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Real estate photography equipment is always a hot topic among property photographers.

When it comes to real estate photography, which equipment is best?

While each photographer will have their preferences and opinions, we will offer our own list of equipment in terms of cameras, lenses, tripods, and lighting. 

So, in this article, we will share our thoughts on the best real estate photography equipment with you.

Let’s get started!

Real Estate Photography Equipment – Best Cameras

Here are 3 of the more popular and proven cameras widely used in the real estate sales industry.

1. Canon 5D Mark IV

real estate photography equipment

At the top of our list is the Canon 5D Mark IV. A long-time favorite of real estate photographers, this camera offers the following benefits:

  • Excellent performance in low light
  • Dual Pixel Raw format capability
  • Wi-Fi enabling
  • And capacity for 30.6 megapixels and 4K video

Additionally, it is relatively lightweight. Overall, this camera has everything you’ll need for outstanding real estate photography.

2. Nikon D850

Nikon’s equivalent to the Canon 5D Mark IV is the Nikon D850. This camera has also received much praise from photographers, including those who shoot real estate.

Nikon D850

Some noteworthy features of the D850 include the following: 

  • A high-resolution sensor
  • The ability to shoot at 45.6 megapixels
  • Superb performance in low light
  • Wi-Fi enabled via Bluetooth
  • 4K video capacity

When you add up this camera’s capabilities, you see why many photographers make it the centerpiece of their real estate photography equipment. 

3. The Nikon Z7 II

Rounding out our list of the three best cameras for real estate photography is the Nikon Z7II

Nikon Z7 II

What makes this camera ideal for real estate photography is its robust bracketing options:

  • It can bracket up to nine frames, with incremental options 
  • It features a base ISO of 64, which is perfect for light-soaked exteriors

Other features make this model an ideal choice for real estate photography. Take a look at the following:

  • Sensor: 45.7 Megapixel full-frame
  • Weight: 1.4 pounds (body only)
  • Excellent image results
  • 4K video
  • Good body quality

One last feature is that this camera allows you to carry over settings from stills to video, saving you considerable time.

Next, let’s turn our attention to lenses.

Best Lenses – Equipment for Real Estate Photography 

Equally critical to having the right camera is selecting the best lens. Here are some highly recommended lenses to add to your real estate photography equipment. 

The Best Canon Lenses

Ask real estate photographers which Canon lens they prefer, and many will answer the Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM Lens.

real estate photography equipment

This is due to an ideal fixed aperture and the camera’s overall reliability. Additionally, it has an excellent focal length range and performs well in low light. 

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly lens, consider the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L IS USM Lens or Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 lens, which both perform well in real estate situations. 

real estate photography equipment

There are several Canon wide-angle lenses of good quality, but most real estate photo shoots don’t require them. 

The Best Nikon Lenses

Nikon lenses are slightly more affordable than Canon, making them popular with real estate photographers.

The Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED Lens is a top-rated choice for Nikon shooters and an excellent piece of real estate photography equipment. 

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 14-24mm f/2.8G ED Lens

Another solid choice is the Nikon Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4, which is ideal for full-frame Nikon users.  

Nikon Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4

Its features include some of the following additional benefits:

  • Nano Nano-crystal coating prevents ghosting and glare in varied lighting conditions
  • Vibration Reduction technology for image stabilization

If you’re looking for an affordable, high-performing Nikon lens, either of the above models will suffice.

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Tripods – Real Estate Photography Equipment

There are many options when it comes to tripods that you’ll want as part of your real estate photography equipment. Let’s take a look at a few of the better options.

For the money, the GEEKOTO 75” Tripod is one the best for real estate photography since it’s so versatile. 

real estate photography equipment

This tripod has an advantage over other models. The GEEKOTO 75″ Tripod has a rotatable center post, meaning you can use it vertically or horizontally. 

Manfrotto’s MT190XPRO4 is another excellent choice because it balances quality, durability, height, weight, and price.

If you prefer carbon fiber legs, then check out the MT190CXPRO4.

real estate photography equipment

Up next, here are some options for lighting to add to your real estate photography equipment. 

Real Estate Photography Equipment – Lighting

Let’s review some of the popular lighting options for real estate photography.

Lighting – Single Shot Setup

If you’re setting up lighting for a single shot, at least two Yongnuo YN560 IV Speedlites will work, although you might want as many as four to six as a complete set at some point.

real estate photography equipment

Plus, with Yongnuo’s YN560-TX II flash trigger remote controller, you can remotely control up to six lights from your camera.

real estate photography equipment

A second option is the Canon Speedlite 430EX III-RT.  This flash is versatile and has multiple settings that can be customized depending on your needs.

real estate photography equipment

Moreover, with a guide number of 141′ at ISO 100 and 105mm, it is powerful and usable in multiple conditions. 

When it comes to lighting, don’t rule out using more powerful 300W or 600W strobes, especially if shooting flambient.

Speaking of flambient lighting, let’s look at what you’ll need. 

Flambient Lighting 

If you shoot using flambient-style lighting, your setup will be similar to a single-shot setup.

Here are two quality lighting options for flambient shoots:

  • The Godox AD200 is one of the most commonly used in the RE photographer community
  • Also, the Yongnuo YN560 IV is the perfect companion for real estate photographers
Flambient Lighting 

When shooting Flambient, remember to use a remote shutter trigger. Even a gentle press on the camera shutter can move things in the slightest, and a remote trigger will save you time when processing and editing. 

All of the above are excellent choices for real estate photography equipment. While the right equipment certainly matters, don’t forget the importance of high-quality photo editing. 

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Trust PhotoUp to Edit All Your Real Estate Photos

While real estate photo editing is essential, it can also take hours, leaving you less time to market your photography business and shoot listings.

Therefore, trust the editing of your photos to the industry leader – PhotoUp

PhotoUp is a full-service real estate photo editing company. Our editing teams are located in Cebu City in the Philippines, but our core sales/support team is based in Grand Rapids, Michigan. You can contact us directly at (888) 330-7559.

Our real estate photo editors have years of experience and understand the importance of high-quality images.  

We also offer dedicated editing, where you work with one or a team of dedicated editors for maximum image quality, consistency, and branding.

Browse Top Dedicated

Real Estate Photo Editors

Ready-to-hire editors for real estate photo editing, video editing, and more.

Our turnaround time is 12-24 hours, and we also work with custom and enterprise orders.  

In terms of pricing, we use a credit system for purchasing our services and offer discounts for bulk buying of credits:

  • As low as $1 per credit for subscription clients
  • $1.60 per credit for pay-as-you-go clients

Working With PhotoUp Is Simple!

First, sign up for a free PhotoUp account – it takes less than a minute. Then, upload your images, choose an export setting and turnaround time, and provide instructions. When ready, download your edited photos, and that’s it!

PhotoUp Real Estate Photo Editing Uploader Demo

When we say it is easy to get started with PhotoUp, we mean it. Check out our real estate photo editing uploader demo:

As simple as that!

We Do More Than Just Photo Editing

While we excel at real estate photo editing, we are a full-service real estate marketing company. We offer the latest marketing solutions, including:

Now that you see all that we offer, why wait any longer?

Sign up for a free PhotoUp account today. As a bonus, you’ll receive 10 free credits, which you can use on any of our services!

We hope this blog post showed you some of the best real estate photography equipment available. Before you go, check out the following related resources:

Gregory Gronbacher

Real Estate Sales Agent / Professional Blogger

Gregory is a real estate sales agent and a state-certified instructor of real estate licensing and law. Originally from New York City, he's called Grand Rapids, Michigan home since 1995.

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