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2025 Landscape Photography Gear Guide: https://www.alexarmitage.com/2025-landscape-photography-gear-guide
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Landscape photography is one of the most accessible genres of photography to get into. You don’t need big lenses, expensive primes, studio lights, or massive apertures. All you really need is a camera and a lens to start taking incredible images. Through this guide I’ll be covering general recommendations with budget in mind. If you’re someone who’s likely to spend over $2000 on their first camera, this guide likely isn’t for you. Ideally the goal is to recommend the best equipment you can get for the value. This includes buying used or utilizing markets such as eBay and Facebook marketplace on equipment such as tripods, bags, and other accessories.
This entire guide is written with landscape photography as the goal. This means things like image quality will heavily outweigh autofocus, or weight/size will be a bigger priority than a large aperture. My approach is quite minimal considering the majority of my own work can be taken on just a camera and two lenses. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying gear, but it also feels great to know we can accomplish a lot with very little!
Photographers in this video:
David Thompson – https://davidthompsonphotography.com
Ben Maze – https://benmazefineart.com
Murray Livingston – https://murraylivingston.com
Jakob LR – https://jakoblr.com
Nick Page – https://nickpagephotography.com
Marc Adamus – https://marcadamus.com
Ryan Dyar – https://ryandyar.com
Sarah Marino – https://photos.smallscenes.com/Sarah
Brie Stockwell – https://wildwomanphotography.com
Michele Sons – https://michelesons.com
𝐒𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐬
Website: https://alexarmitage.com
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Discord Community: https://discord.gg/NEsSB7ArKW
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Camera/Video 𝐆𝐞𝐚𝐫 (Affiliate Links)
𝐅𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐆𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐲 𝐎𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 : https://www.alexarmitage.com/gear
Colored Magnetic Filters: https://mavenfilters.com/aff/12/
New Photography Camera: https://geni.us/Canon-R5
New Video Camera: https://geni.us/Canon-R7
Drone: https://geni.us/Mavic-2Pro
Old Video Camera: https://geni.us/FujiXT4Body
Vanlife 𝐆𝐞𝐚𝐫
Fridge: https://geni.us/campfridge
Power/Battery: https://geni.us/campbattery
USB Fan: https://geni.us/USBThinFan
Clothes Pack Cubes: https://geni.us/ClothesPackingCubes
Car Mirror: https://geni.us/CampingMirror
Toiletry Bag: https://geni.us/ToiletryBag
Window Nets: https://geni.us/WindowNets
Black Hole Duffel: https://geni.us/BlackHoleDuffel
Electronic Organizer: https://geni.us/ElectronicOrganizer
Thermocell: https://geni.us/ThermoCell
Organizing Bag: https://geni.us/WaxOrganizerBag
Empty Spray Bottle: https://geni.us/EmptySprayBottle
Camp Light: https://geni.us/camplight
Quality USB Light: https://geni.us/QualityUSBLight
Affordable USB Light: https://geni.us/AffordableUSBLight
Car First Aid: https://geni.us/CarFirstAid
Portable Speaker: https://geni.us/JBLPortableSpeaker
Portable Power Strip: https://geni.us/PortablePowerStrip
Lens Cloths: https://geni.us/MicrofiberLensCloths
Camera Straps: https://geni.us/BigCameraStrap
Camera Wipes: https://geni.us/CameraCleaningWipes
Cooking 𝐆𝐞𝐚𝐫
Electric Tea Kettle: https://geni.us/ElectricBoil
Big Table: https://geni.us/campbigtable
Camp Stove: https://geni.us/everestcampstove
Cutting Board: https://geni.us/campcuttingboard
Measuring Cups: https://geni.us/MeasuringCups
Knife: https://geni.us/campknife
Knife Cover: https://geni.us/KnifeCover
Skillet: https://geni.us/camplegendskillet
Coffee Cups: https://geni.us/DurableCoffeeCup
Car Bowls: https://geni.us/DurableCampingBowls
Car Plates: https://geni.us/DurablePlates
Camping 𝐆𝐞𝐚𝐫
Camp Sporks: https://geni.us/SmallCampSporks
Long Camp Spork: https://geni.us/LongSpork
Jet Boil: https://geni.us/JetBoil
Hiking First Aid Kit: https://geni.us/HikingFirstAid
GPS: https://geni.us/GPS-Garmin66i
Binoculars: https://geni.us/VortexBinoculars
Walkie Talkies: https://geni.us/Motorola-T800
Aeropress: https://geni.us/AeroPressCamping
Osprey 24L: https://geni.us/OspreyStratos24
Mosquito Head Net: https://geni.us/MosquitoHeadNet
Portable Chair: https://geni.us/MoonliteChair
Hammock: https://geni.us/EnoDoubleHammock
Straps: https://geni.us/EnoStraps
This video is sponsored by Skillshare
Music (Typically) from Musicbed:
https://fm.pxf.io/c/3300666/1347628/16252
0:00 You Don’t Need Much
1:34 Minimalist Landscape Photography
3:10 What Camera Brand Should You Get?
8:24 Does Sensor Size Matter?
9:35 New or Used Camera?
13:53 What Focal Length Lens is Best For You?
16:50 Best Aperture for Landscape Photography
18:04 Primes vs Zoom Lenses
23:03 Tripods
25:38 Filters
27:32 Camera Batteries
27:58 Camera Bags
31:34 Before/After raws
source
Did I miss anything important and don't miss out – the first 500 people to use my link https://skl.sh/alexarmitage11241 will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare premium!
Disagree with some of the suggestions especially a tripod or UV filter, but hey it's his channel and his advice…
You got my sub and thumbs up! Excellent video!! Made me question myself on gear. Thank you!
The vast majority of my photos are with a 24-105 f4 I got for a mere 200 bucks. Second most used is a 40mm 2.8, a true normal super sharp prime. Also have a 150-600 for wildlife.. that's it. I upgraded to a 35mm f1.8 for the stabilizer for very low light handheld. Basically anything else would be excessive, you can't carry that many, nor do you want to, and only one fits on the camera at a time. Primes aren't worthless, but dont worry about huge aperture and just get a sharp one – image stabilizers are far more important for handheld lanscape. I like having at least a prime normal for an "as the eye sees it" lens that's a bit brighter. Not huge on ultra wide and so-so on super telephoto.
If you only take photo's , then any DSLR will suffice even with a kit lens. Perhaps invest in either one fast prime or one zoom
Also, use the lens hood to improve contrast and refuce flaring. Don't mount it backwards on the lens.
I watched too many YouTube influencers and ended up buying several lenses including some wide angle primes. After purchasing 12+ lenses, I realized I just needed two lenses. Now I carry 28-200mm and 150-600mm. I mostly shoot wildlife. Replacing the 150-600mm witth the Sony 200-600mm soon.
Mechanical engineer and photographer here. At 27:20, the about 10,000 x better protection of the front element is to use the lens hood correctly. An R5 with the RF 70-200 on it which is falling down only for 30 cm (≈1 ft), the front element facing into fall direction, hitting something edgy, breaks easily through the filter and smashes also your front element. Lens + filter gone 😱. The lens hood mounted correctly – pointing forward – acts like the crumple zone of your car. You might possibly need to replace the lens hood after such a fall, but lens and camera are ok. Besides, that slider window in the lens hood is supposed to operate a C-pol filter, when the lens hood is mounted correctly, pointing into front direction. The backwards position is for storage only. – I have no clue why all of the YouTuber landscape photographers don’t use the lens hood correctly. 🤷♂️ Along getting rid of sun flares, it has an intentional mechanical protection function.
This photography is stunning! Thank you for this insight 👍
I use a pin-hole camera – so does everyone – though mine also has some lenses – so does everyone’s.
Thanks for the quick shout out, Alex! Glad you like the Quiver Tree images and some great healthy advice for anyone suffering from a bought of G.A.S. this November. Cheers, Murray
A normal and a wide prime, a tiny but modern ASPC 24mp body – and I’m good to go. Light and cheap too.
Nice music.
Hi Alex, my first message to you. This video contains some of the most ingenious ideas and points I’ve seen in a long time (a short statement: – Camera this or lens that? You don’t need it – and then elaborate on it). But instead of focusing on it, you succumbed to the challenges of publishing more, combining more material, talk about different things and thus dissolving the power of your core message. I stayed with your video the whole length, don’t get me wrong, it’s just that the planning could have been better – you’ve mixed up too many things.
Keep it shorter, make more shorter videos on separate subjects each. Or longer, but stick to your main thing.
Agree. For things like burd-in-flight its different. But landscape does not require anything special for focusing or aperture. You could argue rez etc. But I agree, a phone works well and so too a FF dslr with some quality older lenses. Great time to be in Canon land with going over to mirrorless but having full compatibility with dslr still. But any quality brand will be fine. I got the R7 over a year ago for the birds mainly, but I like what I get on the occasional landscape image so I bought an old EF-S 10-22 and a Metabones 0.71x speedbooster to make it a wannabeFF . Love it. But one day I will get an R6ii or R5…. Because I want to, not need to
OMG! Finally someone who says what I’ve been saying for years… go to a camera store and pick up a camera. Feel the camera in your hand, try and navigate the menu system and what fits your budget. All of these cameras are great today. Some might be a little better at one thing over the other but it’s all about getting to know your camera. But remember, the best camera is the one you have with you, be it a DSLR, Mirrorless or even your iPhone. Great video!
Agree that less is more! Your combination of a super wide angel-zoom with moderate tele zoom is probably the most versatile combo you can bring along into the landscape. Therefore the RF 70-200 F4 L will probably be the next glass I will purchase. (I already have the RF 14-35 F4 L). If I will go very light onto a hike in our Swiss mountains I reduce my gear to just one lens: The RF 24-105 F4 L – you can do so much with just this one! But of course 14-35 + 70-200 gives you more opportunities.
This video is so needed! I'm glad you did this one Alex. I'm so tired of all these youtubers telling us 20 times in one video what model of camera they use and all that. I have actually geared down to Micro 4/3 and am perfectly happy. It gives me great quality and I'm not breaking my back carrying all that full frame stuff round. I noticed when I flew, that's for sure! The camera doesn't mean much, just have fun and shoot!
get a camera that feels good to you, and has lots of lenses that you'll like!
Make sure to turn off your lens' image stabilization when using tripod.
Great video ! I always buy my gear 2nd hand. Years ago I got a Canon 5D Mk III plus 3 lenses (all L-series) plus 10 CF cards for less than 2K USD from a professional photo-/videographer. He had switched from Canon to Sony. I was very lucky then and am still very happy with it in 2024 as I can use the Canon lenses nowadays on my Sony A7III (2nd hand) too. Saved me a lot of money in the long run. Cheers, Mike
Nice piece. Thank you!
10000% agree! Enjoying the physicality of your camera is essential
I don't think that having a good grip and nice menus are the only important things when choosing a camera. One of my deal breakers is that it has to have a USB C port so I can use the same cables that I use for my phone. Also I want a fully articulating screen for special angles and weather sealing so I don't have to worry much when the weather turns bad (at least for my main camera).
Choosing the right brand can be important when it comes to lens and accessory selection. You are more limited with some brands so It's a good idea to ask about it.
Wow! A great Alex adventure, lots of great images, and chock-a-bloc full of great advice. Thanks for this
Great video, cameras don’t make great images. Photographers do.
Great video Alex and I see where this would be a goto video for those starting out in landscape photography and not get bogged down in G.A.S. One thing, from what I can tell you don't seem to be a fan of lens hoods although you have them on your lenses like the 70-200 anyway. True?
70-200mm
20mm
All you need.
Don't waste your money on fullframe. Travel light but with full performance.
Thanks for telling the truth!
You’re right about buying bags and not using them. I have about 10 bags. 1/2 of them is emyin my closet
Good stuff. FWIW Galen Rowell said he could have done almost all his work with a 24mm and a 85mm.
As a very casual…well, I won't call myself a photographer…a snapshotist maybe, I just take a Canon SX50HS with me. (And a phone of course.) I don't throw out huge prints or anything, I just post on social media, so spending hundreds or more on cameras & lenses doesn't make sense for me For landscapy stuff I use the exposure bracketing feature on the camera that takes three different exposures and combines them in camera. I bike or hike and if I see a shot I like I put it on a light tripod, prop it against a tree, or sit it on a rock to steady it, and have gotten some nice shots. Like I said, if it's just going to FB, Inta or Flickr, where most people consume their images on phones or tablets or laptops, they look good enough. Takes pretty decent video too.
Most people don't buy photography equipment to take great photos or they need it. They just love to spend money on the hobby or passion that they like.
I carry way less! Even on pro jobs, I never carried all that gear! Please, nobody needs a new camera/lens! A good camera in the past, is still a good camera/lens! I still shoot film! My Leica M3 is 57 years in my use! The 50mm a little older! A 135mm or 35mm.Digital small sensors is all I use!!Oh! I do have a DSLR! Nikon D-50!! Only problem only uses 1gb SD card.Max! It;s still a few hundred exposures at 3000 x 2500.
28:46 Talking about bags. Inserts is a interesting solution I will look into.
No camera bag will suit me, as I need a mountain biking backpack, but as I needed lots of room I went for Evoc Explorer 30L Pro, as I needed the features it has, including tool compartment for tools and small spare parts, bike lock, helmet holder….
But to keep my camera and lens safe I put it in the mail compartment with elbow pads around it and a back protector plate on.
Evoc has photography backpacks too, but none that are both photography and mountain biking backpack in one. That's despite them being most known for mountain biking backpacks.
Great perspective. Enjoyed the video and the information was spot on.
I decided to return to photography after many years, I used fuji and sony before so this time I managed to get a store display A7rii for $800 with only 4k shutter counts!
I have a Canon 6D MK II for 5 years now. Still delivers. What did you have before the R5 that justified moving to the R5? You should also stop wasting money on gear
😉
ABSOLUTELY AGREE – Stop Wasting Money on Landscape Photography! Grab used D850, 24-70 and never look back.
Stop wasting money.
Continues showing 5000$ gear in 2 items
A terrific video for newbie photographers that will save them a small fortune and let them focus on what is most important — paying for trips!!!
So, my one and done lens is my 24-120mm f/4 Nikon. It's always on my Z5 for most everything including video. Turns out I wasn't done. I bought the awesome Viltrox 16mm f1.8 for landscape and night sky photography. Still not done. I also bought the Viltrox 27mm f/1.2 APS-c lens, which on my full frame Z5 in DX mode gives me 40.5mm, for my normal and low light lens, though I only get 10 megapixels in crop mode. And finally there's my AF-S 80-400mm G ED with 1.4 teleconverter and FTZ adapter for wildlife. I hope I'm done…
I bought Canon 1d mk iv shutter count 26000 for 450€. Gigapixel 8 ai and i can crop and zoom like a pro and nobody knows its 16 Megapixels 😏
"This is what I have to deal with….She's great." 😂😂😂
I still use Canon 7D and Canon 5D Mark ll, I photographed Bled with 7D and I am satisfied with the photos, of course, I am not a professional. Great video, thanks!
£4000 for a minimalist landscape set up canon R & RF