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The new Gates MINI LF will look very similar to the original MINI housing pictured above
Gates Underwater Products has unveiled an updated version of its ALEXA MINI housing, which accommodates the original ALEXA Mini and the new ALEXA Mini LF. Shown off by ARRI at the NAB 2019 show in April, the ALEXA Mini LF is the latest addition to ARRI’s large-format camera system and boasts the same 4.5K sensor found in the high-end ALEXA LF.
The Gates MINI LF housing features adjustable grips, the ability add or remove trim weights, 12 user-assignable controls, and the company’s Seal Check II vacuum system, and it comes as standard with a Starlite ST5 monitor housing. Full control of focus/iris/zoom for a wide variety of LPL, PL, Anamorphic and DSLR lenses is supported.
Shipping and pricing are yet to be confirmed, but Gates has promised an upgrade option for current Mini housing owners. Find out more from the product information below, taken from the Gates website.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Gates MINI LF Housing: The Underwater Imaging Chameleon
Cinema, TV, Natural History, whatever: configure the MINI LF Housing to suit your needs. Diver operation or surface DP control. Virtually any lens. 8 and 10" Dome / Flat Ports. Powerful GT14 lighting. And you can shoot either ARRI ALEXA Mini or Mini LF cameras.
Like it's predecessor, the Gates MINI LF Housing is a deeply integrated marine imaging system, blurring the lines between housing and camera. Twelve user-assignable controls interface directly with the ARRI Mini allowing access to frequently used functions like white balance, peaking, display overlay, and frame rate. Gates familiar mechanical Focus / Iris / Zoom controls provide precision handling of hundreds of LPL, PL, Anamorphic and DSLR lenses with the same adaptable Lens Gear Drive system found in the Gates cinema-grade family.
When setup with Gates SPR80 Stackable Port Ring system, the MINI LF Housing is a compact kit. Travel friendly in two carry-on size cases. The larger SPR110 Stackable Port Rings accommodate ARRI cForce mini motors, giving the topside DP full lens and camera control. Add SDI surface video for complete surface operational command and control.
MINI LF Housing is Gates through-and-through: durable machined aluminum, stainless construction; clean, uncomplicated, user friendly design; Gates precision ports for clear, sharp images; extensive line of accessories and custom configurations; and Seal Check II for housing integrity verification. Experts know that failure is not an option, so they never take a chance…. they take a Gates!
MINI to MINI LF Housing upgrade is available. Contact Gates for full details.
Compatible Cameras: ARRI ALEXA Mini LF and Mini original
KEY FEATURES
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STARLITE ST5 COMPACT EXTERNAL MONITOR HOUSING (INCLUDED)
Designed specifically for the Transvideo Starlite HD5 and HD5+ (not included), the ST5 is a compact 5” / 125mm HD display with Corner Controls for peaking, vectorscope and more. The larger TVL55 External Monitor housing is optional.
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CLEAN, UNCOMPLICATED DESIGN
User friendly controls are 100% mechanical — no complicated mechanisms or electronics to fail.
Simplicity = Reliability
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ADJUSTABLE GRIPS
Adjust the handles for perfect grip and convenient access to controls.
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PRECISION PORTS™
Quality optics means clarity, sharpness and NO vignetting (cutoff dark corners) to spoil your images.
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USER-ASSIGNABLE CONTROLS
for direct access to white balance, frame rate and many others.
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ADJUSTABLE CONTROLS
Set the Focus / Iris / Zoom control just the way you like: close, mid or stacked knobs make fine lens adjustments easy.
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EXTENSIVE LENS SUPPORT
Virtually any lens is supported MINI LF Housing. LPL, PL, Anamorphic, DSLR.
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ADJUSTABLE BUOYANCY AND TRIM
Add /remove trim weights for ideal buoyancy and balance — a key to stable, fluid shots.
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QUICK MEDIA AND BATTERY CHANGE
Flip up the V-Lock battery for fast CFast swap on the ARRI Mini.
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SEAL CHECK II
The Gates Seal Check II is included with the MINI LF Housing and assures housing integrity before entering the water.
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2-YEAR WARRANTY-LEGENDARY FACTORY DIRECT SUPPORT
Synonymous with reliability and support, only Gates offers a 2-year, renewable warranty on all housings.
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ACCESSORIES
An extensive suite of accessories is available for cinema, Natural History, broadcast TV, research, and military applications.
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