There are many available options across multiple reputable camera brands; it can make selecting the “right one” seem nearly impossible. But what exactly is the right camera to use for something like property photography? Considerations for your most common uses need to be made; thinking about various lighting capabilities, reliability during times of high-volume, or ease of use with wide-angle perspectives. Finding the perfect camera for capturing stunning property photos can seem like a daunting task, but this is how we came to our choices to make your listings look their best
Considering The Budget
We can’t count how many times we see someone saying “gear doesn’t matter” while they shoot on a multi-thousand dollar setup. For just starting out, the best camera is the one that you have in front of you. As needs evolve, you’ll want to evaluate how much you can spend and what features accompany that price. We found when starting out that many necessary features for high-quality photography are available on a very introductory camera for under $1,000; an investment that can be made back after just two or three listing shoots. Higher budgets for higher-end clients will put you where Messner Media ended up - just over $3,000 for the camera body. We think it is well worth it knowing what it can do for our photos, but we’ll get into that later. The most important thing is that you don’t overspend upfront until you understand how to use the features you’re paying for.
Look For a Full-Frame Sensor
There are two types of sensors in all cameras: the APS-C crop sensor, and the Full-Frame. Crop sensors are beneficial from a price-point perspective, but limit your ability to capture enough light and get wide-enough of an angle with most camera lenses. When it comes to real estate photography, having a camera with a Full-Frame sensor is key. Full-frame sensors capture more light and detail than crop sensors, resulting in higher-quality images with better dynamic range and low-light performance. Cameras like the Canon R5, the Sony A7, and the Nikon Z6 are great Full-Frame options.
Consider Resolution and Megapixels
Most real estate photographers do not have to worry about having the absolute best resolution. They need something that can get properties on the MLS and nothing more, so between 20-30 megapixels may be the answer. Messner Media takes it a few steps further than that. We offer Custom Marketing Kits and Property Websites with optimized print media for agents to incorporate in their advertising. We want our listings in Bozeman, Big Sky, and all of Montana to have the highest-quality media out there. For this reason, we rely on a heavy-hitter camera with 45 effective megapixels that capture every detail of the property. Higher resolution cameras may seem appealing to start with, but they do produce larger file sizes which can be cumbersome to work with in volume.
Look for Wide-Angle Capabilities
Camera Lenses are the other piece of the puzzle when it comes to building out the proper setup. Real estate photography often involves capturing wide shots of interior spaces to showcase the layout and features of a property, plus we always throw in detail-oriented shots that focus on interior design and some of the more “Montana” elements of a listing. Almost every camera will allow for interchangeable lenses, and there are two that we recommend on a Full-Frame camera. The most important will be the 16-35mm lens, allowing for those interior wides with some flexibility to create more depth at higher focal lengths. We also bring a 24-105mm for getting up close and personal with details or creating compression in exterior photos.
Consider Ease of Use and Portability
Finally, consider factors such as ease of use and portability when choosing a camera for real estate photography. Look for a camera that is intuitive to use, with user-friendly controls and menus that make it easy to adjust settings on the fly. Portability is also important, especially if you're shooting multiple properties in a single day or need to travel with your camera (Montana is anything but congested so we do a lot of driving). We opt for a camera that is lightweight and compact, allowing us to move quickly and efficiently between shoots.
Eventually after considering all aspects of the job, we landed on the Canon R5. It’s 45 megapixel Full-Frame sensor, lightweight body, low-light performance, and compatibility with a range of different lenses make it the perfect option for shooting both volume and quality for real estate professionals of Montana. This is a good starting point for getting interior and exterior listing photos, but it doesn’t even scratch the surface of selecting the drone we use for our Aerial Media. Montana demands media of all types and we are happy to provide them.