Gates Housings: Which Port?

[And]

Hi

I've decided to go for the Gates housing. Of course life isn't all that easy and now I have to decide on which port to get

Apparently I have a range of choices and of course a range of ever increasing prices

Can you help?

Choices (as per Cameras Underwater)

SP35 Standard Port (for use with Century Optics Anamorphic Converter only
FP35 Flat Port
WP35 Fathom Imaging Wide Angle Port
GP35A Gates Wide Angle Port
SWP35 Fathom Imaging Super Wide Angle Port
SMP35 Fathom Imaging Super macro Port

Now the camera is going to be used for taking footage of the wrecks I dive, as well as general holiday type fishspotting. I plan on putting some of this onto DVD, too.

So, which should I go for, and at least a simple explanation of why would be great.

Thanks

Andy

[David A]

All I know is that John McIntyre has a similar Gates unit for his Sony PD-170. I think it might actually be the same housing as is used for the VX2100.

He uses the SWP35 fathom imaging lens, as it goes from 110 degrees wide angle down to 1.6 inch full frame macro. He describes it simply as "probably the best in the world".

I hope that helps.

David

[daz]

I have one of the older wide angle ports on my gates housing (pre fathom series).

Wide angle is ideal for large subjects and seems to be ideal for getting maximum coverage in wrecks (rather than a tunnel view).

They also allow you to focus down for macro subjects as close as 2" from the lens.

So generally wide angle is the way to go, I still have the standard port for my gates housing but have never used it.

With regard to the fathom series and the GP35A port, my mate has a fathom port and I have compared it to my GP35A port. The fathom is a sealed glass unit so any damage and the whole lot needs to be replaced. The GP35A has a replacable plastic dome lens which can be replaced if damaged but as it is plastic it is more likely to get damaged. So a bit swings and roundabouts.

Personally if I were buying again I would opt for a wide angle again as it seems to cover most eventualities.

HTH,
Daz

[MattS]

The simple rule for wreck videography is go as wide as you can afford.

The wider the lens the closer you can get without losing scale. The closer you get the less water, and the crap it suspends, is between the lens and the subject. The wider the lens the greater the depth of field so more of the picture remains in sharp focus.

But nothing is free. The wider the lens the more powerful your lights need to be to cover the frame - have a google on vignetting. Wide lenses also suffer optical distortion with objects in the centre of the frame appearing closer and larger than they are, this can be used for artistic effect though.

Wide angle does not work so well with marine life. It is difficult to get close enough to nervous fish to fill the frame. Territorial fish are the exception. A bit of patience can be rewarded with the subject headbutting the lens. With the wide angle distortion it looks pretty effective for a few scenes in a sequence. You can use zoom to offset the wide angle but you lose quality in the process.

The Gates wide port is very good but I find it too wide for most marine life. The Gates standard port makes little alteration to the cameras integrated lens which is not really wide enough for wreck work. Sorry I don't know the part numbers off the top of my head - and I can't be bothered to dig my camera out.

I have no experience with the other lenses you mention.

The Gates housing are excellent. The only thing against them is the mechanical controls can be fiddly to operate wearing gloves. Electronic housings, such as the Light and Motion range, have better ergonomics with the controls easily operated underwater. The Gates comes into it's own past 100m where an electronic housing is in danger of having buttons operated by water pressure. Having said that I doubt you would be unhappy with a Gates for shallower use.

HTH

[Harry Remmington]

Go for the widest, dont forget you can always zoom in to narrow the angle as long as you can re-focus.

[And]

Hi

Thanks for the replies. I ordered the Gates GP35 wide port today with the housing from cameras underwater. Apparently the others are hard to get hold of so the decision was made for me really

Thanks again

Andy