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DEMA 2006: Gates Housings


Gates booth

Gates Housings have a reputation of being a company that listens to its customers and gives them what they want.  Gates housings are fully manual, giving an option to users who prefer no electronics in their housings.  They have a wide product line supporting many camcorders.

New at DEMA were HID 250 lights, an innovative underwater tripod, and the widescreen, hi-res EM-43 monitor.

Working with Green Force Lighting, the new HID50 features:

- a 50W bulb
- 3800°K color temperature
- F3 (100 min) or F2 (50 min) batteries
- on/off control at the battery
- integrated diffuser
- 110° beam angle

The warm color temperature will please videographers who are looking for a way to enhance background blues.

Made of aluminum, stainless steel, and delrin (leg tips only), the new underwater tripod looks like it will be a best-seller.  It folds up really small, and each leg can be extended anywhere from 7-18”.  It uses ULCS clamps and balls, works with all Gates housings, and can be configured to mount supported batteries underneath the camera platform.  Kudos for an innovative design!

The EM43 widescreen monitor features:

- PAL and NTSC support
- automatic on/off sensing
- low battery indicator
- 8 AA batteries for power
- SD and HD models (HD requires new 6-pin plug)

Gates will also soon be releasing underwater housings for the Sony FX7/V1, Canon XH-A1 and Canon XH-G1.

For more coverage of DEMA 2006, please see the DEMA coverage index.

 


Gates’ FX1/Z1U underwater housing with Fathoms lens and modified Green Force lights

 


Gates’ FX1/Z1U underwater housing with Fathoms lens and modified Green Force lights

 


Gates’ innovative new underwater tripod for all of their video housings and battery systems

 


Look how small Gates’ video tripod folds up!

 


Gates’ new high-resolution EM43 monitor (SD and HD versions available)

 


Gates housing with EM43 high resolution monitor

 


John and Karen Ellerbrock of Gates