8 Best DSLR camera for food photography: (2024 Guide & Reviews)

Last Updated on December 5, 2023 by Sharon Advik

Food photography can be challenging because a lot happens in a signal dish.

The art is keeping the individual essence of each ingredient and yet capturing it in a way that feels incorporated.

The need for a camera with versatile features is inevitable to let the creators go wild with ideas.

Everything retains deliciousness and visual captivity, no matter what you are capturing, from the dinner for Instagram posts to the more professional food photography.

Therefore, I have listed some of the best cameras for food photography that can do this job effortlessly.

Which is the Best DSLR camera for food photography?

Here are my recommended top 8 Best DSLR camera for food photography:-

Canon 90D: (best DSLR camera for food photography)

Food and photography are what life is for.

I have always been interested in Latin American food and have explored many savors of the regional delights while traveling.

A few years back, out of my love for the amazingness of cuisine, I adopted food photography as a career.

I now run a blog about various Latin American cuisine; I have to travel around the country to list the best recipes and restaurants.

I used to have a hefty DSLR for food photography, and It wasn’t easy to carry it around, so I planned to switch to a more portable yet exclusive device. So after taking some time to research, I bought a Canon 90D.

This Camera is just outstanding for every purpose of image making.

Features:

  • Sensor: APS-C CMOS
  • Effective megapixel: 32.5 MP
  • Processor: DIGIC 8
  • Image stabilization. Yes
  • ISO: 100-25600
  • Shutter: 30- 1/8000s
  • Viewfinder: pentaprism ( 0.95x magnification)
  • Dimensions: 140.7*104.8*76.8 mm
  • Weight: 701g

ISO/Shutter speed

While capturing the photos of traditional Churrasco for the vlog, I ensured dramatic pictures of the step-by-step process.

I captured a fantastic shot when the chef sprinkled the sea salt and parsley on the steak at 1/700 shutter to freeze the motion and 600 ISO.

Aperture/Depth of field

Taking the same pictures as reference, the camera lens allowed me to create a fantastic bokeh of the background stove at f/1.8 while the sea salt and parsley were in focus.

In another picture, I slightly increased the depth of field by taking the aperture to f/5.8 while the streak was ready to be served on the platter to frame the fiery oven in the background of this picture.

White balance/Frame rate

White balance is a significant problem for food photographers because the kitchen temperature is always high, so the chances of orange overlays increase drastically to overcome the issue.

I always recommend custom Kelvin settings to a cooler end.

The Camera gives me a 10fps continuous shot whenever I want a cinematic click of the cooking process.

Why is this Camera the best?

Many cooking and food photography elements need a fast camera to shoot everything possible. This Camera perfectly combines speed, performance, and portability, making it an excellent option for food photographers who love exploring new locations.

Conclusion

It is the best DSLR camera for food photography that is equipped with an APS-C CMOS sensor with 32.5 Megapixel resolution and 1.6x telephoto reach that matches that of a full-frame camera ensuring exceptional image quality that can be cropped and resized without the loss of resolution.

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Pros
  • New 32.5MP image sensor.
  • 10fps capture with iTR tracking.
  • Vari-angle LCD.
  • Some dust and splash protection.
  • Optical viewfinder.
  • Mirrorless-quality autofocus for 4K video.
Cons
  • Cramped rear dial.
  • No sync socket.
  • Single memory card slot.

Canon 5d mark iv: (best DSLR camera for food photography)

My mother is from Egypt, and Egyptians are known as the founders of baking, so no one in America knows how to make perfect bread other than my mother.

Her baking is so perfect that I couldn’t resist sharing her recipes and starting an ancient baking blog.

At first, I relied on my old Camera to click the photos for the blog.

Still, they were coming out too noisy, so I was introduced to Canon 5d mark iv by a fellow blogger when I was planning on buying a new camera, and it turned the tables for the success of our website.

Now my photography skills and my mother’s delicacies framed by mark iv have become a spectacular integration.

Features:

  • Sensor: CMOS
  • Effective megapixel: 30. 4 MP
  • Processor: DIGIC 6
  • Image stabilization: Yes
  • ISO: 100-32000
  • Shutter: 30- 1/8000s
  • Viewfinder: 1.62 M dots ( 100% coverage)
  • Dimensions: 7* 116.4*75.9mm
  • Weight: 890g

ISO/Shutter speed

The most recent recipe we uploaded was kaak, Ramses III’s bread.

When my mother was making the dough, I clicked the picture at 1/100 shutter speed and 160 ISO to create an artistic effect of motion blur of my mother’s hand movement and dough as the dough was being kneaded.

Aperture/Depth of field

In every picture, I captured along the way of recipe completion.

I kept the aperture wide to around 1/2. It gave me an edge to keep the recipe in focus.

Although in some pictures where the dough was being boiled in the date syrup, I kept the aperture at 1/4 because I wanted to capture our unique Egyptian-style mud shelf.

White balance/Frame rate

Because of the studio light source, I keep the white balance at Fluorescent for every photo I add to the vlog.

The video capacity of the Camera is 4k at 39 fps, which enabled me to make amazing videos for social media.

Why is this Camera the best?

The Camera has some remarkable features that go from excellent low light performance with ISO up to 102400 a 61 point with expandable vertical coverage.

The effectiveness of autofocus is significant in constantly moving hands during the dough-making process.

Conclusion

The full-frame sensor camera works in every light condition. The cutting-edge light collection and 150000-pixel RGB+IR metering help to enhance the exposure and scene recognition, making mark iv the best DSLR camera for food photography.

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Pros
  • 30MP full-frame image sensor.
  • Fast 61-point autofocus system.
  • 7fps continuous shooting.
  • Unlimited JPG shooting buffer.
  • Pro-grade build.
  • Dual Pixel AF Live View focus system.
  • 3.2-inch touch screen.
  • Integrated GPS and Wi-Fi.
  • CF and SD card slots.
Cons
  • Cropped 4K video.
  • Clean HDMI output is 1080p only.
  • No in-body flash.

Nikon D850: (best DSLR camera for food photography)

Baking has long been a part of dining tables, becoming more advanced with time.

The cakes and technology amalgamation is fascinating that people must have seen in shows like Cake Boss and Baking Impossible.

My sister had the same passion for making realistic and technical cakes and came a long way to learn the skills.

After becoming a pro in the field, she started a YouTube channel and a blog about how to make realistic cakes, and I was her ultimate cameraman.

I do everything from videography for the youtube channel to photography for blogs and thumbnails with my Nikon D850.

This Camera has some exceptional parameters to take food photography and videography to another extreme.

Features:

  • Sensor: CMOS
  • Effective megapixel: 45.7 MP
  • Processor: Expeed 5
  • Image stabilization: Yes
  • ISO: 64-25600
  • Shutter: 30- 1/8000s
  • Viewfinder: eye-level pentaprism ( 0.75x magnification)
  • Dimensions: 146* 124* 78. 5mm
  • Weight: 915g

ISO/Shutter speed

Although there are many, too, many stunning clicks, I would like to mention the pictures I captured when my sister made a moving car cake.

I shot the whole video for youtube at 1/58 shutter and kept the ISO at 64 while I captured the pictures of the edible car-making process for a blog at 1/250 shutter and 300 ISO.

Aperture/Depth of field

For shooting the video, I always keep the aperture narrow because adding the elements of the professional baking kitchen in the background is essential.

Still, when I captured a picture like the one I clicked when she made a large bunny cake, I kept the aperture 1/2 to create a bokeh of the adorable pink background.

White balance/Frame rate

No matter whether I’m working on videos or photos, I keep the white balance to a warmer kelvin temperature range to eliminate the hues of the cold kitchen.

I shoot the Video for the channel in 4k at 30 fps to keep the Video realistic so the viewers understand every step of the cake-making.

Why is this Camera the best?

One of the admirable features of the Camera necessary to capture detailed and dynamic picture presentations for food photography is its dynamic range that makes every bit of images and videos come out vibrant, lit, and realistic.

Conclusion

Nonetheless, D850 is the best camera for food photography that is built with a full frame back-illuminated CMOS sensor and 45.7 MP effective resolution.

This Camera is a true representation of blazing processing speed and Unparalleled image quality.

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Pros
  • Full-frame 45.7MP image sensor.
  • 153-point autofocus system.
  • 7fps burst shooting.
  • Wide ISO range.
  • 4K video.
  • Large optical viewfinder.
  • Tilting touch LCD.
  • Dual card slots.
  • Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Cons
  • No built-in flash.
  • SnapBridge system needs some work.

Nikon D780: (best DSLR camera for food photography)

I am a hunter and a chef, and my steaks were very famous in my gathering, so once, when I was hunting in Montana, my friends suggested I start a travel and food social media page.

I was impressed by the idea and started my social media appearance.

Soon it became a professional thing, and I started filming my hunting and steak cooking for the channel.

Because I was very familiar with digital devices, I realized I should get a new camera to make my videos and photos more eye-pleasing.

I started searching the Internet and came up with a Nikon D780 camera.

It is a good device for image-making for food and travel because of its state-of-the-art specifications.

Features:

  • Sensor: CMOS
  • Effective megapixel: 24.5 MP
  • Processor: Expeed 6
  • Image stabilization: Yes
  • ISO: 100-52100
  • Shutter: 30- 1/8000s
  • Viewfinder: eye-level pentaprism ( 0.7x magnification)
  • Dimensions: 5* 115.5* 76 mm
  • Weight: 840g

ISO/Shutter speed

In Colorado, I was shooting an ELK meat steak at the backside waterfall, and the green hilly area was mesmerizing.

Hence, I shot the video at 1/48 fps for the slow motion of the waterfall, steam coming out of the steak, and the gray clouds slowly moving in the sky this very shoot; I kept the ISO at 100 because the light was ample.

Aperture/Depth of field

The thumbnail pictures are so important for the youtube channel, as is the framing of the Video.

As I cook in natural scenery, I always keep the aperture narrow.

For instance, with this Camera, I can easily keep the aperture at 1/16 to include the background and foreground in videos and thumbnails.

White balance/Frame rate

Shooting outdoors has some privileges over indoor or artificial lights because the white balance gets adjusted through the Auto White Balance or Outdoor setting.

I shoot the videos in 4k at 24 fps, including some slow-motion cinematography elements.

Why is this Camera the best?

Capable of framing the impeccable beauty of nature and delightful color gradation of the food, this Camera is a perfectionist.

No matter the scene and style, the Camera is always ready to put up with low-light, high-speed, and long-exposure photographs.

Conclusion

The device gains its title as the best DSLR camera for food photography for a reason.

Its Expeed 6 processor, robust AF technology, and highly efficient back-illuminated 24.5 MP sensor don’t leave any detail hidden with brilliant image preservation.

Even adding special effects doesn’t affect the RAW image quality.

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Pros
  • Excellent 24MP full-frame sensor.
  • 7fps burst with tracking.
  • 12fps electronic shutter.
  • Tilting touch LCD.
  • Phase detect focus for video.
  • 4K with a flat profile.
  • In-camera charging.
Cons
  • Viewfinder autofocus has a limited scope of coverage.
  • The image sensor isn’t stabilized.

Canon 80D: (best DSLR camera for food photography)

I have a film industry-inspired food photography blog.

I have recreated all Harry Potter feasts, the recipe from famous movies such as Ratatouille and No Reservations scallop with saffron sauce, and many more.

While working on the modified recipe for Willy Wonka’s chocolate sauce, I lost my Camera to an unfortunate accident in the studio.

It was such a fantastic device that had been a part of my website’s success journeys, so losing it amidst the making of a most requested blog was heartbreaking.

However, I had to confront the situation and buy a new camera, but I wasn’t sure about the right device, although I had read some fantastic reviews about Canon 80D, so I decided to go for it.

Trust me, reading fellows, I soon realized this device was just the right one for my food photo blogs.

Features:

  • Sensor: CMOS
  • Effective megapixel: 24.2 MP
  • Processor: DIGIC 6
  • Image stabilization. Yes
  • ISO: 100-16000
  • Shutter: 30- 1/8000s
  • Viewfinder: pentaprism ( 100x magnification)
  • Dimensions: 0*105.2*78.5 mm
  • Weight: 730g

ISO/Shutter speed

Whenever I click a dramatic still, I carefully adjust the shutter and ISO to get the best photo.

Today while I was stirring the butter and sugar together, I captured a shoot of my Whisk in the saucepan at 1/60 shutter and 100 ISO.

The slow shutter gave a motion blur effect to the Wiske, and it looked pretty good.

Aperture/Depth of field

The same Whisk in the saucepan picture, and before that, when adding pure dark chocolate to the pan, I set my Camera to a wide aperture of 1/2 and created an aesthetic bokeh of a Willy Wonka-themed background.

In some pictures where the sauce was ready, I captured a final photo with the sauce bowl in my hand at f/8, including myself and the background.

White balance/Frame rate

Because I was working in my kitchen, the light temperature added by the stove’s heat created a warm environment, so I got orange hues, but then I set the color temperature to a more excellent end, and it was all pure white.

The Camera also has full HD video quality and can let the videography take advantage of fantastic slow motions and time lapses at 60 fps.

Why is this Camera the best?

The Camera lets me capture low-angle photos accurately due to the vari-angle LCD and ensures creativity and artistic expertise come through.

The Camera with 7560 pixels RGB + IR metering lets the still makers enjoy precise and excellent exposure under any conditions.

Conclusion

The best DSLR camera for food photography has some great features for unlocking the potential of a photographer by excelling at the successful implant of a 24.2 MP CMOS image sensor and DIGIC 6 processor.

Moreover, the intelligent viewfinder lets you see right through the edge of the lens to pinpoint what lens will pull out.

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Pros
  • 45-point autofocus system.
  • 7fps capture with focus tracking.
  • Vari-angle touch-screen display.
  • Pentaprism viewfinder.
  • Smooth video autofocus.
  • 1/8,000-sec shutter and 1/250-sec flash sync.
  • Wi-Fi with NFC.
Cons
  • No 4K video support.
  • Single SD card slot.
  • No PC sync connection.

Nikon D500: (best DSLR camera for food photography)

I have been working for a health magazine for a long time, and it’s my job to find the best diet recipes to lose weight and provide an essential outlook on how food can be used to prevent and cure disease.

An integral part of time work is visual elements of the magazine, so I’m in full control of photography too.

Because America is battling morbid obesity, the magazine wanted to cover a story about causal food choices, alternatives, and lifestyle modifications, and I was in charge of the photography.

Still, unfortunately, my Camera stopped working after a fall, and it was beyond repair, so I had to buy a new one.

Nikon D500 was in sight for quite some time, so I purchased this Camera to continue my work, and the pictures came out outstanding.

Features:

  • Sensor: CMOS
  • Effective megapixel: 20.9 MP
  • Processor: Expeed 5
  • Image stabilization: Yes
  • ISO: 100-51200
  • Shutter: 30- 1/8000s
  • Viewfinder: eye-level pentaprism
  • Dimensions: 147*115*81 mm
  • Weight: 760g

ISO/Shutter speed

I clicked a picture of a cheeseburger overwhelmingly filled with fried chicken and mozzarella.

I kept the shutter 1/100 and ISO 100 to take this picture to be added under the topic of “what fast food has done to. America”.

In another picture where I froze the motion of Soda coming out of the bottle, I kept the shutter at 1/1100 and ISO 800.

Aperture/Depth of field

The cover picture is of grilled chicken garnished with olive oil and lemon.

This picture was to be added against the photo of fried chicken for comparison.

I clicked a close-up of both pictures by creating the bokeh with f/2 aperture.

White balance/Frame rate

The Camera’s white balance was set at Auto during this shot, enough to let the Camera perceive pure whites.

The Camera has a 4k video resolution that can be shot up to 24 fps.

Why is this Camera the best?

This is an Ideal camera with stunning picture quality with a wide variety of lens compatibility from food to sports photography.

The Camera gives an untiring approach to capture with incredibly speedy Expeed 5 and Multi-CAM 20k autofocus.

Conclusion

The Camera is built around a 20.9-megapixel sensor and NIKKOR lens compatibility.

It has a perfectly balanced combination to deliver stunning pictures, making it the best DSLR camera for food photography.

The Camera also features 3.2 inches, 2359K dot tilting LCD that helps to get shots from desirable angles.

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Pros
  • Solid build.
  • Advanced, edge-to-edge autofocus system.
  • 10fps capture with tracking focus.
  • Large buffer for extended shooting.
  • Superb high ISO image quality.
  • Clean HDMI output.
  • Excellent control layout.
  • Tilting touch-screen LCD.
  • Dust- and weather-resistant design.
  • XQD and SD card slots.
Cons
  • Snapbridge wireless transfer needs some work.
  • No built-in flash.

Canon T8i: (best DSLR camera for food photography)

I work for Celebrity chefs.

It is more of a freelancing job where I do Video recording for their shows or food photography for their social media.

I have also worked for Bobby Flay’s website; capturing food is enjoyable.

I took a year’s break from work due to personal issues, and when I finally got back into the business, I was called by one of my old clients who was planning on starting his food network and wanted some promotional work.

He is an Italian chef and wanted regional touches in the shoot, so I had to travel to Italy.

These days I was planning on buying a new camera because I lost the previous one during the one-year break.

I started digging the Internet for a good camera specifically for food photography and found a Canon T8i.

It provided the pace I needed to get back into a good position in the field.

Features:

  • Sensor: CMOS
  • Effective megapixel: 24.1 MP
  • Processor: DIGIC 8
  • Image stabilization: Yes
  • ISO: 100-25600
  • Shutter: 30- 1/4000s
  • Viewfinder: eye-level optical (0.82x)
  • Dimensions: 0*102.6*76.2mm
  • Weight: 515g

ISO/Shutter speed

They say carbonara is the favorite cuisine of Italian gods, so I kept it as a signature for the promotional shoot.

I captured a picture of carbonara pasta stirring in egg and cheese sauce and the pasta gorgeously spinning in the pan when I stopped its motion with 1/5000 shutter speed and 400 ISO.

Aperture/Depth of field

When the carbonara was ready, I asked the chef to decorate it on a back plate to enhance the contrast.

The dish was placed in front of a white flower decor with small LED lights when I captured an awe-inspiring portrait at f/1.8 that created a beautiful bokeh of the white LED light background, thereby elevating the pasta dish.

White balance/Frame rate

For above mentioned and all the other shoots I clicked during the promotion, I kept the White Balance at Auto to eliminate the hues of orange and blue colors.

The Camera has 4k capabilities that I used to make videos using the 30 fps frame rate.

Why is this Camera the best?

It is creating a portal to Unparalleled photography with the amazingness of the APS-C-based CMOS sensor that is effectively getting lit and creating bright and noise-free pictures.

Conclusion

The reason behind T8i is the best DSLR camera for food photography is hidden in its internal operating systems, such as a 24.1-megapixel sensor and DIGIC 8 processor.

This Camera is an example of agility, clarity, and advancement all in one compact body.

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Pros
  • Familiar design
  • Compatibility with Canon lenses and flashes
  • 24MP photos
  • Quick autofocus for stills and video
Cons
  • Dead-end lens system
  • 4K footage is cropped

Nikon D7500: (best DSLR camera for food photography)

Street food photography was too much fun as I met new people and tried exotic cuisine.

As a social media activist, I always explore new places to shoot.

Last month I went to a Whistlestop wing thing championship in Huntsville, and the spice was in the air.

I aimed to shoot the competition for my social media page, so I wanted some Instagramatic pictures, pictures of delicacy and clarity, and creativity, and my ultimate buddy was a Nikon D500.

There was rush and enthusiasm, and the aroma of Wing spices was mouth-watering.

I was fortunate to have D7500 to frame these fantastic moments with me.

Features:

  • Sensor: CMOS
  • Effective megapixel: 20.9 MP
  • Processor: Expeed 5
  • Image stabilization: Yes
  • ISO: 100-51200
  • Shutter: 30- 1/8000s
  • Viewfinder: eye-level pentaprism (0.94x magnification)
  • Dimensions: 135.5*104*72.5 mm
  • Weight: 640g

ISO/Shutter speed

There were 30 teams in the competition, and I clicked every one of their wing batches, but my favorite one was lemon wings.

When the chef squeezed lemon juice on the wings, I carefully increased the shutter speed to 1/30000 to freeze the lemon juice midway in the air.

I kept the ISO to 500 for this picture because there was little enough in the scene.

Aperture/Depth of field

In the same picture I mentioned above, I kept the aperture wide at f/8 because I wanted to include the chef and his small funky, looking competition kitchen in the scene but didn’t want to lose the focus on the lemon juice creating a stunning streak while coming down on the wings so f/8 seemed the perfect frame.

White balance/Frame rate

It was a shiny afternoon with a lot of heat that further increased the temperature, so I set the color temperature on the cooler end to compensate for the orange hues.

As for frame rates, the excellent 4k resolution lets me make reels with unending cinematics at 30 fps.

Why is this Camera the best?

There is much more in this Camera than one could anticipate.

The best feature It gives to food photographers is its Active X lighting making food photography richer in tone gradation and highlighting the details when there are highly contrasting subjects.

Conclusion

It is the best DSLR camera for food photography.

Its resourcefulness comes through the ability to take any lighting condition via a 20.9 MP sensor and turn it into Bright and brilliantly crisp pictures.

Moreover, the Expeed 5 image process provides blazing data readout and efficient working.

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Pros
  • 20.9MP APS-C image sensor.
  • 8.1fps continuous shooting.
  • 50-shot Raw, 100-shot JPG buffer.
  • 51-point autofocus system.
  • Tilting touch LCD.
  • Weather-sealed body.
  • 4K video capture.
  • SnapBridge Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.
Cons
  • 4K video is cropped.
  • Only one memory card slot.
  • No battery grip option.

CONCLUSION:

Alright, guys, that concludes all the cameras we will discuss today in this article.

Do you guys have any experience with these cameras? What are your thoughts on them?

Which is your Best DSLR camera for food photography?

Is there a camera that I didn’t mention in this article that you love to use?

Would you please leave your thoughts and comments below?

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Best Canon camera for food photography:

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