The Nikon D800 and D810 are powerful full-frame DSLR cameras capable of producing exceptional underwater photographs when configured correctly. Achieving stunning images underwater depends on precise settings, careful composition, proper lighting, and the use of the right lens. This guide focuses on optimizing camera settings for various underwater scenarios, serving as a strong foundation for divers and photographers aiming to maximize the potential of these cameras. These recommendations are designed as starting points, and adjustments may be necessary depending on the subject, water conditions, and personal shooting style.
Macro Settings for Nudibranchs
For photographing nudibranchs, use a narrow aperture to ensure depth of field while maintaining sharpness. A typical setup would be F16 with a shutter speed of 1/250th and ISO 100. Position the strobes inward to create side-lighting, which enhances textures and brings out the fine details of the subject. This approach works well for stationary macro subjects in clear water, allowing for a clean and crisp image.
Macro Settings for Small Fish
Small fish require slightly different settings to account for movement and potential backscatter in the water. An aperture of F8 with a shutter speed of 1/125th and ISO 200 provides a good balance between light and sharpness. Aim the strobes outward to reduce backscatter and use spot focus to ensure the fish’s eyes are sharp. This method is ideal when capturing dynamic small subjects where quick focus and reduced particulate interference are essential.
Super Macro Settings
For extreme close-ups such as super macro photography, a very narrow aperture is needed to maintain depth of field on minuscule subjects. Use settings like F29, 1/250th shutter speed, and ISO 100. Bring the strobes in close to the subject and utilize spot focusing to achieve maximum sharpness on the focal point. Super macro demands precise strobe control and camera stability to avoid motion blur and overexposure.
Wide Angle Settings for Sharks
When shooting wide-angle images of sharks or other large pelagic animals, maintaining natural ambient light while balancing strobe illumination is crucial. An aperture of F10, shutter speed of 1/125th, and ISO 200 is a reliable starting point. Angle the strobes slightly outward to avoid over-lighting the subject and keep the water background balanced. Staying calm and steady is essential to prevent unwanted bubbles or movement in the frame.
Close Focus Wide Angle Techniques
Close focus wide-angle shots combine a near subject with a wide scene in the background. Settings such as F14, 1/250th shutter speed, and ISO 200 help retain both foreground and background details. Carefully adjust strobes to evenly light the close subject while preserving natural ambient light. Positioning and strobe angles play a significant role in achieving a balanced exposure without harsh shadows or hotspots.
Capturing Large Schools of Fish
When photographing large schools, an aperture around F11 with a shutter speed of 1/200th and ISO 200 delivers depth and clarity. Turn down strobe power and angle them outward to create even lighting across the scene without producing harsh highlights. Proper strobe positioning enhances the sense of movement and volume in the school while keeping the water background rich and textured.
Shooting Sunballs and Sunbursts
To capture dramatic sunballs underwater, use F22 and 1/320th shutter speed with ISO 100. Get as close as possible to the subject and direct the strobes at it while carefully exposing for the bright sun. If the sun is partially blocked or the depth is greater, open the aperture slightly to F14–F20 to allow more light. Controlling exposure in these high-contrast conditions helps preserve the details of both the subject and the surrounding light rays.
Split Shot Techniques with the Nikon D800 and D810
Split shots, also called over-under images, combine the underwater world with the surface view in a single frame. Achieving sharpness and balanced exposure across both areas requires meticulous settings and precise control. Start with an aperture of F22 to maximize depth of field, using ISO 800 to compensate for the reduced light underwater. Adjust the shutter speed to correctly expose the brighter surface portion while slightly underexposing to retain detail in highlights. Focus on the underwater subject and use a dome port to create a smooth waterline. Keep the camera half-submerged and ensure the lens is clean to avoid water droplets distorting the top half of the image. Mastering split shots with these cameras allows for creative storytelling that captures two environments at once.
Focus Mode Settings for Underwater Photography
Focusing underwater can be challenging due to movement, low contrast, and particles in the water. The Nikon D800 and D810 offer AF-S and AF-C modes, but AF-C is often preferred for underwater use, especially for moving subjects. Continuous focus ensures the camera tracks the subject without locking focus prematurely. To switch modes, press the button inside the AF/M switch on the front left of the camera and rotate the rear command dial. For macro and fish photography, use the shutter half-press method to focus in AF-C mode. For pelagic species in open water, assign focus to the back AF-ON button to prevent the camera from hunting when no solid object is in the frame. This method allows independent control of focusing and shutter release, which is essential when shooting in blue water where subjects appear suddenly.
Back Button Focus for Pelagic Photography
Pelagic species such as tuna, dolphins, or manta rays require quick reactions and fast focus. Moving the focus function from the shutter button to the back AF-ON button offers better control. In the menu, change item A4 to “AF-ON Only.” This separates the focus from the shutter release, ensuring the camera does not refocus when you are ready to shoot. This setup is particularly useful when subjects are moving against open water backgrounds, as it prevents the lens from hunting and missing crucial moments. Once mastered, back button focusing becomes an indispensable technique for serious underwater photographers using the Nikon D800 or D810.
Importance of Using a Viewfinder Underwater
Standard camera viewfinders can be limiting underwater, especially when shooting macro subjects at awkward angles or composing wide-angle scenes. An external viewfinder designed for underwater housings can make a significant difference. It provides a clearer, magnified view and helps align shots more accurately. Though viewfinders are an investment, they greatly improve focus accuracy and composition, particularly in low-light or high-detail situations. Using a viewfinder with the Nikon D800 or D810 enhances overall image quality and reduces eye strain during long dives.
Flash Settings for Fast Action Shots
Lighting is crucial underwater, and correct flash settings ensure proper exposure while preserving natural colors. When shooting with sync cords, flash triggers, or optical TTL converters, you gain the advantage of quick recycling times essential for action photography. If using the built-in pop-up flash without TTL strobes, set the internal flash to manual at around 1/80th power. This setting reduces recycle time and allows for rapid shooting, which is vital when capturing fast-moving marine life. Controlling flash output manually also provides consistent exposure across multiple frames.
TTL Versus Manual Flash Control
The decision between TTL and manual flash control depends on subject type and shooting conditions. TTL can be useful for changing light scenarios, but manual control offers consistency, especially in macro photography where precise lighting is critical. With the Nikon D800 and D810, using manual flash power ensures that every shot is lit identically, which is beneficial when stacking images or maintaining a uniform exposure series. Experimenting with both methods allows you to decide which works best for your style and subject matter.
Essential Miscellaneous Settings
Several minor settings can have a significant impact on your underwater photography workflow. Shooting in both JPEG and RAW formats offers flexibility, allowing quick previews with JPEG and full post-processing control with RAW. Set the white balance to auto for general use, as strobes typically provide consistent color correction. Center-weighted metering works well underwater, especially for macro subjects, as it prioritizes the center of the frame where the subject is usually located. Turning off the AF-assist light is crucial since it can scare marine life and create reflections in particles. Ensure menu item A10 is set to AF-Assist OFF. For high sync speed compatibility with strobes, set E1 Flash Sync Speed to 1/320th, allowing for better control over ambient light balance.
Managing Exposure in Different Water Conditions
Water clarity, depth, and available light vary greatly between dive sites, requiring adaptive exposure management. In clear tropical waters, lower ISOs and narrower apertures maintain sharpness and color saturation. In darker or temperate waters, increasing ISO and opening the aperture slightly helps maintain exposure without pushing the strobe power to extremes. The Nikon D800 and D810 handle higher ISOs well, allowing flexibility without excessive noise. Understanding the balance between ambient light and strobe illumination is key to achieving natural-looking underwater images in any condition.
Maintaining Consistency Across Multiple Dives
Keeping consistent camera settings across multiple dives aids in building a predictable workflow and simplifies post-processing. Establish base settings for macro, wide-angle, and ambient light photography, and adjust only as needed per dive. Logging your settings and reviewing results after each session helps refine your approach. The Nikon D800 and D810 have custom setting banks, allowing you to store specific configurations for different shooting styles. Utilizing these banks speeds up preparation between dives and ensures reliability when switching subjects underwater.
Advanced Lighting Techniques for Underwater Photography
Mastering lighting is essential when using the Nikon D800 and D810 underwater. Water absorbs light rapidly, especially red and yellow wavelengths, leaving scenes with dominant blue and green tones. Using strobes restores color and contrast, but their positioning and power must be controlled carefully. Begin by understanding the inverse square law, which states that light intensity decreases rapidly with distance. Keep strobes close to the subject to minimize backscatter and ensure even illumination. For macro shots, angle strobes slightly inward to create soft shadows and enhance textures. For wide-angle scenes, position strobes farther apart and angle them outward to reduce particles from lighting up in the water column. Adjust power manually based on subject reflectivity to avoid hotspots or underexposure.
Using Strobe Angles for Different Subjects
Different subjects require different strobe angles. For small nudibranchs, positioning strobes close and slightly to the side highlights fine details and reduces harsh shadows. For large pelagics, strobes should be set wide and aimed slightly outward to illuminate the subject without lighting the water between the camera and the animal. When shooting wide-angle reef scenes, position strobes behind the port edges to avoid lens flare and balance light across the frame. The Nikon D800 and D810 handle dynamic range well, allowing more flexibility in post-processing, but correct strobe placement minimizes the need for heavy editing.
Balancing Ambient Light with Strobes
Balancing artificial and natural light creates images with depth and realism. Start by exposing for the ambient light background, usually by adjusting shutter speed and ISO while maintaining an appropriate aperture. Once the background is properly exposed, add a strobe light to illuminate the subject. The D800 and D810 excel in capturing fine tonal variations, making them suitable for this technique. For shallow scenes with strong sunlight, use smaller apertures like F16 or higher to retain detail and prevent overexposure. For deeper scenes, open the aperture to F8–F11 while increasing strobe power to compensate for reduced ambient light.
Creating Dramatic Backlighting Effects
Backlighting adds a creative dimension to underwater photos by emphasizing silhouettes and textures. Position the strobe behind the subject and slightly to the side, directing light toward the camera. This technique works well for translucent subjects such as jellyfish or for creating glowing edges on fish and corals. The Nikon D800 and D810’s full-frame sensors capture subtle gradients in light, enhancing the drama of backlit compositions. Keep the exposure balanced by slightly underexposing the ambient light to prevent flare and maintain subject definition.
Using Snoots for Precision Lighting
Snoots narrow the strobe beam, allowing you to light only the subject and exclude distracting backgrounds. This technique is invaluable for macro photography of small marine life. Attach a snoot to your strobe and align the beam carefully on the subject. Because the Nikon D800 and D810 provide excellent detail capture, using a snoot can create striking, isolated compositions with minimal post-processing. Adjust the aperture to F22 or higher to maximize depth of field, and use low ISO to maintain image quality.
Lens Selection for Different Underwater Scenarios
Lens choice plays a critical role in underwater photography. For macro work, a 105mm or 60mm macro lens provides sharp detail and allows you to capture small creatures without disturbing them. For wide-angle, a fisheye lens such as the Tokina 10-17mm or a 16-35mm rectilinear lens is ideal. The D800 and D810’s high resolution makes them compatible with these lenses for detailed and expansive shots. When selecting lenses, consider the type of housing and dome port to ensure optimal image quality and minimal distortion.
Managing Color Balance in Post-Processing
Even with proper strobe use, some color correction is often necessary. Shooting in RAW allows full control during editing. Adjust white balance to restore natural tones, especially reds and yellows lost underwater. The Nikon D800 and D810 files retain extensive color data, enabling precise adjustments without degrading quality. Use subtle vibrance and saturation enhancements to keep images looking natural. Avoid overcorrecting, as excessive adjustments can create unnatural colors and visible noise in darker areas.
Handling Challenging Water Conditions
Different water conditions require adaptive techniques. In murky or low-visibility water, minimize strobe power and bring the subject close to reduce backscatter. Use larger apertures and higher ISO to maintain exposure without overpowering the water column. In crystal-clear water, you can shoot from further distances with lower ISO and narrower apertures. The D800 and D810’s dynamic range supports recovery of highlights and shadows even in variable light conditions, giving flexibility in less-than-ideal environments.
Composition Strategies for Underwater Scenes
Composition defines the storytelling aspect of photography. Use the rule of thirds to place subjects dynamically within the frame. Incorporate leading lines such as reef edges or sun rays to guide the viewer’s eye. For wide-angle shots, include foreground interest to create depth and dimension. The D800 and D810’s high resolution allows cropping without losing detail, providing freedom to refine composition in post-processing. Always consider the relationship between subject, background, and lighting to create balanced, engaging images.
Avoiding Common Underwater Photography Mistakes
Common mistakes include overexposing highlights, failing to control backscatter, and neglecting subject eye focus. To avoid these, review histograms regularly, maintain proper strobe angles, and always prioritize focusing on the subject’s eye for natural connection. Another mistake is using inappropriate shutter speeds that blur moving subjects. Keep speeds at 1/125th or higher for fish and pelagics. The Nikon D800 and D810’s fast response and accurate autofocus help mitigate many of these issues when paired with careful technique.
Mastering Exposure Control in Complex Environments
Underwater environments present unique challenges in exposure control. Light levels change rapidly with depth, and particulate matter can scatter illumination unpredictably. The Nikon D800 and D810 offer extensive manual control, which is essential for maintaining consistent results. Always start with manual mode to have full authority over aperture, shutter speed, and ISO. For scenes with bright sunballs, use narrower apertures such as F22 to prevent blown highlights, and keep ISO as low as possible to retain clean tonal gradients. When working in caves or low-light conditions, open the aperture and use higher ISO settings while carefully balancing strobe power to avoid noise creeping into shadows. Bracketing exposures can also help in high-contrast scenes, providing multiple frames to blend in post-processing for maximum dynamic range.
Refining Autofocus Techniques for Moving Subjects
Tracking fast-moving subjects like sharks or schools of fish requires optimizing autofocus settings. Use AF-C mode to maintain continuous focus and select dynamic area focus points for subjects that do not stay in one place. The Nikon D800 and D810 allow fine-tuning of AF-C responsiveness; for underwater use, set it to track erratic movements while avoiding unnecessary shifts to the background. For pelagic species in blue water, switch to back-button focusing with the AF-ON button to prevent the shutter from hunting in space. Combine this with high shutter speeds of at least 1/250th to freeze motion while retaining sharpness.
Capturing Over-Under Split Shots
Split shots, where half the frame is underwater and the other half above, require meticulous preparation. Use a large dome port to achieve a smooth waterline transition. Set the aperture around F16 to maintain depth of field in both halves of the image and adjust ISO to handle the brighter topside exposure. Manual strobe control is crucial; aim them slightly downward to illuminate the underwater portion without spilling too much light onto the surface. The D800 and D810’s ability to retain highlight detail helps balance the dynamic range between air and water, making them ideal for split-shot photography.
Achieving Professional-Quality Super Macro Images
Super macro photography demands extreme precision. Attach a wet diopter such as the Nauticam SMC to increase magnification beyond the standard 1:1 ratio. Use apertures of F22 or higher to maximize depth of field and keep ISO as low as possible to preserve fine textures. Lighting must be controlled carefully; pull strobes in close and use diffusers or snoots to avoid harsh reflections. The Nikon D800 and D810 sensors excel in rendering fine details, making them well-suited for capturing tiny subjects like pygmy seahorses or minute nudibranchs. Patience and steady buoyancy are key to achieving sharp, well-lit super macro shots.
Building an Efficient Workflow from Capture to Post-Processing
A smooth workflow enhances both efficiency and image quality. Start by shooting in RAW to capture the full dynamic range and color data. Use dual card slots to back up files in-camera, reducing the risk of data loss during long trips. Once on land, import files into editing software and create a consistent white balance baseline for underwater images. Apply gentle noise reduction and sharpen selectively to preserve textures. The Nikon D800 and D810 produce large files, so organize them with metadata tags and backup strategies. A well-structured workflow ensures that the effort put into capturing images underwater translates into polished final results.
Maintaining Equipment for Longevity
Proper maintenance of the camera and housing is vital to avoid failures. After every dive, rinse the housing thoroughly in fresh water to remove salt deposits. Inspect and lubricate O-rings regularly, replacing them if there are signs of wear. Store the housing in a cool, dry place to avoid corrosion. For the cameras themselves, keep them dry and protected during transfers and avoid changing lenses in humid conditions. The D800 and D810 are robust, but their performance depends on a well-maintained system. Routine care extends the life of both the camera and accessories, ensuring consistent results over time.
Practicing Buoyancy Control for Stable Shots
Stable buoyancy is as important as camera settings in underwater photography. Good control allows precise composition and prevents stirring up sediment, which can ruin images. Practice hovering without using your hands and make fine adjustments with breath control. The Nikon D800 and D810 reward stability with sharp, clear images due to their high-resolution sensors. Poor buoyancy can introduce motion blur and backscatter, no matter how perfect your settings are. Investing time in buoyancy skills directly improves photographic outcomes.
Adapting to Different Dive Conditions
No two dives are identical. Visibility, current, and subject behavior change constantly. Adapt your approach by pre-visualizing potential scenarios. For strong currents, streamline equipment and use higher shutter speeds to combat movement. In low visibility, bring subjects closer and reduce strobe power to minimize particles. The flexibility of the Nikon D800 and D810, combined with manual controls and high-resolution output, allows them to handle a range of conditions effectively when the photographer is prepared to adjust quickly.
Conclusion
The Nikon D800 and D810 are powerful tools for underwater photography when combined with the right techniques, lenses, and lighting strategies. Success lies in balancing exposure, mastering strobe placement, and maintaining control over composition and buoyancy. Understanding the unique challenges of the underwater environment and adapting to them allows these cameras to reach their full potential. From macro and super macro to wide-angle and split shots, these full-frame DSLRs offer the resolution, dynamic range, and flexibility required for professional results. With careful preparation, consistent workflow, and dedication to improving both technical and diving skills, you can produce exceptional underwater images that capture the beauty and complexity of the ocean world.