High quality real estate photography helps attract business and the interest of potential buyers. Having the right camera and equipment for taking great pictures of a property is crucial.
Taking clear and detailed photos requires some specific features in a camera as well as the skills of a real estate photographer. As there are countless camera options and camera setups available in the market, it is easy to buy an unsuitable model for your needs, especially if you are new to real estate photography.
1. Photo Quality – High-quality pictures are paramount if you are a professional real estate photographer or a real estate agent. Make sure you choose a camera with features mentioned below which gives you good quality pictures.
2. Versatility – Almost all DSLR cameras allow you to swap lenses. You can select from wide-angle lenses, zoom lenses, or macro lenses, depending what you need.
3. Low-Light Performance – Choose from cameras that provide multiple options for adjustments regarding white balance, aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings. The right combination of these options creates excellent images in any lighting conditions.
4. Video (1080p HD) – Look for cameras that are great for shooting video tours. They possess the ability to attach a wide-angle lens just by switching out a single component.
Now that you know the basics of what to look for a camera to use for real estate photography, here's a list of the best cameras in the market which you can consider if you want to get into real estate photography:
The Nikon D850 is one of the most versatile cameras with remarkable features. It is a full-frame, high-resolution budget-friendly camera with a 45.7 megapixel BSI sensor. The Nikon D850 comes without an optical low pass filter, which gives better-detailed pictures than other sensors.
The Canon 5D Mark IV is excellent for handling low light situations. This full-frame sensor camera body has a 30.4MP capacity and ISO of up to 32,000. It can also capture 4K video and captures dual pixel raw images. The camera allows you to make small adjustments to the point of focus after having taken the photo. Syncing up the camera to other devices is effortless, and the Wi-Fi capability is impressive for wireless tethering.
The Canon EOS M50 is a mirrorless camera in general with an APS-C that delivers 24.1 megapixels. The M50 has outstanding autofocus, and it's equipped with 4k video quality. This camera is recommended more for indoor shooting, and the large LCD flip screen allows you to shoot comfortably from every angle.
The Canon 6D Mark II is a great full-framed, mid-level camera with a 26MP sensor. It is suitable for real estate photography and can shoot 4K video. This camera is ideal for shooting on a tripod and layering bracketed images in Photoshop.
The Sony a7 III is one of the best mirrorless and full-frame cameras offering 24MP, and the a7 IIIR offering 42MP. One of this camera's best features is the in-body stabilization, which allows stabilization regardless of the lens. This is key while capturing handheld low light photos in a property that doesn't have much natural light.
The Nikon D750 is an excellent option for those looking for a budget-friendly camera for real estate photography. It is equipped with a 24MP resolution, a full-frame sensor, and built-in Wi-Fi. This camera has highlight-weighted metering, which allows the camera to meter light differently based on the highlights in the frame. Having this feature allows for better control over bright areas that often are part of interior space, such as the windows.
The Panasonic Lumix GH5 is best for high-quality videos of interiors or buildings. It has 4k and 60p video qualities along with a 30ps shooting rate and 18 MP. This model comes with a large OLED viewfinder.
The Fujifilm X-T20 comes with a cropped sensor camera and offers loads of features that work efficiently for real estate photography. With a resolution of 24MP, built-in Wi-Fi, and 4K video capabilities, it performs well in high ISO settings. The Fujifilm X-T20 is an excellent option if you are venturing into professional real estate photography.
You need to make sure that the property you’re shooting is presented in its best light with the best assets focused on and showcased. Here’s an article that can help you with what to keep in mind when taking real estate photographs.
After you take your skills for a ride and take some amazing real estate photos, what comes next is editing.
To further enhance your photographs and take them to the next level, you can use a virtual staging service like Styldod that offers various interior looks. With such a service, your photos can be transformed into various different interior styles. Styldod also has photo enhancing services to help make your real estate photos flawless.
Photographs are key for marketing and selling real estate, and as a real estate photographer, investing in a good camera is the very important first step. You can choose according to your requirement from options that perform well in low light, have great dynamic range, and can take great indoor photographs.