Gates HF-S11

[deepdive 0]

Anyone tried this housing for the Canon HFS11 yet? Is it actually shipping yet?

[Mike L 0]

I played with the housing extensively at DEMA. The utilization of the Canon remote for full camera functionality is very impressive. The housing was scheduled to start shipping today, however I did not receive confirmation that they did, so I believe it will be first thing next week. Im excited to get our first shipment in and take one out for a spin!! The GP32 wide angle port will give it an approximate coverage of 85 degrees. Have you seen pictures of it?? If not, I can post them up here.

[rlmalisz 0]

I played with the housing extensively at DEMA. The utilization of the Canon remote for full camera functionality is very impressive. The housing was scheduled to start shipping today, however I did not receive confirmation that they did, so I believe it will be first thing next week. Im excited to get our first shipment in and take one out for a spin!! The GP32 wide angle port will give it an approximate coverage of 85 degrees. Have you seen pictures of it?? If not, I can post them up here.

 

I, for one, would love to see photos of the beast. And hear approximate pricing....?

 

--Richard

[catfish 0]

Please post pictures. I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy one of these.

[Mike L 0]

Here are three pictures of the housing, shown with the GP32 Wide Angle port. There is a close up picture of the controls for the remote. We will have these in stock the day they begin shipping as our courier will pick them up from Gates (should be this week).

 

Pricing is as follows:

 

Housing; $2490

Moisture Alarm: $167

GP 32 wide angle port: $680

Flat Port: $158

Standard Port: $158

 

You can view the housing on our site as well here Gates HF S11 Housing (Please note there is a page formatting error right now, but it is being corrected as we speak)

Edited November 21, 2009 by Mike L

[catfish 0]

Here are three pictures of the housing, shown with the GP32 Wide Angle port. There is a close up picture of the controls for the remote. We will have these in stock the day they begin shipping as our courier will pick them up from Gates (should be this week).

 

Pricing is as follows:

 

Housing; $2490

Moisture Alarm: $167

GP 32 wide angle port: $680

Flat Port: $158

Standard Port: $158

 

You can view the housing on our site as well here Gates HF S11 Housing (Please note there is a page formatting error right now, but it is being corrected as we speak)

 

Awesome!!!!!! Got any pictures of the back?

Edited November 22, 2009 by catfish

[deepdive 0]

Here are three pictures of the housing, shown with the GP32 Wide Angle port. There is a close up picture of the controls for the remote. We will have these in stock the day they begin shipping as our courier will pick them up from Gates (should be this week).

 

Pricing is as follows:

 

Housing; $2490

Moisture Alarm: $167

GP 32 wide angle port: $680

Flat Port: $158

Standard Port: $158

 

You can view the housing on our site as well here Gates HF S11 Housing (Please note there is a page formatting error right now, but it is being corrected as we speak)

 

Thanks a lot Mike for putting up the pics.

 

What is the difference between standard port and flat port?

[Mike L 0]

@Catfish. I will have pics of the back as soon as we get our housings in this week.

 

As for the ports. The Flat Port is macro port. The Standard port is a small dome with little to no zoom through. The FOV is quite narrow (specs for this camera coming soon). I only recommend it if you are on an EXTREMELY tight budget. The flat port and the GP are what you will want for this system

[rlmalisz 0]

Thanks a lot Mike for putting up the pics.

 

What is the difference between standard port and flat port?

 

So here's hoping for something equivalent or close to the Fathoms super-wide that will fit this beast...

[catfish 0]

I contacted Gates about a week ago concerning Fathom Imaging ports for this housing, and they said that as of now they have no plans to offer them. I also inquired about vignetting when using the HF-S11 dynamic image stabilization mode. They said that with the wide angle port there will be slight vignetting with dynamic image stabilization but none with normal image stabilization. Of course this doesn't apply to the HF-S100 or HF-S10 as they don't have the dynamic mode.

[Steve Douglas 16]

Whats the difference between the HF S10 and S11 cams?

Steve

[catfish 0]

Whats the difference between the HF S10 and S11 cams?

Steve

 

They are physically identical. The only real differences are:

 

1 - 64GB (HFS11) vs 32GB (HFS10) internal flash memory

2 - An additional stabilization mode has been added to the HFS11 (dynamic image stabilization)

3 - A new night scene mode has been added to the HFS11

[Ryan 57]

I can't imagine that funny little bent up bar is as ergonomic to use as this....

 

 

One of my favorite things about the Bluefin for the S10 is the ability to operate focus and exposure simultaneously on a dive, one via the mechanical control, and the other by the left & right arrows on the IR control grip.

[Mike L 0]

Nice one Ryan The Bluefin C for the HF S10/S11 is a great housing as well. Both the Gates and the L&M have their advantages as is usually the case. I'd be happy with either of them, but I know some prefer mechanical vs. electronic, and vice versa.

 

Oh one last thing, I just spoke to Gates today, our housings should be shipping out tomorrow!!!

[Mike L 0]

I just got a call and our first batch is on its way!! They will be here tomorrow.

[rlmalisz 0]

I can't imagine that funny little bent up bar is as ergonomic to use as this....

 

 

One of my favorite things about the Bluefin for the S10 is the ability to operate focus and exposure simultaneously on a dive, one via the mechanical control, and the other by the left & right arrows on the IR control grip.

 

The bent-up bar is odd looking. But given my experience with LMI handle controls, on any given dive, I'd only be sure that the mechanical control was going to obey my wishes. YMMV, and I was a believer and a follower for about five years. I just wound up underwater too many times with a rig that would shoot nothing, or in better cases, would shoot but not really under my control. If I have to work the controls one at a time and am sure they're going to work, I can live with that, and that's more important to me than slick looks.

 

--Richard

[Mike L 0]

There is a purpose behind the bent up bar design. It was put there as a handle for use giving the user leverage when pushing the top buttons that access the Canon remote control. When I held and played with the housing, I was fine with just holding the housing with my right hand and just push the buttons with my left hand and not using the bent arm...however the concept behind the bent arm is to hold that arm with your left hand to give you leverage while using your left thumb to push down on the button controls is easier for the end user. It also acts as a nice handle to hold the system.

[Mike L 0]

We received the housings in today. Here are two pictures (sorry for iPhone quality) showing the use of the bent arm and access to the remote controls.

[Steve Douglas 16]

They are physically identical. The only real differences are:

 

1 - 64GB (HFS11) vs 32GB (HFS10) internal flash memory

2 - An additional stabilization mode has been added to the HFS11 (dynamic image stabilization)

3 - A new night scene mode has been added to the HFS11

 

 

Thanks for the response. If they are physically the same and all the buttons and such are in the same place then they both should be able to use the same housing.

Steve

[rlmalisz 0]

I contacted Gates about a week ago concerning Fathom Imaging ports for this housing, and they said that as of now they have no plans to offer them. I also inquired about vignetting when using the HF-S11 dynamic image stabilization mode. They said that with the wide angle port there will be slight vignetting with dynamic image stabilization but none with normal image stabilization. Of course this doesn't apply to the HF-S100 or HF-S10 as they don't have the dynamic mode.

 

So I pinged them myself (hey, if they perceive enough interest, it may nudge them over). The answer I got back was that there would be no plans until they find out if Canon is continuing this line of camcorders next year. If so, it's a possibility. If not, it's DOA. And that they expected to find out at CES on January.

 

--Richard

[Steve Douglas 16]

While this cam may do a decent job and the Gates housings are just plain bulletproof, if a Fathoms port is not available for it, I would look for a cam and housing system with decent glass. In the world of HD/HDV/AVCHD, the port is just THAT important.

Steve

[Mike L 0]

The Canon HF S100, HF S10 and HF S11 all use the same housing.

Edited November 28, 2009 by Mike L

[Steve Douglas 16]

but without a decent port, some will just not be happy with the results.

[Mike L 0]

Without a decent port?? The new GP32 port gives you 85 degrees of coverage and up to one third zoom through capability. I would definitely consider that a quality port, especially for only $680.

[catfish 0]

@Mike

 

How sharp is the image produced by the Gates lens? Is there edge distortion? I wish Fathom Imaging ports were available, but I don't think it's a show stopper for me. At the consumer level, I think the HF S11 is the best camera available, and the Gates housing the best quality/value housing.