Cover photo by Megan Bucknall on Unsplash
A camera is an essential marketing tool that gives real estate professionals the ability to capture high-quality images and videos that they can use to market a property. This guide will provide our list of the Best Cameras for Real Estate Photography in 2023.
If you’re planning to buy a new camera for your business as a realtor, property manager, real estate investor, or real estate photographer, this is the perfect read to help you make your purchase decision.
What Do You Need in a Real Estate Photography Camera?
1. DSLR vs Mirrorless
DSLR cameras are the favored choice for real estate photography. These cameras allow the photographer the greatest flexibility, ease of use, and settings options.
Point and shoot, also called compact cameras, don’t allow you to change the settings, which will be essential to getting high quality photos. Film cameras are obviously useless.
The only other viable option is mirrorless cameras, which are more cutting edge, smaller, and generally more expensive. The only reason a realtor may opt for a mirrorless camera is for 6K or 8K video, which may be worthwhile for luxury real estate.
Real estate photographers may want to purchase a mirrorless camera simply as a status symbol. You may find yourself justifying the added expense with a “dress for the job you want” rationale.
2. 4K Video + HD Photos
Real estate photography does require 4K video if you want to do it right. Ensure that whatever camera you buy has this feature, as well as HD photography.
If you’re a real estate photographer, you’ll need to offer these services. If you’re a real estate professional doing your own photography, using 4K video could lead to increased commissions over time.
3. Wide-Angle and Tilt-Shift Lenses
Wide-angle lenses are the standard DSLR camera lenses and essential to real estate photography. You’ll especially need wide angle lenses indoors to capture as much of the space as possible.
Tilt-shift lenses may be considered a luxury, but their main use in architectural photography is to fix perspective distortion, which makes tall buildings appear to lean unnaturally. For panorama photography, a tilt-shift lens will fix the bending appearance of the image.
If you’re photographing commercial real estate or very large properties, a tilt-shift lens is worthwhile. If you’re shooting standard suburban properties, it may be an unnecessary splurge.
It’s important to note that you can fix perspective distortion with Photoshop. However, you will lose resolution and may have to crop your photos. Read this article for a full comparison.
Complete Real Estate Camera Packages by Price
To begin, we’re just going to give you the straight product lists for real estate photography kits according to your overall budget. To find out more about the reasoning behind many of these choices, read on.
Professional Real Estate Photography Kit ($7000-$10,000+)
- Canon EOS R5 Body ($3200)
- Canon TS-E 24mm f/3.5L II Ultra Wide Tilt-Shift Lens ($1630)
- Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens ($610)
- DJI Mavic 3 Cine Premium Combo ($5000)
- 2-Pack of LP-E6NH Batteries and Dual Battery Charger ($90)
- SONY Cfexpress Tough Memory Card ($140)
- NEEWER 74" Pro Video Tripod with Fluid Head ($160)
- Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod, Black ($25)
- PIXEL Wireless Shutter Release Timer Remote Control ($50)
- PGYTECH OneMo Camera Backpack 25L with Shoulder Bag ($180)
Total for Complete Package: $11,085
Semi-Professional Real Estate Photography Kit ($4000-$7000)
- Nikon D850 FX-Format Digital SLR Camera Body ($2500)
- Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED ($900)
- Autel Robotics EVO Lite Plus Premium Bundle ($1200)
- Battery Grip for Nikon D850 DSLR Camera ($55)
- Nikon EN-EL15c Rechargeable Li-ion Battery ($65)
- NEEWER 74" Pro Video Tripod with Fluid Head ($160)
- SONY Cfexpress Tough Memory Card ($140)
- Pixel TW-283 E3 Wireless Shutter Release ($40)
- Manfrotto PIXI Mini Tripod, Black ($25)
- PGYTECH OneMo Camera Backpack 25L with Shoulder Bag ($180)
Total for Complete Package: $5265
Amateur Real Estate Photography Kit ($2000-$4000)
- Canon EOS REBEL SL3 Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm Lens kit* ($750)
- Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens ($610)
- DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo ($510)
- 2-Pack of LP-E6NH Batteries and Dual Battery Charger ($90)
- SONY Cfexpress Tough Memory Card ($140)
- NEEWER 74" Pro Video Tripod with Fluid Head ($160)
- PIXEL Wireless Shutter Release Timer Remote Control ($50)
- PGYTECH OneMo Camera Backpack 25L with Shoulder Bag ($180)
Total for Complete Package: $2490
Top Cameras by Brand for Real Estate Photography
A great way to filter out the many camera options available in the market is by looking at the top brands and focusing on the top-performing and best-reviewed product that they offer.
We’ve researched three of the most famous brands in the photography industry to help you filter out the best camera for your real estate business in 2023.
Best Canon Camera for Real Estate Photography
Canon EOS R5
Photo by Dollar Gill on Unsplash
Real estate photographers trust Canon more than any other brand. Released back in August 2020, the Canon EOS R5 is still arguably the best Mirrorless Camera on the market.
Usability-wise, the camera offers all the functional features you would expect from a high-end Canon Camera, matched by high-end internal chips that allow the device to perform exceptionally well.
The camera is perfect for still photography and can capture 8K quality videos, meeting all the target criteria you would need for a camera for real estate photography. This camera will most likely outperform all the others on this list, but it does come with its own list of cons.
The price point of the Canon EOS R5 is usually in the $3,000 + range, and if you include all the accessories, it’s easy to see you spending around $4,000 to $5,000 for a complete kit. The mirrorless design also means you’ll need to purchase different lenses to take advantage of the camera fully.
If you plan to capture 8K videos, you may want to pair your camera with a similarly performing memory card with ample storage to match the high data requirement when recording.
Overall, the Canon EOS R5 is a perfect purchase for a semi-professional photographer looking to make a significant investment in their camera. Although the camera does feature exceptional Autofocus features that will produce seamless setting changes when used, you’ll still need some experience to fully take advantage of this camera.
If you’re a beginner with little to no skill in photography, you may want to opt for the beginner-friendly cameras we have featured on this list.
About the Camera:
Price: $3,899
Release Date: Jul 2020
Body Type: SLR-style mirrorless
Max Resolution: 8192 x 5464
Effective Pixels: 45 Megapixels
Best Video Mode: 8192 x 4320 @ 30 fps
Reviews:
Best Nikon Camera for Real Estate Photography
Nikon Z 50
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash
When looking at Nikon cameras, the Best Camera for Real Estate Photography is the Nikon Z 50. This compact mirrorless camera is a stand-out choice for buyers looking at the mid-tier category for real estate cameras.
The Z 50 features 4K video quality of up to 30 fps and a 20 MP camera perfect for capturing stills. Whether you plan to use this for images or video, the camera does well in both categories.
Depending on the inclusions of your purchase, you can get this camera for as low as $1,250, making it ideal for entry-level photographers looking to purchase their first camera.
If you buy the additional lenses, you’ll have to pay an additional $200 to $750, but they can be well worth it if you plan to add some variety to the type of images you can capture.
About the Camera:
Price: $859
Release Date: Oct 2019
Body Type: SLR-style mirrorless
Max Resolution: 5568 x 3712
Effective Pixels: 21 Megapixels
Best Video Mode: 3840 x 2160 @ 30 fps
Best Sony Camera for Real Estate Photography
Sony a7 III
Photo by Clint Patterson on Unsplash
The third option for the best camera for realtors is Sony’s a7 III, an upper mid-range camera that comes with impressive specs and a competitive price point.
Although not the cheapest on the list, the a7 III captures high-definition images thanks to its 24.2 MP perfectly matched with a full-frame sensor coupled with high-end image processors.
The camera is perfect for landscape photography, capturing wide-angle shots of neighborhoods. You can also produce production-quality videos with up to 4K resolution with ten fps continuous shooting speed.
The Sony a7 III comes in a mirrorless design with an SLR-Type body type that can be used with interchangeable lenses. This allows the photographer to use different attachments to better suit the image you would like to capture.
Although a bit dated, as it was released in 2018, the camera is still a perfect choice for new real estate photographers looking to up their image capture game.
About the Camera:
Price: $2,000
Release Date: Feb 2018
Body Type: SLR-style mirrorless
Max Resolution: 6000 x 4000
Effective Pixels: 24 Megapixels
Best Video Mode: 3840 x 2160 @ 30 fps
Reviews:
Best Fujifilm Camera for Real Estate Photography
Fujifilm X100V
Photo by Reyazul Haque on Unsplash
The only compact camera on our list, the Fujifilm X100V is the perfect beginner camera for those with little to no photography skills. In my opinion, you shouldn’t be using this for everyday real estate photography.
However, it is a good backup option in case you want a bit more quality than your smartphone provides. For example, maybe your real estate photographer forgot to capture a specific detail on a luxury property.
It would also be a good option for those who want a decent real estate camera that doubles as a compact travel camera.
This 24.3 MP camera offers the best out-of-the-box image quality and allows you to skip the hassle of swapping between different lenses.
The lightweight design also makes it quite portable, and can easily fit in your work bag without taking up too much space. This makes it ideal for street photography and pulling it out for impromptu shoots while you’re on the road.
The Fujifilm X100V is a great camera option for those who want to buy a camera and start using it without having to watch hours of tutorial videos on how to adjust settings or focus your lenses.
About the Camera:
Price: $1,399
Release Date: Feb 2020
Body Type: Large sensor compact
Max Resolution: 6240 x 4160
Effective Pixels: 26 Megapixels
Best Video Mode: 4096 x 2160 @ 30fps
Reviews:
Overall Best Real Estate Camera
Still need help figuring out which is the Best Camera for Real Estate Photography? We’ve created an interactive table below to provide a side-by-side comparison of each camera’s various features.
Canon Eos R5
Price: $3,899
Release Date: Jul 2020
Body Type: SLR-style mirrorless
Max Resolution: 8192 x 5464
Effective Pixels: 45 Megapixels
Best Video Mode: 8192 x 4320 @ 30 fps
Nikon Z50
Price: $859
Release Date: Oct 2019
Body Type: SLR-style mirrorless
Max Resolution: 5568 x 3712
Effective Pixels: 21 Megapixels
Best Video Mode: 3840 x 2160 @ 30 fps
Sony A7 III
Price: $2,000
Release Date: Feb 2018
Body Type: SLR-style mirrorless
Max Resolution: 6000 x 4000
Effective Pixels: 24 Megapixels
Best Video Mode: 3840 x 2160 @ 30 fps
Fujifilm X100V
Price: $1,399
Release Date: Feb 2020
Body Type: Large sensor compact
Max Resolution: 6240 x 4160
Effective Pixels: 26 Megapixels
Best Video Mode: 4096 x 2160 @ 30fps
Best Affordable Camera for Real Estate Photography
In most instances, the best cheap camera for real estate photography will be the one you already have.
Having worked and developed successful real estate websites, clients asking me what would be a good camera for both videos and images has been a recurring question. My answer has always been the same, the camera you have on your phone will work fine.
Best Phone Camera for Real Estate Photography
Apple iPhone 13 Pro
Photo by David Švihovec on Unsplash
The iPhone 13 Pro features an excellent 3-lens design that captures high-quality photos and 4K videos with up to 30 fps.
If you prefer a larger screen, you can go with the Pro Max, but if you’re only looking at the camera, both phones have the same specs. Although the iPhone 14 Pro has a technically better camera specification, the overall results are pretty similar.
The price difference won’t warrant getting the newer model if you only look at the camera quality.
Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra
Photo by Zana Latif on Unsplash
If you prefer Android, the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra is your best bet if you’re looking for the Best Phone Camera for Realtors in 2023. The Galaxy S22 Ultra is a definite stand-out in the Smartphone category offering up to 8K video resolution and a 108 MP primary back camera.
Overall Best Smartphone Camera for Realtors
On paper, the flagship Samsung Phone has better specs than its counterpart, but most comparison reviews note down areas where the iPhone 13 Pro performs better.
The S22 Ultra wins regarding low-light conditions and images taken with 3x zoom and higher. Interior shots of homes are a definite win for the S22 Ultra.
Image Quality
The Samsung S22 Ultra captures more details and produces sharper images when taking ultra wide shots and when used for outdoor street photography.
The iPhone, however, offers better macro settings allowing for more vibrant and aesthetically pleasing pictures. Although you can say the S22 produces better quality images, for the purposes of showcasing listings, this would be a win for the iPhone 13 Pro.
Video Quality
You’ll find the biggest difference between these two phones in video quality. The iPhone 13 Pro offers better video stabilization, thanks to its Dolby Atmos and ProRes support features. This means when taking videos where you’re moving, for example, when you’re in your car touring a neighborhood, you’ll be better off with an iPhone.
The Samsung S22 Ultra comes with 8K Video support, while the iPhone 13 Pro is limited to 4K. Although the stabilization settings for the S22 Ultra are relatively poor, especially when set to 8K resolution, you can easily offset this by using a tripod.
If you plan to record static videos with your phone, then the S22 would be better not only in quality but also in terms of SEO. Having an 8K video, especially on YouTube, is a definite plus when it comes to ranking.
iPhone vs Samsung Overview
Overall, both phones can easily accomplish the needs of a real estate camera in 2023. There is no hard winner in any of the categories we look at when considering a good real estate camera, and your buying decision will most likely come down to preference. If you’re an iPhone user, stick to the iPhone 13 Pro, while Android users should opt for the Samsung S22 Ultra.
Drone Cameras for Realtors
If you’ve read up to this point, you might be asking: Hey, I thought this list was for the 7 best cameras for real estate photos. How come you only showcased 6?
Well, the 7th option is drones, and we’ve written an in-depth blog post regarding The Best Drones for Real Estate Photography. Click the link now to learn which drone is perfect for you.
Best Camera Accessories for Real Estate Photographers
Extra Batteries
Probably the most important camera accessory you’ll need in your camera bag. Additional batteries let you continue taking pictures or shooting videos without waiting for your camera to charge. If you’re planning on taking as many photos of a property, you’re sure to need at least a couple of extra batteries.
Camera Tripod
A camera tripod provides the stability you need when capturing multiple shots of a single frame. It is also great when you’re recording a video of yourself showcasing a property or neighborhood while having a stable background.
Lenses
Depending on what type of image you plan to capture, you may want to pick up a few lenses to enable you to capture different types of shots. We’ve produced a Best Lens for Real Estate Photography in 2023 blog post to help guide you on which lenses you should purchase for your new camera.
Memory Cards
Memory cards are essential, especially if you capture 4k videos and HD images. High-quality media files take up a lot of storage, and swapping between memory cards is an efficient way of capturing these without having to connect your camera and transfer files to your laptop whenever you fill up your camera storage.
Remote Shutter Release
A remote shutter release is an excellent tool, especially for photographers planning to shoot alone. You can easily capture images or videos with you without walking to and from your camera repeatedly.
There are several remote shutters that you can purchase online, but make sure you buy one that’s compatible with the camera you’re using.
How to Best Use Your New Real Estate Camera
So you’ve equipped yourself with a new camera for your real estate business; what’s next? Well, you need to start capturing images and recording videos, and we’re here to help!
Below are a few video guides I produced a while back reviewing effective strategies for using videos and images for your real estate business.
The video below features our review of Jo & Co. Realty Group. Learn how they were able to generate 121 real estate transactions in 12 months using the Power of Video!
Taking pictures is only the first step on your real estate photography journey. The next is figuring out how to leverage these fantastic photos and convert them into traffic for your website and leads for your business.
Our 20 On-Page Real Estate SEO Strategies blog posts detail effective online strategies for your real estate business. Learn how to optimize the images you produce and take your organic marketing to the next level by ranking for the top image searches on Google today!
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