Canon RF and EF lenses for underwater photography, showcasing the best lens options for capturing marine life and underwater scenes.

If you're diving into underwater photography, choosing the right lens is just as important as selecting your camera body and housing. With Canon’s RF and EF lens lineup expanding, finding the perfect lens for the job can be a bit overwhelming. That’s why we’re breaking down our top Canon RF and EF lens choices for underwater photography to help you capture stunning images beneath the surface.

Why Lens Choice Matters Underwater

Water behaves differently than air when it comes to optics. Light refracts, colors fade, and sharpness can suffer. The right lens can help counteract these challenges by offering optimal sharpness, minimal distortion, and the ability to work with dome or flat ports efficiently. Let’s dive into our top choices!

1. Canon RF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM or Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L IS USM Macro

If you love capturing tiny marine creatures, this is the lens for you. Macro photography underwater is incredibly rewarding, allowing you to get detailed shots of nudibranchs, seahorses, and intricate coral textures.

Why We Love It:

  • Superb sharpness and contrast, perfect for detailed close-ups.
  • Improved working distance compared to its EF predecessor, allowing you to capture shy critters without disturbing them.
  • Image stabilization helps counteract minor movements, which is useful when shooting in surge or currents.

Setup & Housing Considerations:

  • Requires a flat port instead of a dome port.

2. Canon RF 85mm f/2 Macro IS STM

A fantastic medium-long macro lens that excels in capturing small marine life.

Why We Love It:

  • Great working distance for shy marine creatures.
  • Superb detail and bokeh, making it a great portrait lens as well.

Setup & Housing Considerations:

  • Requires a flat port for macro shooting.

3. Canon RF 24-50mm f/4.5-6.3 IS STM

A compact and versatile lens, the Canon RF 24-50mm is a great option for those looking to pair their setup with macro and wide-angle wet lenses.

Why We Love It:

  • Compatible with Nauticam’s CMC-1 and CMC-2 for stunning macro photography.
  • Works well with wide-angle wet lenses like WACP and FCP-1, expanding its flexibility underwater.
  • Small and lightweight, making it easy to pack and travel with.

Setup & Housing Considerations:

  • Works behind a flat port when using wet lenses.
  • Compatible with wide-angle wet lenses for greater field-of-view flexibility.

4. Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L IS USM

Looking for a rectilinear wide-angle lens instead of a fisheye? The Canon RF 14-35mm f/4L is a solid alternative for those who want versatility.

Why We Love It:

  • Great for wrecks, caves, and reefscapes where you don’t want the extreme distortion of a fisheye lens.
  • The 14-35mm zoom range allows for flexible composition.
  • Works well for both topside and underwater photography, making it a great all-around travel lens.

Setup & Housing Considerations:

  • Works best behind a large dome port for minimal distortion and sharpness across the frame.
  • Can be used with either the small or large dome port, depending on your shooting style.

5. Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye (or with Adapter)

If you think fisheye lenses are only for skateboarders and funky portrait shots, think again. Underwater, the Canon 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye is a workhorse and one of the best wide-angle options available.

Why We Love It:

  • Offers a 180-degree field of view at 8mm, making it ideal for capturing expansive reef scenes and large marine life.
  • Allows you to get close to your subject, which is crucial for sharp, well-lit images underwater.
  • Performs exceptionally well behind a dome port, delivering crisp, edge-to-edge sharpness.

Setup & Housing Considerations:

  • You’ll need the Canon EF to RF adapter to mount this lens on RF-mount cameras.
  • Works well with both small and large dome ports:
    • Small dome: More compact, easier to travel with, and better for maneuverability.
    • Large dome: Ideal for split shots (half above/half below the waterline) and achieving better corner sharpness.

Other Notable RF and EF Lens Options

Canon RF 15-35mm f/2.8L IS USM

A high-performance wide-angle lens, perfect for blue-water pelagic shots and pool photography.

Why We Love It:

  • Pairs exceptionally well with Nauticam WACP-2, providing 130-degree coverage and full zoom-through.
  • Delivers sharp, distortion-free images in a variety of underwater scenarios.

Setup & Housing Considerations:

  • Works best behind a large dome port for optimal image quality.

Canon RF 24-70mm f/2.8L IS USM

While not the most common focal range underwater, this lens is ideal for portrait-style shots.

Why We Love It:

  • Excellent sharpness and color rendition.
  • Versatile for both topside and underwater shooting.

Setup & Housing Considerations:

  • Works best behind a dome port.
  • Not ideal for wide-angle or macro photography.

Canon EF 11-24mm f/4L USM

A super-wide rectilinear lens with great performance behind a large dome port.

Why We Love It:

  • Sharp and distortion-free at ultra-wide angles.
  • The widest non-fisheye lens available, making it a unique tool for underwater photographers.

Setup & Housing Considerations:

  • Works best with a large dome port.
  • Stopping down the aperture improves corner sharpness significantly.

Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III USM

The Canon EF 16-35mm f/2.8L III is one of the go-to lenses for anyone looking to capture stunning wide-angle shots. It's a little on the heavy side and definitely pricey, but if you want top-notch performance, this is it. If you’re after something more budget-friendly, the Canon EF 16-35mm f/4L is a solid choice too, it punches above its weight in terms of performance and price.

Why We Love It:

  • Flexible Zoom Range (16-35mm): Whether you’re shooting wide landscape shots or zooming in on more detailed subjects, this lens has you covered.
  • Fast f/2.8 Aperture: Perfect for shooting in low light or for those cool blurred backgrounds. You’ll get a beautiful, creamy bokeh.
  • Super Sharp: This lens delivers crisp, clear images with very little distortion, making it a dream for wide-angle shots.

Setup & Housing Considerations:

  • Big Dome = Better Shots: To get the best out of this lens underwater, go for the largest dome you can (around 230mm / 9” is the sweet spot). It helps keep your shots nice and sharp.
  • Close Focusing: The lens is great at focusing close, and with a well-positioned large dome, you usually won’t need a close-up diopter.

Final Thoughts

Pairing these lenses with the right housing, ports, and accessories ensures you get the most out of your Canon R-series camera beneath the waves. Need help choosing the perfect setup? Visit UWcamerastore.com for expert advice and top-notch underwater camera gear!

Happy diving and shooting!