Underwater Video Accessories
Gates and Fathom Ports - Macro, Standard, Wide and Super Wide
FOR ALL GATES VIDEO HOUSINGS
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The Best Camera In The World Can’t Make Up For Poor Optics.
This mantra is the driving force behind the Gates family of ports. The finest underwater images simply require the finest optics. While this may seem obvious, poor optical design and materials introduce compromises -- distortions, low resolution, and ultimately inferior images.
With Gates ports, the days of compromises are over. Our premium line of ports by Fathom Imaging are superior optical products, and won’t limit the capabilities of your camera. High resolution and distortion-free, they represent the finest optics available for underwater imaging.
Professional to amateur, super wide to macro, the Gates family of ports represent a variety of features and optical designs to suit a wide range of needs, conditions and experience. Of course, all Gates ports reflect the same standard of excellence expected of all Gates products.
Port types - a selection guide
When selecting a port for use with your Gates housing, the most important questions relate to the subject and purpose of your images. Consider the following questions to help simplify your choice:
Subject – What subject(s) are you imaging? Are they small or large? Or both?
Will they let you close or must you be at a distance?
Purpose – How will the images be used? Broadcast TV? Trip memories? DVD Publication?
Entertain friends/family?
With these questions in mind the subsequent summary will guide you through the various port choices.
Macro Ports
Capturing the world of ‘small’ requires a macro port, which can reveal amazing colors and behaviors of tiny underwater critters. Macro imaging starts at subjects about 2.0 in / 51 mm and smaller. Gates offers two choices for macro imaging: a simple Flat Port; and a Fathom Imaging Super Macro Port, which can image down to as small as 0.28 in / 7 mm.
Flat Port – these ports contain a single, flat, uncorrected element. The field of view becomes narrowed underwater, subject to the same refraction as a diver looking through a facemask. A Flat Port allows full camera zoom capability, and diopters may be used to increase the magnification of a macro subject. +1, +2 and +4 are commonly used, and available from Gates as an accessory kit. A Flat Port contains a single optical acrylic element that is forgiving to minor bumps and handling, and it is field replaceable.
Key Features:
- Inexpensive – a macro option for those on a budget.
- Resilient optical acrylic element – for easy field replacement.
- Accommodates diopters – and stacked diopters for magnification.
Standard (Dome) Ports
Gates Standard Ports (sometimes called a dome port) are optically corrected to provide a normalized view of the underwater world. That is, they compensate for distortions or magnifications inherent to the underwater realm so the camera view below water is almost exactly that above water. A standard port is made of optical polycarbonate and allows little or no zoom-through capability.
The Standard Port is recommended as a budget option. They are sometimes compatible with third party lenses from Sony, Century Optics or others. (contact Gates for compatibility).
Key Features:
- Inexpensive – an option for those on a budget.
- Resilient field replaceable dome – is forgiving to bumps and handling.
- Third party lenses – may be used, such as Century Optics or Sony wide angle adapters*.
Wide Angle Ports
Wide Angle Ports contain several lens elements to encompass a larger underwater view. It is by far the most commonly used port as it affords a very broad field of view and large depth of field. That is, large animals or big reef scenes can be captured with sharp focus on both near and far subjects. They also have little or no zoom capability, which is a feature only available on Hi Performance ports (see the next section). Two versions of Wide Angle Ports are available from Gates including our own GP-series and the WP-series from Fathom Imaging.
Wide Angle ports are widely used and a part of any underwater imaging kit. They are highly recommended for those new to underwater imaging because Wide Angle ports make ‘point and shoot’ imaging quick and easy.
Gates Wide Angle Ports have a tough aluminum shell and a field replaceable optical polycarbonate dome. The field of view is approximately 70° depending on the camera/port combination. They are an ideal choice for extreme use conditions or when field replacement of a damaged dome is necessary.
Key Features:
- Field replaceable dome – of resilient optical polycarbonate.
- Anti-reflective coating – for very good image resolution.
- 70 degree field of view – for large, wide images.
- Vignette-free – means no cutoff dark corners to ruin an image.
- Use in Air and Water – and for air/water split shots.
- 2-year warranty – consistent with all Gates products.
Fathom Imaging Wide Angle Ports are constructed of an aluminum shell and coated BK-7 glass elements to provide the sharpest, clearest underwater images possible. Field of view is approximately 70 to 90° depending on the camera/port combination. They are designed specifically for underwater use by Fathom Imaging, so they are free of distortion and are very high resolution – the ‘Fathom Signature’. Fathom Ports are an ideal choice for applications requiring the sharpest, clearest underwater images for TV / DVD productions.
Fathom Wide Angle Ports are made of BK-7 optical-grade glass and coated with a proprietary anti-reflective coating. They are nitrogen purged / vacuum sealed into an aluminum shell. While the front dome element has a hard coating and is protected by a shade, it is not field replaceable, so care must be exercised to avoid contact with sharp objects (like coral).
Key Features:
- Up to 90° FOV – for very wide, crystal clear underwater imaging.
- Distortion-free – no imaging-destroying flare or reflections.
- Vignette-free – means no cutoff dark corners to ruin an image.
- Use in Air and Water – and for air/water split shots.
- High grade optical glass elements – for sharp, crystal clear hi resolution images.
- Proprietary HEBBAR – anti-reflective coating for max light transmission.
- Nitrogen purged/vacuum sealed optics – means no dust or condensation inside.
- Limited 2-year warranty – consistent with all Gates products.
Super Wide Ports
Gates offers a new category of port, called the Super Wide ports. They are exceptional designs because they provide both 110 degree super wide field of view, AND full zoom through capability for ~1.5in / 38mm macro. This is unprecedented in underwater imaging. A single Super Wide port supports a vast range of shooting situations with no loss of clarity or sharpness through the entire camera zoom range.
Super Wide Ports are a must when this type of flexibility is required with no loss of optical quality. Working professionals and experienced videographers are most likely to utilize the full potential of these ports.
Key Features
- Performance– Up to 120° wide FOV with full zoom through capability for macro subjects.
- HD tested and qualified – for the finest HD images possible.
- Distortion-free – for clear, sharp images corner to corner.
- Reflection-free – no image-destroying flare or reflections.
- Vignette-free – means no cutoff dark corners to ruin an image.
- Use in Air and Water – and for air/water split shots (when compatible).
- High grade optical glass elements – for sharp high resolution images.
- Anti-Reflective Coating – for protection and max light transmission.
- Nitrogen purged/vacuum sealed optics – means no dust or condensation inside.
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