D-SLRs For The Landscape

Choose the best camera for your landscape photography

Large-format landscape artist Ansel Adams once described his 35mm camera as “an extension of the eye as used freely in the hand.” And the late Galen Rowell, a world-class mountaineer and landscape photographer, did most of his amazing work with 35mm SLRs, again for the freedom they provided. Today, many photographers are turning to digital SLRs for landscape work. Image quality is outstanding, and the cameras provide the same speed and portability as their film brethren. You can easily handhold a D-SLR for shots from any angle or put it on a tripod to lock in a composition, especially handy when using live-view mode.

While you can shoot terrific landscapes with today’s D-SLRs, the “sweet-spot” models—those in between the compact entry-level cameras and bulky pro bodies—are our favorites. Of course, pro D-SLRs are superb landscape tools, but they can be costly and heavy—carrying a pro D-SLR on a long hike isn’t much fun.

These D-SLRs address the meticulous nature of most landscape photographers. All of them let you adjust the color balance to match the light at the scene and allow you to play back just-shot images to confirm that the shot is there and—with the aid of a histogram—to check exposure. Of course, you can spot-meter and set everything manually whenever desired. All of these D-SLRs allow you to shoot in high-bit RAW format for maximum image quality, and do image editing at your computer afterward—Adams would have readily embraced it.

D-SLRs accept a wide range of interchangeable lenses, allowing for tremendous control over field of view and perspective. All the major manufacturers produce fine lenses in wide focal lengths and are optimized especially for smaller-sensor cameras, making true wide-angle shooting as easy as with a 35mm film camera.

Other features that landscape photographers will enjoy include:

Sensor-Dust Removal. Uses high-frequency vibrations to shake dust off the image sensor, especially handy when you change lenses frequently in the field.
Image Stabilization. In-camera sensor-shift stabilization works with all lenses, but stabilizes only the recorded image, not the viewfinder image. In-lens stabilization stabilizes both recorded and viewfinder images, but obviously functions only with stabilized lenses. Both types let you get sharp images handheld several shutter speeds slower than is possible without stabilization and work well with a monopod.
Dynamic-Range Extender. Helps maintain highlight and shadow detail in high-contrast scenes.
Grid Lines. Grid lines in the viewfinder (sometimes built in, sometimes via an optional focusing screen) or on the LCD in live-view mode help you keep that horizon truly horizontal.
Live View. More and more D-SLRs are providing this feature, which is standard on compact digital cameras. With Live View, you get a bigger image to examine and focus, as well as easier odd-angle operation.
14-Bit A/D Conversion. 14-bit provides a lot more data than 12-bit—16,384 tones or colors vs. 4096. This provides smoother gradations/colors and more leeway when doing levels adjustments in the computer.
Lots Of Megapixels. At the heart of a landscape image is detail. With digital, detail is provided in large part by lots of pixels. All else being equal, the more megapixels, the better for landscape work, and the better off you’ll be making big prints.

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G - HASSLER makes this comment

Friday, 30 October 2009

Going back to all the 2&1/4 cameras made - - - Still no digital in square format?
Steve Tracy makes this comment

Monday, 07 September 2009

Having used Just a variety of Nikons over the years before switching to the Canon EOS-1V, I still find that I think of focal lengths in a film sense. The EOS-5D Mk11 seems to fit that bill in every way, and when matched to an all-round lens like Canon's 28-300mm L series lens, there seems little need to ever remove the lens from the body unless extreme wide-angle is essential. It's a very fine camera in every way, and I have no complaints thus far. The combination produces stunning landscapes.
Michael makes this comment

Monday, 03 August 2009

I'm a recent convert to...FILM!!...for really good landscapes. In particular, a Pentax 645N (which you can get for ~$400 nowadays in pristine condition) shooting Fuji Velvia 50. North Coast Photo Services produces high-quality scans during processing....love it!
Jim Horne makes this comment

Thursday, 23 July 2009

Article
Cees van Leeuwen makes this comment

Tuesday, 21 July 2009

The 5D MII is a fine camera. It has one rather silly design flaw: The program button has no lock and its position can easily be changed. That happens me often in the heat of the photo-battle. Struggling to find the right position of the clouds' shadows, the ideal formation of the clouds. All of a sudden you see it. You slam the brakes, grab the camera, aim and shoot. A split second later the ideal situation has gone. Then you realize the program button has changed position! It happened when you grabbed the camera. Sh.t is the friendliest way to get rid of your anger.
Jack Nichols makes this comment

Thursday, 16 July 2009

the art of the photograph is in the eye of the photographer. The camera is merely the instrument used to create the image. We each have our preferences and it is always an interesting discussion to compare reasons for those preferences. I presonally prefer Nikon because I have used a Nikon, starting with a Nikon F in the late 60's. The most important characterist for me is for the designed to share a philosophy that the photographer is in control, and Nikon does a great job in that respect.
Corker2 makes this comment

Saturday, 27 June 2009

Yha know, I really don't know what the big deal is about the Nikon & Cannon DSLR Camera's. It's true that the Nikon and Canon Camera's are very good, but I don't have any trouble with my Pentax K100D. It shoots a very good Image and will do more than I will ever use. I can inter-change it with all different types of Lens. I have 4 different Lens now and use them frequently. However, since Pentax has decided to dis-continue the K100D and step up to the K10, the K20 and probably more than what I know, I don't really need a more expensive Camera. What I have is just fine for me. As far as I'm concerned, the Pentax has done an excellent job and I will stay with it, rather than change over to Nikon or Canon.
Jan makes this comment

Friday, 26 June 2009

Not knowing when the article was published, it is remarkable that the Sony A900 is not being mentioned as a camera for suberb landscape photography.
Michael West makes this comment

Friday, 05 June 2009

The Canon 5D MKII is currently the canons top image quality dslr, and I can personally swear by its capabilities as a landscape photographers best friend.
Norwood C(ady) Hazard makes this comment

Wednesday, 27 May 2009

I would add that a fully articulated hi res LCD should be among your criteria for a mid-level landscape/nature ready camera. One with a stiff or lockable hinge so that a Hood viewer, with magnifier, can be mounted on it. Like a Rollei twin-lens with snap-up lens— or going way back, to an Exakta. Which mfg will be the first to offer it? And then an artificial horizon line to compliment the grid lines you've already mentioned.

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D-SLRs For The Landscape

Choose the best camera for your landscape photography

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