On a recent dive trip to North Solitary Island Marine Park, Matt Dowse put the Canon R7 and the remarkably versatile Canon RF-S 18-150mm lens through the paces. He captured everything from the smallest macro details on nudibranchs and eels to sweeping wide angle scenes of leopard sharks and light rays all with a single, compact system and without ever needing to swap any gear.
SEE MORE: One Dive, One Lens // Canon RF-S 18-150mm Lens Review for Underwater [VIDEO]
Our first site for the day was The Canyons, just around from Anemone Bay. Even from the surface, we could see leopard sharks cruising below, it was clear we were in for something special. // 18mm • 1/100 • f/10 • ISO 100 © Matt Dowse
Peacock mantis shrimp, which put on an incredible display—definitely one of the highlights of the dive. // 70mm • 1/100 • f/9 • ISO 250 © Matt Dowse
Leopard sharks were everywhere, constantly circling and passing by. At one point, there must have been at least ten individuals swimming passed. It was an incredible experience, one of those dives where you don’t need to go far for world-class encounters. // 18mm • 1/100 • f/9 • ISO 100 © Matt Dowse
Tiger cardinalfish holding eggs in its mouth, a perfect moment of behaviour to finish the dive. // 50mm • 1/80 • f/11 • ISO 250 © Matt Dowse
Leopard shark at North Solitary Island // 31mm • 1/125 • f/6.3 • ISO 100 © Matt Dowse
Yellow-eyed moray being cleaned by a blue-streak cleaner wrasse—always a fascinating interaction to watch. // 81mm • 1/125 • f/11 • ISO 250 © Matt Dowse
Leopard shark at North Solitary Island // 18mm • 1/100 • f/10 • ISO 100 © Matt Dowse
Scorpionfish at North Solitary Island // 81mm • 1/125 • f/6.3 • ISO 100 © Matt Dowse
Lionfish at North Solitary Island // 66mm • 1/125 • f/6.3 • ISO 100 © Matt Dowse
Leopard sharks cruised past the boat, while below us there was an abundance of macro life—nudibranchs, small tropical fish, and plenty to keep the camera busy. // 59mm • 1/100 • f/11 • ISO 100 © Matt Dowse
Equipment Used
- 200DLM/D Underwater Housing for Canon EOS R7 # 69746
- DLM 6 inch Dome Port with Zoom Extended .375 Inch # 5516.16
- DLM 1.2 Inch Port Extension # 5516.65
- Zoom Gear # 5515.17
- +4 Diopter
Additional Viewing
Canon RF-S 18-150mm f/3.5-6.3 IS STM Lens Micro-Review & Results
From Sunbursts to Sea Slugs: The Versatility of Canon RF 18-150mm Underwater
More Power, Smaller Package: Moving to Mirrorless with the Canon R7
Featured Customers | Matt Dowse From the Canon 7D to the Canon R7
Beqa Island: An Underwater Photographer's Dive into Fiji's Wild Side
Matt Dowse is an electrician, diver, and underwater photographer. He has been diving since 1990 and completed his PADI Divemater's course in 2008. He's been a Canon DSLR 7D shooter since 2010 and recently upgrade to the Canon R7 mirrorless system which he pairs with the Ikelite DS160 dual strobes. When he's not traveling to dive you can find him at the Swansea Bridge. Follow Matt on Instagram @matt.d71, watch Matt and his colleague Pete's underwater videos on their YouTube channel, Vimeo, or check out Matt's Redbubble page.
