Featuring Logan Wood
From big animals to macro critters, Nikon's lens lineup is full of great glass. Here are our top three favorite Nikon Z-mount lenses for shooting underwater.
If you prefer to read, scroll down to follow along with the video transcript.
Nikon has long been a staple in underwater and wildlife photography and has made some exciting advancements in the mirrorless market in the past few years. So we thought, it’s about time to breakdown our favorite Nikon Z-mount lenses for shooting underwater. Let's get into it.
Nikon Nikkor Z 14-30mm f/4 S
© Josh Blank
Let’s kick things off going wide with the Nikon 14-30mm f/4 lens. Now this is an all around classic wide angle rectilinear lens that top side and underwater photographers gravitate towards because it gives you a super wide 14mm on the wide end and still allows you to punch in a little bit to 30mm.
Now for underwater wide angle work you might also be looking at adapting the Nikon 8-15mm fisheye lens which is a very popular option when shooting underwater. And the difference between this rectilinear lens and a fisheye lens is that the 14-30mm has a rectilinear image which gives you straight lines and less distortion. Leaving your wildlife, wrecks, and dive buddies looking natural in the scene.
The 14-30mm also has a relatively short minimum focus distance of about 11 inches (27.9cm) which opens up the option to get some classic close focus wide angle shots underwater. Behind a large 8" dome the corners of the 14-30mm are sharp and at 14mm you get an extremely wide field of view. So this lens is perfect for shooting split-shots at the surface or punching in a bit closer at 30mm
One possible downside is the slower f/4 aperture. However, if you are shooting with strobes that shouldn’t be too much of a problem since you'll be shooting at higher apertures anyways. But if you are filming in low light or photographing with ambient light then you may feel a bit limited.
See more: Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S Lens for Underwater Photography Review & Results
Nikon Nikkor Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S
© Nirupam Nigam
Alright, next we are going to jump all the way over to the macro side of things with the Nikon 105mm F/2.8 macro lens. Now this is a great macro option that you'll see a ton of Nikon shooters have because it’s extremely sharp.
It’s narrow focal length of 105mm and long focusing distance make it great for getting tight shots of subjects without getting close and scaring them off. And it's fast aperture of 2.8 allows for some fairly extreme depth of field and great low light shooting.
Now one drawback to this lens is its narrow 105mm focal length which makes it a little difficult to shoot in surge conditions. So, like most macro shooting, it's best shot when the conditions are calm. But overall if you want to shoot macro on your Nikon system the 105mm f/2.8 is a great option.
See more: Nikon Z 105mm f/2.8 VR S Macro Lens for Underwater Review & Results
Nikon Nikkor Z 24-70mm f/4 S
© Glenn Ostle
Now in the middle of the previous two lenses we have the Nikon 24-70mm f/4 lens. Now this is a super versatile lens that offers everything from medium wide to semi-telephoto shots. It's also compact and lightweight, especially compared to the 105mm macro.
Now this is a grab-and-go lens, its great for when you’re not really sure what’s going to show up on your dive, and you want to be prepared for anything.
At 24mm you get a medium wide shot that still tells a great story of schooling fish, larger animals or a reef scene. Move through the focal range and capture details and portraits and then hit 70mm for some surprisingly close semi macro.
See more: Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 S Lens for Underwater Photography Review & Results
Those are our favorite go to lenses for the Nikon Z-mount cameras underwater. If there is a lens that you shoot that wasn't mentioned here we would love to hear about it, and if you have any other questions please shoot us an email to ikelite@ikelite.com.
Additional Viewing
Nikon Z MC 105mm f/2.8 VR S and Nikon Z6 II Underwater Results
Nikon Z 14-30mm f/4 S Lens Review for Underwater Photography & Video [VIDEO]
Nikon Z8 Underwater Review // Josh Blank Ditches the D850 [VIDEO]
Nikon Z7 and 8-15mm Fisheye Underwater Photos with Compact 8 inch Dome
Nikon Z 105mm Manual Focus Gear Installation // Ikelite 200DL Underwater Housing [VIDEO]
Nikon Z 24-70mm f/4 Zoom Gear Installation // Ikelite 200DL Underwater Housing [VIDEO]
Nikon Z6, Z6 II, Z7, Z7 II Setting It Up // Ikelite 200DL Underwater Housing Assembly [VIDEO]
Logan Wood is a published photographer, cinematographer, and Producer at Ikelite. Stemming from a great appreciation for the outdoors and living an active lifestyle, his work focuses on capturing and sharing the natural world through the latest technologies. When not in the studio, Logan can be found cruising on his bike, going to concerts, and researching where to go next. You can see more of his work at loganwood.net and on Instagram @jlowood
