I’ve shot landscapes along the Wild Atlantic Way with Nikon Z cameras for years now, in rain, salty sea spray and the kind of West Cork wind that tries to take you and your tripod with it.
This page brings together everything I’ve learned about using them for landscape work: which camera suits which photographer, the lenses I actually carry, the settings I change straight away and how I edit the files afterwards.
Which Nikon Z camera is best for landscape photography?
For most landscape photographers, the honest answer is the one with the most resolution you can afford, on a solid tripod. Every camera below is a cameras I’ve used properly in the field, not just using it for a weekend or two or reading off a spec sheet.
Still undecided? I put four of them side by side in Nikon Z5II vs Z7II vs Z6III vs Z8, written by someone who earns a living with them.
What actually matters in a landscape camera
Marketing tends to focus on autofocus and frame rates. For landscapes, those barely matter. These are the things that actually do.
- Resolution. 45MP gives you room to crop and to print big. If you sell prints or like to crop heavily, it’s worth having.
- Dynamic range at base ISO. Sunrise over the sea means bright sky and dark rocks in the same frame. Both the Z7II and Z8 have a base ISO of 64, which helps hold more detail at both ends. They are dynamic range monsters.
- Weather sealing. Every body here is weather sealed, but none of them are waterproof. A rain cover and a lens cloth are still the most useful accessories you’ll own.
- Battery life in the cold. Mirrorless cameras use more power than DSLRs, and winter mornings make it worse. Here’s how I get more from every battery.
- Long exposures. Smooth out fast flowing water and blurring out moving cloud can sometimes need a shutter speed longer than 30 seconds. See my guide to extended shutter speeds on the Z6II and Z7II.
My first choice
Nikon Z8 for landscapes
It has the same 45.7MP resolution as the Z7II, but the stacked sensor gives you a silent, blackout-free electronic shutter with no rolling-shutter wobble. That’s very handy for waves, or birds crossing the frame at sunrise. But not really a landscape feature.
It isn’t perfect. It’s heavier, it gets through batteries faster and if you only shoot static scenes from a tripod you’re paying for speed you won’t use. My full Nikon Z8 review covers how it has held up after years of paid work.
Best value
Nikon Z7II for landscapes
If landscapes are all you shoot, the Z7II is still one of the best-value cameras Nikon makes. You get the same 45.7MP resolution and ISO 64 base as the Z8, in a smaller and lighter body.
Not only that but you get slightly more dynamic range also but in saying that there isn’t a lot in it really.
It’s slower to focus and the viewfinder isn’t as good, but none of that matters on a tripod waiting for the light. I’ve used mine professionally for five years, and my Z7II review explains where it still shines.
Low light and astro
Nikon Z6III for landscapes
At 24.5MP the Z6III has half the resolution of the Z8, and for big prints that matters. Where it wins is low light. For astro, blue hour and handheld shooting in poor weather it’s superb, and it’s far more capable for video than the Z7II.
It’s dynamic range is its one slight weakness here though.
The enjoyable one
Nikon Zf for landscapes
The Zf is the most enjoyable of these cameras to use. Physical dials for shutter speed and ISO just slow you down and I mean in a good way. That all just suits landscape work so well.
The 24.5MP sensor is the same compromise as the Z6III and the grip is small and not very comfortable with a heavy lens.
The dynamic range is better than the Z6iii though.
- My Nikon Zf review
- The best Nikon Zf accessories, starting with a proper grip
Best value full frame
Nikon Z5II for landscapes
The Z5II is the cheapest way into a full-frame Nikon Z camera and for landscapes it gives up surprisingly little. You get a 24.5MP sensor, in-body stabilisation and weather sealing, in a lighter body than the Z6III.
It has the same resolution compromise as the Z6III and Zf, so it is not the camera for huge prints. It has great dynamic range though just like the ZF so don’t overlook this camera its a real steal.
As a first full-frame body for landscape work, or a light second body for long hikes, it is really hard to argue with.
The Nikon Z lenses I use for landscapes
Lenses matter more than bodies. A sharp lens on a Z7II will beat an average lens on a Z8 every time.
Everyday lens
NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S
Sharp right into the corners and well sealed. It stays on my camera most days.
Telephoto
NIKKOR Z 180-600mm
Long lenses are underrated for landscapes. They compress layers of hills and pick out details in the light.
Intimate scenes and astro
NIKKOR Z 50mm f/1.2 S
It’s heavy, but beautiful for intimate landscapes and night skies.
Specialist
NIKKOR Z 135mm f/1.8 S Plena
A specialist lens, but stunning for compressed scenes.
Working to a budget? Third-party primes have come a long way. I’ve reviewed the Meike 85mm f/1.8, the TTArtisan 40mm f/2 and the Viltrox 56mm f/1.2 Pro.
Shooting and editing landscape files
Always shoot RAW for landscapes. If you’re not sure why, JPEG vs RAW explains it simply. For coastal work, my seascape photography tips cover shutter speeds, timing the waves and keeping your gear safe.
For editing, I use Luminar Neo for most of my landscape work. Its AI masking and sky tools save a lot of time on Atlantic skies.
- Luminar Neo review: is it still worth it?
- Luminar Neo vs Lightroom: which is right for you?
- Focus stacking in Luminar Neo, for front-to-back sharpness.
Nikon Z guide apps
Set your camera up properly
Step-by-step guide apps for the Nikon Z8, Z6III, Z7II and Z5II. Every menu setting is explained in plain English, with the settings I use for landscapes.
Master your camera today.
See the guide appsWorkshops in Ireland
Learn landscape photography with me
Group and one-to-one landscape workshops in West Cork and along the Wild Atlantic Way. I’m always happy to help with Nikon Z settings on the day.
See workshop datesFrequently asked questions
Is the Nikon Z8 worth it for landscape photography alone?
Only if you also shoot something fast-moving, such as wildlife, birds or sport. For landscapes alone, the Z7II gives you the same 45.7MP resolution for a lot less money.
Is 24MP enough for landscape photography?
Yes, for screens, social media and prints up to around A3. If you crop heavily or print large, 45MP gives you noticeably more room.
Which Nikon Z lens should I buy first for landscapes?
A good standard zoom. The 24-70mm f/2.8 S is my choice, and the cheaper 24-70mm f/4 S is excellent too. Add a telephoto later. It will change how you see a landscape.
Do Nikon Z cameras cope with Irish weather?
They’re well sealed, and I use mine in rain and sea spray most weeks. Use a rain cover in heavy weather, wipe off salt spray as soon as you can, and carry spare batteries in an inside pocket to keep them warm.