Best gear for landscape photography

If you’re looking to buy your first mirrorless camera, and landscape photography is the main – or perhaps only – genre you want to pursue, remember that it can involve plenty of walking, hiking and occasionally climbing, so it’s essential to keep your kit light, as this will make such a difference when you’re carrying it around all day. For a full-frame model, good options include the Nikon Z5II, Z5IIC, Z6III and Zf.

Alternatively, DX cameras use smaller sensors than FX models and are generally more compact and affordable, making them a great option if you travel frequently or want to keep your kit weight to a minimum. If that sounds like you, take a look at the Nikon Z30, Z50II or Zfc.

Lenses

When it comes to deciding which lens, or lenses, to buy, your choice can completely transform the way a landscape will look. A wide-angle lens is a classic choice, as it captures more of the scene and emphasises space, scale and depth. Think sweeping mountain ranges, expansive coastlines and dramatic skies. But don’t feel that you have to only go wide with landscapes, as longer focal lengths are perfect for isolating details, compressing layers, simplifying busy landscapes and making distant elements appear more prominent and closer to you within the composition. That’s why a versatile zoom, rather than a prime, is your best choice when starting out with landscape photography. It will give you a range of focal lengths in one lens, meaning greater flexibility and less kit to carry.

Nikon Z mount FX lenses can be used on both FX and DX cameras, while DX lenses are designed specifically for DX bodies.

When buying FX lenses specifically for landscape photography, ideal options include the NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S for sweeping, ultra-wide images. Or if you want one lens to cover more situations, consider the lightweight NIKKOR Z 24-105mm f/4-7.1, NIKKOR Z 24-120mm f/4 S or the wider ranging NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR. The professional NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S II is an excellent option if image quality and a bright constant aperture take priority over keeping your kit as light as possible.

If you’re using a Nikon DX camera, look for lenses marked DX, which are designed specifically for their smaller sensor and tend to be smaller, lighter and more affordable. Here, you may like to consider the NIKKOR Z DX 12-28mm f/3.5-5.6 PZ VR, which gives you an ultra-wide view that works particularly well for expansive landscapes, or the compact and versatile NIKKOR Z DX 16-50mm f/3.5-6.3 VR, which is a superb lightweight everyday option that’s ideal for multiple genres. Likewise, the wide-ranging NIKKOR Z DX 18-140mm f/3.5-6.3 VR offers a much broader focal range if you want one lens that can handle everything from wide landscapes to distant details. You can also pair FX lenses with a DX camera without an adapter. Just remember that because the DX sensor captures a smaller portion of the image, you’ll get a 1.5x crop in the angle of view. So, for example, a 50mm lens on a DX camera gives you roughly the same field of view as a 75mm lens on an FX camera.

Accessories

If you have the inclination, space and strength to carry more, there are a few extra accessories that every landscape enthusiast shouldn’t be without.

Filters

When you’re ready to progress your skills, investing in a few filters for your lens can make a big difference to your creative possibilities and image quality. First of all, a polarising filter reduces glare and reflections from surfaces such as water and wet foliage, helping colours to appear richer and more saturated. It can also deepen blue skies. If you’re interested in capturing movement in nature, a variable ND (neutral density) filter is another useful addition. It reduces the amount of light entering the lens, allowing you to use slower shutter speeds even in brighter conditions. This is particularly useful for smoothing moving water, blurring clouds or creating a sense of movement within the landscape.

Remote release

Every landscape photographer has been here: you’ve diligently set up your camera on a tripod for stability but, after pressing the shutter button, you realise the image is still blurred. That’s because even the lightest touch can introduce tiny vibrations, which can register as blur when you’re using slower shutter speeds, such as when photographing in low light or trying to capture movement. The answer is to release the shutter without physically touching the camera, which you can do with a remote release. Alternatively, you can use your camera’s self-timer or the free Nikon SnapBridge app to take the picture.

Tripod

A tripod is one of the most useful accessories for landscape photography. It keeps the camera steady when you’re using slower shutter speeds to capture movement, such as cascading waterfalls or clouds moving across the sky, as well as star trails at night. It’s also useful when working at longer focal lengths and gives you the freedom to use lower ISO settings for a cleaner image with less noise, or smaller apertures for greater depth of field, without worrying about camera shake, particularly when the light begins to fade.

Setting your camera on a tripod also encourages you to slow down, refine your framing and compose with purpose. Many lightweight tripods are made from carbon fibre, which offers a good balance between strength and portability. Some also include a counterweight hook beneath the centre column, which you can hang your camera bag from for added stability in windy conditions. Look for a tripod with a useful range of working heights and independently adjustable legs, particularly if you want to photograph scenes or details close to ground level. A built-in spirit level can help keep your horizons straight, while a head or base that rotates through 360° is handy for panoramas, including those of the night sky.

Spare battery

Landscape photography can mean long days outdoors, perhaps miles from home, and often in cold weather, which can drain batteries more quickly. That’s why it’s a good idea to carry at least one fully charged spare, particularly if you’re heading somewhere remote or the temperature is dropping.

Lens cloth and weather protection

While many Nikon mirrorless cameras and lenses feature sealing to help protect against dust and moisture, they are not completely waterproof. What’s more, rain can quickly leave dirty marks on the front of your lens, so in wet weather, attach your lens hood, keep a microfibre cloth within easy reach and a consider a rain cover that can also help protect your camera and lens if a light shower turns into a downpour.

For all the very best landscape tips, tricks and techniques, check out our ‘Guide to landscape photography’ here.