The Best High Resolution Digital Cameras for Landscape and Travel Photography - 2021 Update
As an exhibiting Landscape and Travel Photographer what i’m looking for in the ideal camera system is 1. High Resolution .2 High Dynamic Range 3. Rugged Build and sturdy weatherproofing 4. Good Ergonomics and Most Importantly 5. The best IQ or Image Quality which is a combination of Sensor technology and quality of lenses available for the system.
What matters to a much lesser degree is the cameras video capabilities as long as i can record video in some standard form for purposes of documentation and selling my work.
What does not matter to me are High Burst Rates(or FPS) or Advanced AF Systems and whether it is a DSLR or a Mirrorless system. Although I must admit having that extra information regarding the image that a mirrorless camera can provide is an advantage that I’m quickly getting used to.
So with this checklist of criteria I decided to have a fresh look at the currently available cameras from all the different camera brands. The purpose is to create a buying guide of the same high standards that I would use to buy a camera with my own hard earned money so that it can serve as a practical guide for someone looking to upgrade their camera system in 2021.
*All cameras will have 45 Mpix or more of Resolution. Have class leading dynamic range . Be Well Built. And have an excellent lineup of lenses to choose from.
*The cameras would have a full frame or bigger sensor.
LEICA SL2
Price in India ₹ ₹ 549000
Price in the USA $6,545.53
Leica SL2 Features that matter
47.3 MPix CMOS Sensor with high dynamic range and 14 bit colour depth.
Native ISO 50-50,000
In Body Image Stabilisation (IBIS - 5.5 STOPS)
187 MPix Multishot Mode
Best in Class Build Quality & Dust- and Spray water resistant (IP54)
Minimalistic and Beautiful Design
Works With Leica SL LENSES, TL, CL Lenses, L Mount Alliances from Panasonic and Sigma and with Sigma MC-21 Adaptor Canon EF Lenses albeit with lessened performance (reduced battery performance and no continuous AF) Also compatible with Leica M Lenses with ADAPTOR.
The improved EyeRes® EVF matches an outstanding 5.76MP panel with an eyepiece built with finest metal and glass and the tightest mechanical and optical tolerances to deliver an unmatched viewing experience, and allow the easiest composition of the image.
The SL2 has two UHS-II compatible SD card slots, raw files can be saved simultaneously in DNG and JPEG format.
Lens Options for Leica SL2
CANON R5
Price in India ₹ 3,25,990.00
Price in USA $3,899.00
Canon R5 Features that Matter for the Landscape and Travel Photographer
45MP full-frame CMOS sensor
Up to 8-stop In-Body Image Stabiliser when combined with Optical Image Stabiliser in Canon Lenses.
Supports 2 memory cards:
• 1x SD, SDHC*, SDXC*
• 1x CF express memory card (Type B compatible) *UHS-I & UHS-II cards compatible
Silent shutter
HDR PQ HEIF 10-Bit
5,940 manually selectable AF positions, and up to 1,053 AF frame segments in the AF auto-area selection modes, this means greater flexibility in image composition.
Good Low light shooting capabilities with a Native ISO Range of 100-51200 and AF performance in conditions as low as -6 Ev.
Improved Ergonomics
AF selection is quick and intuitive with the multi-controller, which has 3 levels of sensitivity to choose from.
The EOS R5 also inherits the 3 dials (1 main dial and 2 quick control dials) from the EOS 5D series for quick and convenient operation.
High-Precision EVF
A high resolution electronic viewfinder of approximately 5.76 million dots displays bright and clear images even at f/22, which comes in useful for ultra-telephoto shots.
High Battery Capacity
The new high-capacity LP-E6NH battery features an increased 2130mAh capacity, allowing you to shoot more and do more with the feature-packed EOS R5.
The camera is also compatible with the BG-R10 battery grip that accommodates two battery slots and easier handling for vertical shooting.
Build Quality
A robust magnesium alloy body ensures toughness and durability while remaining relatively light, whereas weather sealing on critical areas help prevent dust and moisture from penetrating the body
Shutter Durability
500,000 cycles.
Wifi and Bluetooth Connectivity
The EOS R5 is equipped with built-in support for 5GHz and 2.4GHz wireless LAN*,
Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology enables a constant, low-powered connection between the camera and a paired compatible smart device.This allows for geotagging of images and remote camera operation through the Camera Connect app.
Lens & Kit Options for Canon R5
FUJIFILM GFX 100S
Price in India ₹ 5,39,999.00
Price in USA $5,999.99
GFX 100S Features that Matter
Larger than Full Frame 43.8mm x 32.9mm Sensor
102 Mpix Resolution
Accepts Fujifilm G Mount Lenses. G Mount lenses are engineered to match the resolving capability of 100 Mpix Sensors.
Startup Time 0.5 Sec
Max FPS 5.0
Focal Plane Shutter with Shock Absorber rated for 150,000 shutter cycles.
6 Stops of IBIS
Pixel Shift Multi-Shot function combines 16 RAW files to create a single 400MP image that reproduces the finest details with ultimate color accuracy.
With a choice of 19 exclusive FUJIFILM Film Simulation modes, it is easy to achieve fantastic color, instantly, straight out of camera and with a new FIlm Simulation mode to explore – Nostalgic Neg.
In-camera RAW processing provides the option of saving 8-bit or 10-bit color depth images as 8-bit or 16-bit TIFF files. It even has the ability to record a centered 36x24mm image when using a 35mm format lens with a compatible mount adapter.
Storage Media : SD Card (-2GB) / SDHC Card (-32GB) / SDXC Card (-2TB) / UHS-I / UHS-II / Video Speed Class V90*1
Video Recording DCI 4K/4K 30P and Full HD 2048X100 and Full HD 1920X1080 60P
WIFI and Low Energy Bluetooth
USB-C Interface
Operating Temperature -10˚C to 40˚C
Lens suggestions for GFX 100 S
SONY A7R MARK IV
Price in India ₹ 2,99,000.00
Price in the USA $2,998.00
SONY A7R Features That Matter
61.0 MPix full-frame Exmor R CMOS sensor and BIONZ X image processing engine
Wide 15-stop dynamic range at low ISO sensitivity
Standard ISO 100–32000 range
Fast Hybrid AF with 567-point focal-plane phase-detection AF and 425-point contrast-detection AF
BATTERY LIFE (STILL IMAGES). - Approx. 530 shots (Viewfinder)/Approx. 670 shots (LCD monitor)
VIEWFINDER TYPE - 5.76-million-dot UXGA OLED Tru-Finder)
MONITOR TYPE -7.5 cm (3.0 in-type) type TFT
IBIS - 5.5 STOPS 5-axis optical in-body image stabilisation.
Dual media slots, both supporting UHS-II SD CARDS
Pixel Shift Multi Shooting supports compositing a picture from 16 pixel-shifted images to output a 240 Mpix Image
Wireless PC Remote function and Image transfer using WiFi
Improved Weather and Dust Resistance
Touch Screen Operations for some functions.
4K Video
Lens Suggestions for A7R IV
NIKON Z7 II
Price in India Rs. 2,49,995.00
Price in USA $2,996.95
Features of the Nikon Z7 II that matter
45.7 Mpix BSI CMOS Sensor without OLPF with the highest DXO Mark rating of 100 (highest for a full frame camera)
High Dynamic Range 12 or 14 bit RAW Files
ISO Range 64 - 25600
Dual Processing Engines
Powerful In Camera Processing for Time Lapse Capture, Multiple Exposures, 900 second long exposures with smartphone triggering, focus stacking with upto 300 focus shifted captures which can be stacked later in computer.
4K Ultra HD video at 60p or Full HD video at uptown 120 p
Accepts Nikon Z Mount lenses natively and F mount lenses with FTZ Adaptor.
3.60 Million Pixel OLED EV
3.2 in TFT Monitor
Hybrid phase-detection/contrast AF with AF assist
-3 to +19 EV (-4 to +19 EV with low-light AF) at ISO 100
Operating Temp Range - 0˚C to 40˚ C
Lens Options for Nikon Z7 II
Leica S3
Price in India Rs 16,50,000
Price in the USA $ 19,995
Leica S3 Features that matter
The S3 features the next generation of the Leica ProFormat sensor, now with 64-megapixel resolution.
With dimensions of 30 x 45mm, it offers a light sensitive surface area that is larger by 56% over full frame.
15+ Stops of Dynamic Range
ISO Range from 100 - 50,000.
Leica S3 has all the essential technology for shooting professional video footage in 4K cinema resolution and full-HD.
The Leica S3 is supported by a solid range of Leica S Lenses. 3rd Party Lenses are supported by means of adaptors.
Built to Last
Lens Suggestions for S3
Panasonic LUMIX S1R
Price in India ₹ 2,75,000.00
Price in the USA $3,697.99
S1R features that matter
47.3MP Full-Frame MOS Sensor
Venus Engine Image Processor
5.76m-Dot 0.78x-Magnification OLED LVF
3.2" 2.1m-Dot Triaxial Tilt Touchscreen
UHD 4K60 Video Recording
ISO 100-25600, Up to 9 fps Shooting
Contrast-Detect 225-Area DFD AF System
Sensor-Shift Image Stabilization
Weather-Sealed Construction
187MP High-Res Mode, Dual Card Slots
Excellent choice of lenses to choose from Including Lumix S Lenses, Leica and Sigma L Mount Lenses. Also compatible with Canon EF Mount lenses via Sigma MC-21 Adaptor.
Lens Suggestions for Lumix S1R
The above mentioned cameras by their very nature also lend themselves to other genres of photography such as Product , Fashion and Portrait work in Studio. Of course they can be used for event , wedding and even street photography too but It might just make more sense to use more lighter, faster systems which generate smaller file sizes and have better practical video performance. I will cover these “Professional” or “Workhorse” cameras in another guide.