Ansel Adams, one of the most iconic landscape photographers of the 20th century, is best known for his large-format black-and-white photography of the American West, particularly Yosemite. His camera gear was meticulously chosen to deliver maximum image quality and tonal range, consistent with his technical precision and artistic vision.
Primary Camera Formats and Brands
Large Format (8×10 and 4×5 view cameras)
This was Adams' preferred format, offering the exceptional resolution, tonal range, and detail he demanded.
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Cameras:
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Korona View Camera (8×10) – Early in his career.
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Deardorff 8×10 – A wooden field camera used for much of his later large-format work.
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Arca-Swiss 4×5 – Later in life, Adams used a Swiss-made monorail camera for its precision.
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Hasselblad SWC – Medium format, used occasionally for more portable work.
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| Korona View 8x10 |
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| Deardorf 8x10 |
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| Arca Swiss 4x5 |
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| Hasselblad SWC |
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Lenses:
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Carl Zeiss Jena Tessar lenses
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Kodak Commercial Ektar lenses
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Goerz Dagor and Red Dot Artar lenses
Adams was extremely particular about lens sharpness and often tested multiple lenses for each project.
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- Film
- Kodak Panatomic-X (later)
- Kodak Super-XX (earlier)
Philosophy on Gear
Adams believed that craftsmanship, visualization, and technical mastery were more important than gear alone. He often said:
“The single most important component of a camera is the twelve inches behind it.”
If you're interested in recreating Adams’ look or learning from his process, studying the Zone System and working with large-format film are great places to start. Let me know if you'd like a beginner-friendly explanation of the Zone System or a modern digital equivalent workflow.