Gates Underwater Products F55, Setup, Use And Care Manual

Page 1: ...F55 Underwater Housing Setup Use and Care Guide...

Page 2: ...hn Ellerbrock Gates Underwater Products This manual and current revision is available in 8 5 x 11 size and full color at http www gateshousings com documentation html Gates Underwater Products Inc 136...

Page 3: ...Gear Drives LGD s 18 Water Alarm Optional 21 Check Operation 22 Front Shell Port and Port Ring 23 Monitor Mount Video Connections 26 Housing Closure 29 Adjustable Handle Grips 31 Seal Check 32 Final...

Page 4: ...system of the camera Cinema grade design Lens choice and control access are just two of the many features designed into the F55 A R coated glass optics optional HD SDI surface feed and Seal Check are...

Page 5: ...l Check system Tool Kit with case Various assembly and spare parts for the F55 including bolts set screws and o rings Spare O Ring Kit Carry Handle Trim Weights quantity dependent on configuration Por...

Page 6: ...ge may result USER RESPONSIBILITY This Setup Use and Care guide contains important detailed procedures for setup and use of the F55 It is the user s responsibility to read understand and employ these...

Page 7: ...onfiguration R5 Recorder The F55 comes in two configuations one when used without the R5 recorder and one when used with The difference is only in the depth of the Rear Shell as shown in the photos Re...

Page 8: ...e CCW direction while facing the front of the housing Gently pull the Port away from the Port Ring or Front Bulkhead TIP Liberal lubrication of the Port o ring allows easy rotation during installation...

Page 9: ...eft side of the housing Port Ring Remove the Port Ring by rotating 90 CCW and pulling forward NOTE Some lenses do not require a Port Ring O P Rotate the Port Ring 90 degrees counterclockwise direction...

Page 10: ...ront Shell Rear Shell removal Release three 3 latches by depressing the lock and pulling up on the latch Once released the rear shell will remove freely Slide the rear shell back until free from the h...

Page 11: ...11 Camera Bridgeplate Removal Release the lever lock on the right and slide the camera mount to the rear and free of the housing Release the camera Bridgeplate with this lever Slide rearward out of t...

Page 12: ...cessary to allow control of ND filter with the F55 Housing First remove the ND filter knob from the camera by gently pulling it away It will expose a shaft with a flat on one side Next install the Gat...

Page 13: ...first to a Bridgeplate Adapter with four screws then to the Bridgeplate with two thumbscrews as shown Remove all items from the F5 F55 camera except battery R5 recorder optional and recording media Ma...

Page 14: ...y slide the camera on the Tray into the housing until fully seated The camera should move into the housing without obstruction CAUTION AVOID OBSTRUCTIONS The camera should insert freely without obstru...

Page 15: ...F55 Setup Page 15 Push in and Check controls The Bridgeplate will slide onto the dovetail here Slide carefully Stop if you encounter obstructions N O P...

Page 16: ...vices Adapter MTF FZ to Nikon Adapter This Third party adapter can be acquired directly from MTF Services Gates Iris Gear Adapter This adapter is available from Gates It provides a gear interface betw...

Page 17: ...hich in turn interface with the F55 Housing Gear Rings are very specific to a given lens Contact Gates for details on the appropriate Gear Rings for a specific DSLR lens Mount lens to the camera At th...

Page 18: ...s reference Secure Guide Bars Insert the guide bars by threading them into the front bulkhead Tighten firmly by hand no tools are required but wrench flats are provided on the guide bars should this b...

Page 19: ...at the gear is still properly aligned and the drive shaft gear hub is centered with the LGD bracket see photo Tighten the two pivot screws gently to secure it in position Step 3 Firmly tighten the scr...

Page 20: ...n Verify Operation Once positioned and secured check operation of the Focus and Iris controls They should rotate freely but with slight resistance in both directions and through the entire range of tr...

Page 21: ...he alarm can be tested by shorting the detection contacts that lead to the water alarm transducer The water detection condition will activate for 6 seconds If the battery is drained the low battery co...

Page 22: ...gs and Ports Power on the camera and check the following Clear Image on EM50 External Monitor Clean Image with no dust fog or other impediments to image quality Focus Iris and Zoom gear controls are s...

Page 23: ...Port Ring Refer to Gates Lens Compatibility Matrix for details CAUTION Do Not lubricate the orange Front Bulkhead o ring It is silicone material and lubricant may cause damage Only the BLACK and YELLO...

Page 24: ...llows easy rotation during installation removal Install the Port Ring if needed Place the Port Ring Lock into the lock position then carefully mate the Port Ring to the Front Shell Rotate 90 degrees C...

Page 25: ...egrees clockwise to its normal position where it will stop Carefully mate the Port to the Port Ring or Front Shell if no Port Ring is Used and assure alignment Verify seals Inspect the Front Bulkhead...

Page 26: ...ass through type that inserts into bulkhead opening on the upper right side of the housing Insert the HDMI connector and route the cable to the rear of the housing to the position shown in the next il...

Page 27: ...F55 Setup Page 27 Insert the EM50 Monitor Cable into the F55 housing as shown Tighten the brass collar until snug...

Page 28: ...e the final connection to the camera from the EM50 monitor cable Photo TBD showing connection to camera HDMI Connection for EM50 or other HDMI video feed HD SDI Connection for surface feed video Plug...

Page 29: ...or to closing the back shell See Buoyancy Control section below for more details Retract controls The power on off control will retract slightly Mate the shell Position the shell at the rear and gentl...

Page 30: ...can lead to a wet camera Replacements for faulty latches are available at no charge from Gates Mate Controls At this time the Rear Shell Power Control can be pushed in and mated with the camera Mate...

Page 31: ...adjustable handle grips These are assembled to the housing from the rear and set with the thumbscrew If necessary tighten with the supplied 3 16 hex tool Slide the Handle Grips onto the top dovetails...

Page 32: ...N FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN A Final Checks Visual Inspection Look closely at all seal mates Port Port Ring Front Bulkhead and main Housing seal for gaps Look over the housing one final time Veri...

Page 33: ...F55 Operation Page 33 3 F55 Operation Right Side Controls ND Filter Roller Select Menu Option Power Assign 1 2 Iris Focus Zoom HD SDI Bulkhead Connector Optional Comm Input Optional...

Page 34: ...F55 Operation Page 34 Left Side Controls Accessory Port 1 Optional Record Stop Iris Focus Zoom Iris Focus Zoom Microphone Optional Seal Check Fitting Camera File AU TC View Cancel Back Item 6...

Page 35: ...system left right Shell Base The base of the Mid and Rear Shells have accessory rails for 4 8 and 16 oz weights They are secured and adjusted forward and aft for trim NOTE The weights on the Mid Shel...

Page 36: ...f Rear Shell Top accessory rails The top of the shell has three rails used for handles and monitor that can accommodate 4 and 8oz weights Port Rings The top and sides of the Port Rings can also accept...

Page 37: ...hree steps Camera connection See the previous section Video Connections for details connecting the HD SDI surface feed to the camera inside the housing Housing Cable Connection Refer to the photo Conn...

Page 38: ...se As a Tripod Adapter it provides 1 4 20 and 3 8 16 mount holes for your tripod It also is specifically designed to accept an Arri standard dovetail clamp WC Dovetail Clamp As a Crane Mount allows se...

Page 39: ...F55 Operation Page 39...

Page 40: ...e to the housing when not in use The rear Tripod leg is mounted as shown to the rear shell with a bracket and 2ea 10 32 x 1 2 L bolts and washers The right and rear Tripod legs are shown ready for use...

Page 41: ...method to mount lights forward and to the outside edges of the housing It accepts a wide variety of Ultralight Controls Systems ball mounts and bases The EM50 External Monitor will secure on the top...

Page 42: ...ormance or image quality Gates endeavors to collect data from the field and our own testing as a resource to customers but you should always characterize your lens of choice for use underwater Dome Po...

Page 43: ...de shots By their nature Flat Ports do not allow wide shots Loss of FOV Like a SCUBA mask Flat Ports decrease FOV by 25 NOTE The optical interaction between any given lens and a Dome or Flat Port is u...

Page 44: ...Operation Page 44 Bracket Mount Locations The bottom and top of the F55 Housing has mount points for brackets or accessories of your own design All are 1 4 20 threads Bottom of Mid Shell Top of Mid Sh...

Page 45: ...is unlikely you may encounter reflections from within the port area of F55 from anything shiny To control such reflections Gates recommends two easy measures Blackening the shiny area with a black pe...

Page 46: ...AUTION No Trim Weights DO NOT transport the F55 housing with trim weights installed Severe damage may result Secure Camera Mount The Camera Bridgeplate must be well secured Install and tighten with th...

Page 47: ...es in the Care Maintenance guide is one additional maintenance item specific to F55 Gear controls To lubricate the Gear control shafts requires removal of a snap spacer Refer to the photo below for th...

Page 48: ...nd covered in the Housing Care and Maintenance document in this package It can also be found on the Gates website at www gateshousings com CAUTION Do not lubricate the large ORANGE o ring It is a spec...

Page 49: ...5 Customer Support Should you have any questions about the F55 and its operation please contact Gates at the numbers below Email Customer srvc GatesHousings com Web www GatesHousings com Phone 858 39...