Best Camera for Jewelry Photography in 2024 (Top 10 Picks!)

The Sony a7R V is a 60 MP full frame mirrorless camera. That makes it by far the stand-out camera for jewelry photography. The resolution is the highest outside medium format cameras. And the camera’s dynamic range is excellent.

There’s a multi-shot pixel-shift high-res mode with motion correction to improve the resolution. And you also get multi-user Wi-Fi and a typically enormous range of customization options. These are useful in speeding up your workflow.

Sony has also been producing full frame mirrorless cameras longer than anyone else. That means its range of available lenses is much broader than Canon or Nikon (You can check out our Canon vs Sony or Sony vs Nikon mirrorless articles for more detail!).

There are Improvements in battery life, in-body image stabilization (IBIS), autofocus (AF), frame rate, and video. But they aren’t imperative for a great jewelry photography camera. Its focus bracketing is handy, though—even though you must combine the images on the computer.

If you want to use this camera for other kinds of photography, the only issues are rolling shutter and the lack of RAW processing. But it offers a vari-angle LCD, 8K video, and the latest AF technology.

I have a pair of Sony a1s, and even I feel a bit envious! The a7R V is not a complete all-rounder like the Sony a1. But you get all the features you need for jewelry photography at half the price!

If you’re considering buying this camera, checking some of these comparisons first:

• Canon R5 vs Sony a7R V
• Canon R5 C vs Sony a7R V
• Sony a7 IV vs Sony a7R V
• Sony a7S III vs Sony a7R V
• Fujifilm X-T5 vs Sony a7R V

The Nikon Z7 II is a 45.7 MP mirrorless camera that sits just below the all-conquering Z9. It has a higher resolution than the Z6 II. And the low native ISO of 64 improves image quality and dynamic range. These specs are important for jewelry photography, especially when shooting precious sparkling stones!

It has five-axis image stabilization, good battery life, a frame rate of 10 fps (frames per second), and 4K video. They aren’t very useful for shooting jewelry. But they’re nice extras to have. And I like the optional vertical battery grip, the comfy ergonomics, and the twin slots for SD, XQD, and CFexpress Type B memory cards.

Problems include the lack of a vari-angle LCD, the low-res electronic viewfinder (EVF), and the need for an external recorder for video. Eye AF also tends to front-focus slightly. And the autofocus system doesn’t track a given spot very well.

The Sony a7 IV is a 33 MP full frame mirrorless camera with excellent image quality and dynamic range. It has a simple, reliable autofocus system, a 10 fps burst rate, and many custom options.

The ergonomics are better than the older a7s. There are two slots for SD or CFexpress Type-A cards. And you get USB-PD support for fast charging or remote control. It also comes with a better interface and AF system than previous versions.

The a7 IV offers excellent options for recording video. It provides full-width oversampled video (4K from 7K up to 30 fps). And there is 4K from 4.6K capture at 60 fps in Super35 or APS-C mode.

There’s also the option of 10-bit video for full HLG (Hybrid Log Gamma) capture on HDR TVs. And there is HEIF still capture for high-quality, small-compression files. Plus, you can use cinematic S-Cinetone color mode or shoot in highly efficient H.265 video.

The only problems are the slightly jerky stabilization and the Catalyst Browse Software. In exchange for a bigger crop, this lets you add stabilization using the gyro sensor readings. But it’s a pain!

The Canon EOS R6 Mark II is a 24 MP full frame mirrorless camera. Like the Sony a7R V and Nikon Z7 II, it sits just below the flagship model. That means it offers better value for money without compromising the features you need for jewelry photography.

The resolution is slightly lower than the other cameras we’ve seen. But it’s enough for studio shots, as you shouldn’t need to crop them later.

The smaller file sizes mean you only need SD cards rather than the more expensive XQD or CFexpress Type-B cards. Using Adobe Lightroom or Capture One, you also get a 10 Gbps USB-C port for fast data transfer and tethering.

This model also offers good ergonomics, focus bracketing, and an articulated touchscreen. And you can also customize the Q menu to rapidly access the most common camera settings.

But some features are not as relevant to jewelry photography. These include  AF tracking, a 12-bit RAW frame rate of 40 fps (with pre-buffering), an eight-stop IBIS system, a 580-shot battery life, and 6K video. But they’re nice if you use the camera for other photography.

On the downside, the RAW files have built-in noise reduction and a few menu mistakes. And there are also problems when shooting videos:

• The AF is not as good
• The IBIS wobbles with wide-angle lenses
• You can’t see the histogram and lens gauges when recording

There aren’t many Canon RF lenses, and the company limits third-party products. But you can always get the RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM. This is a pro macro lens with 1.4x magnification and Spherical Aberration Control to manage bokeh.

And there aren’t any tilt-shift options. But the TS-R 14mm f/4L and TS-R 24mm f/3.5L are coming soon.

The Fujifilm X-T5 is a 40 MP APS-C mirrorless model with “hipster” film camera looks. It sits below the flagship X-H2. But the missing features aren’t worth the extra $300 if you don’t shoot much video!

Although it has an APS-C sensor, the resolution is more than enough to capture enough detail. There’s even a 20-shot, 160 MP high-resolution mode.

You also get a few “nice-to-have” features. These include a 15 fps burst rate, eye detection and tracking, 7.0 stops of IBIS, various film simulations, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. And you get 6.2K / 30p or subsampled 4K / 60p video footage with various 10-bit options.

On the downside, there’s no touchscreen menu or battery grip. And eye tracking is unreliable. It also lacks the flip-out vari-angle rear screen from the X-H camera line.

The Canon EOS R is a budget 30 MP full frame mirrorless camera. It has more megapixels but slightly fewer impressive features than the EOS R6 Mark II. And it comes at a much lower price!

The expanded ISO range drops by half, the burst rate falls to 8 fps (with no pre-shooting buffer), the battery life is shorter, and the video is limited. You don’t get focus bracketing or animal or vehicle tracking either. And there are delays when reviewing images.

But you get more focus points, and the LCD is larger with a higher resolution. It’s also slightly lighter with weather sealing. And you get an LCD screen on the top plate.

There are multiple options for customizing the controls and the multi-function bar. And the EOS R also has three optional adapters that let you fit any EF or EF-S (full frame or APS-C) lens.

The Nikon D850 is a 45.7 MP full frame DSLR. I used to own one but traded it for a pair of Sony a1 mirrorless cameras. I’d have kept it if I was taking photos of jewelry rather than wildlife.

The main reasons I got rid of it were the low frame rate of 7 fps and the lack of eye detection. But neither is a deal-breaker if you only want to photograph jewelry.

It’s also a bit of a brick. But that doesn’t matter either if you use a tripod. Otherwise, it does exactly what you need it to do. And if you use the optical viewfinder, it offers high resolution (with no AA filter), great autofocus, and a high dynamic range.

You also get weather-sealing, illuminated buttons, long battery life, an easy interface, and slots for XQD and SD cards. Plus, built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth connectivity make file-sharing easy.

The tilting touchscreen isn’t perfect, but it’s better than a fixed screen. And you can shoot 4K video. You can also add a battery grip for over 5,100 shots and easy switching between portrait and landscape.

But there is a list of minor issues:

• Live View autofocus is only contrast detection, making it slow for both stills and video.
• Subject tracking is not as good as on the Nikon D5.
• XQD cards are faster than their SD equivalents but are much more expensive.
• The SnapBridge software isn’t very user-friendly or sophisticated.
• Lenses must be calibrated properly—as I learned when shooting polar bears on Svalbard!
• The rolling shutter is obvious in 4K video.
• Focus peaking isn’t available when shooting 4K.

If you’re interested in knowing more, check out my full Nikon D850 review or our Nikon D780 vs D850 comparison!

The Canon EOS 5D Mark IV is a compact, 30.4 MP full frame DSLR camera aimed at enthusiasts. The sensor resolution is only half that of the a7R V, but it’s still plenty for close-up work.

Plus, people rave about “Canon color.” And the noise performance is also good.

One nifty camera feature for jewelry photography is its Dual Pixel RAW photo processing. This works by taking two 30 MP images from the “right-looking” and “left-looking” photodiodes on each pixel.

The resulting file is twice as large. But you can use Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software. It can shift bokeh, reduce ghosting, and make micro-adjustments.

The Dual Pixel AF system is excellent. But it only works in Live View or when shooting video. With the optical viewfinder, the camera uses a 61-point AF system (41 cross-type). This has up to 24% more vertical coverage than the EOS 5D Mark III.

Other improvements include AF precision and speed, dynamic range, and resolution. And the Wi-Fi with NFC connectivity, touchscreen, and weather sealing are all typical of Canon cameras.

You also get various features suitable for other types of photography. These include a burst rate of 7 fps, face detection and tracking, GPS, and DCI 4K video at 30 or 24 fps (with frame grabs).

But 4K video has a 1.64x crop, you get rolling shutter, and intelligent tracking-and-recognition (iTR) is poor. And you can’t link spot metering to the active focus point.

Plus, Motion JPEG is the only file format for video, and you don’t get Log gamma, focus peaking, zebras, or a 4K HDMI output. And finally, the fixed rear LCD is a bit inconvenient.

The Canon EOS Rebel T8i is a compact and affordable 24 MP APS-C “high entry-level” DSLR camera. (It’s also known as the EOS 850D or EOS Kiss X10i.)

It has a handy, fully articulated touchscreen. And like the EOS 5D Mark IV, it offers a 7 fps burst rate with face and eye detection using Dual Pixel AF in Live View or while shooting video. Otherwise, the 45-point all-cross-type AF system takes over.

The T8i offers comfortable ergonomics, good battery life, and 4K / 24p video. Vloggers can shoot vertical videos. And there’s a 3.5mm input for an external microphone.

But 4K video has a 1.6x crop, Full HD can show moiré and false color, and there are fewer focus points than mirrorless cameras. There’s also no IBIS or USB charging. And the optical viewfinder gives only a small, dim view of the world outside.

Any EF or EF-S lens can be used. But there are only 14 cheaper EF-S lenses (including two macros). And the EF lenses are bigger and dearer. And with DSLR cameras on their way out, this is unlikely to change.

The Canon EOS 70D is a 20.2 MP mid-range APS-C DSLR camera for enthusiasts. And it’s the most affordable Canon DSLR on our list.

Like the other Canon cameras, it has Auto Lighting Optimizer and Highlight Tone Priority. They keep detail in shadows and highlights, which is handy when shooting jewelry.

It also uses Dual Pixel AF in Live View and while shooting video. Otherwise, it has a 19-point all-cross-type AF system borrowed from the 7D.

The camera also offers a 7 fps frame rate, silent shutter mode, touch tracking, and Creative Filters. Finally, you get a touchscreen, built-in Wi-Fi, and a smartphone remote control.

Sadly, there’s only one SD card slot. The best video is only 1080p at 30 fps. The electronic level only shows pitch and roll. High Dynamic Range and Multiple Exposure modes only work with JPEGs. And the smartphone app can’t share full-size files.

During continuous shooting, the LCD blacks out in Live View, and you can’t use subject tracking. The Wi-Fi setup is complex, and movie mode is disabled once done. HDR mode is unavailable with RAW files. And the battery life in Live View is disappointing.