Gates Z100 Setup, Use And Care Manual

Z100 Underwater Housing

Setup, Use, and Care Guide

Table of Contents Page 2

Copyright 2014, Gates Underwater Products, Inc.
Last document revision:2-2014

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: [phone] toll-free in the U.S.

858.391.0052 outside the U.S.
Fax: [phone]
Web: GatesHousings.com

Table of Contents Page 3

Table of Contents

TABLEOFCONTENTS...................................................................................................................................3

WARRANTYDISCLAIMER.............................................................................................................................4

GATESWARRANTY......................................................................................................................................4

CAUTIONS...................................................................................................................................................5

FIRSTTIMEUSE...........................................................................................................................................7

CAMERA/HOUSINGSETUP.........................................................................................................................7

BUOYANCYANDTRIM................................................................................................................................18

CONTROLS..................................................................................................................................................20

USEANDCHANGEOFTHECOLORCORRECTIONFILTER...............................................................................25

USEANDCHANGEOFTHEFLIPMACRO.......................................................................................................25

USEOFOTHERDIOPTERS............................................................................................................................25

USINGTHESP44DOMEPORT.....................................................................................................................25

CHANGINGPORTS......................................................................................................................................26

CLEANINGPORTSANDFILTERS...................................................................................................................27

OPTIONALSUBMERSIBLEMICROPHONE.....................................................................................................28

OPTIONALWATERALARM..........................................................................................................................30



OPTIONALHD‐SDISURFACEFEED...............................................................................................................30

OPTIONALEXTERNALMONITOREM50OREM43........................................................................................31

LIGHTINGSYSTEMS....................................................................................................................................34

HOUSINGCAREANDMAINTENANCE..........................................................................................................34

O‐RINGCAREANDMAINTENANCE..............................................................................................................34

CUSTOMERSUPPORT.................................................................................................................................34

Warranty Disclaimer Page 4

Warranty Disclaimer

The Gates Z100 housing is a tool that, like any tool, requires knowledge and
understanding to be effective.

Your responsibility is to learn the proper setup, use and care of the Z100 product.
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.

GATES Warranty

Warrantor: Gates Underwater Products, Inc (Gates).
Warranted Product / Duration (from date of purchase):

 Housings and accessory products: Two Years
 Seal Check product: One Year
 Ports/Optics: One Year or 100 hrs water contact.
 Batteries: Six Months.
 Electronics: One Year.
 Non Gates manufactured items: According to original manufacturer warranty.

What is covered (Limited Warranties): Defects in materials or workmanship.
What is not covered (Exclusions): The previous warranties do not apply to, and Gates

shall have no responsibility for:

 Product damaged by misuse, accident, abuse or improper packaging during

shipment;

 Product repaired, serviced or modified by other than Gates or Gates authorized

agent;

 Failure to follow Gates documentation for proper operation and care of Gates

products;

 Failure to activate these warranties by registration.

http://www.gateshousings.com/support/warranty-registration.php

 Items contained within a Gates housing (such as camera, batteries or

electronics).

 Image quality.
 Products or components manufactured by third parties.

What we will do (Coverage): In the event your Gates product fails within the applicable
warranty period, Gates will inspect and test returned products to verify failure mode, and
determine warranty coverage. If the failure is due to material or workmanship, Gates will
repair or replace the product at no charge to you, including return shipment. Repair /
Replacement is the sole remedy under this warranty. Repair parts, materials or entire
replacement product may be remanufactured. Gates will inspect and pressure test returned
housings to verify failure mode and warranty coverage determination.

Cautions Page 5

Return Procedures:

• Contact Gates for authorization. Often a problem can be handled without
returning a product to Gates, saving you time and money. Provide proof of purchase details.

• Packaging. If it is determined your product should be returned, pack your unit in its
original packaging, if available. Otherwise pack the product very carefully and with plenty of
protection, inside a sturdy box to ensure warranty coverage.

• Shipping: Return your product, prepaid and insured, to:
Gates Underwater Products 13685 Stowe Dr. • Poway, CA 92064 • USA +1-858-

391-0052

• Inspection. Upon receipt, your return will be carefully inspected and assessed for

warranty coverage.

• Non-Warranty Repairs. For non-warranty repairs you will be advised as to repair

costs prior to any work being done.
Warranty Transfer Gates Limited Warranties are not transferable. Gates warranties can

be renewed on Gates products purchased second hand. Contact Gates for details.
Disclaimer. The express warranties described herein constitute the only warranties with

respect to Gates products and accessories, and there are no other warranties, express,
implied, statutory, by operation of law or otherwise including, without limitation, warranties of
merchantability, fitness for particular purpose, non-infringement or regulatory compliance.
Any other representations or warranties made by any person, including employees or
representatives of Gates, which are inconsistent herewith shall be disregarded by client and
shall not be binding upon Gates.

Cautions

 TRANSPORT. NEVER ship or transport your Sony camera inside the Z100

housing. The housing was not designed for this purpose and severe damage may
result.

 USER RESPONSIBILITY. This Setup, Use and Care guide contains important

detailed procedures for setup and use of Z100 . It is the user’s responsibility to read,
understand and employ these procedures. Failure to do so can result in poor or non­operation of Z100 and may void your warranty.

Cautions Page 6

Unpacking the Z100

After you remove the Z100 from its shipping container, carefully inspect it for missing
parts or damage that may have occurred during shipment. If you discover any
discrepancies, contact Gates or your dealer immediately for assistance.

Included Items

 Z100 Housing
 Camera Tray
 Trim Weights, 5lbs total

 8 x 8oz
 4 x 4oz

 Monitor bulkhead pass through

plug.

 Port(s) of choice: FP44, SP44 or

SWP44C Super Wide

 Various assembly and spare parts

for the Z100 including bolts, set
screws and o-rings

 Viewfinder tilt adjustment gauge

Port Options (a required but separately purchased item)

 SP44 Dome Port (glass or acrylic)
 FP44 Flat Port
 SWP55C Super Wide Port

Optional Accessories

 Microphone or Hydrophone
 Water alarm
 HD-SDI surface feed bulkhead

connector and cable

 Light System
 Tripod Adapters / Mounts
 Seal Check system

 Hard sided rolling case(s)
 EM50 or EM43 External Color

Monitor

 Carry Handle
 Port Cleaner
 Additional trim weights (4, 8 and 6

oz)

First Time Use Page 7

Gates Housing Setup and Use

Congratulations on owning a new Gates housing! You’ve selected a product that will
provide years of value and reliable service. This housing was custom designed for the
Sony Z100 camera as a rugged and transportable package. Please read through this
entire guide to familiarize yourself with the Gates Z100 housing. The following setup
guidelines will explain how to prepare and use your camera and housing so you’ll get the
best results from your imaging endeavors.

First Time Use

Every Gates housing is pressure tested before leaving the factory to ensure a watertight
seal. As a precaution, however, it’s a good idea to first use the housing without
your Sony PXW-Z100 or FDR-AX1 inside. Rough or abusive handling during shipment
could have caused unnoticed damage after leaving the factory. In addition, you can get
a good feel for the use of an underwater housing without worrying about getting a good
shot. You can simply concentrate on the technique of holding the housing in position
while fine tuning your personal buoyancy.

After removing the housing from its shipping container, carefully inspect for any damage
that may have occurred during shipment. If you discover any then contact Gates or your
dealer immediately for assistance.

Gates does not warranty the contents of your housing (eg. your camera and lenses).
Therefore the appropriate insurance should be maintained by the user.

Camera / Housing setup

Preparing the Z100 Camera

Your Sony Z100 will need some preparation before installing into the housing.

 Remove the lens hood, cap and any external lenses/filters you may have added

to the front of the camera.

 Remove the eyepiece from the rear viewfinder. The release button is underneath

the eyepiece.

 Tighten the hand strap to its shortest position and tuck the ‘tail’ back into the hand

strap.

 CAUTION: Failure to perform this step may result in the hand strap becoming

caught in the housing seal and allow water intrusion.

 Align the camera viewfinder with the Viewfinder Alignment Gage as shown in the

photos on page 8. Place the Gage below the viewfinder, then rotate it into position
on the gage. This will align the camera viewfinder with the housing Magnified
Viewfinder.

 Display information. The Z100 camera must be set to display information through

the optional external monitor. This is done by entering the menu of the camera and
selecting as follows: MENUVIDEO OUTPUT DISPLAY HDMI  ON

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Camera / Housing setup Page 8

 Microphone information. If you have the optional microphone installed, set the

camera as described in detail on page 27

.

 Install a memory card and charged battery.

Remove any caps,
lenses or filters from the
camera lens. Slide the
focus ring into the
forward position.

Remove the eyepiece
from the viewfinder.

Tighten the handstrap to
it’s closest position.

Place the Viewfinder
Tilt Gage as shown,
then rotate the
camera viewfinder
down onto the gage to
set alignment with the
housing Magnified
Viewfinder.

Note that the gage can
be secured to the
camera headphone
jack.

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Camera / Housing setup Page 9

Preparing the Housing

 Release the latches. Release the three stainless steel safety latches that secure

the housing halves. They have a positive locking feature, so to open them you must
first depress the center bar release while lifting the rear lever.

 Open the housing. Separate the rear half of housing from the front.

Pull out the
controls on the
left side of the
housing.

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Camera / Housing setup Page 10

 Remove the camera tray from the housing. The tray is released by rotating the

locking latches 90 degrees in opposite directions. Refer to the drawing below. Once
released, the tray will easily slide out of the housing.

 Pull out controls on the left side of the front shell as far as they will go. Note that

controls will be addressed in greater detail in a subsequent section.

 Pull out video and audio connectors (if applicable) and wrap to the side or top of

the housing out of the way for camera insertion.

To remove the camera
tray rotate the latches
90 degrees.

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Camera / Housing setup Page 11

Installing the Z100 Camera into the Housing

 Secure the camera to the tray with the thumbscrew. Tighten snugly but do not over

tighten. If necessary use a coin to tighten. The camera should be secure to the tray
with no play or movement.

 Position the camera to enter the housing but do not insert.
 Plug the mic connector (optional) into XLR channel 1 at this time. The connection

is found at the right side in front of the of the grip handle. Note that an adapter is
used between the 3.5mm mic plug and XLR connector.

 Carefully slide camera on its mount plate into the front housing half. You will

initially need to tilt camera clockwise so the camera’s LCD clears the housing. It
should insert without obstruction and mate with the alignment collar found just behind
the port opening. Be sure the mount tray latches are held to the sides of the tray
during insertion.

If there is obstruction, slide the camera back and look carefully for the obstruction. It
is most likely a control not fully retracted.

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Secure camera to the tray
with the thumbscrew.

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Camera / Housing setup Page 12

Tilt the viewfinder up
as noted on page 8.

Position the camera
tray latches to the side
as shown.

If you have the microphone
installed, plug into the CH-1
connector.

Tilt camera and tray
clockwise so LCD will clear
housing.

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Camera / Housing setup Page 13

Slide the camera into the housing.
It should do so without obstruction
and mate with the alignment collar
behind the port opening.

 Secure the camera in the housing by locking the latches. They will have a positive

‘snap’ into position when rotated to the rear of the tray.

 Check controls. With the camera turned on and installed into the housing front,

press in each control and confirm proper operation (refer to the next section for more
detail on controls).

 Tip: With the camera installed you can now get a good view inside the front

half of the housing and most controls. Use a flashlight if necessary to become
familiar with the operation and ‘feel’ of each control in their proper position prior to
closing the housing.

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Camera / Housing setup Page 14

 Plug in the video connector if you are using an external monitor.

If plugging the video cable into the
RCA jack, orient the connector as
shown.

 Connect the optional HD-SDI Surface Feed BNC connector to the HD-SDI video

out connector.

Secure the camera tray by rotating the
locking latches 90 degrees to the rear.

Push in all controls and verify
operation.

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Camera / Housing setup Page 15

Closing the housing

 Carefully inspect o-ring on back half and sealing surface on front half. Make sure

they are clean and in good condition.

 Mate the two halves of the housing. The housing halves should mate together

easily with no obstructions. If there are any obstructions, separate the halves and
identify the problem before trying again.

 Locate and close the two bottom latches at the same time, followed by the top latch.

 Caution: The safety latches must be closed and locked prior to use to avoid

opening underwater. It is your responsibility to make sure the latches are

secure, locked, and in good condition. DO NOT enter the water with a faulty
latch. Gates will replace a damaged or faulty latch free of charge.

 Check the Magnified Viewfinder alignment. With camera turned on verify the

camera viewfinder is aligned with the magnified viewfinder on the back shell.

 Caution: Keep the Magnified Viewfinder capped when not in use. Sunlight

entering the Magnified Viewfinder can damage the camera viewfinder.

Inspect the o-ring and
sealing surface before
closing.

The housing shells should mate
without obstruction.

Note: PMW-200 housing shown.

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Camera / Housing setup Page 16

 Carefully inspect the parting line between front and rear housing. If this line is not

even all the way around, remove the back and determine the reason. (O-ring out of
place, hand strap interference, etc.) Failure To Do This May Result In A Wet

Camera!

 Tip: A simple test of the main seal is to try and slip a piece of paper past the o-

ring. A properly sealed housing will have no gaps through which the paper can pass.

 Tip: The optional Seal Check accessory is an excellent tool to determine

housing integrity. Contact your Gates dealer for more information.

 Check the Power control to ensure proper operation.
 Perform a final check of all controls for the proper operation.
 Check the Port. It should be seated flush on the front bulkhead with no uneven

gaps. If the port is not seated properly, remove the port and re-install per directions
in a subsequent section of this document. Also check that the dot or indent on the
port is aligned with the dot on the housing.

Lock the side latches at the same
time, then the top latch.

Inspect that the parting line is even
and closed all the way around the
housing.

Note: PMW-200 housing shown.

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/
Buoyancy and Trim Page 17

Handle Adjustment

 Loosen the thumbscrew at the top of each handle and move forward or back for

optimal control access.

 Tighten the thumbscrews to secure the handle in position.

Loosen the thumbscrew

to adjust the handle

forward and back for best

position.

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/
Buoyancy and Trim Page 18

Buoyancy and Trim

The Z100 housing utilizes trim weights on the bottom, sides and tops of the housing for
adjusting buoyancy and trim to your liking. The table below provides guidance for the
proper amount of weighting for different port / monitor configurations.

The weights can be moved forward/aft on the top and bottom accessory rails for trim.
Be sure to tighten the trim weight snugly so it will remain secure to the housing during
use. The trim weights can also be secured to the housing rear shell sides and footrail as
shown in the image page 18.

When adding lights, monitor or other accessory items the buoyancy / trim will change.
This requires removal and re-positioning of weights to keep system neutrally buoyant
and balanced.

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4 oz and 8 oz trim weights shown.
Add/remove as necessary to

achieve the buoyancy you seek.
Move forward/back and
top/bottom to achieve trim.

Note: PMW-200 shown

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/
Buoyancy and Trim Page 19

Weight can be located on the sides
of the rear shell as shown.

To do so, loosen the thumbscrew
and remove mounting tab from the
weight, then thread it directly into
the weight bosses on the shell.

Trim weighting with SP44 and FP44 Ports

Monitor Trim Weights Required

EM50 5 lbs
EM43 4 lbs 8 oz

Trim weighting with SWP44C Port

Monitor Trim Weights Required

EM50 4 lbs
EM43 3 lbs 8 oz

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Controls Page 20

Controls

Your Gates housing utilizes 100% mechanical controls to provide you with the most
reliable operation possible. They are all rotational in nature to provide smooth and
consistent operation. There are no batteries to change and require little maintenance
(see ‘Housing Care and Maintenance’ section).

The housing controls are designed by Gates engineers, to the extent possible, to feel
and behave like the camera controls. With time and use, the housing controls will
become quite familiar and you’ll find operating them requires similar skill as the actual
camera controls.

To help acquaint yourself with the housing controls, Gates recommends reviewing each
control individually, how it actuates the corresponding camera control, and operating it to
get a ‘feel’ for the control. You can view all front housing controls with the housing
open. After reviewing all controls, perform a ‘simulated’ dive by operating the controls as
you would in the water.

One final note about controls: when operating any control out of water, you may need to

press the control against the housing, into the position it would naturally find while under
water pressure. The controls are designed to operate properly in this position.

Record / Standby

Zoom

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Flip Macro

Flip Filter

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Controls Page 21

Manual Iris

Manual Focus

White Balance / Gain

Assign
1 / 2 and 5 / 6

A/M Focus

ND Filter

Gain / White Balance /
Shutter

Menu /
Cancel

Set / Cancel

White Balance Set

Water detector
Light (optional)

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Power On/Off

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Controls Page 22

Power

This control is green and located on the rear shell. Rotate it clockwise for on and
counterclockwise for off.

Record/Standby

The Record Standby control is red and operates by a counterclockwise motion on the
lever trigger. Press once to record, press again for Standby. You will ‘feel’ the
record/standby button on the camera actuate through the control as it is depressed.
This control will return to its neutral position automatically.

Zoom

The Zoom control, identified by a blue color, is operated by a slight rotation in either
direction.

Manual Iris

The Manual Iris control rotates the iris ring on the camera. Note the red lockout collar on
the control (refer to photo). With the pointer in the vertical position, the Manual Iris
control is ‘locked out’ from touching the iris ring of the camera. This is to prevent
damage to the camera when engaging auto iris.

To use the Manual Iris control be sure to set the camera into manual iris mode with the
Auto / Manual Iris control (see page 23). Then slightly retract the Lockout Collar and
Manual Iris knob, rotate 90 degrees in either direction, then push the control back in so
the guide pin on the Lockout Collar mates with the slot on the housing. The Manual Iris
control will now actuate the manual iris ring on the camera.

 Caution: Ensure the camera is in NOT in ‘Full Auto’ mode, and manual iris is

engaged before releasing the Lockout Collar on the Manual Iris control. Failure to do so
may result in camera damage.

 Caution: The Manual Iris control must be locked out during power up/down of the

camera as the iris ring rotates during this action. Failure to do so may result in camera
damage.

Position the Lockout Collar here to

prevent contact with the manual iris

ring of the camera.

Position the Lockout Collar here to

use the Manual Iris control.

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Controls Page 23

Gain / White Balance / Shutter

This control presses three buttons on the camera:
Gain: to toggle AGC on or off.
White Balance: will toggle Auto Tracking White balance on / off.
Shutter: provides direct control of shutter speed. Use the Select / Set control to adjust.

Neutral Density Filter

The ND Filter control moves the ND filter switch on the camera vertically to change from
ND off, ND 1, ND 2, and ND3

Auto/Manual Focus

The A/M focus switch on the camera can be changed with this control. Refer to the
camera manual for specifics on operation of the camera in these modes including the
use of ‘manual focus assist’ features.

 Tip: When shooting underwater, a common practice to set manual focus is to use

auto focus first. In auto focus mode, point the camera at the subject or an object of
equal distance from you, let the camera focus, then flip into manual. This will ‘freeze’ the
focus distance at that point.

Manual Focus

This control is found on the left front of the housing and rotates the focus ring on the
camera. Note that the camera must be in manual focus mode, as actuated by the
previous control.

Gain / White Balance Presets

The Gain switch can be moved through all three positions (L-M-H). Pull out and rotate
the control 180° to reach the White Balance Presets A, B and Preset.

 Caution: Use care when mating the control with the toggle switch on the camera.

The control head must cup the toggle switch in order to move it amongst the three
positions.

White Balance Set

The White Balance Set control is a single push. When the White Balance Preset is in
position A or B, pressing this control will set white balance.

Menu / Cancel

Position and press this control to enter the Menu or Cancel.

Sel/Set

Rotate this control while in the menu, and push to make your selection.

Assign 1 / 2 and 5 / 6

Rotate the control to the desired function and press to activate.

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/Use and change of the Color Correction Filter Page 24

Color Filter

The Color Correction Filter control is found on the front of the housing. Rotation of the
trigger arm will move the filter in or out of position in front of the camera.

Flip Macro

Operation of this control is similar to the filter. Simple rotation will place it in and out of
the camera view.

Auto / Manual Iris

This control toggles the camera between auto and manual iris. When in manual, use the
manual iris control (page 21) to adjust.

Flip Filter

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Auto /

Manual

Iris

Flip Macro

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/Use and change of the Color Correction Filter Page 25

Use and change of the Color Correction Filter

The internal color correction filter is specially designed by UR
Pro to correct for color loss underwater. A “blue water” version
(orange in color) is provided standard with the Z100 housing,
however a “green water” version (pink in color) is available as
an option.

 Changing the filter is accomplished by loosening the

screw on the filter holder closest to the filter element using
a 7/64” hex tool. Remove the filter element gently while
stabilizing the filter holder. Reverse this process to install
new filter element.

 Cleaning. You will likely have fingerprints on the filter after

installing, so clean the filter according to the directions in
the “Cleaning Ports and Filters” section.

Change the filter by
loosening this screw
with the 7/64 hex tool.

Use and change of the Flip Macro

The flip diopter allows convenient close up/macro imaging with a simple ‘flip’ of the
diopter element in front of the camera. You can change the diopter amongst the +1, +2
and +4 strengths provided with your kit and used with the FP44 flat port.

 Changing the diopter is nearly identical to the process for changing a filter (see

photo above). Loosen the screw on the diopter holder closest to the diopter element
using a 7/64” hex tool. Remove the diopter element gently while stabilizing the
holder arm.

 Installing a diopter is the reverse, however the diopter must be oriented with the

‘flat’ side closest to the camera and the convex side toward the port.

 Cleaning. Again, you will likely have fingerprints on the diopter after installing, so

clean the filter according to the directions in the “Cleaning Ports and Filters” section.

 Tip: The flip diopter is designed for macro imaging with the camera partially or fully

zoomed to telephoto. At full wide angle you may see vignetting (cut off corners). This is

normal.

Use of other diopters

The Z100 housing can accommodate the use of diopters affixed to the camera body in
conjunction with the FP44 flat port. Depending on the manufacturer the diopters may be
stacked. Note that the color correction filter cannot be used in this configuration.

Using the SP44 Dome Port

To obtain the best image quality using the SP44 Dome Port, Gates recommends using
the +1 diopter in light conditions that requires a low f-stop (large iris), typically f5.6 or
lower. While the SP44 Dome Port is ideally placed with respect to the camera, the
optical interaction can result in minor image quality degradation. Use of the +1 diopter
restores full image sharpness in these conditions.

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Changing Ports Page 26

Also be sure the Z100 camera is set with Macro Mode ‘ON’ at all times. This also
ensures the best image quality.

Align dot or indent on port and
housing.

Changing Ports

Gates offers several ports for your Z100 housing, which
attach with a bayonet-style mount. Port changes are easy
and straightforward:

 Removal. You will see alignment dots on the housing

and on the port. When aligned, the port is fully
engaged and ready for underwater use. Turning the
port 90 degrees or ¼ turn counterclockwise will release
the port, then gently pull the port directly away to
remove it.

 Inspect the o-ring. Before installing a new port, perform an inspection and

lubrication of the sealing o-ring. See the O-ring Care and Maintenance Guide for
specific details.

The seal o-ring should be
inspected and lubricated.

Your port may have a
buffer o-ring. It does not
require lubrication but it is
OK to do so.

 Installation. Mounting a different port is directly the opposite: Insert the port into

the front bulkhead of the housing with the alignment dot on the port facing right or
left. You may need to firmly push the port into the bulkhead to fully seat the port.
Then turn the port clockwise until the silver dot on the port aligns with the dot on the
housing. The port has a built in stop to prevent further rotation. Be sure the port is
fully seated and flush with the housing. You should see no gaps between the port
and the housing.

 Caution: Perform a final check after installing a port to ensure it is flush with the

front bulkhead of the housing. If not, remove the port and reinstall. Failure to do so
may result in a wet camera.

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Page 27

Cleaning Ports and Filters

Gates ports can be cleaned readily by following these simple guidelines.

 Do not clean the surfaces if it is unnecessary.
 Dust or Lint can be blown with compressed air, preferably from a can.
 Salt deposits or sand may also be removed with compressed air. Use a soft lens

brush if necessary to brush away foreign material that remains.

 If necessary, rinse fresh water over the outside of the port to loosen any residual

salt or sand that may remain. Do this with the port sealed on your housing to keep
water away from the rear of the port.

 Only if necessary, clean the port using a mild glass cleaning solution and a non-

abrasive, lint free cloth. Use light circular strokes when wiping away cleaning
solution and any foreign material. Excessive pressure used when cleaning dirty
lenses (e.g., rubbing sand into the lens surfaces) may damage coatings. Use a light
touch.

 Caution: Not all cloths are lint free and non-abrasive! Use of an abrasive

material (such as cotton balls and cotton fabric) may scratch the glass and/or coating
of Gates ports and will void the warranty.

 Tip: Gates offers approved cleaning solutions and lint free cloths as accessory

items. Use of these materials will not void your warranty.

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Optional Submersible Microphone Page 28

Optional Submersible Microphone

If you have the submersible microphone installed on your Gates housing, there are
special considerations for setting up your camera and connections to capture external
audio.

The Z100 cameras require the use of the XLR audio adapter. Plug this
into the CH-1 connector on the camera and then plug the submersible
microphone into this adapter. Be sure to fully engage the connectors.

For more detailed information about these settings consult the PMW­Z100 user manual.

 On the face of the Audio Panel set the switches as follows:

 AUDIO IN:

 Set CH1 to INPUT 1
 Set CH2 to INPUT ! if you with to record sound on Channel 2

 AUTO / MAN SELECT

 Set to MAN to adjust audio volume manually.
 Set to AUTO to allow the camera to adjust volume automatically.

 +48V must be set to ON for the channel in use by the microphone.

 Next, enter the MENU and make the following settings/adjustments.

 AUDIO AUDIO INPUTINPUT 1 Reference: set as desired.
 AUDIO AUDIO INPUTINPUT 1 Reference: set as desired.
 AUDIO AUDIO INPUTINTERNAL MIC Sensitivity – (NOT APPLICABLE)
 AUDIO AUDIO INPUTINPUT 1 WIND FILTEROFF
 AUDIO AUDIO INPUTINPUT 2 WIND FILTEROFF
 AUDIO AUDIO INPUTINT MIC WIND FILTER (NOT APPLICABLE)
 AUDIO AUDIO INPUTLimiter ModeAs desired
 AUDIO AUDIO INPUTAGC ModeMono
 AUDIO AUDIO INPUT1 KHz TONE OFF

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Plug XLR
adapter into
CH-1 input.

Gates Underwater Products, Inc

Optional Submersible Microphone Page 29

Set CH1 to INPUT 1
Set CH2 to INPUT 1 is optional.
Set AUDIO SELECT to manual if you
wish to adjust volume manually.

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Set INPUT 1 to
MIC+48V.

Gates Underwater Products, Inc

Optional Water Alarm Page 30

Optional Water Alarm

If your Z100 housing includes the optional water alarm, there are three alarm conditions
to watch for:

Condition LED Siren

New battery
(when inserted)

Water intrusion Bright intense blink. Grating warble sound. Alarm

Low battery Low intensity fast blink. Descending tones played 8

Bright intense blink while siren
plays.

Ascending tones played 4
times.

will sound for duration of
detection

times pausing approximately
20 seconds between plays
after alarm test or water
detection.

You can test the alarm anytime 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 low, the low battery condition will sound.

The water alarm requires a single 6V battery like Radio Shack model 23-469 or A544.
Your battery should be removed when stored (e.g. between dive trips). Check the

battery prior to every dive to ensure proper operation, and change when indicated. You

must wait a minimum of 30 seconds between battery insertions to allow unit to
fully discharge.

Optional HD-SDI Surface Feed

If your Z100 housing includes the optional HD-SDI Surface Feed, several considerations
are important.

 After inserting the Z100 camera into the front housing shell, connect the surface feed

BNC connector to the HD-SDI output.

 Be sure the HD-SDI or SD-SDI output is enabled.

MENU-->VIDEO-->OUTPUT ON/OFF--> SDI-->ON

 Set the output format as desire.

MENU-->VIDEO-->OUTPUT FORMAT--> As desired.

 Set the output to display camera data.

MENU-->VIDEO-->OUTPUT DISPLAY--> ON/OFF as desired.
For more information refer to the section 'Formats and Limitations of Outputs' in the

Sony Z100 Operations Manual.

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Optional External Monitor EM50 or EM43 Page 31

Optional External Monitor EM50 or EM43

This section covers mounting and camera connection of the optional monitor to the Z100
housing and connection to the camera. Refer to the Setup, Use and Care guide for the
EM50 or EM43 external monitor for other details.

Monitor mounting and Connection –EM43

 Slide the dovetail and monitor into the grooves on top of the housing and tighten in

place with the thumbscrews.

 Plug in the monitor cable to the housing bulkhead connector, which is found on the

right side of the housing.

 Verify operation once again to ensure all is working properly prior to use in water.

Loosen the thumbscrews,
slide the monitor onto the
top rail, then tighten
gently to secure.

EM43 shown.

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Plug the EM43 monitor
into the bulkhead
connector on the
housing.

Gates Underwater Products, Inc

Optional External Monitor EM50 or EM43 Page 32

Monitor mounting and Connection –EM50

 Slide the dovetail and monitor into the grooves on top of the housing and tighten in

place with the thumbscrews (similar to the EM43 above)

 Insert the HDMI connector through the bulkhead pass through as shown below.
 Route the HDMI connector to the rear of the housing.
 Connect to the camera with the HDMI patch cable.

1. Insert the EM50 cable to
the pass through bulkhead
connection;

2. Route the cable to the
rear of the housing;

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3. Connect to the
camera with the short
HDMI patch cable
provided with your
EM50.

Gates Underwater Products, Inc

Optional External Monitor EM50 or EM43 Page 33

Camera connection and setup –

 Connect to the camera by plugging in the video cable located inside the housing.

The EM43 video cable will plug into the standard definition composite connector on
the rear of the camera as shown in the image below. The EM50 will plug into the
HMDI connector at the same location.

 Verify Operation. At this time, turn on the camera and if necessary the EM50

monitor, and verify operation.

 Set Camera Display. The camera must be setup to display recording data and

other information on the monitor by setting the following menu selection:

MENUVIDEO Output DisplayHDMION (for EM50)
MENUVIDEO Output DisplayVIDEOON (for EM43)

 Caution: If you are not using the EM43 monitor for any reason, do not plug the

RCA connector into the camera.

The EM43
External
Monitor will
plug into the
camera SD
video output
here.

The EM50
HDMI
connector will
plug into the
camera here.

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Gates Underwater Products, Inc

Lighting Systems Page 34

Lighting Systems

Your housing comes ready to accept different lighting systems depending on your
requirements. If you purchased lighting systems from Gates you will find a separate
document to guide you through installation to your Gates Z100 housing. You can also
find it on Gates web site at www.GatesHousings.com

.

Housing Care and Maintenance

Proper care of your Gates housing is important to provide you reliable operation and
long life. You’ll find all the guidelines in the “Housing Care and Maintenance” document
included with your Gates housing. You can also find it on Gates web site at

www.GatesHousings.com

.

O-Ring Care and Maintenance

Your Gates housing has 2 serviceable o-rings. One is located between the mating
halves of the housing (the large orange one) and the other is located on each Port.

Servicing the o-rings is easy and 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 special silicone o-

ring and can be damaged by petroleum-based lubricants.

 Caution: Never use metal tools or objects for removing o-rings!

Customer Support

If you have any questions or require further assistance with your Gates housing, contact
your dealer or Gates directly and we’ll be happy to assist.

Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]

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