63 replies to this topic

[ronrosa]

Gates FX7 housing

[johnny boy]

looks a great housing and it has a control for expanded focus. My L & M doesn't!

[DeanB]

Yes this looks very promising as well...

Now we have the housings, can someone please test these beauties and let the flood gates open...

Come on scubee 'Drew'...Where are you !!!!

Dive safe

DeanB

[DeanB]

Any mention on price for their housing and monitor...???

Dive safe

DeanB

[jonny shaw]

$3990 for housing


marinevisions have got pics, dimensions and have sure they have a price for the monitor.

www.marinevisions.com/fx7.php

Looks good though, fair amount smaller than the fx1/z1 which will be nice to travel with.

Jon

Edited by jonny shaw, 04 April 2007 - 05:37 AM.

[ronrosa]

Good pictures on that site. Think I'll give them and Gates a call on ship dates.

Anyone notice the 2 control arms on the front of the housing ? One is the filter, the other isn't labelled.

Could it be a flip diopter ?

[sjspeck]

Good pictures on that site. Think I'll give them and Gates a call on ship dates.

Anyone notice the 2 control arms on the front of the housing ? One is the filter, the other isn't labelled.

Could it be a flip diopter ?

That'd be my guess:

The housing will come standard with a flip-in blue water filter and has optional accessories availabe, such as the carry handle (seen on images below) and a flip-in diopter

That's a lot more reasonable than I thought it would be. Gonna get one?

Edited by sjspeck, 05 April 2007 - 07:55 PM.

[ronrosa]

A lot of people state a housing has a flip diopter. It's not clear if the flip in diopter is a 2nd arm or replaces the flip filter. Hopefully it has a 2nd arm which will let me shoot diopter macro with lights no filter and then switch to standard angle filter no lights on the same dive.

I have an open mind between Amphibico and Gates, but right now it looks like Gates will be getting my order.

[CamDiver]

"Welcome to the Dark side my loverlies".

All joking aside if any of you potential Gates converts want to get first hand reports on ergonomics and workload with the Gates I'll only be too happy to help.

I'll state again that I stand nothing to gain from Gates for my pro active stance on their systems, I own one, I'm happy with it and the client care is second to none, period.

Cheers,
Mark.

[ronrosa]

I had a Sony TRV900 and Gates housing for years. It served me very well, zero problems. That being said, I have an open mind and if Amphibico or L&M offered something better, I would have no issue buying their housing.

L&M is skipping the FX7 and Amphibico doesn't have a viewfinder. If Amphibico offered a viewfinder, I would still wait to see someone verify their electronic MWB.

So, my mind is pretty much made up. Just have to wait for the May/June ship date.

[DeanB]

The only time I ever used a gates housing was in a shop in London, just to try it out..The assistant was helpful but didn't know much about the gates system...I think it was a HC7, because they had no FX1's 0r A1's to install. When we tried it 70% of the manual controls didn't connect... It was frustrating but I canny blame the lad..

But I went for the 'Pro EVO' instead because of this... Maybe I should have waited.. Only joking my little buddy has been doing fine so far...Bless him.

I will definately be trying the gates for the V1 if Sony do not come out with any more cams in the next few months..

Dive safe

DeanB

[ronrosa]

2nd arm for a flip diopter confirmed by Pam at Gates. Yeah Baby !!!

[DeanB]

That diopter function should be impressive with the 20X tele on the V1 / FX7...

Come on Ronrosa get in there and give us a review...

Dive safe

DeanB

[Drew]

I'm a little disappointed it doesn't have assign button access. To be able to switch picture profiles (knee, blacks etc), activate focus macro (for macro ) and peaking would be a great boon to the user.

[ronrosa]

Flip Filter



Flip Diopter

Edited by ronrosa, 07 April 2007 - 06:02 PM.

[wagsy]

Both Filter and Diopter together....thats great.

[Nick Hope]

... the client care is second to none, period.

I second that and this is a very important issue for products like these, especially if you're a pro. If only all housing companies were as prompt, helpful and reasonable as Gates are in their after-sales service. In my experience they really set the benchmark in this respect.

[DeanB]

I'm a little disappointed it doesn't have assign button access. To be able to switch picture profiles (knee, blacks etc), activate focus macro (for macro ) and peaking would be a great boon to the user.

Wouldn't Gates be able to custom these in ??? I thought that was their speciality..Or is it too difficult.

Dive safe

DeanB

[SimonSpear]

"Yet the FX7/V1 with SP44 port and 1620 Pelican rolling case
weighs in under the 50lb/23kg airline baggage limit. "

hahahahahaha

Now I know that it's a good thing for it all to be under 23kg, but unless you want to spend a fortune in excess charges it's just not practical to travel frequently with that set up. With scuba equip and god forbid maybe some clothes you could easily be up to the 50kg mark.

I know none of the other housings are going to be much lighter - if at all.

Oh well

Cheers, Simon

[ronrosa]

I'm planning on bringing the housing, camcorder & lightheads with me on the plane. Still deciding whether to use my normal softside carryon or buy a Pelican carryon. Softside is a lot lighter and I already have one. But, I've had to check it at the gate a few times when flights are totally full.

Edited by ronrosa, 09 April 2007 - 04:26 AM.