Top 10 cameras for real estate photography

Good cameras for real estate photography can help you show a home or space to its full potential, enticing potential buyers. Photography has long held the power to make or break real estate listings, but that has never been more true than now. Many buyers rely on listing photographs to help make a decision, so it’s crucial to have a camera that can produce quality images.

Having the best cameras for real estate photography can also help ensure you keep getting those photography jobs as you deliver consistent quality to agents with increasingly deep photographic talent pools from which they can pull.

How we picked the best cameras for real estate photography

I have been shooting various forms of real estate for the past ten years. During that time, I established and built a photography program at a major vacation rental company, defining gear requirements and best practices for photographers. I used this knowledge and experience to pick the best cameras for real estate photography.

For these selections, I considered various models from the top manufacturers and highlighted mirrorless, DLSR, and budget options. With the rise of video and walkthrough needs for real estate, I also included a drone and 3D camera to fit the needs of a wide range of photographers. Bracketing capabilities, image and video quality, dynamic range, and price were all factored into the decision to ensure quality content for documenting real estate.

The best cameras for real estate photography

Best Nikon mirrorless: Nikon Z7 II

Why it made the cut: The Nikon Z7 II’s numerous bracketing settings, excellent image, and video quality, and good low-light performance make it an ideal choice for real estate photography.

Specs

• Sensor: 45.7 Megapixel full-frame
• Bracketing: Up to 9 frames, 1/3, 2/3, 1, 2, and 3 EV
• Video quality: UHD 4K 60p
• Weight: 1.4 pounds (body only)

Pros

• Excellent image quality
• Versatile bracketing settings
• 4K video
• Good build quality

Cons

• Battery life could be better

Best Nikon DLSR: Nikon D850

Why it made the cut: Though DSLRs are starting to get a bit dated, Nikon’s D850 is a powerful DSLR with excellent image quality and a battery life of up to 1,840 shots. Plus, the low ISO 64 makes it possible to get quality exterior shots even on the brightest days.

Specs

• Sensor: 45.7 Megapixel full-frame
• Bracketing: Up to 9 frames at 1/3, 2/3, 1, 2, and 3 EV
• Video quality: UHD 4K
• Weight: 2.01 pounds

Pros

• Rugged, weather-sealed body
• Great battery life
• Incredibly detailed images
• Excellent low and high ISO performance

Cons

• Visible rolling shutter in 4K video

Best Nikon on a budget: Nikon Z50

Why it made the cut: A mid-priced mirrorless, the Nikon Z50 is a lightweight camera with excellent bracketing options, solid dynamic range, and compact size.

Specs

• Sensor: 20.9 Megapixel APS-C
• Bracketing: Up to 9 frames at 1/3, 2/3, 1, 2, and 3 EV
• Video quality: UHD 4K 30p
• Weight: 13.93 ounces (body only)

Pros

• Versatile bracketing capabilities
• 4K video
• Lightweight and compact
• Excellent dynamic range

Cons

• Crop factor limits wide-angle lens options

Best Canon mirrorless: Canon EOS R6 Mark II

Why it made the cut: The Canon EOS R6 II is a full-frame camera capable of 4K video, a quality 24.2MP sensor, and excellent JPG colors.

Specs

• Sensor: 24.2 Megapixel full-frame
• Bracketing: Up to 7 frames at up to 3 EV
• Video quality: UHD 4K 60p
• Weight: 1.3 pounds (body with battery and memory)

Pros

• Great image quality
• WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity
• Excellent dynamic range
• Plenty of video features

Cons

• Clunky AEB setup

Best Canon DSLR: Canon 5D Mark IV

Why it made the cut: The Canon 5D Mark IV is a rugged full-frame DSLR with HDR video capabilities, pleasing JPG colors, and compatibility with a wide selection of lenses appropriate for real estate.

Specs

• Sensor: 30.4 Megapixel full-frame
• Bracketing: Up to 7 frames at up to 3 EV
• Video quality: DCI 4K 30/24p
• Weight: 1.76 pounds (body only)

Pros

• Excellent high ISO quality
• Good weather sealing
• Pleasing JPG colors
• Good dynamic range

Cons

• A bit pricey
• 1.64x crop on 4K video

Best Canon on a budget: Canon EOS R10

Why it made the cut: The EOS R10 is a very capable APS-C mirrorless camera with a 24.2MP sensor, uncropped 4K video, and overall excellent image quality.

Specs

• Sensor: 24.2 Megapixel APS-C
• Bracketing: Up to 7 frames at up to 3 EV
• Video quality: UHD 4K 60p
• Weight: 13.5 ounces (body only)

Pros

• Excellent autofocus
• Uncropped 4K video at 30p
• Great raw and JPG quality
• WiFi and Bluetooth

Cons

• Battery life could be better
• Crop factor limits wide-angle lens options

Best Sony mirrorless: Sony a7 IV

Why it made the cut: The new iteration of Sony’s a7 line is a seriously impressive camera with stunning image and video quality, plenty of bracketing settings, and battery life long enough to last for most real estate shoots.

Specs

• Sensor: 33 Megapixel full-frame
• Bracketing: Up to 9 frames and up to 3 EV
• Video quality: UHD 4K 30p
• Weight: 1.4 pounds (body with battery and memory)

Pros

• Exceptional video quality
• Highly detailed images
• Versatile bracketing options
• In-body stabilization

Cons

• Pricey

Best Sony on a budget: Sony a6100

Why it made the cut: As an entry-level camera, the Sony a6100 is very reasonably priced but still has the bracketing capabilities and quality video features needed for real estate.

Specs

• Sensor: 24.2 Megapixel APS-C
• Bracketing: Up to 9 frames and up to 3 EV
• Video quality: UHD 4K30p and Full HD 120p
• Weight: 13.92 ounces (body with battery and memory)

Pros

• Affordable
• Lightweight and compact
• 4K video
• Good selection of bracketing settings

Cons

• Crop factor limits wide-angle lens options

Best for aerials: DJI Mavic 3

Why it made the cut: The DJI Mavic 3 is a powerful drone with exceptional 5.1K video and two separate cameras—a 20-megapixel wide-angle with a 4/3-inch sensor and a 12-megapixel telephoto with a 1/2-inch sensor—for different types of shots.

Specs

• Sensor: 20-megapixel wide-angle with 4/3-inch sensor, 12-megapixel telephoto with 1/2-inch sensor
• Bracketing: 3 or 5 frames
• Video quality: 5.1K50p or UHD 4K120p
• Weight: 1.97 pounds

Pros

• Stable flight even with some wind
• Easy to fly
• Superb image and video quality
• HDR compatibility

Cons

• Pricey

Best for 3D walkthroughs: Matterport Pro2 3D MC250

Why it made the cut: The Matterport Pro2 3D MC250 is the premier option for professional-quality 3D walkthroughs.

Specs

• Sensor: Structured light (infrared) 3D sensor
• Output pano pixels: 134.2 megapixels
• Bracketing: N/A
• Video quality: N/A
• Weight: 7.5 pounds

Pros

• Powerful 3D sensor
• User-friendly app control
• Creates immersive 3D tours
• Easy to use

Cons

• Subscription required
• Expensive

Things to consider before buying cameras for real estate photography

Having the right gear cameras for real estate photography is critical for two reasons: It can stop a potential buyer from scrolling on and encourage them to look deeper, and it can even entice them to make an offer based on photos alone. Quality photos can stand out in a crowded field to draw attention to a listing, to begin with, and potentially even sell it on the spot. Here are some key things to consider when shopping for new cameras for real estate photography.

Camera system

Buying an interchangeable-lens camera requires commitment. The body you choose will determine what lenses and other accessories you will buy down the road. Most major camera brands make excellent models for real estate photography, so it’s a matter of choosing one that makes sense for you.

For example, consider how a camera feels in your hand and how you like the flow of menu systems. Of course, part of the decision comes down to the availability of compatible lenses that work for real estate since a camera body is nothing without the right lens.

Generally speaking, switching doesn’t make much sense if you already have a suite of gear based on one camera system. You’re likely to lose money if you sell everything off to buy all new equipment due to simple depreciation. Because of that, we’ve broken up this list into picks from different camera brands, helping you stick to a system you may already have.

Full-frame versus cropped sensor

Once you decide on a camera brand, choosing a full-frame or cropped sensor will be the next step in deciding on a camera for real estate photography. Of course, both formats have pros and cons. In general, a full-frame sensor will provide the most flexibility and the best overall performance for real estate photography. And a full-frame camera is a must for those with more experience and taking on higher-end jobs.

The primary reason a full-frame camera is a must for most real estate applications is that it will open up more focal lengths for you. There is no crop factor with full-frame, which makes wide-angle photography more accessible. That’s crucial for both shooting in small rooms and showcasing expansive spaces.

Beyond lens choices, full-frame cameras also typically offer more megapixels, which is useful for high-resolution applications like posters or large ads. You don’t need the highest megapixel count since most real estate photos are viewed on websites, but you want something reasonably high. And lastly, they tend to be better in low light conditions, which is helpful for some real estate situations – dimly light basements, for example.

A crop sensor may make more sense if you are new to the genre and photography as a whole. A crop sensor is ideal for beginners mainly because APS-C cameras and lenses will typically be much more affordable. Despite the lower prices, the quality of most crop sensors will be plenty for many jobs. The main downside to APS-C cameras is that you are limited in focal length due to the crop factor. You’ll have to go with an even wider lens than full-frame options if you still want that wide field of view, which limits your choices.

Bracketing capabilities

For most styles of real estate photography, bracketing abilities will be essential. Bracketing is the act of taking multiple shots of the same scene, shifting the exposure for each image to capture detail in the shadows and highlights that might otherwise get lost. Bracketing allows you to stack images to create HDR files or selectively merge relevant exposures.

Some cameras are limited in the number of brackets they can take in Auto Exposure Bracketing mode (AEB) or the number of stops between brackets. While you can manually bracket, your process will be much more efficient – and less likely to have errors – using AEB mode, so finding a camera with flexible options for AEB will be helpful.

Video

One of the last considerations for cameras for real estate photography is video capabilities. With more and more people shopping for houses online, videos of properties have been growing in popularity. Some real estate agents have told me that the ability to shoot video is a requirement for them when they are hiring photographers. Thus, finding a camera with quality video options will be important if you want to offer that.

We hope that our 10 types of cameras for real estate photography that Kolorheaven just recommends will help you, professional photographers choose the best ones.

Kolorheaven specializes in providing shooting and editing services for real estate videos and photos. And if you want to find more good cameras, read the next article by clicking here

Contact Kolorheaven immediately via the Hotline at +84.899.779.111 or email: kolorheaven@cskolorheaven.com if you want to use our services.