Canon R10 with RF-S 18-150mm Lens Underwater at Tiger Beach

The Canon R10 with RF-S 18-150mm in the Ikelite 200DLM/D Housing is one of our all-time favorite systems underwater with its unique combination of image quality, versatility, ease of use, and compactness.  It feels like it has never been easier to shoot the wide range of opportunities that we come across on each and every dive.

Check out our results from shooting this system underwater at Tiger Beach in the Bahamas to find out how this lens is capable of everything from big animals to diver portraits and reefscapes to close-up macro. 

18mm • 1/160 • f/7.1 • ISO 200 © John Brigham

Big Animals 

Typically we reach for an ultra-wide lens like the new RF 7-14mm Fisheye when shooting big animals underwater. But we think this gallery goes to show that you don't have to have the widest lens in the world to shoot a 14-foot beast underwater.

It's not going to be the lens you want when the shark hits its nose on your dome, but for arms-length views the 18-150mm is more than capable. Where it really shines is in the extra zoom reach it gives you for when you're not right in the middle of the action. Because let's face it, not every shot underwater is a super-wide shot.

READ MORE: Up Close and Personal: A Guide to Underwater Animal Portraits

18mm • 1/125 • f/5.6 • ISO 100 © John Brigham

18mm • 1/200 • f/9 • ISO 320 © John Brigham

18mm • 1/160 • f/7.1 • ISO 200 © John Brigham

18mm • 1/200 • f/14 • ISO 200 © John Brigham

18mm • 1/125 • f/3.5 • ISO 100 © John Brigham

18mm • 1/100 • f/5.6 • ISO 100 © Jean Rydberg

Diver Portraits & Reefscapes

When shot at 18mm, this rectilinear lens works perfectly well to photograph your dive buddy along with some beautiful coral reefscapes. Most models fear the bulge that a fisheye lens can add on top of their wetsuit and the 10 pounds a camera adds. Shooting people and animals with a rectilinear lens like the 18-150mm can give help them stay looking slim with more true-to-life proportions.  

Usually you would expect edge sharpness to suffer, being a rectilinear lens behind a dome port. But we find that at any reasonable aperture the edge sharpness is better than with an external wide angle lens and can be on par with some of the best wide angle options out there. 

18mm • 1/100 • f/5.6 • ISO 100 © Jean Rydberg

18mm • 1/160 • f/9 • ISO 100 © Jean Rydberg

18mm • 1/125 • f/7.1 • ISO 100 © Jean Rydberg

Close-Up Macro Shooting

Here's where the RF-S 18-150mm can do what no ultra-wide angle lens can do. True wide angle to macro on the same dive. Don't ask me why I was chasing blue chromis and angelfish with a shiver of the world's most dangerous sharks lurking behind me, except to prove to you that it's totally possible with this lens. These images are all as captured, un-cropped.

No other system underwater makes it easier to go from wide angle to macro within a single dive. There are no heavy lenses to take on and off underwater. Just rotate the zoom knob on the side of the port to go from wide to close-up. 

50mm • 1/125 • f/7.1 • ISO 100 © Jean Rydberg

70mm • 1/125 • f/7.1 • ISO 100 © Jean Rydberg

The incredible autofocus tracking system of the Canon R10 has allowed us to nail focus on fast moving fish that we normally wouldn't even both trying to shoot.  If you really know what you're doing - like Matt Dowse - you can get even better macro results than these. Matt notes that the "sweet spot" of this lens is 50-90mm. 

I’ve noticed that the depth of field tends to shrink between 100mm and 150mm, similar to other macro lenses. However, I’ve found that the sweet spot for this lens is around 50 - 90mm, where the focus is sharp, and you can close to the subject. - Matt Dowse

SEE MORE: Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Micro-Review & Results

70mm • 1/125 • f/7.1 • ISO 100 © Jean Rydberg

84mm • 1/100 • f/6.3 • ISO 100 © Jean Rydberg

122mm • f/7.1 • 1/125 • ISO 100 © Jean Rydberg

Shooting From a Distance

Even with the best camera, lens, and strobes available, shooting from too far away will result in an image that's all blue... and no Lightroom slider will bring back the color in it. Converting to black and white can turn that kind of image from a throw-away to a keeper. 

READ MORE: Black and White Conversion for Underwater Photography

18mm • 1/200 • f/14 • ISO 200 © John Brigham

Thanks to Ken & Kimber Kiefer and the incredible crew aboard the Dolphin Dream Liveaboard for showing us some of the best of the Bahamas.

Equipment Used

• Canon EOS R10 Mirrorless Camera
• Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens
• Dual Ecko Fiber Underwater Strobes # 40101-FCA
• 200DLM/D Underwater Housing for Canon EOS R10 with 18-150mm Lens # 69745
• Cable Top Grip # 4080.09

This kit is equipped with everything you need to take the Canon R10 and 18-150mm underwater including the 200DLM/D Underwater Housing, Dome Port and Zoom Gear, Fiber Optic TTL Transmitter, Vacuum Leak Detection System, and more.

Additional Viewing

One Dive, One Lens // Canon RF-S 18-150mm Lens Review for Underwater [VIDEO]

From Sunbursts to Sea Slugs: The Versatility of Canon RF 18-150mm Underwater

Canon RF-S 18-150mm Lens Underwater Photo Gallery // North Solitary Island, Australia

The BEST Entry-Level Compact Camera Housing Underwater Right NOW! // Canon EOS R10 Housing [VIDEO]

Canon R10 with 18-150mm Setting It Up // 200DLM/D Fiber Optic Underwater Housing [VIDEO]

Canon EOS R10 Underwater Photos

Jean Rydberg, daughter of Ike Brigham, became President & CEO of Ikelite in 2006. Prior to that, she wisely pursued a degree in Astronomy & Astrophysics to prepare herself for the challenges of running a technology-driven manufacturing business with global distribution. Jean fully embraces the need to travel outside of her hometown of Indianapolis to experience good diving. She believes that any camera is capable of amazing results in the right hands, and anyone can become a great photographer given the right advice. When she's not working she's spending time with her husband, cats, and two daughters (though not necessarily in that order).