Camera Body and Lens Recommendations in 2025

[CarpetSurfer]

Hi all, looking to get into aquarium photography. Not really interested in using the camera for anything other than fish and coral photos. Budget is 1-2k. What would people recommend in 2025 for a full frame camera body with focus stacking and a macro lens?

Also anyone have experience with probe lens in a reef tank? I got one for the iPhone which started me on this journey but the photos just aren’t that crisp so the idea is to work my way up to a probe lens or something. But I digress let’s start with camera body and main macro lens. Thanks!

 

[Ron Reefman]

Any good camera can work. The real issue is having the right filters for various lighting in the tank.

 

[gbroadbridge]

Hi all, looking to get into aquarium photography. Not really interested in using the camera for anything other than fish and coral photos. Budget is 1-2k. What would people recommend in 2025 for a full frame camera body with focus stacking and a macro lens?

Also anyone have experience with probe lens in a reef tank? I got one for the iPhone which started me on this journey but the photos just aren’t that crisp so the idea is to work my way up to a probe lens or something. But I digress let’s start with camera body and main macro lens. Thanks!

You don't need a full frame body and Macro lens for taking photos of fish and coral.

Unless you're planning on making a business of it.

The magician and not the wand and all that ...

An iphone and a clip on CC filter is all you really need ...

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Personally, I use an iPhone 16 with an Orphek lens kit and can take some pretty good photos with it. It's not about the tool, but how you use it. I do have a Nikon 5600 (getting a little old I know), and it does well too, but I have found more success using my iPhone.

If you still want a DLSR, look into the Canon EOS R8/R7, Nikon Z6II or Z5II. Also the OM tg-7 takes some amazing pictures for being a digital camera (not to mention they are only $500)

 

[maroun.c]

Will have to be a used body and lens i believe but would go with either a Z6III
Or.if u can stretch ur budget a Z8. Only familiar with nikon so maybe canon or Sony or maybe fuji might have more fitting cameras.
Agree with many comments about the hand behind the camera but I've seen better pictures , focusing , colors , sharpness , frame rate and resolution with each upgrade I had that no.matter how good ur technique is there are shots you won't be able to get due to slow focus or shots that will turn out grainy due to exposure ... and a better camera is simply better at many things. Tank photography is technically demanding on a camera and lense so each I.provemebt u make on gear helps a ri y bit more with ur shots. Lenses wise macro lenses have a learning g curve of their own bit for a nikon I would go with a 60mm.macro if u insist on macro, unless if u have a drop t to back deep tank and need more reach then maybe the 105 macro. I would start with non macro lenses maybe the 50mm.1.8 or a used 24-70 2.8.
24-120 f4 is another good choice at a better price but then performance is lower than the 24-70.2.8
Good luck with ur choice

 

[BryanM]

I have a Canon and I use theor F2.8 100mm Macro lens when I'm trying to take good pics.

I use my iPhone 16 Pro Max, with an orange clip on filter, which gets awfully close to the same quality, at least for posting pics here.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I have a Canon and I use theor F2.8 100mm Macro lens when I'm trying to take good pics.

I use my iPhone 16 Pro Max, with an orange clip on filter, which gets awfully close to the same quality, at least for posting pics here.

Isn't it crazy how impressive phone cameras have gotten?

 

[BryanM]

Isn't it crazy how impressive phone cameras have gotten?

Yep. And with the orange filter, pics are amazing.

 

[exnisstech]

Isn't it crazy how impressive phone cameras have gotten?

I have to agree. I tried using a dslr and found it more trouble than it was worth. I suppose if I were printing big or selling images one might be needed but for viewing and posting a phone is perfect.
I snapped this blasto earlier today with a pixel 8 pro no filter.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I have to agree. I tried using a dslr and found it more trouble than it was worth. I suppose if I were printing big or selling images one might be needed but for viewing and posting a phone is perfect.
I snapped this blasto earlier today with a pixel 8 pro no filter.

I guess for me, I don't own some of the better lenses (macro or a prime lens) not to mention my camera is starting to show its age. So for me, it's just easier to bust my phone out over my camera. (BTW nice photo!)

 

[maroun.c]

While phones might be OK for pics to be posted online they still have many limitations and much reduced quality.
Autofocus speed ones would mean many fish shots will be missed. Noise levels are way too high to be acceptable especially in the shadows or pics with a bit of underexposure. Resolution breaks down at minimal zoom in or viewing pics at real size.
Cameras are of course much more technical issue and post processing needed but the end result is much higher quality even if we're not selling pics or printing them

 

[BryanM]

btw, I would also recommend used. I saved a ton of money on the macro lens of FB Marketplace, and it was in perfect condition.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

While phones might be OK for pics to be posted online they still have many limitations and much reduced quality.
Autofocus speed ones would mean many fish shots will be missed. Noise levels are way too high to be acceptable especially in the shadows or pics with a bit of underexposure. Resolution breaks down at minimal zoom in or viewing pics at real size.
Cameras are of course much more technical issue and post processing needed but the end result is much higher quality even if we're not selling pics or printing them

I agree with the noise and resolution part! As someone who does nature/landscape photography, you can definitely see a difference when zooming in or editing finer details in a photo. I really just need to bite the bullet and get a new camera/lens combo, haha.

 

[gbroadbridge]

You don't need a full frame body and Macro lens for taking photos of fish and coral.

Unless you're planning on making a business of it.

The magician and not the wand and all that ...

An iphone and a clip on CC filter is all you really need ...

I thought I'd clarify why I said the above with some reasons.

I've worked as a photographer for over 40 years now, so I've shot pretty much everything.

Once you start taking macro lenses you are talking about lens which because of their design have a very shallow depth of field with objects located close to the lens. In order to expand the depth of field you need to stop down the lens a lot, often to f32 or smaller.

Doing that means that you will either need to use a long exposure time, or you will need to increase the ISO setting which increases noise in the image.

Increasing exposure time works with static objects, but not so well with moving fish or coral. The increased noise can often these days be reduced with noise reduction algorithms.

If you start using a macro lens with a larger sensor (either Full Frame or Medium Format), the problems with depth of field get even worse.

Bearing in mind that you are going to have to work hard to get a decent image, then use NR to clean it up, then probably need to edit in Capture One, Photolab or Lightroom - you're getting to a point where you have to ask if it is worth all that cost and effort for a low resolution image that is going to be displayed at 72dpi on a web page or in socials.

Of course if you're planning on a business doing commercial photography like on the ocean reefs, then it's worth the money because you will get well paid for it. A friend of mine dives reefs all the time for commercial work and loves it.

You could be keen shutterbug, in which case I'm sure that you'll not just be buying gear to take coral photos, so again it may be worth the cost and effort.

But, for someone who just wants to post photos of fish and coral on forums and socials, pretty much the best bang for the buck is a decent P&S or phone camera with a set of color correction filters and perhaps a clip on macro lens.