Adventure Photography Cameras: A Guide
Learn about all the important features to look for in a camera body.
Introduction
In this tutorial I’m going to be covering everything you need to know about the cameras. It will be particularly helpful if you’re looking to pick out your first camera, or if you simply want to know what to look for in a good camera for adventure photography. I’m going to cover in detail all the important things to look for in a camera, and then include a few more features at the end that are for more niche purposes.
The most important thing to understand right off the bat is that most higher quality cameras sell the camera body separately from the lenses. Therefore, in this tutorial, I’m only going to be discussing camera bodies, and covering lenses in detail in the next tutorial.
Let’s dive in!
My favorite camera for adventure photography is the Sony a7rIV. It has gotten me through countless rainstorms, snow, and sand adventures- and it always manages to deliver high quality images.
Five Things to Look for in a Camera Body
Sensor Size
The first and most important thing to look out for in an adventure photography camera is the sensor size. The sensor is essentially the small black box on the camera body that the lens attaches in front of. It is responsible for receiving the light from the lens, and translating that information into digital format in the camera body.
In general, a larger sensor means a higher quality camera because it allows more light information to be transcribed. This usually means they have a higher resolution, and are more capable of shooting in low-light situations.
Although there’s many different sensor sizes available, the three most common ones you’re going to see are 1” Variations, APS-C, and Full Frame sensors. Let’s quickly break each of these down.
1” Variations
1” Variations are going to be the sensors that you see in most smartphones. They’re not going to produce the highest quality image in the world, but they’re great for sharing snapshots on social media, and printing out small renditions of your photos.
APS-C
APS-C sensors are commonly referred to as “Crop” sensors in the photography world. They’re essentially entry-level camera sensors that are a large step above 1” Variations. Most hobbyist photographers use cameras with these sensors while learning the intermediates of photography.
They’re good for most photography situations, but can struggle if you’re shooting in situations that are extremely low-light, like early twilight, concerts, or in caves. The good thing is it’ll be a massive upgrade from your smartphone, and you won’t know what you’re missing out on until you finally upgrade to a Full Frame sensor. You can also begin to buy different lenses with APS-C sensors, and start printing photos that are big enough to put on the wall and/or sell.
Keep in mind that APS-C sensors usually require APS-C certified lenses, so make sure you’re checking that the lens is compatible with your camera. It’s also worth noting that if you are planning to upgrade to a Full Frame camera body in the future, you might not want to go ham on stocking up on APS-C lenses, because you’ll need to get all new lenses again. I’d suggest getting a kit lens or two to experiment with on your APS-C camera
(Technically APS-C lenses will work on a Full-Frame camera body, but you’ll see a heavy vignette, and need to do some math to translate the actual focal length and aperture.)
Full Frame
Full Frame sensors are the magnum opus of adventure photography lenses. Once you’ve spent a few months (or years) mastering the fundamentals of photography, you’re going to want to upgrade to Full Frame. The biggest difference you’ll notice right off the bat is the increase in Dynamic Range (ability to shoot in high/low light situations,) and the resolution size.
This is key if you want to be able to crop small corners of images and still maintain quality. It’ll also allow you to print massive images- like billboards massive. Not that you’re going to be printing billboards every week. But it’s nice to know the option is there.
The main camera I use right now is a Full Frame Sony a7rIV, which has 61 megapixels. For context, most 1” Variation sensors are roughly 12 megapixels, and most APS-C sensors are between 20-24 megapixels. To put it in other words, if you see a 24 megapixel camera, that means the resolution is 6,000 pixels x 4,000 pixels, and so on and so forth.
At the end of the day, if you’re a professional and you’re pushing for every ounce of quality you can get, it’s absolutely worth the financial jump to a Full Frame sensor. But for most hobbyists, you’ll probably get along just fine with an APS-C sensor.
This image, taken at Craters of the Moon in Idaho. Since it was taken in a cave and it includes sky, the photo has an extremely high dynamic range.
Mirrorless vs. DSLR
The next most important thing in an adventure photography camera is if it’s a Mirrorless or DSLR. Now, I’m going to cut right to the chase in this section and recommend a Mirrorless camera in today’s day and age. They are significantly easier to work with, and have almost identical image quality.
Mirrorless camera bodies have electronic viewfinders on the back of the camera that allow you to see exactly what the photo is going to look like before you take it, based on the current Exposure settings. DSLR cameras, on the other hand, only have a viewfinder with a glass on it, so you’re only looking at the scene as it’s lit right in front of you- not how it’s actually going to turn out with your current settings.
This means that with DSLR cameras, you have to take “test” shots and then review the image each time to make sure it’s exposed properly. This adds a whole another step to the photography process that can cause you to lose precious seconds of light or movement. To top it all off, DSLR cameras are generally bulkier and less compact.
Therefore it makes almost no sense to use a DSLR nowadays, unless you’re on a budget or prefer to work with outdated technology. But at that point you mind as well become a film photographer because at least there’s an aesthetic.
This photo of a lizard was taken at Goosenecks State Park in Utah. Having a mirrorless camera came in handy, because the lizard was only still for a split second. If I had a DSLR, I wouldn’t have had time to take a “test” shot for exposure, and I would have missed the shot.
What Brand is it?
The third most important thing to look out for in adventure photography cameras is the brand. Now, like I mentioned in my Gear tutorial, there’s not much differentiation in brands that are selling at the highest level. Brands like Nikon, Canon, Sony, Fuji, Olympus, Leica, etc. all produce similar products minus a few variations and features. My best advice would be to check out some reviews and pick a brand you like the feel of.
The Price
The fourth thing to keep in mind when buying an adventure photography capture is the price. One thing that no one tells you about photography is that the gear is ridiculously expensive. That’s why it’s often the favored hobby of retirees, and those in lucrative careers.
If you’re like me and have been living paycheck to paycheck your whole life, there’s no shame in starting small and building your collection over the course of several years. Start small, and scour reviews to get the best camera body for your budget. However, if you are going to invest in one big piece of gear, I’d recommend it being the camera body instead of a lens.
On average, as of 2025, most smartphones with cameras are going to be between $500-$1000, most APS-C sensors are going to be $1,000-2,000, and most Full-Frame cameras are going to be $2,000-$4,000. Any camera above $4,000 will likely be optimized for Focus Tracking and Burst Modes, and are designed to shoot scenes that have a lot of movement- i.e. sports and wildlife. We’ll cover these features in detail in the next section.
This phone, taken at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco, utilized Focus Tracking as I followed the squirrel from tree to tree.
Specific Features
In this final section, I’m going to be covering a variety of features in camera bodies that may or may not be important to you. Regardless, they are here to help you make an informed decision about what camera body to invest in.
Video
One of the most commonly requested features in a camera body is its video capabilities. With the advent of social media, more and more people are seeking photography cameras that can also shoot amateur films, tutorials, and vlogs.
Now, video is a massive rabbit hole that could take dozens of other tutorials to cover, but I’d say the most common feature to look out for is if it can shoot 4k, and/or if it can shoot slow motion (i.e. 120fps, 60fps, or 30fps.) These features will allow you to create pretty much any type of video you can think of, provided you have the right accessories- like microphones, gimbals, and filters.
Time-Lapse
One thing that was particularly important to me in my search for the right camera was if it had a timelapse feature. Timelapses are essentially videos that are created manually, where you take, for example, one photo every one second for thirty minutes. Then you mash them all together in a sequence, and can get neat clips of morphing clouds, cars blurring on the freeway, or people walking in a mesh.
A timelapse feature within the camera means that these settings can be adjusted within the menu, without the need to buy an intervalometer. This feature is also massively helpful if you’re taking self-portraits of yourself in the distance. Being able to set the camera to take 100 shots of yourself while you’re on a cliff 300 feet away, without having to run back, is amazing.
Now, like I said, if the camera model you’re looking at doesn’t have a timelapse feature, you can always buy an intervalometer. But I strive for minimalism in my setup, and one less piece of gear in the bag is one less piece of gear.
Focus Tracking
Another feature to look out for in cameras is focus tracking. If you plan on leaning heavily into shooting wildlife, this feature will be your saving grace. Focus tracking essentially determines how well a camera can lock focus on a moving object, like a bird or a lion rapidly moving across the frame.
This feature is also great if you plan on shooting sports or cars frequently. However, if you plan on shooting mostly static landscapes, it isn’t worth the hefty price tag.
Burst Mode
Burst mode is another feature that coincides with focus tracking. Burst mode essentially determines how many shots you can take in rapid succession, without having to wait for your camera to load. It’s great if you’re tracking an animal like a bird and want to get every single angle of its flight path.
For most people this probably won’t matter too much, but if you’re keen on getting the perfect shot with your wildlife, every microsecond can make a difference.
Weather Sealing
Weather sealing is another one of those features that I’d deem extremely important for adventure photography.
A weather sealed camera essentially means that the camera is able to withstand water, dust, and sand in fairly excessive amounts. On properly sealed cameras, like the Sony a7rIV, you can literally stand out in the pouring rain, without a cover, and not have to worry about damage. (This isn’t to say you won’t get your lens glass wet though- use a lens hood!)
The peace of mind is worth it, and having the option to go shoot in the rain, snow, or blowing sand can mean the difference between capturing average everyday shots and those surreal, dramatic images.
Memory Card Slots
An underrated feature in cameras today is the memory card slots. Some cameras have two memory card slots instead of just one, allowing you to make a real-time backup of your current shoot.
For example, if one is doing a professional shoot for a brand, you can set the option to make a copy of every photo on the second memory card, in the rare instance that a memory card fails.
This could also be applicable to those once-in-a-lifetime shoots that you go on. Say you go to Iceland to explore for a week, knowing you’ll most likely never go back in your life. It would be a massive shame to realize one of your memory cards failed when you got back. But having a backup could save everything.
Another use for multiple memory cards is that you can set your camera to put photos on one card, and video on another. This simplifies organization when you finally go to export the content, and allows you to have additional space for those memory intensive, slow-motion 4k videos.
Feel
Although not inherently obvious, if you’re going to be hiking for hours for photography, it makes sense to have a camera that feels good in your hand. Since every human is built differently, a certain brand might fit your hand shape better than others.
It also helps if the camera body has sufficient buttons for programming shortcuts on it. For example with my Sony a7rIV, I am able to program a button that switches the camera into timelapse mode immediately, instead of having to dig through the menu every time.
Finally, the screen is an important factor. Can it flip, turn, or tilt to certain angles? This makes the world of landscape photography significantly easier, because there are endless instances where you’ll be bending over or getting on your knees for the shot. In addition, if you’re recording vlogs or video, having a screen that flips around could help ensure you’re centered in the frame.
This photo was taken at Falls Creek Falls in Tennessee. It was absolutely pouring during this shoot, and having a weather-sealed camera allowed me to still get out and explore.
Conclusion
Overall, the main things that you should look for in a photography camera body are the Sensor Size, if it’s DSLR or Mirrorless, it’s Brand, Price, and which Features you desire.
Obviously there’s an infinite number of features that weren’t covered in this tutorial, but everything you need to know about was covered. Don’t let yourself get too overwhelmed with the process! If the camera has solid reviews and is a reputable brand, the chances are you won’t go wrong.
Now that we have camera bodies covered, let’s take a deep dive into Lenses…
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Best Camera for Adventure Photography?
There’s no single camera that’s going to be the best for adventure photography. However, I’d recommend a Full Frame camera from a mainstream brand that’s weather sealed, like the Sony a7rIV, and then a variety of zoom lenses that will allow you to minimize the amount of lenses you’re carrying around.
Does it Matter How Expensive Your Camera Is?
The answer to this question is “it depends.” If you give a pro photographer a cheap camera, they will still be able to come away with good photos, but their options for photo “type” will be severely limited. For example, they won’t be able to get good photos that involve very low-light situations, or be able to use certain features that expensive cameras have, like Weather Sealing or Focus Tracking.
What is Weather Sealing on a Camera?
Weather Sealing determines how resistant your camera is to rain, snow, dust, and sand. It is particularly important if you want to be able to shoot in harsh conditions, and ensure that your expensive gear isn’t going to get damaged. There are also other measures you can take to make sure your camera isn’t going to get damaged, like using lens hoods, filters, and putting water-proof bags in your camera.
Should I get a Mirrorless or a DSLR camera?
In today’s day and age, I’d recommend getting a Mirrorless camera. Not only will you be able to take pictures more quickly, but they are lighter and less bulky. The main difference is that for Mirrorless cameras, you are able to see exactly what you are going to shoot on the screen with the exposure settings dialed in before you get the shot. Whereas with a DSLR camera, you have to take a “test shot” first to make sure the exposure settings are right.
