When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
“What camera settings do you recommend for landscape photography?” That’s the question professional photographers hear most often. The truth is, there’s no single setup that works every time. The basic settings for landscape photography change depending on the time of day, weather, and your shooting location.
During workshops, beginners almost always ask this same question. While there’s no one-size-fits-all answer, there are common settings that apply to most landscape shoots. We’ve listed them below.
Landscape photography is a rewarding genre that delivers realistic, full-frame shots. Before you head out, make sure you’ve checked these settings first.
Recommended Camera Settings for Landscape Photography
1. File Type
This is the first thing every photographer should check before shooting. Digital cameras save images in two formats: RAW and JPEG. Most professionals will tell you to shoot in RAW instead of the default JPEG format.
file type
JPEG files are compressed internally, and that compression limits what you can do in post-processing. RAW files, on the other hand, give you full flexibility to edit your images however you want in any photo-editing software.
The trade-off? RAW files take up roughly double the storage space of JPEGs, so you’ll need to manage your memory card accordingly. Since landscape shots almost always need editing, shooting in RAW is the way to go.
2. Focus Type
Digital cameras let you choose between autofocus and manual focus. If you’re comfortable focusing manually and you have a tripod or some other stable support, manual focus is the better option. It gives you more precise control over what’s sharp in the frame.
Basic Settings for Landscape Photography – focus type
Autofocus works well for quick shots, but we don’t recommend it for landscape photography. Instead, try the multi-point focus option, which lets you cover a wider area of the scene you want to capture.
There’s also the AI Servo setting, which is designed for tracking moving subjects. It keeps focus locked on objects that are in motion. This option is usually enabled by default, so you shouldn’t need to change it manually.
3. More of the Basic Settings
Just like with any type of photography, you’ll want to check your white balance, contrast, and brightness before you start shooting. Since landscape photography has its own unique demands, it’s worth going through all of these carefully.
more of the basic settings
White balance adjusts the color tone of your image based on the lighting conditions. If you’ve set it to auto, the camera handles this for you.
Since you’re shooting in RAW, you can always tweak white balance later in editing software. Getting it close in-camera, though, helps your images look more realistic straight out of the gate.
Most DSLRs also have a built-in noise reduction feature. However, this setting uses extra processing power, and when you’re shooting RAW, it’s not really necessary. Just turn it off and handle noise reduction in post-processing. Your editing software will do a better job anyway.
You can also adjust picture tone, contrast, and brightness directly on the camera. Preview the result on your screen and make changes as needed.
4. Playback Settings
The playback option lets you review each shot on your camera’s screen right after taking it. Many beginners overlook the playback menu, but for landscape photography, it’s really important to get this set up properly.
Basic Settings for Landscape Photography – Playback Settings
The histogram is one of the most useful tools in the playback menu. When you’re not sure about the exposure of a shot, enabling the histogram lets you quickly spot overexposed areas.
There’s also a rotation function. Whenever you take a vertical shot, enabling this means the camera will display the image in the correct orientation automatically. You won’t have to keep rotating the camera just to review vertical photos.
If your camera has a touchscreen, turn on the one-click zoom feature. Instead of pressing the zoom button repeatedly, you can just tap an area to zoom in and check sharpness on the spot.
5. Exposure Settings of the Camera
Exposure settings are the most important settings on your camera for getting sharp, well-lit landscape shots. If you nail the exposure in-camera, you’ll need very little editing afterward.
Exposure settings of the camera
Start with the aperture. It controls the depth of field in your images. The right aperture depends on the lighting conditions, so you’ll need to adjust as you go. For low-light situations, use a wider aperture (lower f-number). For shots where you want everything in sharp focus from foreground to background, use a narrower aperture (higher f-number).
Next up is shutter speed. It determines how much light reaches the sensor. During the daytime, keep your shutter speed on the faster side for sharp images.
Then there’s ISO. This setting controls the brightness of your images. You can check and adjust it in real time through the viewfinder before you press the shutter. As a general rule, keep ISO as low as possible to avoid grain.
6. Camera Mode
Every DSLR has a mode dial. It lets you switch between automatic and manual shooting modes. Take some time to understand which modes work automatically and which ones need manual input. For landscape photography, you’ll want a mode that gives you control over wide-angle, full-frame shots.
Finding the right mode takes practice with your specific camera.
Basic Settings for Landscape Photography – Camera Mode
Our recommendation? Go with manual mode. Most professional landscape photographers prefer it because it gives you full control over every setting. You decide the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO for each shot, which is exactly what you want when lighting conditions keep changing throughout a shoot.
It takes real passion and dedication to grow as a photographer. You’ll need to experiment with different settings across various conditions, locations, and times of day.
Landscape photography demands professionalism, and understanding these basic settings is your starting point. Your skills will improve gradually with practice, and eventually you’ll be able to fine-tune even the more advanced settings on your own.
The key is understanding what each adjustment does. If you don’t know why you changed a setting or how it affects the final image, you’ll have a harder time improving. Watch video tutorials, read guides, and keep shooting. That’s the best way to get better at landscape photography.
