Gates FX7 housing on their website

which model was it that you tried on the HV10? The HD-5050 PRO?

also are you using the hv10 in a housing?

Yes, I have the 5050 lens. No housing, it's strickly for topside use.

Here is a clip showing with/without the lens. There is some softening, but I was very impressed considering the lens cost $90.

30mb file. Right click and "save target as" to download.

5050 lens sample clip

Thanks for the link, it looks like a good lens but.... 43mm deep, I doubt there will be enough room for this - perhaps John from Gates can enlighten us.

 

Roger

You might be right, but the camcorder does sit back a little from the port to leave room for the filp filter and flip diopter. The Raynox front lens diameter is 83mm which might be small enough to fit through the port and into the dome section. This is all speculation on my part. Once I get the housing, I'll be sure to measure things up 1st.

Hi,

I haven't read all the entries in the thread, but wanted to post that my hubby got the first Gates housing for the FX7 on 7/2 and we dove Kona this last week with it, so.... ask away with questions (please realize he only has 8 dives with the unit.... the lights are niterider pro 40)

O.K

First impressions please...Any faults.

Dive safe

DeanB

First, let me give you a little history, my wife bought this for me as a Xmas gift which was a major upgrade from my previous setup (Ikelite/Sony DVR).

I am very impressed with the housing. I am super impressed with the service from Marine Visions only to be surpassed by Gates. At this time there are slight issues with the buoyancy with the lights (positive) as well as without. I have been in communication with Gates, and they are already in the process of designing and manufacturing different weight packages for each light setup.

Positive: Quality; the controls/buttons are intuitive and easy to use; comes pre-wired for the external monitor (at least from Marine Visions); you can control white balance - in fact, all the necessary controls are accessible, such as gain, shutter speed, etc.)

Negative: the view port on the back of the camera is very small and the only way to make it larger is to buy the $4.7k additional video monitor; Outside water, the unit is very heavy; Doesn't allow you to take still pictures via the memory chip

As for the comfort factor of.. is this going to flood? No, it appears bullet proof.

I am happy with the housing understanding that I have had issues (buoyancy, niterider light issues) and that Gates has been fantastic in taking care of them. Since this is my first Gates, I don't know if this is their standard operating procedure or the fact that I have one of the first of these housings. This is my overall impression with the housing, so if you have specific questions, please feel free to ask.