Alexa

“Bulletproof” ARRI + Gates Underwater Cinema Rig

Integrity, reliability and image quality define the Gates ALEXA Housing and the entire family of ARRI ALEXA cameras. This workhorse system supports hundreds of PL mount lenses including Master Primes, Ultra Primes,  and anamorphics. The seasoned professional will recognize Gates signature features: clean, uncomplicated, user friendly design; Gates precision ports for clear, sharp images; extensive line of accessories and custom configurations; and Seal Check II will verify housing integrity before entering the water.

From cinema to sea, Gates housings are tasked with the most demanding marine projects. Experts know that failure is not an option, so they never take a chance…. they take a Gates!

Compatible cameras:
ALEXA XT Housing : ARRI ALEXA EV, XT, SXT
ALEXA XT PLUS Housing : ARRI ALEXA XT Plus, SXT Plus, LF

ALEXA KEY FEATURES

Durable

“Bulletproof” machined aluminum, black type III ‘hard’ anodize finish and sealed with a nickel-acetate process.

Clean, uncomplicated design

User friendly controls are 100% mechanical — no complicated mechanisms or electronics to fail.

Simplicity = Reliability  

Included External Monitor Case

Choose between the TVL55 or ST5 External Monitors.  Either is included with ALEXA.

ALEXA Housing External Monitor Options System Chart

Precision Ports™

Quality optics means clarity, sharpness and NO vignetting (cutoff dark corners) to spoil your images.

ALEXA Port Options System Chart

Accessories Suite

An extensive set of accessories is available for cinema, natural history, broadcast TV, research, military and many more applications.

2-Year Warranty.
Legendary factory direct support.

Gates is synonymous with reliability and support, and only Gates offers a 2-year, renewable warranty on all housings.

Extensive Lens Support

Over 70 PL mount lenses are supported in the ALEXA Housing.

GATES Lens Compatibility Reference.

Gates Recommended Lenses for 80-series ports.

Adjustable Buoyancy and Trim

Add /remove trim weights for ideal buoyancy and balance — a key to stable, fluid shots.

Adjustable Handles

Adjust the handles for perfect grip and convenient access to controls.

Seal Check II

The Gates Seal Check II is included with the MINI LF Housing and assures housing integrity before entering the water.

Learn more….

Field Serviceable

Gates products are nearly 100% serviceable in the field.  

SPECIFICATIONS

Controls (All Mechanical)
  • Power On/Off
  • Record / Standby
  • Soft Keys x 6
  • User Key x 3
  • Home
  • Back
  • Menu
  • Select / Set Roller
  • User
  • Play
  • Lock
  • Grab
  • TC
  • WRS
  • Direct lens coupled (manual) Iris
  • Direct lens coupled (manual) Focus
  • Direct lens coupled (manual) Zoom
Dimensions: Basic Shell

Transport size with 8″ dome, PE286

  • 21″ L x 11.5″ H x 11.9″ W (16.5” w/Handles)
  • 54 cm x 29.2 cm x 30.2 cm (41.9 cm)
Construction
  • Machined Aluminum, Type III Hard Anodized finish.
  • Stainless steel hardware.
Weight in Air
  • 27 lbs / 12 kg (Housing only, transport)
Weight in Water
  • Fully adjustable buoyancy / trim
Depth Rating
  • 200 feet / 61 meters.
Batteries
  • V-Lock type.  Contact Gates for non-standard battery size compatibility.
Warranty
Included Items
Equipment Required

(Basic set. See Supported Equipment  for more info)

EXTERNAL MONITOR OPTIONS

Underwater Monitor Housing is included with ALEXA Housing. LCD’s not included

EM7 CINE Underwater Monitor Housing

Gates EM7 CINE Underwater Monitor Housing is a bespoke, glove-fit for the SmallHD CINE 7 LCD, offering a vivid 1800 nit 1900×1200 resolution display, visible even the bright daylight of shallow tropical waters…

LEARN MORE

NVS Underwater Monitor Housing

1000 nits bright LCD.  4K/60P recording in ProRes RAW.   Extensive focus / exposure tools.  All in a compact, neutrally buoyant package. That’s the Gates NVS External Monitor Housing. 

LEARN MORE

Starlite External Monitor Housing

The Gates Starlite ST5  is specifically designed for the Transvideo Starlite SDI monitor / recorder (not included), a compact, smartphone-size 5.0” / 125mm color LCD.

LEARN MORE

PORT OPTIONS

The best camera in the world can’t make up for poor optics. Poor optical design and materials introduce ‘image killers’ – distortions, aberrations, degraded resolution, or vignetting.  Gates family of Precision Ports are sharp and clear: the finest optics for the finest underwater images.  No image killers. Professional to amateur, super wide to macro, Gates Precision Ports suit a wide range of needs, conditions and experience. Of course all ports are backed by our legendary customer support and the same standard of excellence expected of all Gates products.

Gates Lens Compatibility Reference

Gates Recommended Lenses for Flat and Dome Ports

FP80

FP80 Flat Port

Due to its larger front element, the FP80 supports a variety of medium to macro lenses – including external zooms. A simple, versatile port option.  Both Acrylic (Perspex) and Glass versions available. 

LEARN MORE

SP80 Standard (Dome) Port

The SP80 preserves field of view (FOV) underwater, and is ideally suited for wide to fisheye imaging.  Medium to macro, too, when paired with a macro zoom lens.  Anti-Reflective (AR) coated glass or optical grade Acrylic (Perspex) versions, the latter field serviceable / replaceable.

LEARN MORE

SP80-10 Dome Port

The SP80-10 is a 10in / 254mm spherical dome port that, like it’s smaller SP80-8 sibling preserves field of view (FOV) underwater for wide to fisheye imaging.  The SP80-10 however, exhibits superior compatibility with rectilinear lenses, mitigating the soft corners classically found with dome ports in general.  This particularly beneficial with certain cinema PL mount glass like Arri Master Primes and Ultra Primes.

The SP80-10 is available in Anti-Reflective (AR) coated glass only.

LEARN MORE

SP110-12 Dome Port

At a remarkable 12.6 in / 320 mm diameter, the SP110-12 stands alone, a new standard in underwater optics.  Optical glass with anti-reflective coating, SP110-12 is designed for rectilinear cinema lenses, yet equally at home in natural history applications where split shots and close focus are key parameters. ARRI Master Primes, Fujinon Cinema Zoom’s and Anamorphic Lenses all benefit from this superior, ‘no compromises’ Dome Port.

The SP110-12 is available in Anti-Reflective (AR) coated glass only.

LEARN MORE

CUSTOM PORTS

Corrective Optics and Specialty Ports

Gates Precision Ports extend to custom designs for specific applications like underwater UV imaging or Corrective Optics (CO) that adapt a specific lens for underwater imaging, and eliminating distortions / aberrations.  Contact Gates to discuss your particular application.

INCLUDED ACCESSORIES

Seal Check II

The Gates Seal Check II is included with every DEEP DRAGON and assures housing integrity before entering the water.

Learn more….

Monitor Shades and Stackable Extensions

A Gates Underwater Monitor Housing is included with the Alexa 35 Housing.  Click here for options.

Spare Kits

O-rings, tools, hardware

Travel Case

Travel Case(s) have rollers and retractable handles

Carry Handle

Easy grip, transport and handling.

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES

Port Extenders

Supports a variety of PL mount lenses.

HD-SDI / UHD-SDI Surface Feed

Topside DP monitoring? High speed digital SDI video feed is available.  50 to over 300 feed, the link includes gold contact connectors and certified coaxial cable.

Stackable Port Rings (SPR’s)

Using lengthy lenses?  SPR’s come in 0.6 / 1.0 / 1.5 / 2.0 / 4.0 sizes for optimal port positioning.

Underwater Titan Tube (UT2)

Surface and / or Underwater Command / Control of Astera Titan Tubes, the “the ultimate LED tube for filmmakers, TV studios and any creative person.” 
Learn more….  

Tripod Adapter

Use your own underwater tripod with this adapter.  

Body Cap

Need added protection for travel or harsh setup environments? This body cap bayonets into place just like SPR’s and Ports.

Knob Extensions

Finer control of focus and iris, even with gloves.

Water Alarm

Water Alarm

An extra measure beyond Seal Check, the Gates Water Alarm provides both visible and audible warnings.  The siren is coupled directly to the housing shell and resonates directly to the water, rendering it unmistakable to a diver.

Customization

Special modifications are routine. You really can have it ‘just the way you like’.

ALEXA Housing Supported Equipment

Arri Cameras

ALEXA XT Housing:  Arri Alexa EV & Alexa XT
ALEXA XT PLUS Housing: Arri Alexa XT Plus, SXT Plus, LF (Large Format)

Batteries

V-Lock type.  Wide variety of manufacturers / capacities supported.
Contact Gates for other V-Lock compatibility

Displays

TV LOGIC VFM-058W (optional, in TVL55 External Monitor)