Food photography is a growing industry and finding the right camera can broaden your horizons.
For still-life photography, you do not necessarily need all the features that a modern, digital camera can offer.
However, you need to ensure that your close-ups look great, and you have the right settings available.
An unsuitable camera can make itself known pretty quickly. No matter what settings you use or how you get the light just right, the photos still seem lifeless.
You can see the detail and the color of the dish for yourself yet even after extensive editing, the food still looks unappetizing.
Creating mouthwatering shots should not be a huge challenge yet with the wrong camera it certainly can be.
Many cameras can make your food look as dazzling as you would want. You should also find a camera that makes your photography easy.
Remember that the chef does the hard work on presentation, not you. With the right sensor size, the ideal resolution, and the most suitable features, you can find the best camera for food photography.
Best Camera For Food Photography – Comparison Table
Best Camera For Food Photography – Reviews
- Best For High Resolution
Sensor size and the number of megapixels are two crucial factors in deciding on the best camera for food photography.
The Sony A7R IV Full-Frame Camera is ideal for professional food photographers simply because of how easy it is to use.
Manual focusing is straightforward, with focus peaking and critical focus for close-ups.
A vibration-free shutter allows for the crispest, clearest shots too which we liked in our testing of this product.
As a full-frame camera delivering a staggering 61 megapixels, you should be assured that your food photographs are ready for billboards.
With a BIONZ X Imaging Engine, your shots will be unmatched for resolution, gradation, and low noise.
With FTP Background Transfer they can be easily shared on a smartphone, tablet, or even on a server.
- Huge Megapixels – 61 megapixels should be more than enough for spectacular detail
- Easy Manual Focusing – Focus peaking and critical focus makes capturing tiny details no problem at all
- BIONZ X Imaging Engine – Unparalleled resolution, superb gradation, and low noise for superb clarity
- Vibration-Free Shutter – Ensure your shots are crisp and clear with a vibration-free shutter
- FTP Background Transfer – Transfer your RAW files while you are shooting to a server, smartphone, or tablet
- Price Tag – All those features add up to a large price tag
- Best Budget Mirrorless Camera
For food photography, consider the Fujifilm X-T1 IR Camera if you are on a budget. You may be beginning your journey in food photography and this is a great place to start.
Those 16 megapixels still produce a vast array of details, and an OLED display equates to practicality too.
Both the color rendering and the autofocus excelled in our experience of this product for stunning photos.
The lens can also zoom in really deep, with a viewfinder that can deliver 77x magnification.
If you want a camera you know you can depend on, then the sturdy design with water and dust resistance will last.
You can also ensure that the buttons are exactly where you want them, as many can be reprogrammed.
- Great Magnification – A bright electronic viewfinder can provide 77x magnification
- 16 Megapixel X-Trans CMOS II Sensor – Expect loads of detail with some stunning colors
- Sturdy Design – The camera is weather-sealed for enhanced durability
- Fast Autofocus – The autofocus works really well with the camera’s own contrast-detect sensor for bold photos
- Reprogramming Buttons – Adjust your control by reprogramming the buttons, so each one is just where you want it
- Menu System – Several users have noted that the menu can be confusing
- Best For Macro And Megapixels
If the megapixel count is your defining factor, then check out the Nikon D810 Full-Frame DSLR Camera.
With a brilliant 36.3 megapixel sensor, there is little doubt that you can capture every single detail in a dish.
The D810 also comes with a low optical pass filter, which creates better, more vibrant photo quality.
This is an ideal camera for a professional photographer, with EXPEED image processing and a 51-point autofocus system.
At close quarters, this camera really does show up when you need it. If you want to use your photos for print, then few cameras can match that detail.
While you may want to edit your RAW files, they should look superb anyway. All that with a deep grip that really helps for stabilization, no matter how small your hands, which we liked in our testing.
- 36.3 Megapixel Sensor – Ideal for macro photography and taking extensive close-ups
- Low Image Noise – Your shots should look crisp and exciting with a rich tonality
- EXPEED Image Processing – Faster frame rates, wide dynamic range, and increased energy efficiency to make your photography straightforward
- Deep Grip – The camera can be securely hand-held without much effort
- No GPS – The camera lacks a GPS feature, which may be useful for certain photographers
- Best For Durability
A professional photographer should have a camera that lasts, and Canon has delivered again. The EOS 5D Mark IV Full Frame Digital SLR Camera can take a hit and still allow you to get creative.
All that detail will be showcased with a full-frame CMOS sensor across 30.4 megapixels. Taking stunning, sharp, and accurate photos never seemed so efficient.
There is an incredible 61-point autofocus, which means an incredible level of detail can be captured accurately.
You should also be assured that the camera is water-resistant and dustproof, with a durable design you would expect.
Once you have your shots, you can easily edit RAW files with Canon’s own DPP software, which we liked in our experience of this product.
- Durable Design – Not only is the camera water-resistant but also dustproof
- 30.4 Megapixels – Ideal for professional food photography to capture all that detail
- Full Frame Sensor – Easily get everything in shot and not have to worry too much about the lighting
- Dual Pixel RAW – Using Canon’s DPP software, you can adjust your RAW files easily
- 61 Point Autofocus – You may not need all 61 yet having so many options in an autofocus is a welcome feature
- Heavy – The camera weighs 1.76 pounds, which can become tiresome once you add various lenses
- Best For Fast Autofocus
For great food photography, you could really use a 50 mm lens, and the Sony Alpha a6400 Mirrorless Camera is one of the best.
This is a camera that makes capturing every detail so much easier with enhanced subject capture. Few cameras are this quick either.
Try the 11 Fps continuous shooting, which means you can get that shot rapidly enough, which we enjoyed in our testing.
Still images are taken care of with a 4D focus that can hone in on your subject in 0.02 seconds. You may not be in quite such a rush, but such speed indicates the performance.
A screen that can tilt up to 180-degrees can be really useful for food photography too. More importantly, the camera supports RAW shooting and Wi-Fi connectivity.
Ensuring you can get detailed shots up to 24.2 megapixels to then share quickly.
- 4D Focus – Experience one of the world’s fastest autofocus which can hone in on a subject in 0.02 seconds
- Enhanced Subject Capture – The camera uses AI information and processes the subject’s distance, color, and brightness to capture them accurately
- 11 Fps Continuous Shooting – For getting that ideal shot of cooking in motion, use the 11fps continuous shooting
- Touch Screen – Includes a Touch Focus function to specify your focus by touching it on the monitor
- Wi-Fi Connectivity – For easy and quick sharing of your photos
- Limited Touch Screen – The touch screen is great for focus but little else
Best Camera For Food Photography – Buyers Guide
Sensor Size
Top of the list of factors that you need to consider is the sensor size, as this will largely define how your final images will look like. Bear in mind that every single camera has a sensor.
Knowing which one is right for you will easily limit your choices, as it is the sensor that creates the image.
There are two types of sensors to consider, both are based around 35 mm film standards. A full-frame sensor matches the size of 35 mm file at 24 mm by 35 mm.
Anything smaller should be classed as a cropped sensor, as it will not match 35 mm film standards. Cameras with a cropped sensor use a crop factor, which helps to compare it to the 35 mm film standard.
Having a crop factor means having to lift your camera higher than you would with a full-frame sensor to capture the entire image. This is crucial for overhead shots simply because you have to extend your reach with a cropped sensor.
The larger the crop factor, the higher you will have to reach to get the full shot. If you have a cropped sensor then you will immediately tell the difference when you switch to a full-frame sensor, your arms will thank you too.
A full-frame sensor is certainly something to consider for a professional food photographer but not so much for a blogger. However, if you aspire to be a professional photographer, then consider that a cropped sensor with a basic lens is a good way to start. When it comes to making that step up, you may find that your lenses are not compatible with your new camera.
ISO Level
A high ISO level can really make food photography easier, especially if you do not use a tripod. Of course, there will be occasions when you simply cannot fit a tripod into your shoot, in which case the ISO level really matters.
Essentially, you want a camera that can handle noise and handle it well. However, you probably should not rely on a high ISO level as it will lower the image quality.
The best food photography should not require a huge ISO range. Most of the time you will be shooting indoors, in which case an ISO set to 100 would do the job.
On the odd occasion, you may need to do an outdoor shoot, you may need an ISO of 2000. You may need to go further at a push but certainly not as far as 150,000.
Lenses
The more lenses, the better. Try not to limit yourself to a single lens, as this will definitely limit the variety of shots you can take.
Certainly look for a camera that allows you to add lenses as you go, as this will give you more freedom with your food photography.
Macro Lens
For the best close-ups and finely detailed shots of food, you really need to invest in a macro lens. This type of lens is essential if you plan to shoot for a restaurant menu, as you really need to capture the full character of a dish.
You also need to invest in a camera that will support different types of lenses, including a macro lens. However, if you do settle on a fixed lens camera, then look for one with includes close focusing.
Focus Point(s)
When considering the number of focus points, start at five and work from there. That is largely because you can get better, more engaging photos by zeroing in on the manual settings.
For a food photographer learning the ropes or a blogger, using the automatic focus point setting is certainly somewhere to start.
Settings
For certain shoots, you may want to find out what else your camera can do. One feature to look out for is continuous shooting mode when you want to capture movement.
In the flip of a pancake or butter swirling in a pan, there may be one shot out of ten that hits the mark.
With continuous shooting mode, you can hold down the shutter for continuous photographs. In that series, you might capture that single shot that makes it all worthwhile.
Each camera will have its own rate of frames per second. Having a higher rate simply means more photos to choose from. To save yourself from retrying the shot, you may want to opt for a higher frame rate.
Also, remember that a DSLR camera with an auto feature can get you great shots with minimum fuss.
However, a professional photographer will have already graduated to learning the manual settings. Knowing how to best use the settings on your camera will go a long way to getting the best shots.
File Size
Let’s be honest, most digital cameras with a worthwhile photo resolution are going to produce images with large file sizes. The higher the resolution, the bigger the file size.
The main difference to consider is the destination of the photos you are taking. If you hope to one day use them in your own cookbook, then you will need a sizable file size for print.
A resolution of around 3000 pixels at least will be required, which can quickly use up a memory card. However, if you are a food blogger and simply want the photos to only go online, you can use a smaller file size.
MegaPixel Range
Camera manufacturers love to boast about their megapixel range. That one factor alone is a huge selling point and one that you can easily get caught up in.
Again, the destination of your photos is what matters. For food bloggers, you do not necessarily need a huge photo resolution, and the biggest ones will likely prevent the web page from opening quickly.
Certainly, any image over 2000 pixels wide will slow a website down, so use that as a guideline.
Professional photographers who are using their photos for print should be looking at the higher end of resolutions.
You may need to consider RAW shooting for editing, yet a good rule is that your final images should be about 300 dots per inch (DPI). That will typically work out to be a much higher resolution than that for online publishing.
RAW Shooting
Talking of file sizes, one factor you should consider is whether your camera has RAW shooting functionality.
Think of a JPEG or as a fully developed photo which you can still edit somewhat, though every edit downgrades the quality. A RAW file is closer to a digital negative that you edit extensively without suffering data loss or damaging the quality.
RAW files also contain lots more information than a JPEG, with increased luminance. You can edit a RAW file as you wish, which can make a huge difference in the post-production of your photos.
Professional photographers will opt for a RAW shooting just for the options that are available to them to create the image they truly want.
If food photography is just a hobby, then you will not necessarily need RAW shooting. As an option, RAW shooting is a must for a professional photographer.