SR11/12 Paired with Fathom SWP25/35 -- Need housing

Is it possible to build a Sony (HD) SR11/12 with a 110 deg. Fathom SWP (25/35) and get a case to run with it all... Can anyone tell me if there is a soultion to this quandry?? Will the SR11/12 function in the Gates HC7/HC9 housing?? It appears to be the same size & format to Sony's hc7 & hc9 models.... TIA!!

Light & Motion offers the Fathom 110 as a optional port for both the Stingray HD and the Bluefin SR12 housings.

Light & Motion offers the Fathom 110 as a optional port for both the Stingray HD and the Bluefin SR12 housings.

They didn't have that info on their site

--- Thanks, ---> Although, I was hoping for a "Gates" solution (rats!)..

The site will be updated soon.

Fathom 110 WA lense Part #802-0211 $2700USD

Fathom 90 WA lense Part #802-0210 $900 USD

Do you know how many mm's that one is?? Equiv. to SWP25 or SWP35??

What about Gates (??) Nothing for the SR11/12??!! (Pitiful!)

Thanks again!!!

Brian

Brian

Makes no sense for Gates to cover the ever changing little cameras, being that each housing has to be individually made specifically for each camera. That's the advantage of lanc housings.

FYI, Fathoms has a 2nd range of lenses, the WP80/100 which are 80° and 100°. These are lens ports designed by Fathoms but made in China. These lenses are available for a few housings, including: Aditech Mangrove series and Ikelite. I've tested the WP80 and it's not zoom through. The WP100 is zoom through and wider of course.

Brian

Makes no sense for Gates to cover the ever changing little cameras, being that each housing has to be individually made specifically for each camera. That's the advantage of lanc housings.

 

FYI, Fathoms has a 2nd range of lenses, the WP80/100 which are 80° and 100°. These are wet lens ports designed by Fathoms but made in China.

Dbl-Rats! Hate "wet lenses" and after looking close at the Gates site data -- The SWP25 has a 90 deg (in water) and 110 deg (on land) [Which BLOWS!!! Can you see divers are running around town, shooting on land through a Gates housing??!! -- DOH!] The SWP35 is 110 deg for both land/uw. The SWP44 is sweet at 120 deg for both as well (@~$4.5G too!)...

IMHO: If you are going to charge $2700 for a lens (SWP25) it should have the same performance, in and out - like the other 2!! Charge me more - But DELIVER on your quality! [DAMN YOU ALL -- at the R&D dept!!]

So, we're trying to match up the SWP35 (?) with a housing for a SR12 -- we want the full 110 zoom through(and not a wet one either)... The HC9 looks like the exact same camera "body" as the SR12 -- Do you know why the Gates HC9 housing can't operate the SR12? Do you think Gates would modify it (an HC9) in order to operate the SR12 for extra $$$??

Perhaps -- A Snowballs chance --> at the reef??!!

Ps -- Also looking for these answers as well: cold fusion, time travel & winning powerball ticket. But will settle for just the video stuff...... Ha!

Thanks Drew!!

Opps I goofed there. Not wet lenses like the Inons but a screw on lens like a.... errr Fathom. Teach me to post while watching Slingbox.

FYI, Brian, the housing manufacturers do peruse the site so I suggest you watch the rhetoric and concentrate on giving constructive criticism. It is not the housing manufacturer who make the lens. It is Fathoms who designs the lenses. The housing peeps just buy them for their housings.

Opps I goofed there. Not wet lenses like the Inons but a screw on lens like a.... errr Fathom. Teach me to post while watching Slingbox.

 

FYI, Brian, the housing manufacturers do peruse the site so I suggest you watch the rhetoric and concentrate on giving constructive criticism. It is not the housing manufacturer who make the lens. It is Fathoms who designs the lenses. The housing peeps just buy them for their housings.

That was meant for Fathom!! They make the lenes. I wonder what the performance is of the Fathom 110 for the compact Bluefin... AND ALSO --> If it's a 110 deg, why do they refer to it as a "WP" instead of a "SWP"??? [Things that make you go - Hmmm....]

As to Gates - I don't know enough yet to formulate an accurate opinion - I've heard nothing but EXCELLENCE about Gates. K.I.S.S. is a good motto!

I've been shooting Light & Motion's 110 degree Fathom Lens on a SR12 and HC9 cameras all week, and have had excellent results.

Fathom redesigned the lens for better performance in both air and water. The lens has a 108 degree field of view in water (16:9), where the original SWP25 was only 96 degrees. The new design also performs very well in air (106 degrees & excellent sharpness). After shooting the lens extensively I don't feel that it flares as much as the original did, but can't objectively evaluate that.

The new design requires turning on TeleMacro Mode for closeup work, as minimum focus distance extends as you zoom. The original lens would focus very close at all zoom positions without engaging telemacro. This is an issue for Light & Motion Stingray customers, but not for Bluefin users. This can be remedied by using a closeup attachment on the camera, but this product is still in development.

SWP35 is not compatible with this camera as it uses a very different optical design.

Brian

I do think you are jumping the gun a bit. The SWP25,35 and 44 are each designed for certain cameras with certain optical parameters. Each lens has a corresponding recommendation for the cameras it supports, all provided by Fathoms and should be notated on the Gates website. If you read it, you would see the SWP35 and 44 are not designed to work with the SR12.

For example, the SWP25a was actually designed for SD cameras and was brought forward to handle the HD cameras. The new SWP25b, which Ryan mentioned, is the HD compatible redesign.

Brian

I do think you are jumping the gun a bit. The SWP25,35 and 44 are each designed for certain cameras with certain optical parameters. Each lens has a corresponding recommendation for the cameras it supports, all provided by Fathoms and should be notated on the Gates website. If you read it, you would see the SWP35 and 44 are not designed to work with the SR12.

For example, the SWP25a was actually designed for SD cameras and was brought forward to handle the HD cameras. The new SWP25b, which Ryan mentioned, is the HD compatible redesign.

Hey Y'all -

Thanks for all the input!! I just got off the phone with John @ Gates (really nice guy BTW) and sadly there is no way to get an sr12 into a hc9 case [RATS!] He should dump that line (old tech) and support the newer SR series as a "top line" consumer rig. EVEN if Fathom has to "redo" the optics!.... If gates offered an SR solution AND a fathom (real 110) it would sell 4:1 on the LMI's!! But it's not my company, however IMHO the HC7/9 is like having an 8 track player in your car... If he ever decided to create a "Lanc" controller module as an upgrade, LMI would be in some serious business trouble. I know to the "pros", the SR is a piece of crap - but to the consumer middle-class diver (who can't dump 20K on a rig) & who wants to get the best HDV (reasonably) -- They would buy the SR over the HC in a NY sec! --- SCREW the tape!! Every time you open that case on a boat to swap tapes you risk contamination/loss not to meantion of having to properly store your tapes!! Did I forget head/roller maint.?

Going to have to fall back and punt! DRATS!

Thanks again all!

Brian

EVEN if Fathom has to "redo" the optics!.... If gates offered an SR solution AND a fathom (real 110) it would sell 4:1 on the LMI's!

Why?

LMI does offer a 110 degree fathom lens that is full zoom through, and can image a 44.6 x 25.1 area in telemacro mode. The bluefin also accesses the SR12 touch screen for manual white balance, telemacro, smooth slow motion, etc. LMI aslo brings manual focus and momentary af to the handle for convenient, ergonomic access. A 3.5" monitor back is standard, and their system setup & camera installation is the easiest of any system I've handled.

I know to the "pros", the SR is a piece of crap - but to the consumer middle-class diver (who can't dump 20K on a rig) & who wants to get the best HDV (reasonably) -- They would buy the SR over the HC in a NY sec! --- SCREW the tape!! Every time you open that case on a boat to swap tapes you risk contamination/loss not to meantion of having to properly store your tapes!! Did I forget head/roller maint.?

 

Brian

We'll not all of us have opted to disgard our tape based cameras...not just yet.

I think Mr. Wagsy has pointed out in prior threads his thoughs on the virtues of using tape.. many of which I agree with.

However I do agree, in the idea world it would be nice if Gates made a housing for your particular camera, in addition to tape based cameras as they currently do.. to give the consumer some choices. But I understand their needs to balance trying to make a limited line of housings, manage their overhead, etc.. I own a machine shop, and will gladly make for you a custom housing for $10,000 USD, plus optics.

I have a HC7, in the gates HC7/9 housing, with the Fathom WP25 port.. and I tell you, it takes beautiful, crisp, sharp, corner to corner images. It focuses from the glass to infinity. It only lacks 100% zoom thru, and is about 80% or so zoom thru.. which I find to be adequate for me. For dedicated macro work, I use their flat port, and put a Century Optics +2.5 Achromatic Diopter on the lens,, and it is stunning. Being a serious amateur, non-pro, I think this was a good fit of quality to my budget.

One last thing about Gates.. I had a few minor issues with my rig.. and I will say, their customer service was excellent. Prompt replies, fast service, etc.. I am pleased with their service.