Best lenses with Canon full frame sensor cameras for underwater photography and video. This covers cameras such as 5D Mark IV, 5D Mark III, 6D Mark II and 1DX Mark II. We have broken it down into 3 categories - wide angle, macro and all-around medium focal lengths. This will aid you in choosing the best lenses for your preferred shooting.
WIDE ANGLE:
Canon 8-15mm F4 Fisheye Lens
*Great Image Quality, Close Focus, Super Wide Field of View*
The Canon 8-15mm F4 Fisheye Lens produces great corner-to-corner image quality. Unlike most zooms, it provides two very different views — and only two — one at each end of the focal length scale. At both the 8mm and 15mm zoom positions, it provides a 180° field of view. However, at the 15mm position, the image fills the frame from corner to corner in a rectangular format. At the 8mm position, it provides a very different view, with circular borders that resemble the view through a porthole. Even if you don't plan to use the unusual perspective of the 8mm position, this is the best choice for fisheye on full-frame Canon.
Read our Canon 8-15mm F4 Fisheye Lens Review
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Canon 11-24mm F4 Lens
*Ultra Wide Rectilinear Zoom*
The Canon 11-24mm F4 Lens is an excellent option for full frame cameras as it features a zoomable ultra wide rectilinear field of view. It is great for reefscapes, wrecks, and other very large/approachable subjects.
Important note: All such rectilinear lenses, when used behind a dome port, have a tendency toward soft corners. The larger the sensor, the more apparent this is. Solutions include shooting at small aperture openings and using a large-diameter port. For any questions about this, please contact Bluewater Photo.
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Canon 16-35mm F2.8 III Lens
*Excellent Quality Lens, Great Results*
The Cannon 16-35mm F2.8 Lens is a versitile lens which produces produces tack-sharp results. The contrast and focus speed are also exceptional. This rectilinear zoom provides a much narrower field of view than a fisheye (63°-108°). This is ideal for subjects such as individual medium/large animals like dolphins, sharks, turtles, big reef fish, etc. It can also work well for reef scenics, but not as well as a fisheye.
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Important note: All such rectilinear lenses, when used behind a dome port, have a tendency toward soft corners. The larger the sensor, the more apparent this is. Solutions include: shooting at small aperture openings, using a large-diameter port, and/or use of an internal correction lens. For any questions about this, please contact Bluewater Photo.
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Canon 16-35mm F4 Lens
*Affordable*
The Cannon 16-35mm F4 Lens is a more affordable choice for this versatile focal length and still produces excellent results. Like the F2.8 above, this rectilinear zoom provides a much narrower field of view than a fisheye (63°-108°). This is ideal for subjects such as individual medium/large animals like dolphins, sharks, turtles, big reef fish, etc. It can also work well for reef scenics, but not as well as a fisheye.
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Important note: All such rectilinear lenses, when used behind a dome port, have a tendency toward soft corners. The larger the sensor, the more apparent this is. Solutions include: shooting at small aperture openings, using a large-diameter port, and/or use of an internal correction lens. For any questions about this, please contact Bluewater Photo.
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MACRO:
Canon 100mm F2.8L Macro Lens
*Sharp Detail, Fast Autofocus*
The Canon 100mm F2.8L Macro Lens is the must-have macro lens for full frame Canons. It produces tack-sharp results and its autofocus is lightning quick. It is a great lens for capturing small fish or skittish subjects, isolating the subject, blurring the background, or shooting supermacro with a wet diopter. The lens is very sharp, with excellent color rendition and contrast at all apertures, from center to the corners. The lens requires a strong focus light.