Use of 60mm vs. 105mm macro lenses in underwater macro photography

Up to now, I shot all my underwater macro photography with a 105mm macro lens and eventually an external close up lens. This week I got a 60mm macro lens and I am curious what this will add to my underwater macro work.

When it comes to underwater macro photography, the choice of lens is crucial. Two popular options are the 60mm and 105mm macro lenses. While both have their benefits, they have different uses and purposes. In this article, we will delve into the differences between these two lenses and how they can enhance your underwater macro photography.

Focal Length

The most significant difference between the 60mm and 105mm macro lenses is their focal length. The 60mm lens has a shorter focal length, making it ideal for shooting smaller subjects or those that require close-up shots. On the other hand, the 105mm lens has a longer focal length, which is useful for capturing subjects that are further away or larger.

Working Distance
Another difference between the two lenses is the working distance. The working distance is the distance between the lens and the subject when the lens is focused on it. The 105mm lens has a longer working distance than the 60mm lens. This makes it easier to capture subjects that are more skittish or likely to move away when approached. The longer working distance also means that the 105mm lens can be used to capture subjects that are more dangerous or venomous.

Depth of Field
Depth of field refers to the range of distance in an image that appears sharp and in focus. The depth of field is affected by several factors, including the aperture setting and the distance between the lens and the subject. The 105mm lens has a shallower depth of field than the 60mm lens. This can be beneficial when you want to isolate a specific part of the subject or when you want to create a shallow depth of field effect.

Size and Weight
The size and weight of the lenses are also important factors to consider. The 60mm lens is generally smaller and lighter than the 105mm lens. This makes it easier to handle and maneuver, especially when shooting in tight spaces or underwater. The smaller size also makes it more convenient to travel with, as it takes up less space and adds less weight to your gear.

Price
Finally, the price is another factor to consider. The 60mm lens is generally less expensive than the 105mm lens. This makes it a more accessible option for photographers who are just starting with underwater macro photography or those who have a tighter budget.

In conclusion, both the 60mm and 105mm macro lenses have their advantages and disadvantages. The 60mm lens is more suitable for shooting smaller subjects or those that require close-up shots, while the 105mm lens is better for capturing larger or more distant subjects. The working distance, depth of field, size, weight, and price are all factors that you should consider when deciding which lens to use. Ultimately, the best lens for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences as a photographer.

Theme - Droplet

Drops game - Jan Horvat (500px)

Water droplets are a very interesting subject for macro photography.

While being a dynamic object, a fluid changing in shape, form, and behaviour depending on environmental influence they also exhibit spectacular optical properties.

Famous are high speed shots of splashes but also low depth of field shots optically reproduce the scenery behind the shot otherwise being blurred out.

"It is not how much we have, but how much we enjoy
that makes happiness." - Sandeep M V (500px)

Waterdrops - Jim MacLain (500px)

Capturing the droplets of morning dew can give very interesting still life images knowing that they were only real for a couple of minutes.

The nature of water droplets can only be captured when adapting completely to the scenery as photographer. It is very hard to produce such sceneries artificially. Especially given the fact that it needs a lot of understanding to compose the optical effects which are so interesting to capture through the drops.

Another famous theme are drops on leafs of plants. Most leafs are hydrophobic hence leading to perfect spherical drop formation. The drops almost come out as images in the image showing some details of nature otherwise just being part of the normal structure or texture.

Shooting macro in nature is something which needs a lot of patience for the ambitious photographer. It is around finding the right scenery, finding the right camera setup, and working with light in order to best present the details of nature.

Underwater Videography - Micro Life in the Red Sea

Red Sea Micro Life by Camel Dive Club, Sharm El Sheikh from Camel Dive Club on Vimeo.

My Underwater Macro Photography - Pygmy Seahorses

Hippocampus Bargibanti (Cabilao, Philippines)

Underwater macro photography is one of the most popular disciplines of underwater photography. The fascination for the marine macro life is shared among people all over the world.

Macro images can give a completely new view on reef life. It makes visible surprising details of nature which otherwise remain hidden in overlooked areas in the oceans.

Hippocampus Denise (Cabilao, Philippines)

One species which every underwater photographer is searching for are pigmy seahorses.

The first species discovered in 1969 of pygmy seahorse was named hippocampus bargibanti. A number of approximately six more species has been discovered after year 2000.

Hippocampus Pontohi (Bangka, North-Sulawesi Indonesia)

The challenge in shooting pygmy seahorses is first to find them. They are extremely well camouflaged and perfectly adapted to their habitat.

While hippocampus bargibanti and hippocampus denise - they can be found in different color depending on the surrounding - lives in gorgonian sea fans, there are other species which are moving through the reef and hence much more difficult to spot.

Once they are found the second challenge is to find them through the viewfinder of the camera without damage to the coral reef.

Pygmy seahorses are well know to be found on dives in south east Asia. It is one of the most typical species for Coral Triangle.

Hippocampus Bargibanti (Lembeh Strait)

My newest shots of pygmy seahorses I got recently when diving on Cabilao Island on the Philippines (see on top of the page).

One of the shots where I am specially proud of is the one of the Hippocampus Pontohi shot on Bangka Island in North-Sulawesi, Indonesia (see above). If you look carefully you can even see a second exemplar in the background. This spot was amazing. At some point there were five Hippocampus Pontohi holding on the same coral branch. Unfortunately I was not able to capture that picture with my camera. As mentioned this species is very mobile and this exceptional situation of pygmys grouping in one spot was quicker over than I could setup my camera.

Underwater Macro Photography in Cabilao, Philippines

Recently I spent a couple of days on Cabilao island in the Philippines.
I was diving with Sea Explorers who has a very good infrastructure to serve the needs of underwater photographers.

Cabilao is located at the west side of Bohol island facing Cebu island. The reefs around Cabilao are rich in coral growth and macro life. But, accidentally you can also spot bigger marine wildlife such as mobula rays, eagle rays, turtles, or sharks.

The dive sites around the island offer lots of opportunities.

And there are several places to see for example several species of pigmy sea horses (hippocampus bargibanti in different colors, hippocampus denise).

Currents are quite predictable in the area so that dive guides can very well adapt to skill of divers, or whites and interest of their guests.


There can be found some very rare to spot species too.

The pigmy sea dragon, or pigmy pipe horse on the right is only one of them.

This is a species incredibly difficult to photograph.
It is very small. The sea dragon shown here was not longer than 5 mm and constantly moving.

This one was living in a coral hidden in a little cave where it was hard to position camera and strobes.
The hardest part is actually finding the subject in the view finder of the camera, or if you are using a compact camera on the display.

Another one is the harlequin shrimp. Almost impossible to be successful with this one if dive guides do not have a spot where they know that it is staying.

This one was feeding on star fish and living quite local.

Also here, the photographic challenge was to get the right point of view and correct positioning of the light without destroying the reef.


Taking macro pictures under water needs patience, good diving (buoyancy) skills, a buddy assisting, and most important diving in a very small group. There is nothing more annoying than photographers queuing behind subjects and stressing each other to get equal exposure to opportunities.

More images can be found at my website at www.andreasrmueller.com

Microscopic Photography

Nature is all around us. - However, in nature photography we focus mostly on what can be seen by human eye. If we want to go for exceptional nature pictures we might mount a macro lens or a diopter onto our camera. Very rarely we go beyond the optical resolution power of the human eye.

Michael Peres posted an article on the Popular Photography Blog on Microscopic Photography.

The article features examples of stunning microscopic images of snow flakes, microscopic organisms, material surfaces, and scientifically prepared samples of nature samples.

Microscopic photography is truly a special and a niche discipline of nature photography. It goes much beyond macro and super macro imaging techniques. It is a whole new world by means of imaging, exposure, image composition, and light guidance.

It is definitely not only a special imaging but also a sample preparation and lighting technique.

Feel encouraged to have a look at the original post:

Tips From a Pro: An Introduction to Microscopic Photography | Popular Photography

Black and White - Macro Photography

Little bells - Anett Bakos (500px)

feather and drops - Klaus Vartzbed (500px)

The perfect trap - Pablo Reinsch (500px)

Smiley's attitude - Valérie Tirard (500px)