The Best Camera & Lenses for Landscape Photography in New Zealand

Originally from Wollongong, Australia, Will fell in love with nature photography back in 2012, and has since been travelling the world, capturing the rare beauty, atmosphere and light of the natural environment. Of all the places he’s been, New Zealand is the one that’s most captured his heart - he even moved to live the mountainside town of Te Anau, in the South Island of New Zealand.

Whether it’s aerial shots of snow-capped mountains, or dynamic photos of ocean shores, it’s safe to say that Will knows a thing or two about photographing New Zealand in all its vast and varied forms of beauty - which is why Ted’s Cameras has teamed up with Will to get a special behind-the-scenes look into his top landscape photography tips, cameras, lenses, and equipment essentials for shooting in New Zealand.

Here’s a breakdown of Will’s top camera and lens choices:

As a professional landscape photographer, the key thing Will looks for in a camera is a large Dynamic Range (DR), in-built stabilisation (IBIS) high resolution (MP), and convenience.

“I see the main differences in models and brands today being ones of convenience,” says Will. “Similar to cars, there are so many companies and models available - all of which can get you from A to B. The main differential is generally points of convenience."

“At the moment, Sony and Nikon Mirrorless Cameras are the best bodies for my style of shooting which is generally handheld in the elements with scenes contains low/dynamic light,” says Will.

“A high DR means the camera can capture great detail without the need to take multiple exposures.”

Will’s camera of choice for shooting landscape photography in New Zealand is the Sony A7Riii. Built for speed, the A7Riii features an advanced focussing system of 399 phase-detection and 425 contrast AF points, plus 10 frames per second continuous shooting.

With an exceptional Exmor R CMOS sensor, 42.4MP resolution and a whopping 15 stop dynamic range, this compact mirrorless camera lets you shoot in crystal clear detail in a wide range of lighting environments, rain or shine.

“I find the A7Riii’s full-frame sensor and BIONZ X image processor delivers highly detailed, low-noise stills,” says Will. “Plus it has a very durable, weather-sealed body and great Image Stabiliser, making it perfect for rugged travel environments.”

Will doesn’t use a tripod or any filters, preferring to shoot entirely handheld for more creative freedom in the field when composing. The A7Riii’s full-frame Image Stabiliser minimises camera-shake by up to 5.5 stops.

According to Will, his trusty A7iii has survived waves, waterfall spray, negative temperatures and all manner of wear and tear from being in the field 300 days a year - and is still going strong.

One of Will’s go-to lenses for hand-held and low-light shooting is the Sony E-Mount FE 16-35mm f2.8. With its fast, quiet and incredibly accurate performance, this wide-angle zoom lens produces exceptional images with amazing consistency. Combining a versatile wide angle zoom range and a speedy f2.8 maximum aperture, this is the ideal landscape photography lens for jet-setting to a new country, hiking up a mountain side or camping out for a stunning sunrise.

The lens’ large aperture rating lets in plenty of light, so you can travel light and leave the tripod at home, without worrying about blurry photos. Sony's impressive Direct Drive Super Sonic Wave AF motor will meet all your still and video needs, while a user-friendly focus hold button can be used for pinpointing your area of choice.

The Tamron AF 28-75mm f2.8 is a high-performance zoom lens designed with the Sony E-Mount in mind. This versatile lens provides a wide-to-portrait focal range, perfect for your day to day life and travel shooting purposes - letting you go from capturing Auckland city life, to shooting the snowy mountain tops of Aoraki in the same day. The large f2.8 maximum aperture also allows for stunning low-light shooting performance, as well as depth-of-field control.

You’ll find your images sharp, detailed and free from common mishaps, thanks to two extra-low dispersion, three Aspherical and two XA elements, and the application of both Nano AR and Fluorine coatings.

Even better, the lens is dust and moisture resistant, meaning you can take it out with you to the far corners of New Zealand without worrying about the elements! This lens is a great choice for lovers of travel, portrait photography, and everything in between.

New to the Sony E-Mount series is this FE Sony 100-400mm f4.5-5.6 GM OSS super telephoto zoom lens - the longest lens ever released in the range. This lens combines a far-reaching range with fast AF performance and optical SteadyShot Stabilisation - perfect for wildlife, sports, and action photography needs.

Compatible with the Sony Compact System range, this lens is surprisingly lightweight and compact despite its length. The build quality is also excellent, with dust and moisture resistance - so you can dive into all your New Zealand adventures without a fuss. Optically superb, this full-frame compatible lens will deliver edge to edge sharpness in all conditions, with exceptional results.

As Will points out, there’s an incredible range of excellent mirrorless cameras on the market that will help you capture high-quality, stunning landscape photography of New Zealand with ease - it’s just a matter of figuring out what option is best for you and your individual preferences.

For more expert camera gear advice and photography tips, check out our guides to The Best Digital Cameras for Photography and The Best Landscape Photography Tips For Beginners today!