Best Camera for Real Estate Photography

Real estate photography is extremely dependent on the gear, the right camera, the right lens, and expertise in lighting and post-processing techniques; everything matters. One of the famous real estate photographers said: “You don’t capture great real estate photos, you make them”. And to do that you have to have superb knowledge of the gear and the process. In this article, I’m limited by the scope of finding the best cameras for real estate photography, and I’m going to discuss some important aspects that your camera should have in order to make great real estate photos.

Sensor Size & Sharpness

You can shoot real estate photos with any sensor size, but a larger sensor size and specifically a full-frame sensor is the optimum choice for several reasons. Because it allows you to take full advantage of any wide-angle lens that you might be using and will allow you to get better exposure in low light situations. For the image sharpness, you may look for a camera with the Image Stabilization feature. Also, you may consider checking your camera and lens to make sure that the focusing system is performing right (no back or front focusing). The sharpness issue is also important when considering printing large prints.

Low Light Performance

Basically, you need a low noise signature and a great dynamic range when shooting in low light. Low noise signature will assist in pushing the shadows when post-processing your images and that will prevent the image from getting noisy. The good low light performance also includes a good dynamic range for those occasions when you have to shoot in high ISO.

Dynamic Range

You need a camera that is capable of capture an image with a low noise threshold. You will need to shot both indoors and outdoors photos. Sure you would be thinking in terms of Photoshop to balance the exposure in post. But that can only be achieved if your camera has a good dynamic range. To the extent that the camera is practically noise-free, regardless of how much you push the shadows in post.

For the sake of honest reviews, I prefer to include in my camera recommendations the DxOMark scores as an independent opinion. DxOMark is a trusted industry standard for camera and lens image quality measurements and ratings. I think it is worthy to quickly go through their system of ranking and rating cameras, the ranking system is based on the following scores:

Sensor Overall Score

The Sensor Overall Score is an average of the three use case scores shown below: the Portrait Score based on color depth, the Landscape Score based on dynamic range, and the Sports Score based on low-light ISO. The Sensor Overall Score shows a camera’s:

• Sensor quality in terms of noise
• Ability to render high contrast
• The threshold for the formation of colored noise
• Ability to shoot in low light

Portrait score: Color Depth

What matters most when shooting products or portraits is a rich color rendition and color depth. The best image quality metric that correlates with color depth is color sensitivity, which indicates to what degree of subtlety color nuances can be distinguished from one another (and often means a hit or a miss on a Pantone palette). Maximum color sensitivity reports in bits the number of colors that the sensor is able to distinguish.

The higher the color sensitivity, the more color nuances can be distinguished. Color sensitivity of 22bits is excellent, and differences below 1 bit are barely noticeable.

Landscape score: Maximum Dynamic Range

Photographers will often aim for detail in high-contrast settings, juxtaposing a bright sky with shadowy foliage or mountain ranges. Ideally, the dynamic range of the camera should be greater than the dynamic range of the scene, otherwise, details in shadows are lost or highlights are burned.

Dynamic range corresponds to the ratio between the highest brightness a camera can capture (saturation) and the lowest brightness it can capture. A value of 12 EV is excellent, with differences below 0.5 EV usually not noticeable. The dynamic range is an open scale.

Sports & action score: Low-Light ISO

To compensate for the low light situation, photographers have to increase the ISO setting, which results in a decreased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). How far can ISO be increased while maintaining decent image quality? The low-light ISO metric will give you this information. The scale defines low-light ISO as the highest ISO setting for a camera that allows it to achieve an SNR of 30dB while keeping a good dynamic range of 9 EVs and a color depth of 18bits. A difference in low-light ISO of 25% equals 1/3 EV and is only slightly noticeable. Low-light ISO is an open scale.

Camera recommendations:

Here are the best cameras for real estate photography, I have made two lists, the first one is the top-level cameras that are suitable for the professional photographers, and the second one is the entry-level cameras list that is more oriented for the beginner’s photographers who starting their journey in real estate photography:

Professional camera List

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Product Highlights

• 4MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
• DIGIC 6+ Image Processor
• 2″ 1.62m-Dot Touchscreen LCD Monitor
• DCI 4K Video at 30 fps; 8.8MP Still Grab
• 61-Point High-Density Reticular AF
• Native ISO 32000, Expanded to ISO 102400
• Dual Pixel RAW; AF Area Select Button
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF and Movie Servo AF
• 7 fps Shooting; CF & SD Card Slots
• Built-in GPS and Wi-Fi with NFC

Overall image sensor performance

Carefully balancing resolution, features and body design, the 5D Mark IV sits nicely in the current Canon DSLR range between the 14fps / 20.3Mp EOS 1D X Mark II professional sports camera and the super high-resolution 50Mp 5DS / 5DS R models. What’s more, the significant sensor improvements over its predecessor in both resolution and dynamic range makes the new 5D Mark IV look an attractive upgrade for Mark III owners shooting weddings, events, landscapes, editorial, and advertising work, as well as for photographers stepping up to their first full-frame camera. With an initial $3500 price tag (body only), it’s a little more expensive compared to the $2,800 Nikon D810 or the $3150 Sony A7R II competition, but that’s less significant if you’ve already invested heavily in Canon EF lenses.

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II

Product Highlights

• 2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
• Dual DIGIC 6+ Image Processors
• 2″ 1.62m-Dot Touchscreen LCD Monitor
• DCI 4K Video at 60 fps, 8.8MP Still Grab
• 61-Point High-Density Reticular AF II
• Native ISO 51200, Expanded to ISO 409600
• 14 fps Shooting, 16 fps in Live View
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF and Movie Servo AF
• Built-In GPS, CFast & CF Card Slots

Overall image sensor performance

This is a well-deserved result for Canon, and this versatile sensor should prove attractive to a wide range of photographers, including those that work in multiple disciplines. The wide dynamic range at low ISOs should appeal to all photographers, but especially those using it for landscapes, and the low noise at high ISOs will also appeal to action and sports photographers.

Nikon D850

Product Highlights

• 7MP FX-Format BSI CMOS Sensor
• EXPEED 5 Image Processor
• 2″ 2.36m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
• 4K UHD Video Recording at 30 fps
• Multi-CAM 20K 153-Point AF System
• Native ISO: 64-25600,Extended: 32-102400
• 7 fps Shooting for 51 Frames with AE/AF
• 8K Time-Lapse, Negative Digitizer Mode
• 180k-Pixel RGB Sensor, Focus Shift Mode
• SnapBridge Bluetooth and Wi-Fi

Overall image sensor performance

The introduction of the first BSI sensor in a full-frame Nikon DSLR with a super-high 45.7Mp resolution puts the Nikon D850’s image quality on par with, and often better than, medium-format cameras. The first DSLR to hit 100 points — rather apt for Nikon’s hundredth anniversary year — puts the Nikon D850 in a class of its own for image quality. At base ISO, it’s unrivaled for color in the DSLR class, and its headline dynamic range score is outstanding, too. Against the competitor high-resolution options from Sony and Canon, the D850 offers either better or close to comparable image quality throughout the ISO range. Although its headline ISO score doesn’t quite achieve the same lofty heights overall, it’s still a very capable performer at high ISO sensitivities, too. So if you’re looking for the best image quality at low ISOs, at significantly less cost than a digital medium-format camera, the Nikon D850 looks like the camera you’ve been waiting for.

Nikon D5

Product Highlights

• 8MP FX-Format CMOS Sensor
• EXPEED 5 Image Processor
• 2″ 2.36m-Dot Touchscreen LCD Monitor
• 4K UHD Video Recording at 30 fps
• Multi-CAM 20K 153-Point AF System
• Native ISO: 100-102400, Extended: 50-3280000
• 12 fps Shooting for 200 Shots with AE/AF
• 180k-Pixel RGB Sensor and Group Area AF
• 14-Bit Raw Files and 12-Bit Raw S Format
• 1000 Base-T Gigabit Wired LAN Support

Overall image sensor performance

In terms of sensor resolution, the Nikon D5 now matches the admittedly aging Canon EOS 1Ds Mk II, a camera still widely used for magazine features (think double-page spreads) as well as commercial photography. While it’s true that models such as the Nikon D810 (and the Canon EOS 5DS and SR) are arguably more suited now for that kind of work, the Nikon D5 nonetheless represents a tipping point in all-around capability. With its excellent sensor performance, phenomenal AF system, impressive burst rate, and durable build. The Nikon D5 is clearly optimized to appeal to those targeted by the company’s marketing department, yet its capabilities should also entice other kinds of photographers, whether they own a Nikon D810 or not.

Sony Alpha a7R III

Product Highlights

• 42MP Full-Frame Exmor R BSI CMOS Sensor
• BIONZ X Image Processor & Front-End LSI
• 399-Point AF System & 10 fps Shooting
• UHD 4K30p Video with HLG & S-Log3 Gammas
• 69m-Dot Tru-Finder OLED EVF
• 0″ 1.44m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
• 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization
• ISO 102400 & Pixel Shift Multi Shooting
• Built-In Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, Dual SD Slots
• USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type-C Port & PC Sync Port

Overall image sensor performance

The Sony A7R III achieves an overall DxOMark sensor score of 100 points, the same as the Nikon D850. This makes it the highest-scoring mirrorless system camera to date, beating the A7R II by two points. Naturally, this means that the sub-scores are also very good, and the sensor can indeed capture a wide dynamic range with good color, but it’s the Sports (Low-Light ISO) score that particularly impresses at ISO 3523. This is the fourth-highest value we’ve ever recorded — beaten only by the sensors in the medium-format Hasselblad X1D-50C and Pentax 645Z, and by the 12Mp full-frame Sony A7S II. The size and pixel count of these sensors means that the photoreceptors are in principle significantly bigger than those in the 42Mp A7R III, which gives them an advantage for light gathering and noise control.

Sony alpha a9

Product Highlights

• 2MP Full-Frame Stacked CMOS Sensor
• BIONZ X Image Processor & Front-End LSI
• 693-Point AF System & 20 fps Shooting
• Blackout-Free Quad-VGA 3.7m-Dot OLED EVF
• Internal UHD 4K Video Recording
• 5-Axis SteadyShot INSIDE Stabilization
• 0″ 1.44m-Dot Tilting Touchscreen LCD
• ISO 204,800, Silent Electronic Shutter
• Built-In Wi-Fi/Bluetooth, Dual SD Slots
• Integrated LAN and PC Sync Terminals

Overall image sensor performance

The Sony a9’s sensor ranks as one of the best we’ve tested at base ISO, with consistently good scores for dynamic range and color depth, and exceptional results for noise. At those crucial mid to high ISO sensitivities for action photographers, image quality is also excellent and on par with flagship Nikon and Canon sports DSLRs.

Entry-Level Camera list:

Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Product Highlights

• 2MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor
• DIGIC 7 Image Processor
• 45-Point All-Cross Type AF System
• Full HD Video at 60 fps; Digital IS
• 3″ 1.04m-Dot Vari-Angle Touchscreen LCD
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF and Movie Servo AF
• Native ISO 40000, Expanded to ISO 102400
• 5 fps Shooting; Time-Lapse & HDR Movie
• Built-In GPS, Bluetooth & Wi-Fi with NFC
• Dust and Water-Resistant; SD Card Slot

Overall image sensor performance

Canon’s 6D proved a popular and affordable DSLR for serious-enthusiasts looking to step up to full-frame or pros after an affordable second body. Its sensor performance continues the upward trend for Canon chips too, although it doesn’t quite hit the dizzy heights of Canon’s best sensor to date in the 5D Mark IV. This is a result of a notably lower dynamic range recorded by the 6D Mark II at base ISO, which is a concern for photographers after the best image quality in good light. From ISO 800, dynamic range is much closer to the performance of semi-pro rivals such as the Nikon D750 and Sony A7 II, however, with good color sensitivity at all settings and well-controlled noise the 6D Mark II lends itself better to low light photography.

Nikon D750 DSLR

Product Highlights

• 3MP FX-Format CMOS Sensor
• EXPEED 4 Image Processor
• 2″ 1,229k-Dot RGBW Tilting LCD Monitor
• Full HD 1080p Video Recording at 60 fps
• Multi-CAM 3500FX II 51-Point AF Sensor
• Native ISO 12800, Extended to ISO 51200
• Continuous Shooting Up to 6.5 fps
• 91k-Pixel RGB Sensor and Group Area AF
• Built-In Wi-Fi Connectivity
• Time Lapse Shooting & Exposure Smoothing

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