The Right Lens for Surf and Water Sport Photography
Lens for Surf Photography
Lens for Surf Photography: Capturing the raw power of the ocean and the speed of surfers demands the right gear. The wrong lens can mean missed shots, slow autofocus, or poor image quality. As a surf photographer since 2007, I’ve tested countless lenses in extreme conditions—from shooting inside the waves to tracking fast-moving action from the shore. In this guide, I’ll share the best lenses for surf and water sports photography, helping you find the perfect one for your needs
So how we are choosing the right Lens for Surf Photography ?
In this blog, I am delighted to share with you the information I have accumulated over the years on lenses currently in the market that are suitable for water sport photography and surf photography.
Why Choosing the Right Lens is Crucial for Surf Photography
Before diving into the specifics, let’s talk about why the lens you choose matters. Surf photography involves unpredictable conditions—fast-moving surfers, big waves, and wet environments. You need lenses that offer:
- Fast autofocus to capture split-second moments.
- Weather sealing to protect your gear from water and sand.
- Versatile focal lengths to handle everything from wide-angle shots to tight action shots.
- Lightweight design for easier handling while moving between waves.
What mm lens is best for surf photography and water sports?
Let me recommend a number of lenses currently on the market, with two separate objectives in mind:
1. Lenses for filming on land.
2. Lens for Shooting in the water.
Lenses for filming on land
What is the best focal length of lens for shooting from the beach?
When we film on land, whether at sports competitions, surfing sessions or any other event where we find ourselves distant from the surfer, We may be standing on the beach or on a cliff, boulder or boat at a distance that requires us to use Telephoto lenses, which are mostly intended to bring very distant objects up close.
🔎 Quick Comparison: Best Lenses for Surf Photography from the beach
Here’s a quick glance at the top lenses for surf photography based on different shooting styles:
Lens | Best For | Weight | Check Price |
Canon RF 200-800mm | Shore photography | 2,030g | 🔗 Amazon |
Sony FE 100-400mm GM OSS | Versatility (lightweight good quality) | 1,395g | |
Canon RF 100-500mm | Versatility (lightweight good quality) | 1,370g | 🔗 Amazon |
Tamron 150-600mm | Budget telephoto | 1,995g | 🔗 Amazon |
Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G OSS | Versatile telephoto for Sony | 2,115g | 🔗 Amazon |
Sony FE 400-800mm f/6.3-8 G OSS (NEW) | Extreme telephoto | 2,475g | 🔗 Amazon |
Sigma 300-600mm F4 DG OS (NEW) | High-performance telephoto | 3,980g | 🔗 Amazon |
Nikon Z 180-600mm f/5.6-6.3 VR | Wildlife & sports (Nikon Z) | 1,955g | 🔗 Amazon |
There are two types of telephoto lenses:
ZOOM TELEPHOTO LENS for surf photography
The advantage in Zoom Telephoto lenses lies in their varying zoom, so we can catch different situations more quickly without having to change lenses.
Sometimes this is very important when we filming water sport events and action sport.
Recommended zoom telephoto lens for surf photography from the shore:
The following zoom telephoto lenses ranges are the most popular on the market:
100 – 400 mm I 150 -600 mm I 200 – 600 mm I 100 -500 mm I 80 -400 I 80 -400 mm I 200 -500 mm I 200-800 mm I 18 -400 all around
🔎 Full Zoom telephoto Lens Reviews
| SIGMA/TAMRON | |
| Sigma 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens (CANON, NIKON, SONY) |  |
| Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 (CANON, NIKON) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 (SONY, CANON) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Sigma 60-600mm f/4.5-6.3 DG OS HSM Sports Lens ( CANON, NIKON, SONY) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Tamron 18-400mm F/3.5-6.3 DI-II VC HLD (crop sensor all around lens for SONY, CANON) | VIEW AT AMAZON | SIGMA 300-600 F4 OS SPORT | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| CANON | |
| Canon RF 100-300mm F2.8L IS USM **NEW** | VIEW AT CANON |
| Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x Lens | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM Lens | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Canon RF 100-400mm f/5.6-8 IS USM Lens | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Canon RF 100-500mm f/4.5-7.1 L IS USM | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Canon RF 200-800mm F6.3-9 IS USM | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| SONY | |
| Sony FE 100-400mm F4.5–5.6 GM OSS | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Sony FE 200-600mm F5.6-6.3 G OSS | VIEW AT AMAZON | Sony FE 400-800mm f6.3-8 G | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| NIKON | |
| NIKKOR Z 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 VR S | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 200-500mm f/5.6E ED | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Nikon AF-S FX NIKKOR 80-400mm f.4.5-5.6G ED | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| PANASONIC | |
| Panasonic Leica DG Vario-Elmar 100-400mm f/4-6.3 | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FUJIFILM | |
| FUJIFILM XF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 R LM OIS WR Lens | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FUJIFILM XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FUJIFILM XF70-300mmF4-5.6 R LM OIS WR | VIEW AT AMAZON |
Prime Telephoto lenses for surf photography
A prime telephoto lenses are the major guilty, recommended for low lighting on cloudy winter days or when we are distant from our surf object and still have no need to use varying zooms. use this lens to get the best bokeh images! these lenses are usually more expensive.
The recommended prime telephoto lens for surf photography
so the most popular prime zoom lens in the market are:
300 mm I 400 mm I500 mm I600 mm I 800 mm f4/f2.8 and also the unique 200 F2 Prime lens if you have a situation that you need the Highest quality without the need for a long zoom lens.
Here you can find the best prime telephoto lens for mirrorless camera:
| CANON RF LENS | |
| Canon RF400mm F2.8 L IS USM | |
| Canon RF600mm F4 L IS USM | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Canon RF800mm F5.6 L is USM | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Canon RF1200mm F8 L IS USM Lens | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| SONY E MOUNT | |
| Sony FE 400 mm F2.8 GM OSS Full-frame Super-telephoto | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Sony FE 600 mm F4 GM OSS Full-frame Super-telephoto | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| NIKON Z MOUNT | |
| NIKKOR Z 400mm f/2.8 TC VR S | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| NIKKOR Z 400mm f/4.5 VR S | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| NIKKOR 600mm f/4. Built-in 1.4x teleconverter **NEW** | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| NIKKOR Z 800mm f/6.3 VR S | VIEW AT AMAZON |
TELECONVERTER for prime telephoto lens
With these prime telephoto lenses, we can also attach a teleconverter, thus increasing your zoom by x 1.4 or x 2. this allow us to choose the best lens and to be able get even closer to the surfing object.
Here you can find links for Teleconverter to extend zoom on prime lens (Sony, Canon, Nikon, Fuji):
| Sony FE 1.4x Teleconverter MIRRORLESS | |
| Sony FE 2.0x Teleconverter MIRRORLESS | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Canon EXT. RF1.4X (RF LENSES – MIRRORLESS) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Canon EF 1.4X III ( EF LENSES – DSLR ) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Canon EXT. RF2X (RF LENSES – MIRRORLESS) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Nikon AF-S FX TC-14E III (1.4x) Teleconverter (DSLR) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| NIKON AF-S Teleconverter TC-20E III (2.0X) FOR DSLR | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| NIKON Z TELECONVERTER TC-1.4x FOR MIRRORLESS | NIKON SITE |
| NIKON Z TELECONVERTER TC-2.0x FOR MIRRORLESS | NIKON SITE |
| Fujinon XF1.4X TC WR | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Fujinon XF2X TC WR | VIEW AT AMAZON |
Lenses for surf photography when we filming in the water
So how we are photographing surfers from the water?
When we film from in the water, we usually try to get as close as we can to the surfer and therefore, we usually have to use one of 3 types of lenses:
Fisheye lens, Wide angle lens or Zoom lens.
How we are choosing the best type of lens for shooting from the water?
Lets dive in to understand which type of lens will suit and for what type of surfing photography.
Fisheye lens
Fisheye lens creates an intended distortion of the picture to obtain a very wide camera angle.
We use fisheye lens for several objectives:
- Catching an ultra wide scene/frame while very close to the object.
- Surfing inside the barrel – catching the surfer together with the wave.
- Wave photography, “barrels” and angles from an inside-out wave
- Half and half photos
- Underwater photography
| Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L | VIEW AT AMAZON | VIEW AT B&H |
| SIGMA 15mm F1.4 DG DN DIAGONAL FISHEYE | |
 |
| Nikon AF-S 8-15mm f/3.5-4.5E ED | |
|
| Tokina Fisheye 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 AF | |
|
| Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX DG | |
|
| Nikon AF DX 10.5mm f/2.8G ED Fisheye (crop sensor) | |
|
| Samyang 12mm f/2.8 ED AS NCS | |
|
| Rokinon 12mm F2.8 Ultra Wide Fisheye Lens for Sony E Mount | |
|
Wide angle lens for surfing
Wide angle zoom Lenses are equipped with varying zooms, including ultra-wide angles.
We usually use these lenses when we want to catch an situation from up close, where the object will fill a large part of the frame and will still be in focus.
Difference between wide angle lenses vs fisheye?
Wide angle lens are also good for wave photography and inside the barrel photography. These lenses are good for obtaining an ultra-wide frame with no significant distortion (as with a fisheye lens).
In this table you will find the most recommended WIDE ANGLE ZOOM lens for mirrorless camera. this lens are suitable for photographing surfing from the water:
| SONY E-MOUNT | |
| Sony – E 10-18mm F4 OSS Wide-Angle Zoom Lens | |
| SONY FE 12-24mm F2.8 GM Full-frame Ultra-wide Zoom G Master Lens | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FE 12-24mm F4 G Full-frame Ultra-wide Zoom G Lens | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| SONY FE 16-35mm F2.8 GM Full-frame Wide-angle Zoom G Master Lens | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| SONY FE PZ 16-35mm F4 G Full-frame Constant-Aperture Wide-angle Power Zoom G Lens | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| ZIESS & SONY Vario-Tessar T* FE 16–35 mm F4 ZA OSS Full-frameLens with Optical SteadyShot | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| TAMRON FOR SONY 17-28mm F/2.8 Di III RXD (full frame) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| TAMRON for Sony 11-20MM F/2.8 DI III-A RXD E APS-C ( crop sensor) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| SIGMA FOR SONY 14-24mm F2.8 DG DN | Art | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FOR NIKON Z MOUNT | |
| NIKKOR Z 14-30mm f/4 S | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| NIKKOR Z 14-24mm f/2.8 S | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FOR CANON R | |
| Canon RF 14-35mm F4L IS USM | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FOR FUJI | |
| FUJI XF8-16mmF2.8 R LM WR (CROP SENSOR) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FUJI XF10-24mmF4 R OIS WR (CROP SENSOR) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FUJI GF20-35mmF4 R WR (FULL FRAME) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
Zoom Lenses:
We use zoom lens to shoot surfing when the ocean doesn’t allow us to get close to the surfer: high waves condition, stormy seas, current etc.
Or when we want to catch various situations without having to switch lenses.
There are different types of Zoom Lens & ranges that are popular in surf photography:
Sensor: Crop
16-55 mm
17-50 mm
18-55 mm
16-70 mm
Sensor: Full frame
24-70 F2.8 mm
24-105 F4 mm
28-75 F2.8 mm
28-60 mm
Here Are the Most Popular Zoom Lens for Using in the Water:
| SONY E-MOUNT | |
| Sony FE 24-70 mm F2.8 GM Full-frame G MASTER | |
| SONY FE 24-70mm F2.8 GM II Full-frame (THE NEW VERSION) G MASTER | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| SONY ZIESS Vario-Tessar T* FE 24-70 mm F4 ZA OSS Full-frame | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| SONY E 16–55mm F2.8 G APS-C G LENS ( CROP SENSOR) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| SONY ZIESS Vario-Tessar T* E 16-70 mm F4 ZA OSS APS-C (CROP SENSOR ) | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| SONY FE 28-70mm F3.5-5.6 OSS Full-frame | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| SONY FE 24–105 mm F4 G OSS Full-frame Standard Zoom G Lens with Optical SteadyShot | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| SONY FE 70-200 mm F2.8 GM OSS Full-frame | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| SONY 70–200 mm F2.8 G SSM II (NEW VERSION) full frame | SONY SITE |
| FOR NIKON Z MOUNT | |
| NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/2.8 S | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| NIKKOR Z 24-70mm f/4 S | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| NIKKOR Z 70-200mm f/2.8 S | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FOR CANON R | |
| Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 RF | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| Canon 24-105mm f/4 RF | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| CANON 70-200mm f/4 L IS RF | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| CANON 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS RF | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FOR FUJI | |
| FUJI 16-55mm f/2.8 R LM WR | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FUJI 18-55mm f/2.8- f/4 | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FUJI 16-80mm f/4 R LM OIS WR | VIEW AT AMAZON |
| FUJI 50-140mm f/2.8 | VIEW AT AMAZON |
Prime Lenses for surf photography
Lenses with a fixed zoom and preference for open aperture (f1.4, f1.8, f2, f2.8)
Using these lenses will provide us with a higher probability of sharp, quality photographs, with a shallower depth of field.
They are also easier to use in filming in the water (you won’t have to use a zoom gear system inside your housing).
popular PRIME lenses:
Examples of some popular prime lens for surf photography:
20 mm, 24 mm, 28 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 55 mm, 85 mm
In conclusion
Lens market
The lens market fluctuates from year to year, and new lenses come into the market to replace older models that are being removed from store stock.
This article is updated according to the new lenses from time to time.
Choosing the Right Lens for Your Surf Photography Needs
When selecting the best lens for surf photography, you need to consider factors like autofocus speed, weather resistance, and image quality. Whether you’re on the beach, in the water, or shooting from a boat, it’s essential to use lenses that will perform well in all conditions.
Here are a few tips for making your decision:
- For lowlight condition shots, go for a fast aperture (f/2.8 or lower).
- For telephoto action shots of distant surfers, choose a long focal length (400mm and above).
- For versatility, a 100-500mm lens is a solid all-around option when shooting from the shore.
Engaging in surf photography
If you engage in surf photography and are interested in testing out a new lens before purchase, or you need this lens for a special project, I recommend you rent a lens for one day. You can test the lens quality, its weight and ease of use and then make your decision.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best lens for surf photography depends on your specific needs, camera system, and budget. If you want to shoot stunning action shots, consider lenses that offer fast autofocus, wide apertures, and weather sealing. For those on a budget, there are still great options available that will help you capture breathtaking moments in the water.
Want to find the best deals on these lenses? Check the latest prices on Amazon using the links above. Happy shooting!
Contact
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have on equipment or on lens for surf photography and water sport
If you’d like advice on your selection of the appropriate lenses for surf photography, I am always available by email.
Uri Magnus : Surf and Water Sport Photographer
visit my article about choosing the right water housing for surf photography
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