Lens for Surf Photography
As a surf and water sport photographer, I use a range of equipment that enables me to photograph from in the water and on the shore, thus widening my film angles and bringing the observer closer to the experience.
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 sea sport photography and surf photography. All of this information is derived from personal experience, articles I have read and written and personal contact with other sea sport photographers.
We all know that the rate of technological development over recent years has increased greatly, as has the rate of production and development of new photography equipment and lenses. Prices may range from inexpensive to exorbitant, but are also determined by the optic quality of the lenses, which can range from standard to high quality optics.
Let me recommend a number of lenses currently on the market, with two separate objectives in mind:
- Photography from in the water
- Photography from the shore or on land
Lenses for filming on land:
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.
There are two types of telephoto lenses:
Zoom Telephoto lenses
The advantage in these lenses lies in their varying zoom, so we can catch different situations more quickly without having to change lenses.
This is very important when filming action, sports and surfing.
Recommended ranges for surf photography from the shore:
Sigma/Tamaron 150-600 mm
Sony/Canon/Sigma/Panasonic/Fuji 100-400 mm
Nikon 80 – 400 mm
Nikon 200 -500 mm
Sony 200- 600 mm
Prime Telephoto lenses:
Recommended more for low lighting on cloudy winter days or when we are distant from our object and still have no need to use varying zooms. and for major quilty! These lenses are usually more expensive.
The recommended prime zoom range for surf photography:
f4/f2 zoom 8 300 mm
f4/f2 zoom 8 400 mm
f4/f2 zoom 8 500 mm
f4/f2 zoom 8 600 mm
With these lenses, you can also attach a teleconverter, thus increasing your zoom by x 1.4 or x 2.
Lenses for filming in 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
This lens creates an intended distortion of the picture to obtain a very wide camera angle.
We use this 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
Wide Angle Zoom Lenses
Lenses 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.
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).
The following ranges are popular in the market (Sony, Canon, Nikon, Tokina):
Sensor: Crop
- 10-18 mm
- 11-16 mm
- 11-20 mm
- 10-20 mm
- 10-24 mm
- 12-24 mm
Zoom Lenses:
when the ocean doesn’t allow you to get close to the surfer – high waves, stormy seas, current etc.
Or when we want to catch various situations without having to switch lenses, we take zoom lenses with us to the ocean.
Sensor: Full frame
- 12-24 mm
- 14-24 mm
- 16-35 mm
- 14 -28 mm
There are different types of ranges that are popular in surf photography:
Sensor: Crop
16-55 mm
17-50 mm
16-70 mm
Sensor: Full frame
24-70 mm
28-75 mm
24-105 mm
Popular telephoto lens for water photography: 70-200 mm (f2.8, f4)
Prime Lenses
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:
20 mm, 24 mm, 28 mm, 35 mm, 50 mm, 55 mm, 85 mm
In conclusion
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.
If you engage in 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.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have on equipment or on lens for surf hotography 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
