Macro and Wide-Angle Shooting under Water: Tips and Techniques for Capturing Stunning Images Beneath the Surface
Mastering Underwater Photography: A Comprehensive Guide to Camera Settings
Underwater photography can be a rewarding and captivating hobby, showcasing the beauty of marine life and aquatic landscapes. To help you capture stunning images, we've put together a guide on recommended camera settings for macro and wide-angle photography, tailored for various camera models.
General Recommended Settings for Underwater Macro and Wide-Angle Photography
| Aspect | Macro Photography | Wide-Angle Photography | |----------------------|---------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------| | Aperture (f-stop)| Narrow aperture (f/8 to f/16) for deep Depth of Field (DOF) | Moderate aperture (f/5.6 to f/8) for sharpness and light | | Shutter Speed | Fast enough to freeze motion (1/125s to 1/250s) | Similar or slightly faster (1/125s to 1/320s) | | ISO | Low to moderate (ISO 100-400) to reduce noise | Low (ISO 100-200) for best image quality | | Focus Mode | Manual or single-point autofocus for precise focus| Continuous autofocus or manual for wide scenes | | White Balance | Custom or underwater presets to capture accurate colors| Custom or underwater preset to compensate for blue cast | | Lighting | Use strobes/flash close to subject to reduce backscatter| Wide-angle strobes or natural light; position strobes lower and wider to reduce backscatter | | Lens/Wet Lenses | Macro lenses or wet macro converters for improved focus and working distance | Dome ports or wide-angle wet lenses for close-focus wide-angle (CFWA) | | Image Format | RAW for post-processing flexibility | RAW for best tonal recovery |
DOF = Depth of Field
Specific Notes by Camera Model
| Camera Model | Macro Tips | Wide-Angle Tips | |-----------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------| | Canon G10 / G9 | Aperture f/8–11, ISO 100-200, manual AF if possible; use wet macro lenses for improved focus and working distance | Moderate aperture (f/5.6), ISO 100, wide wet lens or dome port for CFWA. Use strobes to illuminate scene | | Nikon D90 / D80 | Use macro lenses or add-on wet macro optics; aperture f/8-11, ISO 100-400; shoot RAW | Open aperture f/5.6-8, ISO 100-200; wide-angle lens behind dome port; control strobe angle | | Nikon D7200 / D500| Use dedicated macro lenses (e.g., 105mm VR), wet macro lenses like Nauticam MFO-3 improve mid-range focus | Aperture f/5.6-8, ISO 100; wide-angle lenses paired with dome ports for CFWA | | Nikon D850 | Use high-res RAW with macro lenses; aperture f/8-14, ISO low (64-100); exploit high detail for texture | Aperture f/5.6-8, ISO 64-100; good strobe positioning enhances sharpness and color | | Canon 7D Mark II | Use fast macro lenses (e.g., 100mm f/2.8) stopped down to f/8-11, ISO 100-400, manual focus optimal | f/5.6-8 aperture, ISO 100-200; wide lenses on dome ports, flash to reduce shadows | | Canon 5D Mark IV | Aperture f/8-11, ISO 100-400; high-res sensor benefits macro details | Aperture f/5.6-8, ISO 100; use wide-angle lenses with dome ports | | Olympus E-M1 Mark II| Micro Four Thirds sensor; aperture f/8-11, ISO 200-400; use Olympus/third-party macro lenses | Aperture around f/5.6, ISO 200; wide-angle wet lenses/domes for CFWA | | Sony A7r III | High-res Full-frame; aperture f/8-14, ISO 100-400; excellent dynamic range aids in macro | Aperture f/5.6-8, ISO 100-200; use native or adapted wide-angle lenses and proper dome ports |
Additional Practical Tips
- Strobe/Flash power: Adjust power for your subject distance; macro tends to require lower power and strobes closer to subject to reduce backscatter. Wide-angle benefits from strobes placed wide and angled outward to avoid direct backscatter.
- Focus aids: Use focus lights for macro photography to assist autofocus or manual focusing.
- RAW shooting: Always shoot RAW to recover colors and exposure nuances lost underwater.
- Wet Lens Use: Wet macro lenses like the Nauticam MFO-3 extend working distance and improve focus range for mid-range macro (50-100 mm lenses), enabling better sharpness and field of view. Wet lenses allow shifts between macro and wide without surfacing but need careful handling to avoid droplets/backscatter.
- Custom white balance: Critical underwater due to color suspension; set white balance close to ambient light or use manual kelvin settings.
Summary Table: Typical Starting Settings Underwater by Camera Type and Subject
| Camera | Subject | Aperture | Shutter Speed | ISO | Focus Mode | White Balance | |--------------------|-------------|----------|---------------|-------|---------------|-----------------| | Canon G10/G9 | Macro | f/8-11 | 1/125-1/250s | 100-200| Manual/Single AF | Custom/UW preset | | | Wide-angle | f/5.6-8 | 1/125-1/320s | 100 | Continuous AF | Custom/UW preset | | Nikon D90/D80 | Macro | f/8-11 | 1/125-1/250s | 100-400| Single AF | Custom/UW preset | | | Wide-angle | f/5.6-8 | 1/125-1/320s | 100-200| Continuous AF | Custom/UW preset | | Nikon D7200/D500 | Macro | f/8-14 | 1/125-1/250s | 100-400| Manual AF | Custom/UW preset | | | Wide-angle | f/5.6-8 | 1/125-1/320s | 100 | Continuous AF | Custom/UW preset | | Nikon D850 | Macro | f/8-16 | 1/125-1/250s | 64-200 | Manual AF | Custom/UW preset | | | Wide-angle | f/5.6-8 | 1/125-1/320s | 64-100 | Continuous AF | Custom/UW preset | | Canon 7D Mark II / 5D Mark IV | Macro | f/8-11 | 1/125-1/250s | 100-400| Manual/Single AF| Custom/UW preset| | | Wide-angle | f/5.6-8 | 1/125-1/320s | 100-200| Continuous AF| Custom/UW preset | | Olympus E-M1 Mark II| Macro | f/8-11 | 1/125-1/250s | 200-400| Manual AF | Custom/UW preset | | | Wide-angle | f/5.6-8 | 1/125-1/320s | 200 | Continuous AF | Custom/UW preset | | Sony A7r III | Macro | f/8-14 | 1/125-1/250s | 100-400| Manual AF | Custom/UW preset | | | Wide-angle | f/5.6-8 | 1/125-1/320s | 100-200| Continuous AF | Custom/UW preset |
These settings should be adapted based on specific dive conditions such as depth, water clarity, ambient light, and subject behavior. Additionally, investing in quality strobes and proper housing/dome ports or wet lenses enhances image quality significantly.
If you want specific camera model details or optimal lens and port combinations, I can provide more tailored advice.
- Mastery of underwater photography can reveal the allure of thriving marine ecosystems and pristine aquatic landscapes.
- To ensure stunning images, a comprehensive guide on recommended settings for macro and wide-angle photography has been prepared, tailored for various camera models.
- Narrow apertures (f/8 to f/16) in macro photography usually deliver deep Depth of Field (DOF), whereas moderate apertures (f/5.6 to f/8) in wide-angle photography offer sharpness and light.
- When taking underwater photos, utilize fast shutter speeds (1/125s to 1/250s) to freeze motion effectively, ensuring crisp images.
- For macro photography, low to moderate ISO values (ISO 100-400) help reduce noise, while for wide-angle photography, the lowest ISO possible (ISO 100-200) guarantees the best image quality.
- Underwater settings also emphasize focus mode; manual or single-point autofocus is essential for precise macro focus, while continual autofocus or manual focus is recommended for wider scenes.
- Custom or underwater presets for white balance are crucial to capture accurate colors underwater, reducing the blue cast that often appears.
- Strobes and flash should be utilized close to the subject for macro shots to lessen backscatter, while for wide-angle shots, use multiple and angled strobes to reduce backscatter and enhance lighting.
- When using DSLR cameras for underwater photography, it's essential to consider specific model recommendations and optimal lens and port combinations, as certain cameras may benefit from dedicated macro lenses, wet lenses, or wet macro converters.
