CAD
This is a very common question we get here at Mozaik, in various forms.
“What should my settings be?” is a little tricky to answer. You should always be mindful of your settings as you move through changing environments – i.e., the ocean.
Ambient light, visibility, depth, strobes on or off, subject matter…
These are just a few factors that can influence how you set up your camera to be best prepared to get the shot.
But, we do have recommendations for the settings you can use as a base to start from.
In this scenario, You’re in the water, ready to descend, with no idea what you’re going to be photographing. So, what settings are the default on your camera?
The answer is also somewhat dependent on the type of camera you have. So, try the following as a “home base” – hopefully, these settings will make it quicker for you to adjust upwards or downwards as the need arises.
Note – before reading further – if you want a longer explanation, we have several full articles on these topics, like this one.
This is the “quick and dirty” version!
Compact
With Strobes:
Mode: Manual if possible, or AV if not possible.
Quality: JPEG is often the only option, but if your camera shoots RAW, shoot RAW!
White balance: Depending on your strobes, you may not need to adjust your white balance very much. When using strobes, you may be ok with auto white balance, because the light from your strobes will be accurate, especially if they’re strong strobes. And, if, for example, you set your camera to underwater mode or have a red filter on and then use strobes, the light from your strobes will look very red. Some people with more advanced skillsets put blue filters on their strobes in conjunction with red filters for this reason. But for most compact users this is a bit overkill.
In either case, what is critical: without strobes, you must set the white balance of your camera for accurate colors – see below.
F8 (often the default) / ISO 100 / Shutter variable, from 1/200 to 1/1000, depending on sync speed, strobe, etc.
If in AV, set the aperture at F8 and ISO at 100, and monitor the shutter speed. Raise the ISO if your shutter drops below 1/60.
Without Strobes
Mode: AV, Sometimes Underwater Mode if your camera has it
Quality: JPEG or RAW if possible
White balance: Underwater mode, or manual white balance. Compact cameras today require more careful white balancing than m4/3 and full frame cameras, because m4/3 and full frame cameras typically have RAW file formats and allow for pretty easy color correction in post. Compacts (and shooting video, on any sensor) still don’t always have that luxury.
Aperture: Probably f2.8, depending on the lens – the more light you can gather, the better. ISO: low (probably 100). Same as above – monitor your shutter, if it drops below 1/60 raise the ISO.
Micro 4/3
With Strobes:
Mode: M
Quality: RAW
Wide angle:
F8 / ISO 200 / Shutter 1/160
Macro:
F11-F13 / ISO 200 / Shutter 1/160
Without Strobes
Without strobes, I often switch from M mode to AV mode. Especially in shallow clear water, photographing things like sharks, turtles, rays, near the surface. Rarely I’ll switch to Tv mode as well, if the lighting is pushing my shutter too low and I need to keep it up to avoid motion blurring.
Mode: M or AV, rarely TV
Quality: RAW
Wide Angle:
F2.8-F8 / ISO 200 / Shutter: variable – if below 1/100, raise ISO.
Macro:
F8 if possible, but aperture may be pushed by ambient light. ISO: 200-400. Shutter: variable based on ambient light as above. Open your aperture if shutter is dropping below 1/100 – raise your ISO after you reach an aperture you don’t want exceed.
Full Frame
With Strobes
Mode: M
Quality: RAW
Wide Angle
F9-F13 / ISO 200 – 400 / Shutter 1/200
Macro
F16 – F24 / ISO 200 / Shutter 1/200
Without strobes
Mode: M, AV, rarely TV
Quality: RAW
Wide Angle
F8-F9 / ISO 200-800 / Shutter 1/160 – 1/400 depending on lighting conditions
Macro
F2.8-F10 / ISO 200 – 800 / Shutter 1/200 – if there’s enough light, lower your ISO and lower your aperture size (raise your f-number).
Remember, this is just a starting place! Shoot, adjust, shoot again! Happy dives!
- Choosing Your First Underwater Camera in 2026 – May 15, 2026
- Strobes or video lights? A head-to-head comparison for the underwater photographer – October 23, 2023
- Shooting Video AND Stills on the Same Dive [Guide] – April 6, 2023