Looking for the best camera for real estate photography and videography in 2022? Your search ends right here.
Usually, when we talk about the best camera for shooting real estate photos, the picture of a big, bad, and bulky DSLR with a chunky second grip and a large lens strapped to it comes to mind.
It seems to be the professional standard but you would be surprised to know that the reality is nothing like that.
In 2022, mirrorless cameras hold the key to shooting the best real estate photos.
Today, I am going to list the cameras that I feel are the best in the business for shooting real estate photos. That list will include both DSLRs and mirrorless cameras:
- Sony Alpha a7R IV (Best Camera for High Quality Real Estate Videos/Photos)
- Canon 5D Mark IV (Best Camera for Stills and Video)
- Nikon D850 (Best DSLR Camera for Real Estate Photography)
- Sony a6600 (Best Budget Camera for Real Estate Vloggers and YouTubers)
- Sony a7 III (Alternative Choice)
But before we dive right in a quick look at the three essential features that a camera must-have for real estate photography:
3 Essential Features Every Real Estate Camera Must Have
Large Sensor Size
Sensor size has a direct bearing on the extent of the scene in front of the camera that it can capture. The larger the sensor, the greater is the scene that it can capture and vice-versa. That’s why real estate photographers prefer to use a full-frame camera. It helps them to capture a larger angle of view.
Sensor size also has a direct bearing on the amount of light that the camera can capture, as well as its low light performance. This is because a large sensor has a lot of space to stack the individual pixels. There is less clutter on the surface for which the pixels can collect light better.
Right Lens Mount
Lens mount also determines the angle of view and the slice of the scene in front of the camera that the camera can capture.
The lens mount used on your camera is an aspect that is also dependent on the sensor sitting behind the lens mount.
Let’s cite an example to explain this aspect:
Canon makes two lens mounts for the DSLR camera systems: the EF and the EF-S.
EF mount is the standard 35mm lens mount that has been in use for many years. They were used during the film days and continued to be used when digital SLRs were launched.
EF-S mount was launched much later when Canon started its budget camera range (EOS Rebel series) and needed a low-cost solution to produce wide-angle lenses.
EF-S lenses sit deeper into the camera, thanks to the new Lens mount allowing the company to mane cheaper wide-angle lenses for this budget camera series.
However, the EF-S mount comes with the associated crop factor because the sensor size is smaller. So, when you mount a lens on it, the angle of view becomes narrower.
Hence, your choice of camera (and the associated lens mount) can have a bearing on the field of view.
Improved Low Light Performance
Much of a real estate photography project involves shooting in low-light conditions.
Photographing a property at the blue hour or photographing the interiors in less than optimum lighting is a prime reason for the images to have a lot of grain (static).
The underlying sensor technology can have a massive impact on the quality of images produced by a camera. I’d recommend cameras that incorporate Back-side Illuminated (BSI) technology for shooting real estate photography.
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We’re going to make sure that all the cameras on this list have these three features, so no matter your choice, you’ll know you’re getting a product you can use.
Of course, every camera has its pros and cons, so to make it easier to pick the right fit, we’ll tell you which camera is better in which scenario.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the best cameras for real estate photography right now on the market:
1. Sony Alpha a7R IV (Best Camera for High Quality Real Estate Videos/Photos)
The Sony a7R IV comes with one of the highest resolutions in the market, something that real estate photographers dig.
Beyond real estate, the a7R IV has a lot of other applicability, but let’s just focus on its utility as a real estate shooter.
Specs
- 61-megapixel full-frame Exmor R BSI sensor
- The 567-points phase-detection autofocusing system
- BIONZ X image processing engine
- 4K video shooting with Log-Gamma and HLG
- 3-inch touchscreen
- Built-in image stabilization
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi built-in
Review
The biggest reason I love the Sony Alpha a7R IV is the incredibly high resolution. At 61-megapixel it offers one of the highest resolutions in a full-frame interchangeable lens camera.
Being a mirrorless camera means it is much lighter than a comparable full-frame unit. Giving you a lot of advantages because, most of the time, real estate photos are shot hand-held and the extra weight of a DSLR can slow you down as you shoot through the day. With a mirrorless camera, you will never face the same problem.
Speaking of handheld shooting this camera features a built-in image stabilization system that uses 5-axis stabilization. Hand-held photos are blur-free and sharp.
With big resolution you can crop later on and yet be able to produce images that have a lot of detail in them. If you like to shoot wide images and crop them in post-processing, you will love the Sony a7R IV.
A couple of other reasons I love the a7R IV, and these are the same reasons I like the D850, is the built-in Bluetooth and Wi-Fi functions. These are handy when you need to quickly share a couple of photos with your client or express your vision as to what the final look and feel would be for the images.
There is nothing like being able to share a photo of the tentative final look right then and there.
Prices
- USA – $ 2,998.00
- UK – £ 2,152.36
- EUR – € 2,492.45
- INDIA – ₹ 226,125.17
- CAD – $ 3,742.74
2. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV (Best Camera for Stills and Video)
The Canon 5D Mark IV is an excellent choice for shooting both stills and videos.
Specs
- 30.4-megapixel CMOS full-frame sensor
- DIGIC 6+ image processing engine.
- DCI 4K video at 30 fps.
- Dual-pixel CMOS autofocusing with Movie-Servo AF.
- 61-point High Density reticular autofocusing system.
- Native ISO goes up to 32000.
- 3.2-inch touchscreen with touch to focus functionality.
- Internal 4K footages at 4:2:2 sampling rate with 8-bit color.
Review
I recently reviewed the Canon 5D Mark IV. In my opinion, this is the finest all-purpose camera you can get.
The Canon’s 5D series has always enjoyed a lot of dedicated fan following from loyal users.
This camera system has always pushed the boundaries of image-making by introducing new improved features with every iteration.
With the 30.4-megapixel CMOS sensor, you will be able to produce sharp detailed images of any real estate property.
The DIGIC 6+ image processor handles low-light images well. Although this is not a backside illuminated sensor, low light performance is good.
The 5D Mark IV is also a decent video shooter. In terms of real estate video work its feature-list is more than enough.
For shooting real estate videos you don’t need too high of a resolution, neither do you need features that are required for advanced filmmaking.
In that sense, the 4K option plus the dual-pixel CMOS autofocusing option is a great feature to have.
Prices
- USA – $ 2,499
- UK – £ 1,812.53
- EUR – € 2,085.13
- INDIA – ₹ 187,605.98
- CAD – $ 3,124.90
3. Nikon D850 (Best DSLR Camera for Real Estate Photography)
This is our favorite Nikon DSLR for many reasons. It is also a great option for shooting real estate stills and videos. Let’s quickly skim through the main features of the camera.
Specs
- 45.7-megapixel CMOS BSI sensor
- EXPEED 5 image processor
- 4K video recording at 30 fps.
- Multi-CAM 20K 153-point autofocusing system.
- 180k-pixel RGB sensor
- Native ISO of 64-25600
Review
The D850 is to the Nikon lineup what the 5D Mark IV is to the Canon. They are both great camera systems.
The D850 has a BSI sensor beating at its heart. The advantage of a BSI sensor is that it responds to low light conditions much better than a traditional sensor. Result – lower image grain and greater dynamic range in low light.
When shooting real estate photos, some photographers prefer to use the blue hour to capture a contrasting image that has the blue of the sky with the yellow/white of the lights of the property. It makes a fascinating image.
Mind you not too many photographers do it. But the ones who do will love the low-light functionality of the D850.
The lowest that ISO range of the D850 can go is ISO 64 when most of the cameras in the market go to a minimum of ISO 100. That means the camera will be able to retain more details when shooting outdoors in extremely bright conditions.
An interesting feature in this camera is the built-in 8K time-lapse option.
Now, as I have discussed above, video is a service that not too many photographers are offering to their clients.
If you understand the potential of video in real estate marketing, you can shoot some beautiful time-lapse sequences of a few properties and show them to your clients. I guarantee you that you will get a high amount of interest from clients who would want to have such a sequence shot for their property.
Most real estate photographers never think of Bluetooth and built-in Wi-Fi to be features that should dominate buying decisions. These features are great when you want to impress your clients. Shoot an image, transfer it to your phone via Bluetooth, edit in Lightroom mobile and share it with your client.
There is no easier way to express what your vision is to your client but to share a photo. Boom! All of a sudden you are a marketing genius!
Prices
- USA – $ 2,996
- UK – £ 2,153.07
- EUR – € 2,495.14
- INDIA – ₹ 226,228
- CAD – $ 3,746.93
4. Sony a6600 (Best Budget Camera for Real Estate Vloggers and YouTubers)
The Sony a6600 is one of the lightest interchangeable lens cameras available in the market right now. I recently reviewed this camera. Let’s find out about its utility for shooting real estate photos.
Specs
- 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor.
- Paired with Sony’s BIONZ X image sensor.
- Sensor and processor combine to produce Sony’s 4D Focus.
- 425-point phase-detection autofocusing.
- 5-axis SteadyShot Image stabilization system.
- Magnesium alloy construction (weather-resistant).
- S-Log2 Gamma Curve.
- Enhanced Zebra function.
Review
The Sony a6600 is a lightweight mirrorless camera that uses the Sony E mount.
One of the primary requirements for being the best camera for real estate photography is to have a low weight body. The Sony Alpha a6600 fits that requirement. It is only about 500 grams with the battery and the memory card.
The E-mount is Sony’s most popular lens mount and is used by a bunch of exceptional quality lenses. This is also the mount that Sony uses for its other state-of-the-art cameras like the a7R IV and the a7S III.
That said, this is a crop camera, powered by an APS-C sensor. The problem is that you have to step back a few steps to capture the same angle of view as a 35mm camera. That is a disadvantage that real estate photographers opting for this camera will have to live with.
Is that a huge deal-breaker? Not really. If you are not always shooting in small, enclosed areas and if the property is roomy and allows you sufficient space to back up and shoot from a distance, then you can shoot with the a6600 just as well as you can with an a7R IV.
The a6600 is a capable video shooter. As are all of the other cameras on this list. But the a6600 comes with some extra pro features.
Yes, as a real estate photographer who might also be interested in shooting videos you may not always be looking for pro video features. But these are all good features to have.
Prices
- USA – $ 1,198.00
- UK – £ 868.15
- EUR – € 999.43
- INDIA – ₹ 127,534.76
- CAD – $ 1,495.07
5. Sony a7 III
The Sony a7 III is a mirrorless camera with a 24-megapixel full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor. This is the final entry on this list of the best cameras for real estate vloggers and photographers.
Specs
- 24-megapixel full-frame Exmor R BSI CMOS sensor
- Paired with a BIONZ X image processing engine
- Fast hybrid autofocusing mechanism
- 4K video option
- 693-point hybrid autofocusing system
- In-built image stabilization system
- Weather sealed design.
Review
The Sony a7 III is an all-rounder. It shoots great stills and crisp 4K videos with its 24-megapixel full-frame sensor.
As a real estate photographer or an agent doing your own photography, you may not be too thrilled about the 4K capabilities. In practice. shooting videos of properties at full-HD resolution is more than enough for you.
However, 4K is good to have, as long as you don’t have to pay an extra premium for that. You may never know when you might need to use it.
I love the fact that the a7 III has a full frame BSI sensor, which has excellent low light capabilities. This is a feature of the camera that every real estate photographer will enjoy using. Dynamic range at low light is great.
The a7 III uses a fast hybrid autofocusing mechanism that utilizes a combination of 693 phase-detection AF points and 425 contrast detection autofocusing points. This system has been designed to perform when the subject is moving around.
For real estate photography, this will appear as if overkill. But you can take confidence from the realization that you have a solid performer when it comes to autofocusing accuracy.
Prices
- USA – $ 1,198.00
- UK – £ 868.15
- EUR – € 999.43
- INDIA – ₹ 127,534.76
- CAD – $ 1,495.07
Best Lenses to Buy for Real Estate
Let’s quickly run through the benefits of these three lenses:
24-70mm
Personally, the 24-70mm is a fantastic lens. It is very versatile and works in a plethora of other photographic situations. You will never feel that you made a wrong decision investing in that lens.
The 24-105mm is a bit more of an all-rounder. It works for both outdoors and indoors. The 24-70mm also is a very versatile lens. The extra focal length of the 24-105mm allows you to make tighter compositions from a distance.
Each of the lens manufacturers makes a 24-70mm version for their camera mount. The third-party lens manufacturers like Tamron, Sigma, and Tokina make compatible versions for other major mounts like the Sony E mount, Canon EF, and the Nikon F mount.
Recommended buy:
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8E ED VR Lens
Canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II USM Lens
24-105mm
This is a very versatile lens designed for Sony’s E mount system. i.e., Sony’s mirrorless camera system.
It is compatible with the Sony cameras that I listed here. I like this because it is sharp, is reasonably priced (not going to burn a hole in your pocket), and comes with a fixed maximum aperture of f/4. Also, the lens comes with in-built image stabilization for steady hand-held photos.
A great many real estate agents and or real estate photographers don’t quite like carrying a tripod at all times.
The built-in OSS (Sony’s version of image stabilization) is a great help for those photographers when they are shooting hand-held.
Recommended buy:
Sony FE 24-105mm f/4 G OSS Lens
Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM
14-24mm
The 14-24mm is the perfect lens to work with when you are working in tight spaces such as bathrooms, kitchens, and attics. These places leave you with very little space to maneuver or take a good picture.
There are some even wider lenses. But I do not recommend them as these lenses tend to push the boundary of normal imagery towards the domain of fish-eye lenses.
Real estate photos don’t need a fish-eye lens as the rounded effect is unsuitable for this purpose. 14-24mm is still ok.
Recommended buy:
Sigma 14-24mm f/2.8 DG DN Art Lens for Sony E
Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED
Your properties’ pictures and the first lead magnet you have at your disposal. By paring a great camera with the right lens, you’ll set yourself for success on every project.
Leave any question on the comments and we’ll do our best to help you out!
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