Best Sony Lenses for Underwater Photography – Wide-Angle and Macro Shots

In this guide, we’ll take an in-depth look at the best Sony lenses for underwater photography, focusing on Sony’s FE lens lineup. Designed for full-frame mirrorless cameras, these lenses offer outstanding image quality and versatility. From wide-angle to macro, we’ll explore the best choices to help you get the perfect underwater shots.

Understanding Sony FE Lenses

Sony FE lenses are built for full-frame mirrorless cameras, but they are also compatible with APS-C sensor bodies. However, if used on an APS-C camera, the focal length effectively increases by a factor of 1.5x. This means that a 50mm FE lens would have a field of view equivalent to 75mm. While this crop factor can be beneficial for some applications (like macro photography), it's important to consider when selecting a lens.

Sony’s FE lineup includes their top-tier professional lenses, including the highly regarded G Master (GM) series, which are designed to deliver the best optical performance. Many of these lenses also feature Optical SteadyShot (OSS), making handheld shooting more stable, which is beneficial when dealing with underwater currents.

Best Sony Wide-Angle Lenses for Underwater Photography

Wide-angle lenses are essential for capturing expansive underwater scenes. Reefs to large marine creatures like sharks and manta rays. Here are some top choices:

Sony FE 12-24mm F4 G

"Ultra Wide Without Fisheye Distortion"

  • Great for capturing large subjects and reefs.
  • Constant f/4 aperture
  • Quick and accurate autofocus.
  • No fisheye distortion, making it a versatile wide-angle option.

Sony FE 16-35mm F4 ZA OSS or Sony FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM (II)

"The Perfect All-Around Wide-Angle Lens"

  • A solid underwater lens for reefs, wrecks, and marine life.
  • Offers a longer zoom range than the 12-24mm, giving more flexibility.
  • Optical SteadyShot (OSS) for added stability.
  • F4 is more budget-friendly compared to the f/2.8 version, which is not typically needed underwater.

Sony FE 14mm F1.8 GM

"Ultra-Wide Fast Prime Lens"

  • Compact and lightweight but delivers excellent sharpness.
  • Fast f/1.8 aperture for stunning low-light performance.
  • Close focus of 25cm

Best Mid-Range Zooms and Primes for Sony Mirrorless for Underwater Photography

Mid-range zooms and primes offer versatility, making them great for general underwater photography, portraits, and videography.

Sony FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM

"An Excellent All-Around Zoom Lens"

  • Great focal range for a variety of subjects.
  • Constant f/2.8 aperture for reliable performance in different lighting conditions.
  • High-quality glass provides exceptional clarity and sharpness.

Sony FE 50mm F1.2 GM

"A Classic Prime Lens with Amazing Low-Light Performance"

  • The ideal all-purpose prime lens.
  • Fast f/1.2 aperture for dreamy bokeh and stunning detail.
  • Fantastic for shooting fish portraits and marine life at mid-range distances.

Sony FE 24-105mm F4 G OSS

"A Versatile Zoom with Fast Autofocus"

  • Covers a broad focal range, making it great for both topside and underwater shooting.
  • Constant f/4 aperture with built-in Optical SteadyShot.
  • Excellent for travel and general-purpose photography.

Best Macro Lenses for Underwater Photography

Macro photography opens up a whole new world beneath the surface, allowing you to capture intricate details of small marine creatures.

Sony FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS

"The Go-To Super Macro Lens"

  • Exceptional sharpness and contrast.
  • 90mm focal length (135mm equivalent on APS-C) allows for true macro shots.
  • Optical SteadyShot for enhanced stability in underwater conditions.
  • Pairs well with diopters for super macro work.

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

"A Versatile All-Around Macro Lens"

  • More flexible for larger macro subjects.
  • Works well with cropped sensor cameras (75mm equivalent focal length).
  • A great option for capturing small fish portraits and mid-size macro marine life.

 

Sony 28mm f/2 Prime vs. Sony 28-60mm Kit Lens

When it comes to wide-angle underwater photography, many photographers debate between using the Sony 28mm f/2 prime lens with an ultra-wide conversion lens or the Sony 28-60mm kit lens with the Nauticam WWL-1.

  • Sony 28mm f/2 Prime: This combination provides a very wide field of view in a compact setup, making it a great choice for travel-friendly underwater photography.
  • Sony 28-60mm Kit Lens with WWL-1: This setup delivers an impressive 130-degree field of view with edge-to-edge sharpness, offering the best image quality underwater. Additionally, the zoom-through capability allows for more framing flexibility compared to the fixed focal length of the 28mm prime.
  • Our Recommendation: If you prioritize compactness, go with the 28mm f/2 behind a dome port. If image quality is your main concern, the 28-60mm with WWL-1 is the superior choice.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right Sony FE lens for underwater photography depends on your shooting style and what you hope to capture. Wide-angle lenses are essential for expansive reef scenes and large marine life, while macro lenses allow you to focus on the tiny details of the underwater world.

For an all-around great kit, a combination of a wide-angle zoom (like the Sony 16-35mm f/4) and a macro lens (like the Sony 90mm f/2.8 Macro) is a great start. If you prefer prime lenses, the Sony 50mm f/1.2 is an excellent choice for its sharpness.

Happy diving and happy shooting!