Gates ALEXA 35 User manual
Introducing the ALEXA 35 Housing Page 1
ALEXA 35 Underwater Housing
Setup, Use, and Care Guide
Introducing the ALEXA 35 Housing Page 2
Copyright 2022, Gates Underwater Products, Inc.
Last document revision: 12-4-2022
Photos © 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.
13685 Stowe Drive
Poway, California 92064 USA
Phone: 858.391.0052
Web: GatesHousings.com
Introducing the ALEXA 35 Housing Page 3
Table of Contents
Setup, Use, and Care Guide.............................................1
1: Introducing the ALEXA 35 Housing...................................4
Features...........................................................................4
Warranty Disclaimer .........................................................4
ARRI Items Required........................................................5
Unpacking ALEXA 35 Housing.........................................6
2: Cautions...........................................................................7
3: ALEXA 35 Housing Setup.................................................8
ALEXA 35 Housing Preparation........................................8
ALEXA 35 Camera Preparation......................................13
GPB-1 Module Preparation.............................................13
GPIO Assignable Setup..................................................14
Camera Installation.........................................................16
Cable Connections.........................................................18
Lens Gear Drives (LGD’s)...............................................19
Port Base, Port and Port Rings.......................................23
Monitor Mount / Video Connections................................25
Housing Closure.............................................................28
Adjustable Handle Grips.................................................30
Carry Handle/Lanyard Mounts........................................30
Footrails and Adjustments ..............................................31
Stackable Port Rings SPR80 and SPR110.....................33
Lens Knobs ....................................................................35
Seal Check.....................................................................36
Final Checks...................................................................37
4: ALEXA 35 Housing Operation ........................................38
Right Side Controls.........................................................38
Left Side Controls...........................................................38
Buoyancy Adjustment.....................................................39
Accessories....................................................................41
Port Options ...................................................................43
Lighting Systems............................................................46
Controlling Reflections....................................................46
Travel / Transport...........................................................46
5: ALEXA 35 Housing Maintenance....................................48
O-Ring Care and Maintenance.......................................48
6: Customer Support ..........................................................49
Introducing the ALEXA 35 Housing Page 4
1: Introducing the ALEXA 35 Housing
Congratulations on owning a new Gates product: the ALEXA 35 Underwater Housing.
You’ve selected an underwater imaging tool that will provide years of value and reliable
service. We designed the ALEXA 35 Underwater Housing specifically for the ARRI
ALEXA 35 camera.
Please read through this entire guide to learn about the ALEXA 35 Housing so you can
get the most out of this imaging tool. In this section, we’ll introduce you to the features of
the housing so you can get started.
Features
The ALEXA 35 Housing has several key features:
✓Lens flexibility. The ALEXA 35 Housing can accommodate a variety of different
LPL and PL mount lenses with no change to control locations. Focus, Iris, Zoom
remain in the same location regardless of optics used.
✓Cinema-grade design. Lens choice and control access are just two of the many
features designed into the ALEXA 35 Housing. A/R coated glass optics, optional
HD-SDI surface feed, and Seal Check are a few of the items any professional will
appreciate.
✓Remote System Control. Surface command / control are optionally available.
Camera control, lens control, video feed and power are optionally available.
Warranty Disclaimer
Like any tool the ALEXA 35 Underwater Housing requires knowledge and understanding
to be effective.
Your responsibility is to learn the proper setup, use and care of the ALEXA 35 Housing.
Because we can only provide you with the information necessary to do so, Gates does
not warrant the contents of your housing (e.g. your camera and lenses) under any
circumstance.
We warrant the ALEXA 35 Housing as an image acquisition tool for a period of 2 years.
The Seal Check unit is warranted for 1 year. Optics (Dome and Flat ports) are warranted
for a period of 1 year or 100 hours salt water contact, whichever comes first.
Gates does not warrant optical performance or image quality.
If you have any questions about the setup, use and care of the ALEXA 35 Housing,
contact Gates directly. Details are in section 6.
Introducing the ALEXA 35 Housing Page 5
ARRI Items Required
The following items are required to operate the ALEXA 35 Camera Housing and are not
included with the camera housing:
✓ARRI ALEXA 35 Camera.
✓GPB-1 GPIO Box (Item # K2.0007642).
✓Recording Media (CODEX Compact Drive).
✓ALEXA 35 Viewfinder (For camera setup only. Not required to operate camera
housing).
✓B-mount battery adapter. As of this writing, several B-mount battery adapters are
available and compatible with ALEXA 35 Housing. Contact Gates for the latest
compatibility list, or visit Gates ALEXA 35 Housing webpage.
✓B-mount Battery. A variety of B-mount batteries are supported in the GATES
ALEXA 35 Housing. A current list can be found on Gates ALEXA 35 Housing
webpage.
✓External Monitor Housing. Several External Monitor options are available for
ALEXA 35 Housing, and they require an LCD and possibly supporting battery.
Refer to the documentation provided for your selected External Monitor for
specifics.
Introducing the ALEXA 35 Housing Page 6
Unpacking ALEXA 35 Housing
After removing the ALEXA 35 Housing from its shipping container, carefully inpsect it for
mssing parts or damage that may have occurred in shipment. If you discover
discrepancies, contact Gates or your Gates dealer.
✓ALEXA 35 Underwater
Housing.
✓Port(s) of choice. 8 or 10 in
Dome Port, either glass or
acrylic, or FP80 Flat Port.
✓Stackable Port Ring(s) of
choice SPR80 or SPR110 size.
✓Camera Dovetail Mount.
✓Lens Gear Drives (2x
Clockwise and 1x Counter
Clockwise).
✓Universal set of Guide Bars
and drive shafts.
✓Hard Sided Rolling Case(s).
✓Seal Check system.
✓Tool Kit with case.
✓Various assembly and spare
parts for the ALEXA 35
Housing including bolts and set
screws.
✓Spare O-Ring Kit.
✓Lanyard Handle.
✓Lanyard Mounts.
✓Trim Weights (quantity
dependent on configuration).
✓GPIO / Record Cable.
✓Focus / Iris Silicone Marker
Rings.
✓External Monitor Housing
System.
Optional Parts
✓HD-SDI surface feed bulkhead
connector and cable.
✓Lens Gear Knob Extensions.
✓Light System.
✓Tripod Adapters.
✓Crane Mounts.
✓Comm. Input.
✓Additional Port Ring(s) for different
size lenses and lens control
systems.
✓Lens Control.
✓Camera Control
✓Surface Power
✓Extended Battery Shell (As
needed for certain large or
stackable batteries).
Cautions Page 7
2: Cautions
✓TRANSPORT. NEVER ship or transport your camera inside the ALEXA 35
Housing. The housing was not designed for this purpose and severe damage
may result.
✓TRANSPORT –TRIM WEIGHTS. Do not ship or transport the ALEXA 35
Housing with trim weight attached. Severe damage may result.
✓USER RESPONSIBILITY. This Setup, Use and Care guide contains important
detailed procedures for setup and use of the ALEXA 35 Housing. It is the user’s
responsibility to read, understand and employ these procedures. Failure to do so
can result in poor or non-operation of the housing and may void your warranty.
Contact Gates if you have questions this manual or using the ALEXA 35
Housing.
ALEXA 35 Housing Setup Page 8
3: ALEXA 35 Housing Setup
ALEXA 35 Housing Preparation
✓Port. Remove the Port by rotating 90 degrees while facing the front of the
housing. Pull the port away from the Port Ring.
TIP: Liberal lubrication of the Port o-ring allows easier rotation during
installation/removal.
1
2
Rotate the port 90 degrees then pull
forward to remove.
ALEXA 35 Housing Setup Page 9
✓Port Rings. Your housing, if upgraded from the Gates MINI Housing, may utilize
conventional Port Rings (vs Stackable Port Rings, found in the next section). To
remove, release the port lock on the lower left side of the housing, and then
rotate 90° CCW and pulling forward.
NOTE: Some lenses do not require a Port Ring.
Release the Port Lock
1
2
3
Rotate the Port Ring 90
degrees counterclockwise
direction, and then gently
pull forward to remove.
ALEXA 35 Housing Setup Page 10
✓Stackable Port Rings SPR’s. New or upgraded ALEXA 35 Housings will have
SPR’s. SPR port locks are on either left or right side of the SPR. Release the
port lock on the side of the SPR, and then rotate 90° CCW and pulling forward.
NOTE: Some lenses do not require an SPR.
Release the Port Lock(S)
1
2
3
Rotate the Port Ring 90
degrees counterclockwise
direction, and then gently
pull forward to remove
each SPR.
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