The One-Lens Underwater Setup? Canon 18-150mm in Yap [VIDEO]

Featuring Douglas Klug

In this video, Doug Klug takes the Canon RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM to MantaFest in Yap, Micronesia to see just how well one lens can handle a full schedule of underwater photography—from wide-angle scenes and reef life to close-up and macro subjects.

The 18-150mm offers an unusually broad range for underwater shooting, allowing you to move from wider compositions to surprisingly tight macro-style shots without changing lenses. In Yap, Doug puts that versatility to the test in real diving conditions and shares what worked, how it changed his shooting, and why this lens can be such a practical all-around choice for underwater photographers.

Whether you're interested in underwater macro, wide angle, or simply want a flexible setup that lets you capture a variety of subjects on the same dive, this video gives you a look at what the Canon 18-150mm can do underwater.

If you're more of a reader, scroll down to view the article version of this video.

 

A Great Lens for Uncertain Conditions

I'm here in beautiful Yap where I've been diving for the last couple of weeks. While I've been here, I've been using the Canon 18-150mm as a great go-to lens when I'm just not sure what the conditions are going to be like. 

Yap has a lot of tidal diving, meaning that depending on which way the tides go, the visibility can be variable from very, very good to medium. I found that that this lens really fit the bill when I wasn't quite sure what I was going to experience with the conditions. 

Canon R7 + Canon 18-150mm Lens at 47mm • 1/125 • f/10 • ISO 1600 © Doug Klug

 

Using Zoom for Skittish Animals

The zoom capabilities on the Canon 18-150mm are fantastic. Even if you're not necessarily shooting something small, but if you're shooting something that's skittish, you can set up a distance away and use that zoom capability to bring yourself closer without chasing the subject away. I actually found that very useful with a lot of the cleaning station fish. I was able to set up a few feet away and then zoom in and capture that cleaning activity without spooking the fish or needing the activity end right in front of me. 

The Canon 18-150mm lens will give you a lot of breathing room when shooting skittish animals, like the notoriously shy mandarinfish. // Canon R7 + Canon 18-150mm lens at 129mm • 1/80 • f/10 • ISO 1600 © Doug Klug

 

Best of Show: Zebra Shark

One of the great experiences I had while I was diving with that lens was we came across a zebra shark, which is an incredibly rare species of shark. They're actually listed worldwide as an endangered species, so we were thrilled to find it. And I happened to have that 18-150mm on and got a very nice close pass from the shark and managed to get off the shots that ended up winning the best of show in the MantaFest Photo Contest. 

The winning zebra shark // Canon R7 + Canon 18-150mm Lens at 18mm • 1/80 • f/9 • ISO 250 © Doug Klug

 

My Underwater Setup for MantaFest

I've been using the Canon 18-150mm with a Canon R7 in an Ikelite 200DLM Underwater Housing. I'm very happy with that setup. It's easy to manage. The port system that Ikelite uses is fantastic, it has a small dome port that allows you to catch the wide angle lens and then you affix a +4 diopter on the lens to make up for any distortion in the focal range and gives you quite a bit of flexibility with the lens. You're able to focus into about six or seven inches on the small stuff and obviously the big stuff. You can actually have it set wide and focus at that distance. 

 

The Canon 18-150mm Topside

The Canon 18-150mm lens is a pretty good lens to use out of water too because it gives you that same ability to zoom in on things; if you just want to catch the very top end of a palm tree from a distance or to open it wide open and catch the entire beach scene. 

Topside focal length comparison, 18mm on the left vs. 44mm on the right. © Douglas Klug

 

Doug's Gear

• Canon EOS R7
• Canon RF-S 18-150mm F3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens 
• 200DLM/D Underwater Housing for Canon EOS R7 # 69746-FBR
• DLM 6 inch Dome Port with Zoom Extended .375 Inch # 5516.16
• DLM 1.2 Inch Port Extension # 5516.65
• Zoom / Focus Gear # 5515.18
• +4 Diopter Close-Up Lens # 096340-M55
• Dual RC232 TTL Underwater Strobe with Video Light # 40123

 

Additional Viewing

More Power, Smaller Package: Moving to Mirrorless with the Canon R7

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

3 Gear Upgrades That Transformed My Underwater Photography

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

Underwater Photographers' Paradise + Prizes?! Traveling to Yap, Micronesia for MantaFest [VIDEO]

 

Douglas Klug has been diving California’s Channel Islands for over 30 years as a SCUBA diving instructor and underwater photographer in Santa Barbara, CA. Doug specializes in underwater photography within the kelp forest environment. His photo-essays have been published in print world-wide, including articles in California Diving News, DAN Alert Diver, and Dive Training. Doug’s images have been used in many publications and by the US National Park Service, US National Marine Sanctuary, the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Google, and Microsoft. Doug even does live talks on underwater photography for dive clubs and museums in Southern California. See more...