Unpacking Gates Deep Red #1

[Mike L 0]

Well, after a long anticipated wait, we are in the middle of unpacking and prepping our Gates Deep Red, the first production model to be completed and delivered by Gates...and will be doing complete in pool and in ocean testing this weekend. Ill keep you all posted. Lots of pics to come, and video will be shown at the Long Beach Scuba Show!!

[echeng 0]

Awesome, Mike! Can't wait to see your report.

[Mike L 0]

Day 1 in the pool went well. No serious issues, got to see some of the latest design changes gates made since we last tested their prototype. Tow significant changes are they added the two cooling fans, and they are no longer using a bulkhead connection to plug the Red LCD into. Instead, there is a longer cable from the LCD to Red One, that passes through the housing and plugs directly into the camera. They have the cable enclosed in tubing. Pictures to follow this weekend.

 

Taking it to Catalina late tomorrow into Monday for some in water testing. Will have video of it in use, shot with the EX1.

[CamDiver 5]

Way to go Mike, you will enjoy the housing, its a smooth piece of engineering.

 

Cheers,

Mark.

[Mike L 0]

Back from the day at Catalina. WOOOWWW what a beauty. Gates did an amazing job with the Deep Red. We have officially named ours "Avalon". Very nice changes done since we last tested the prototype housing. Ill be posting more details here shortly. Also, shot footage of the RED in use, and during its buoyancy tests. Will have those up this week!

[CamDiver 5]

Back from the day at Catalina. WOOOWWW what a beauty. Gates did an amazing job with the Deep Red. We have officially named ours "Avalon". Very nice changes done since we last tested the prototype housing. Ill be posting more details here shortly. Also, shot footage of the RED in use, and during its buoyancy tests. Will have those up this week!

Mike, stop posting words and start posting images.......

M

[jonny shaw 16]

Mike, stop posting words and start posting images.......

M

 

Here here.... looks and sound like an awesome piece of kit. What glass were you using the RED 18- 50mm?

[Mike L 0]

Yes we were using the 18-50. Only problem was our 18-50 came back from rental with the zoom busted...so we were stuck at full wide!! Its going to Red tomorrow to get repaired. Our plan is to get in the water soon with a 14mm, and hopefully some other lenses to test as well. There is another company making an adapter with Iris control for the Tokina 11-16. I believe its Op Tech...should be out in 3 weeks and will only cost $750!! If all works out then we will have that lens as well!!

[DeanB 19]

We have officially named ours "Avalon".

 

I heard Marky is naming his housing 'The Compensator' ... Although he didnt say why this was

 

Dive safe

 

DeanB

[Steve Douglas 16]

Still waiting for some edited images here;-)

Steve

[CamDiver 5]

I heard Marky is naming his housing 'The Compensator' ... Although he didnt say why this was

 

Dive safe

 

DeanB

Yeah well that's only coz 'Little Jim" was taken!!!

 

[Mike L 0]

Ok here is a quick clip of Bert with the Deep Red on the first 5 minutes of our first dive with it. Not sure whats going on, but the the Vimeo file doesnt seem to play smooth on my machines. Let me know if its the same for you guys.

 

Watch the clip here

[Steve Williams 0]

It plays fine on my machine Mike. That is a beautiful piece of gear. It does kind of look like you might need to add a prop though.

 

Just jealous,

Steve

[Mike L 0]

Here is a video of me playing with the Deep Red, demonstrating its ability to achieve perfect trim and buoyancy for an underwater rig. It handles amazingly underwater!!! I call it A Well Balanced Red

[jonny shaw 16]

It looks good Mike, a fair bit smaller than I thought it was!

 

Really looking forward to seeing some frame grabs from red to see what the image is like. Do you have the aqua video and housing as well? It would be great to see frame grabs of each in controlled conditions to compare the optics of each.

 

Cheers

 

Jon

[Mike L 0]

Hi Jon,

 

Im still going through the RED footage, just got the drive from my partner today. He also has the Aqua Video housing. We have some pool tests done shooting a focus chart in the pool with both the Aqua Video housing, and then the Gates Deep Red housing.

[DeanB 19]

I wouldn't let go of that 'badboy' infront of me... It would disappear... RAPID

 

Mike ...How does the EX1 Gates housing compare on balance ???

 

Dive safe

 

DeanB

[Mike L 0]

Ill keep that in mind Dean. The EX1 handles amazing in water, better than any of the previous housings Ive used....but the Deep Red EXCEEDS the EX1's handling. Id guess at 15% larger, its wider for sure which allows for easy handling. Both Bert and myself have EX1's and have extensive time in the water with them...and both of us agree the Deep Red is even easier to use! I think the actually weight trimming (as seen in the video) for the Deep Red is definitely better as well. However, since Gates came out the the foam collar, the EX1 trim is MUCH improved.

 

Now the test comes when the Glass port comes out for the red...and once we start using different lenses and extension rings. We are going to move a few of the weights around on our current configuration. One thing is to compensation for the large connector where the LCD cable goes into the housing (housing lends itself to the right a bit) so we are going to move one of the weights to the left side. All in all...AMAZING!!!

[wagsy 0]

Hi Mike

Great work, vimeo clips played fine on my PC Book Pro here even at full screen.

 

How much is a set-up like that cost, not that I could every afford one.

[Mike L 0]

Great to know Wags, thank you.

 

Hahah, the question of all questions. That really depends on what options you have. Rough figures, for a Red, with batteries, 2 drives, 18-50 lens, 5.6 LCD, you are just under $30k. Then the housing set up with port and extender for the 18-50 will put you around $26k or so....

 

You are in for it for a nice BMW to say the least!!!

[wolfeeldiver 7]

I think if I bought one of those rigs, the total cost would be much higher after factoring in the divorce settlement costs that I would have to pay.

[Mike L 0]

Hahahaha, and they wonder why I am not married...Ive tried justifying this stuff to my ladies before, they never understand. This system isnt mine per se, Im just a partner in it and have full use of it.

[jonny shaw 16]

I think if I bought one of those rigs, the total cost would be much higher after factoring in the divorce settlement costs that I would have to pay.

 

That's funny! Yeah I reckon it's a network / studio / company expense rather than a personal holiday cam .

 

I reckon Mike you will do well with rentals, lets face it, as Dean said in another post 'HIRE HIRE HIRE'

It would make a huge difference if the GATES housing is able to be adjusted / re-config for both scarlet and EPIC then the 23K price tag would be more appealing! I can see why Mike Hastings @ Aquavideo has sold so many of his housings at 8K (or whatever they cost), might not be as bling but a lot cheaper.

 

How did you find critical focus?

[DeanB 19]

While staggering around the DIVEFEST the other weekend i saw Peter Scoones swimming pool testing his New 'homemade' RED housings... Didnt get a chance to get a close look though but they are very similar to his other handmade machines ... And 'yes' i said 'housings' cause he had 2 of them ... But then again he is the Scoones meister...

 

Dive safe

 

DeanB

Edited May 28, 2009 by DeanB

[Mike L 0]

Yes being located not far from Hollywood, rentals and productions is a huge part of our business. Im happy to say that 3 days after picking up our Deep Red, we got our first contract..for Survivor!!!! I dont know if the housing can be reconfigured, but Illl tell you, I have NEVER seen a housing so well designed, with so much time involved, and really just some amazing engineering. The Scarlett being much smaller (if as proposed) will definitely need a new housing I imagine.

 

Although the Deep Red carries with it a high price tag, it is not a product designed for the consumer. For those looking to complete underwater productions, or underwater scenes for motion pictures, then the Deep Red is for you. It has countless numbers of hours, and amazing machine work...and considering Gates released pricing months ago, then made several major changes, some of which required purchasing more components directly from Red, they never raised the pricing. Although I was even a bit shocked at the initial price, after spending time with the unit, and paying attention to the extreme detail John and his crew put into it, its amazing its not even more pricey! Especially considering the limited quantities of such an item that will end up in circulation.

 

Its a VERY niche market to say the least...but as one of my customers put it after spending time with his new unit "this was a great deal considering everything they put into the design, all the accessories that came with it, and the superior service they offer with it"

 

I hope to work on more detail reports as I spend more time with the camera....being it will be gone for most of June...I hope to get in the water with it again in July (hopefully warm water)