fair, especially if looking at some of the Hasselblad models. Although these are fancy, and quality is there, most people would probably no need them. It is of a "want" as opposed to a "need" type of gear.

Pros:

• Incredible resolution and dynamic range

• Exceptional detail, especially for large prints

• Rich tonal transitions

Cons:

• Expensive and bulky

• Slower to operate, not ideal for spontaneous shooting

• Often limited lens choices

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Reference Brands & Models:

• Fujifilm GFX 100 II/S

• Hasselblad X2D 100C

• Phase One XT IQ4

Final Thoughts

As we’ve seen, each camera type brings something different to the table. There is no single “best” camera for landscape photography—it all depends on your goals, style, how much weight you're willing to carry or how deep your pockets are.

A point and shoot in the hands of someone who understands light and composition can often outperform a medium format camera used without intent. And that’s the key: knowledge, vision, and practice matter far more than gear.

So rather than chasing the highest specs, choose the camera that best suits your workflow and inspires you to go out, explore, and create. The rest will follow.

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About the Author

I am Rémi Bergougnoux, a French professional travel and landscape photographer currently based in the Jura Region. My most influential destinations include Latin America, where I spent about a year, Namibia, Iceland, Norway and certainly many others.

Alongside writing blogging, I also have a YouTube Channel (@Remontheroad) where I teach about photography, and runs workshops,

Aside from photography, hiking, cooking, enjoying good wines and socializing are my main hobbies.