The Best Camera for Food Photography in 2023 (Buying Guide)

Finding the best camera for food photography might be difficult if you’re new to taking food photos. But if you are looking for the best, you’ve come to the right place. As a food and still life photographer, you won’t need many bells and whistles that modern cameras offer.

Having said that, many of our suggestions also serve well in a whole range of photographic settings. After all, not many of us have the luxury of specializing in just one type of photography. Our top pick for food photography is the Canon EOS RP. It combines a light, compact body with outstanding autofocus.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Camera For Food Photography

Canon EOS RP

Nikon D3400

Canon EOS 6D Mark II

What Is the Best Camera for Food Photography?

Before we look at our choices in detail, here is a summary of our picks.

Our Top Pick

Canon EOS RP

Affordable full frame mirrorless
Lightweight and easy to handle
Macro stacking and time-lapse
Convenient Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
Nice 4K video performance

Best Budget Camera

Nikon D3400

Excellent image quality
Compact and lightweight
Great value
Built-in flash
Up to 5 fps continuous shooting

Best Value Full Frame DSLR

Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Fantastic image quality
Impressive 45-point AF system
Built well and nice to handle
Handy built-in Wi-Fi and GPS

Best Daily Workhorse

Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Quality sensor produces detailed and vibrant images even at high ISOs
Dual Pixel AF with eye detection
User-friendly touch-to-focus screen
900-shot battery life
Cinema-quality (DCI) 4K video

Best Nikon Mirrorless

Nikon Z7 II

High-resolution image sensor
Rapid 1/8000 s shutter speed
Excellent AF system
Dual memory card slots
Great 4K video at 60 fps

Highest Resolution Sensor

Sony a7R IV

Super high-resolution sensor
Stunningly sharp image quality
Excellent face and eye detection AF
Large, high-resolution EVF
Sharp 4K Ultra HD video
Weather sealing to protect from elements

Best for Video

Panasonic Lumix DC-S5

Lightweight and portable
Image stabilization for camera shake
Dual memory card slots
Great 4K video capabilities

7 Best Cameras for Food Photography

Now, starting with our top pick, let’s look at the cameras we recommend.

1. Canon EOS RP

Brand	Brand Canon
Sensor Format	Sensor Format Full Frame
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Canon RF
Megapixels	Megapixels 26 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 4,779
Minimum ISO (Native)	Minimum ISO (Native) 100
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 40,000
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 5 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3"

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The Canon EOS RP has a couple of useful features for food photography. First, it works well in low light, sustaining detail easily into ISO 12,800. This is great if you have to use available light, as required for many photographic agencies.

Secondly, its focus bracketing takes a series of photos with different focus points. You can then use Canon’s software to process these into a single photo with an otherwise impossible depth of field.

This is also one of the lightest full-frame cameras that Canon makes, which is also useful. Overhead food photos often require using your camera on a tripod extension arm. That’s why a lighter is better in these circumstances.

Added to this is that the Canon EOS RP is a camera with good specs for general-purpose photography. The electronic viewfinder is superb, and the autofocus (AF) covers the whole sensor. Plus, you have a wealth of lenses to choose from. So it’s a great camera choice.

2. Nikon D3400

Brand	Brand Nikon
Sensor Format	Sensor Format APS-C
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Nikon F DX
Megapixels	Megapixels 24.2 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 11
Minimum ISO (Native)	Minimum ISO (Native) 100
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 25,600
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 5 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3"

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This is another small, lightweight camera. But in this case, it’s partly because the sensor is only APS-C. This is a DSLR, though, so its compactness is quite an achievement.

The Nikon D3400 is a great entry-level DSLR. It has 11 focus points and a 24 MP sensor.

The camera delivers excellent images and copes well with difficult food lighting setups. This is all very handy when on location. And the autofocus is quick, even though that’s not a big factor with food photography.

Like the Canon EOS RP, this camera opens the door to a world of amazing lenses. The D3400 is compatible with every AF F-mount lens that doesn’t have an aperture ring. That’s an awful lot of lenses!

3. Canon EOS 6D Mark II

Brand	Brand Canon
Sensor Format	Sensor Format Full Frame
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Canon EF
Megapixels	Megapixels 26.2 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 45
Minimum ISO (Native)	Minimum ISO (Native) 100
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 40,000
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 6.5 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3"

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The Canon EOS 6D Mark II is your entry into the full-frame market. It’s the most inexpensive DSLR full-frame camera that Canon manufactures. That’s why it’s a very popular camera for food photography.

It has a 45-point autofocus system and a 26.2 MP sensor. And it goes up to 40,000 ISO (50 to 102,800 expanded).

One of the biggest selling points of this Canon camera is its ability to shoot in low light. The system is sensitive down to -3 EV (Exposure Value).

The 6D Mark II also benefits from Canon’s Dual Pixel CMOS AF, meaning phase-detection pixels are built into the image sensor. This results in more accurate autofocus even in low-light conditions. And it can be extremely useful to shoot food photos in natural light.

4. Canon EOS 5D Mark IV

Brand	Brand Canon
Sensor Format	Sensor Format Full Frame
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Canon EF
Megapixels	Megapixels 30.4 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 61
Minimum ISO (Native)	Minimum ISO (Native) 100
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 32,000
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 7 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3.2"

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The Canon EOS 5D lineup has been a popular choice for food photographers for a long time. It’s a fantastic all-around camera to have and a real workhorse.

In fact, this camera is one of the most used and best cameras in the digital age. I’ve worked with these cameras since I decided to go pro and have never regretted it.

This is the latest of the 5D EOS cameras. It offers a 61-point AF system with 41 cross-type sensors and up to 32,000 IS0 (expandable to 50 to 102,400).

The Mark IV is also the first Canon full-frame camera that can focus in Live View while capturing photos. So this is one of the best cameras if you’re looking for versatility. This one can take your food photography to the next level!

5. Nikon Z7 II

Brand	Brand Nikon
Sensor Format	Sensor Format Full Frame
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Nikon Z
Megapixels	Megapixels 45.75 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 439
Minimum ISO (Native)	Minimum ISO (Native) 64
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 25,600
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 10 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3.2"

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The Nikon Z7 II is a powerful full-frame mirrorless camera. It’s a pro-grade camera with an expensive price tag to match. But it has a fantastic range of advanced features and produces sensational images. So it’s the best camera for professional food photography.

The full-frame sensor gives you an image resolution of 45.7 MP. That’s impressive image quality by anyone’s standards. And the larger pixels of a full-frame sensor give you a wider dynamic range. This can help when shooting in environments with inconsistent lighting, like a restaurant kitchen.

You also get excellent exposure controls. There’s a wide ISO range, from 64 to 25,600. The higher end is ideal for shooting on location in restaurants or markets. And the ultra-clear 64 ISO setting is perfect for photographing food in a studio. You get the best quality for food editorials and commercials.

Videographers in the food industry will also love the Z7 II. You can shoot glorious 4K footage with a selection of frame rates. You can record 24 to 60 fps (frames per second) in 4K. That’s ideal for shooting food commercials or chefs in action in the kitchen.

The focus shift mode is another useful feature for food photography. You can shoot several versions of food with a different focus. And you can stack them together using photo editing software. It’s a great way to get a high level of sharpness in your images.

The Z7 II won’t be the camera for everyone. It’s an advanced mirrorless camera for seasoned professionals. But if that’s what you’re looking for, you won’t have many regrets buying this one.

6. Sony a7R IV

Brand	Brand Sony
Sensor Format	Sensor Format Full Frame
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Sony FE
Megapixels	Megapixels 61.2 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 425
Minimum ISO (Native)	Minimum ISO (Native) 100
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 32,000
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 10 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3"

See All Specs

The Sony a7R IV offers astonishing specifications for a full-frame mirrorless camera. It has a 60 MP sensor with full-frame autofocus. And if that’s not enough detail for your billboard-sized food pics, it has a Pixel Shift mode for tripod shooting. This bumps the pixel count up to 241 MP.

It is also superbly equipped for connectivity with up to 5 GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and FTP for file transfer. And two card slots boost its pro credentials, as does the optional battery grip.

The a7R IV is an impressive camera all around. Its excellent high ISO performance is another great feature for food photography.

7. Panasonic Lumix S5

Brand	Brand Panasonic
Sensor Format	Sensor Format Full Frame
Lens Mount	Lens Mount Leica L
Megapixels	Megapixels 24.2 MP
In-body Stabilization	In-body Stabilization
Autofocus Points	Autofocus Points 225
Minimum ISO (Native)	Minimum ISO (Native) 100
Maximum ISO (Native)	Maximum ISO (Native) 51,200
Frame Rate	Frame Rate 7 fps
Video	Video
Screen Size	Screen Size 3"

See All Specs

The Panasonic Lumix S5 is ideal for photographing food. It’s lightweight and robust. And it’s one of the best low-light cameras on the market.

The 24.2 MP image resolution is perfectly respectable. But the Lumix S5 has a killer spec combination. It has a solid ISO range, advanced autofocus, and reliable image stabilization.

The top ISO setting is 51,200. And noise becomes a problem as you near the limit. But you can still capture usable images throughout the ISO range. You also get V-Gamut mode for a 14-plus stop dynamic range.

The AF system has head, face, and eye detection, making your life much easier. And the 5-axis in-body stabilization system is second to none in this price range. It gives you an extra 6.5 stops to play with, allowing slower shutter speeds. This is perfect for low-light shooting.

The Lumix S5 also has great video capture and burst mode. If you’re a videographer or vlogger lacking light, it’s one of the best cameras for low-light shooting.

What to Consider When Shopping for a Camera for Food Photography

1. Sensor Size

Sensor size is the first thing to consider when you’re on the hunt for a new camera. Will you buy a camera with a cropped sensor, or will you invest in a full-frame sensor?

Your budget might be the biggest factor in determining your choice. Another factor might be if you’re shooting for a professional agency. Many photographers won’t consider anything less than a full-frame camera. So it’s best to do your research.

A cropped sensor is cheaper for the manufacturer to make. This makes good digital cameras available to various consumers at every price point. These are often referred to as “prosumer” cameras.

You can take great pictures with a cropped sensor device. The issue is that your camera and lenses will behave differently with a cropped sensor than with a full frame.

A full-frame camera matches a traditional film camera’s 35mm cropped standard. It has a sensor size of 24 x 36mm. A cropped sensor is smaller than this. It doesn’t match most lenses, so the final images look different.

Crop Factor

Every camera has a crop factor. This number describes how much the device crops your image compared to the standard 35mm. Most full-frame cameras tend to have a crop factor of 1x. Others, like the Canon 1Dx, come with a 1.3x format factor.

For example, I started shooting food photos with an APS-C Canon EOS camera with a 1.6x crop factor. This means you multiply the focal length of your lens by 1.6. And it gives you the equivalent focal length it would look like on a full-frame camera.

A 50mm lens works wonderfully to shoot food on a full-frame camera. But on a Canon Rebel (APS-C), a 50mm lens behaves more like an 80mm.

Many food bloggers recommend the 50mm as a great all-around food photography lens. But this isn’t necessarily true, especially if you have a crop-sensor camera.

2. File Size and RAW Shooting

These days, most digital cameras have large file sizes. But the file size is something to be aware of if you ever want to print your images.

If you’re a food blogger, you often shoot images for the web only. But what if you want to publish a cookbook one day or license your food photos through stock agencies? Make sure that your camera can accommodate large file sizes. This usually means at least 3000 pixels on the short side.

Also, be sure that the camera you choose can shoot RAW. Some photographers start shooting JPEGs and then move on to shooting RAW when they feel they have developed their skills. But I urge everyone to start shooting RAW and learn to edit as soon as possible.

RAW files are basically digital negatives. They can withstand endless editing without data loss, unlike a JPEG file. The quality of a JPEG file is downgraded with every edit.

They also pack thousands of times more information and color luminance. This gives you endless freedom in how you approach your post-processing. Unless food photography is strictly a hobby, ensure that the camera you choose can shoot RAW files.

3. ISO Level

When you shoot food photography, you should be working on a tripod most of the time. But there will be cases where you need to handhold your camera. Instances would be shooting food photography in a restaurant or on location at a vineyard or a farm.

This is when your ISO becomes very important. It’s best to have a camera that can handle a relatively high noise level. But despite advances in camera technology, using a high ISO does degrade image quality.

If you’re shooting in the scenarios mentioned above, test how far you can push your ISO before the shoot. Post-processing programs like Photoshop or noise-reduction software can reduce noise in an image. But they cannot completely rescue an image of poor quality.

4. Number of Focus Points

This is one of the biggest factors that influenced my decision about which camera to get when making new purchases for food photography.

Some photographers focus on using manual mode. I have a less-than-perfect vision, so I must rely on automatic focus. Plus, it’s easy to miss focus completely, even if you’re off just a tad while engaging manual focus.

Let’s say that you have a camera with only nine focus points. The odds are that there will be many times that you can’t get the focus point where you need it. This can be very frustrating.

Conclusion: Best Camera for Food Photography

If you want to photograph food professionally and have the budget, buy a full-frame camera. You can even buy a used one from a reputable dealer if you can’t afford to buy a new one.

If you’re new to food photography or shooting for your blog or website, you may want to start with a budget-friendly cropped-sensor camera. You can upgrade to full frame as your skills improve and when you decide the direction you want to take your photography in.

And if you’re shooting in-studio, you might want to have two cameras with you in case one of them malfunctions. This is a very real possibility that I’ve seen in the past as a photographer’s assistant. Nothing is worse than having your camera stop working while a whole team of people depends on you to get the job done.

The Canon EOS RP is our top pick for a fantastic camera that ticks all the boxes. It’s affordable, works well in low light, and captures fantastic details. Plus, it’s lightweight for on-the-go jobs and overhead flat-lay shots.

Our Top 3 Choices for The Best Camera For Food Photography

Canon EOS RP

Nikon D3400

Canon EOS 6D Mark II

What Is the Best Camera for Food Photography?