Help with Mounting VX-2000 in Housing

Hi Guys:

Well, admittedly, I'm NOT a very dexterous individual when it comes to fine tuning small things and predictably I'm having a problem mounting the VX-2000 in my Gates housing.

The housing came back from Gates all clean and "spiffy," (they did a GREAT job!) and they even included an instruction guide for mounting the camera. My problem is getting the controls "adjusted," especially on the left side where the exposure controls and focus selector are. The pictures provided in the instruction guide aren't too clear and I'm thinking I need more help.

Any suggestions?

Again, THANKS for the help!

Andy

DISCLOSURE: I work for Gates Underwater Products

Andy,

If you'll call us at 858-272-2501 we'll be happy to assist.

John

DISCLOSURE: I work for Gates Underwater Products

 

Andy,

 

If you'll call us at 858-272-2501 we'll be happy to assist.

 

John

THANKS John! I'm at work in my "real" office and have my kit at home, so I'll call you later (I'm on east coast time).

Andy

Andy, what did they do with your corrosion?

Andy, what did they do with your corrosion?

Hi Nick:

As far as I can tell, nothing although for some reason I think it's "cleaner" ?? I'll post some pics and tell me what you think.

BTW, I successfully mounted the camera yesterday and everything is working. The instructions WERE actually clear, I just had to READ them more carefully, LOL! (THANKS John!)

A question for ya however, Nick. The slide switch on the VX 2000 for "Auto Focus" allows "Auto" or "Manual." Needless to say, I need to autofocus on a near object once underwater then switch autofocus "off." Do I do this by just switching to "manual" and, if so, is there any "lock" option or do I just have to be careful? How do you handle the manual focus underwater?

I'm also understanding why you made that white balance attachment... GOOD idea!

THANKS!

Andy

I used auto focus for everything except a) macro shots such as a ribbon eel where the camera wanted to focus on the background, and b.) occasionally for pelagics in the blue where I was worried about hunting. But having said that I shot loads of mantas and sharks on auto focus. The water's generally clear here and as long as I kept the port free of scratches and totally clean I was OK. In hundreds of hours' shooting with it I can't remember a single important shot that was ruined by hunting. Most other experienced shooters on here will probably not agree with me though.

Anyway you just have to be careful. Once you've got the focus mode you want, take the control off that and leave it sitting between the focus and ND filter controls. I used ND filter quite a lot. Those controls down the left of the housing are fiddly and even after lots of practice it's still often easier to look through the little window to see what's going on with them.

From what you said previously I wondered whether Gates might have welded up around the corrosion or something. Would be interested in seeing pics.

What port have you got again?