Gates/LMI/Canon/Sony????

Hi all,

I think there's quite a few of us 'sitting on the fence' comparing two cameras (HFS-11, CX520) and Gates or LMI housings for them. Considering that both of these are a major investment AND there seems to be an ever changing design of the housings, I certainly have some hesitation until good factual info is provided by others who have actually used them. So...this is a call for help.

I'm leaning towards the hfs-11 based upon many reviews but there still seems to be some issues.

Wide Angle Lens: Is these a really good wide angle lens for it. Gates doesn't have the Fathom. Instead they've got their own 85. LMI is supposed to have a different one in testing (not Fathom), but.....

WB, focus, and manual exposure controls: It seems that the LMI housing now has the handle control for wb, but how do I set the exposure controls? Can these be assigned to other handle controls?

On the Gates housing it seems that these can be assigned also but how is not covered in their down loadable pdf. Maybe with the remote control buttons, but...????

Sorry for so many quesitons, but it seems to me that both mfr's were in such a hurry to out do each other that it's hard for a potential buyer to get good info.

And....any video posted by users would be extremely helpful.

Thanks, Pete

It seems that the LMI housing now has the handle control for wb, but how do I set the exposure controls? Can these be assigned to other handle controls?

On the Gates housing it seems that these can be assigned also but how is not covered in their down loadable pdf. Maybe with the remote control buttons, but...????

From the genuine remote control sold with the camera, accessing and setting the exposure is very simple: just use the arrow to navigate and set exposure.

From the top of the gates housing it seems to me that you can navigate in the left and right menus which leaves you with pretty much access to everything. From the pics in http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=33265 , you have the arrows, "menu" and "set" on the LMI housing therefore I think you can do the same as well.

On the camcorder you can only assign exposure on the custom wheel if you don't want to navigate in the menus.

Other than LMI and Gates, I may repeat that Aditech is also worth a look as this housing performs nicely. I have been using this housing since last summer with a WP80 and a HF-S10. Almost no or no vignetting at all (it requires careful positionning of the camcorder on the tray) and access to all functions except the "custom control wheel" .