New Gates HF S21 Housings Arrive....WOW!

[Mike L 0]

We received our first batch of the new Gates HF S21 housings and WOW they are beauties!!! First and foremost, the nearly one inch larger LCD on the camera is VERY noticeable, and will make a huge difference for viewing underwater. Add to that the dual SDHC memory card slot, and this is a power house for the $$$. Personally, I bought the HF S20 model camera (housing supports the HF S200, S20, and S21 versions). With the dual memory slots I don't need the large hard drive, but having some built in memory is nice which is why I chose the 20 over the 200.

 

Having just received the camera today as well, I am playing with the menu system. The Gates housing for the HF S21 utilized the Canon remote as well to access the full menu and MWB, however the menu system is different from the HF S10/S11.

[james 0]

Mike,

 

This post would be much more useful if you attach pics, rather than linking to the "for sale" page on your website. I know you are proficient at resizing photos, so how about just resizing them to 450 pixels wide and go ahead and post them here.

 

I'm sure our members would appreciate it and I know they'll be much more interested in the new housing if they can see some photos.

 

Cheers

James

[Mike L 0]

yes I will repost them, Im waiting for the smaller sized photos from our photographer. I wrote it, tried uploaded and they were way too big. Should have them tonight so I can upload. We took some nice detail shots and put together some housings with different light sources

[Mike L 0]

Here they are resized, enjoy the pics!

[Ryan 48]

I'm really disappointed by how convoluted the menu system has become in this camera... I just counted 14 button pushes on that little remote pad to execute a one touch white balance, where it could be done in three on s10. Light & Motion will have a serious advantage with their one touch white balance button on the right handle.

[spaceflight 1]

I'm really disappointed by how convoluted the menu system has become in this camera... I just counted 14 button pushes on that little remote pad to execute a one touch white balance, where it could be done in three on s10. Light & Motion will have a serious advantage with their one touch white balance button on the right handle.

 

14 steps?

I have been using the HF S100 and the HF S21 has the same functions for white balance. It can be setup up to do in three steps.

Func.....WB set.....Func/close.

 

This of course assumes that you have already placed the function menu in the custom white balance position, which I always do because its the most common function I use on the remote.

[Long John Silver 0]

How is the ergonomics fot the LCD windows?

Can be compared to a separate LCD monitor?

 

Bye

[Mike L 0]

Please explain a bit more why what you mean how is the ergonomics for the LCD window? Are you talking about the visibility of the open LCD design vs an external monitor?

 

Keep in mind, you can always buy the EM43 external monitor for the housing as well...but having the open LCD design is excellent considering the cost of the housing set up. Its the perfect meeting between functionality and cost or better said as value for the dollar.

[Ryan 48]

I have an s20 on my desk. Maybe there is a difference with S21, but on S20 the functions are as described. This camera definitely doesn't retain the last tab in the menu as did s10, etc.

 

You have to press set once to highlight FUNC, then set again to choose it (so 2 presses), then down, down to white balance, set, down nine times, set to choose custom white balance, then down, down set to actually execute a white balance.

[Long John Silver 0]

Please explain a bit more why what you mean how is the ergonomics for the LCD window? Are you talking about the visibility of the open LCD design vs an external monitor?

 

Keep in mind, you can always buy the EM43 external monitor for the housing as well...but having the open LCD design is excellent considering the cost of the housing set up. Its the perfect meeting between functionality and cost or better said as value for the dollar.

 

Exactly!

I mean if the visibility of the integrated LCD display through the window is good. I used some housings with the mirror and I didn't like it.

The Gates external monitor should be mounted on top of the using making the whole setup too bulky for my taste.

I'm using it for tech diving so I try to have the slickest setup.

 

Anyway I recognize that is a good compromise.

 

 

Right now I'm using a wonderful italian housing (Isotecnic) for the HC7 and the external monitor is mounted behind the housing and can be rotated for the best viewing:

 

[spaceflight 1]

I have an s20 on my desk. Maybe there is a difference with S21, but on S20 the functions are as described. This camera definitely doesn't retain the last tab in the menu as did s10, etc.

 

You have to press set once to highlight FUNC, then set again to choose it (so 2 presses), then down, down to white balance, set, down nine times, set to choose custom white balance, then down, down set to actually execute a white balance.

Hey Ryan,

I'd love to get to talk to the Canon "guru" that made that change. It was a lot easier with the old "memory" function.

[spaceflight 1]

How is the ergonomics fot the LCD windows?

Can be compared to a separate LCD monitor?

 

I really like the way Gates utilizes the cameras open LCD screen. The body of the housing becomes a great sunshade. I've used this style housing in a lot of different conditions and have never had a problem with glare on the screen.

[HDVdiver 16]

Right now I'm using a wonderful italian housing (Isotecnic) for the HC7 and the external monitor is mounted behind the housing and can be rotated for the best viewing:

 

Do these housings have bolt holes that go right through the housing (and thread sealed with epoxy) like the Sealux?

Edited June 12, 2010 by HDVdiver

[Long John Silver 0]

Do these housings have bolt holes that go right through the housing (and thread sealed with epoxy) like the Sealux?

 

What's the problem?

 

Never opened one. They are magnetic command buttons which controls the camera through the remote/lanc interface. Never had a problem with them. We brought the housing several times a 100m. All the housing are rated for 150 mt and individaualy tested at 200m.

For the mechanical buttons on some camera housing they use a double oring for every mech button.

Edited June 14, 2010 by Long John Silver

[rlmalisz 0]

So Mike, I'd love to hear how your first wet adventure with this beast goes. I sold my Amphibico Endeavor (V1U) last winter, and am currently without a rig for this November's trip. Have really been eying the HFS21+Gates as the likely setup I could travel around Indonesia with without paying for it annually in their domestic overweight fees. Have been bugging Gates about the Fathoms port for this rig as well, and it sounds like there's progress there--or at least, we haven't hit flameout on it yet.

 

So if you feel it dives well, and they make the glass, I'm almost certainly in.

 

Canon claims the HFS21 to have better low-light performance than the HFS10. Do you see any difference? I guess it's supposed to be markedly better in this regard when shooting 24p than 60i, and now that I'm not struggling to mix footage from HDV, that's a real option for me.

 

--Richard

[Mike L 0]

Hi All. OK yesterday was my first in water rendezvous with the HF S20 in the Gates...in water as in SURF shooting though, no reefs. I will say the housing was VERY easy to use, and the new open LCD design on this housing is MUCH better than previous (which were excellent anyway). The new housing allows for viewing ability even when you are not directly looking into the LCD, there is approximately a 15-20 degree leniency, so you can be a bit above, below or to the side of the LCD and still see it clearly.

 

Housing was very well balanced as always. Image quality was fantastic!! Im taking it out for a good spin mid July to Holbox and Cozumel so will have full details and a video then!

[Long John Silver 0]

Hi All. OK yesterday was my first in water rendezvous with the HF S20 in the Gates...in water as in SURF shooting though, no reefs. I will say the housing was VERY easy to use, and the new open LCD design on this housing is MUCH better than previous (which were excellent anyway). The new housing allows for viewing ability even when you are not directly looking into the LCD, there is approximately a 15-20 degree leniency, so you can be a bit above, below or to the side of the LCD and still see it clearly.

 

Housing was very well balanced as always. Image quality was fantastic!! Im taking it out for a good spin mid July to Holbox and Cozumel so will have full details and a video then!

 

Hi Mike,

From your feedback the housing seems very intriguing

 

Do you confirm the complicated sequence for the WB setting on this camera?

 

Thank you in advance

[Mike L 0]

Ok, the sequence of manual WB is not quite as easy as the HF S10/11, however it is not nearly as complicated as claimed. We will be doing a video this weekend showing the process while in the Gates housing and I will post it here.

[HDVdiver 16]

What's the problem?

 

Never opened one. They are magnetic command buttons which controls the camera through the remote/lanc interface. Never had a problem with them. We brought the housing several times a 100m. All the housing are rated for 150 mt and individaualy tested at 200m.

For the mechanical buttons on some camera housing they use a double oring for every mech button.

 

My question refers to the questionable design practice of some housings having the bolts (eg which hold the locking latches or handles, etc) going right though the wall of the housing...and the threads simply sealed with epoxy. My friend just bought a Sealux and was horrified to find this to be the case. Even worse, the two accessory threads under his housing also went right through and the thread blanks were again sealed with epoxy. Sure this will work OK for a few years...until the epoxy gets brittle and starts to crack.

 

Gates housings never use such a ridiculous design shortcut...my question was if the " italian housing (Isotecnic)" has any bolt holes that go through the wall...and are then sealed with epoxy.

[rlmalisz 0]

Hi All. OK yesterday was my first in water rendezvous with the HF S20 in the Gates...in water as in SURF shooting though, no reefs. I will say the housing was VERY easy to use, and the new open LCD design on this housing is MUCH better than previous (which were excellent anyway). The new housing allows for viewing ability even when you are not directly looking into the LCD, there is approximately a 15-20 degree leniency, so you can be a bit above, below or to the side of the LCD and still see it clearly.

 

Housing was very well balanced as always. Image quality was fantastic!! Im taking it out for a good spin mid July to Holbox and Cozumel so will have full details and a video then!

 

So did this outing happen, and how did it go?

 

--Richard

[Mike L 0]

Yes it did, the trip video is nearly done being edited and will be online tomorrow. The underwater was all shot with the HFS20 and the above water was a mix of HFS20 and 7D. Check back and I will also send you a PM.