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Related Manuals for Gates Underwater Products FX6
Summary of Contents for Gates Underwater Products FX6
- Page 1 FX6 Housing Setup, Use, and Care Guide...
- Page 2 Copyright 2025, Gates Underwater Products, Inc. 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 Suite A Poway, California 92064 USA Phone: +1-858.391.0052 Web: GatesHousings.com...
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Page 3: Table Of Contents
Optional Items, Required for Operation ..........7 Optional Items ..................7 FX6 Housing Overview ................8 Cautions .....................10 Preparing the FX6 Camera Body ..............11 Preparation Steps ..................11 Changing Critical Camera Menu Settings ...........11 Stripping the Camera Body .................12 Installing the Camera Mount Adapter ............13... - Page 4 Seal Check with Optional External SDI monitors ........34 Final Checks ....................35 Control Operation ..................36 Overview ....................36 Power Control ..................... 36 Record Trigger ................... 37 Menu Access ....................38 Assignable and ND filter controls ..............39 Miscellaneous Controls................40 Optional Accessories ..................
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Page 5: Introducing Fx6
Please read through this entire guide to learn about FX6 so you can get the most out of this imaging tool. In this section, we’ll introduce you to the features of FX6 so you can get started. -
Page 6: Required Equipment
Introducing FX6 Page 6 Required Equipment The following camera items are required to operate the FX6 underwater system and are not included with the housing. Camera Sony FX6 model ILME-FX6V Compatible Media Use Sony approved media cards only ... -
Page 7: Unpacking Fx6
Introducing FX6 Page 7 Unpacking FX6 After removing FX6 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. -
Page 8: Fx6 Housing Overview
FX6 Housing Overview Page 8 2. FX6 Housing Overview FX6 has many features with which you will become familiar. Handle grips Rear Shell Latches (3) Rear Shell Port with Extension Front Port Base Power Control Control Window... - Page 9 FX6 Housing Overview Page 9 Expansion Plate Lens Controls x 3 Integrated Monitor Shade Bulkhead Adapter Blocks Bottom Mount hole pattern 3/8-16 Seal Check and ¼-20 on 1.0” spacing Fitting...
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Page 10: Cautions
USER RESPONSIBILITY. This Setup, Use and Care guide contains important detailed procedures for setup and use of FX6. 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 FX6 and may void your warranty. -
Page 11: Preparing The Fx6 Camera Body
Install the monitor. Changing Critical Camera Menu Settings When the FX6 camera is installed into the housing the red indicator lights on the record button and rear of the camera are obscured. In order to easily determine recording status, the record indicator must be enabled for the monitor overlay in the menu. -
Page 12: Stripping The Camera Body
Preparing the FX6 Camera Body Page 12 Stripping the Camera Body The FX6 camera must be stripped down to the bare body and powered off prior to use in the Gates FX6 Housing. Remove side and top handles from the camera body. -
Page 13: Installing The Camera Mount Adapter
Preparing the FX6 Camera Body Page 13 Installing the Camera Mount Adapter Locate the “assign” controls at the rearmost position on the control window. Pull the “assign” controls out to avoid interference with the camera. To access the mount plate, release the 3 latches and remove the rear shell. - Page 14 Preparing the FX6 Camera Body Page 14 Undo latches and remove rear shell. Rotate lever CCW to unlock the camera mount adapter.
- Page 15 Preparing the FX6 Camera Body Page 15 Use a 5/32” hex tool to fasten the camera mount adapter to the top of the camera body. Slide monitor clamp onto the post on the camera mount adapter until it reaches the stop...
- Page 16 Preparing the FX6 Camera Body Page 16 Rotate monitor until it aligns with the bracket then fully tighten the clamp. Route the monitor cable along the right side of the camera body as shown.
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Page 17: Installing The Camera
Installing the Camera Page 17 5. Installing the Camera Prepare for installation Ports and/or Stackable Port Rings (SPR’s) should be removed before the camera is installed into the housing. See section 7 for instructions on removing ports and port rings. -
Page 18: Installing Handle Grips
Lock the camera mount adapter. Installing Handle Grips Use the thumbscrew to secure the Handle Grips to FX6. You can locate the Handle Grips in several different positions forward / aft on the housing. Slide handles into dovetail and secure with... -
Page 19: Lens Gear Drive Installation
Page 19 6. Lens Gear Drive installation The Gates FX6 has a newly designed lens gear drive that is able to accommodate a wide variety of Sony FE and compact prime lenses without having to purchase a specialized part for each and every lens. It was also designed so that only a 5/64” hex tool will be needed to make adjustments for different lenses. -
Page 20: Left/Right Orientation Id
Lens Gear Drive installation Page 20 Left/Right Orientation ID LGD Belt Drive Brackets and Swivel Brackets are made with either a clockwise or counterclockwise orientation. In order to use all 3 LGD positions for Focus, Iris and Zoom, 2 CCW sets and 1 CW set are needed. -
Page 21: Drive Gear Assembly
Lens Gear Drive installation Page 21 Drive Gear Assembly The drive gear can be installed on either side of the belt drive bracket for flexibility. To install, simply guide the 2 alignment pins into the holes and tighten the screw with your 5/64” hex wrench. -
Page 22: Lgd Setup
Lens Gear Drive installation Page 22 LGD Setup Determine which of the 3 lens drive positions are desired to use as Focus, Iris, or Zoom. It is recommended to use the left side control as the least used control. ... - Page 23 Lens Gear Drive installation Page 23 Insert guide rod into the coupler. Align flat spot on guide rod with screw on coupler and then tighten with 5/64” hex wrench. Align flat spot on the drive shaft with the screw and tighten with 5/64 hex wrench.
- Page 24 Lens Gear Drive installation Page 24 Align Drive tooth on Gear Drive bracket with the groove on the drive shaft. Align drive tooth with the groove on drive shaft. Slide gear drive bracket on the guide rod until the gear is at a distance where it will mate with the gear on the lens.
- Page 25 Lens Gear Drive installation Page 25 Tighten the lock screw on gear drive bracket. Loosen QR clamp on swivel bracket then rotate the bracket until the teeth on the drive gear mesh with the teeth on the lens gear. Tighten lock screw to lock bracket into position.
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Page 26: Ports And Stackable Port Rings (Spr's)
Ports and Stackable Port Rings (SPR’s) Page 26 7. Ports and Stackable Port Rings (SPR’s) About Stackable Port Rings (SPR’s) Stackable Port Rings are a flexible and convenient way to support many different lenses. They can be stacked in many combinations to support virtually any lens. Stackable Port Rings –... -
Page 27: Using Flat Ports With Spr's
Ports and Stackable Port Rings (SPR’s) Page 27 Using Flat Ports with SPR’s A Flat Port is used commonly for macro lenses, and also for medium to long focal length lenses. The focal range that works best starts at approximately 20-35 mm. the SPR’s to extend just past the end of the lens. -
Page 28: Using Dome Ports With Spr's
Ports and Stackable Port Rings (SPR’s) Page 28 Using Dome Ports with SPR’s A Dome Port is used commonly with wide angle and fisheye lenses, typically 8mm at the shortest to about 20-35mm. Setup the SPR’s so the end of the lens – either the lens body or glass element –... -
Page 29: Mounting Stackable Port Rings (Spr's) And Port
Ports and Stackable Port Rings (SPR’s) Page 29 Mounting Stackable Port Rings (SPR’s) and Port SPR’s are assembled in any order on the housing. Place the lock pin on the first SPR in the ‘lock’ position. Lubricate O-Rings as necessary for smooth, easy rotation. Start by mating the first SPR to the Port Base with the locking pin at the top. - Page 30 Ports and Stackable Port Rings (SPR’s) Page 30 When finished mounting SPR’s, mount a Port to the SPR’s in the same manner, mating 90 degrees and rotating counter clockwise when viewing from the rear of the housing. Mate the Port 90 degrees CW from it’s properly oriented position, then rotate 90 degrees CCW until it stops Pro Action Shown...
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Page 31: Sealing The Housing
Sealing the Housing Page 31 8. Sealing the Housing Pre-sealing Checklist Before sealing the housing make sure the following is done: Power on/functional test of electronic and controls Media inserted Lens gear drives properly adjusted and tested ... - Page 32 Sealing the Housing Page 32 Latches. Once properly mated, secure the 3 latches. Verify that the two shells are mated evenly and consistently around the sealing line of the housing. CAUTION. Faulty Latches can lead to a wet camera! Replacements for faulty latches are available at no charge from Gates.
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Page 33: The Seal Check Fitting
CAUTION. Draw only about 100 millibars vacuum (Seal Check Lite and Seal Check II kits) or 3 in Hg (Seal Check I) on FX6. More vacuum can inhibit the transfer of heat away from the housing. that Seal Check Lite – included with FX6 – requires about 80 cycles of the hand pump Note to reach 100 millibars vacuum. -
Page 34: Seal Check With Optional External Sdi Monitors
Sealing the Housing Page 34 Seal Check with Optional External SDI monitors If using an SDI External Monitor, It is necessary to Seal Check both the housing and External Monitor. The monitor will also have a seal check fitting. Use the pump to draw a vacuum on the main housing. -
Page 35: Final Checks
Sealing the Housing Page 35 Final Checks Visual Inspection. Look closely at all seal mates – Port, Port Ring, Port base and main housing seal – for uneven gaps. Look over the housing one final time. Verify operation. -
Page 36: Control Operation
Control Operation Page 36 9. Control Operation Overview Left Side Lens Gear Drive Roller Record Monitor Pushbuttons ND filter wheel Roller Multi Assign 1,2 Function/Menu Roller Assign 3, Display Power Camera Pushbuttons Multi WB Set/Push Function/Menu Auto Push Power Control The power control is located on the rear shell. -
Page 37: Record Trigger
Control Operation Page 37 POWER ON POWER OFF Turn Camera off Begin with pin at by starting at the left end of the slot right side then then push in and rotating counter rotate clockwise to clockwise. turn on. Record Trigger The record trigger is located on the front shell window. -
Page 38: Menu Access
Control Operation Page 38 Menu Access 2 pushbuttons, a roller and a lever allow full access to the Camera Menu. Apply Light Pressure while rotating to use the roller control Cancel/Back Push Button Menu Toggle Push Button. Hold for Full Menu Pull up this control to press the button on... -
Page 39: Assignable And Nd Filter Controls
Control Operation Page 39 Assignable and ND filter controls The assignable controls are accessed by 2 knobs. Remember to fully retract these knobs when removing or inserting the camera. The ND filter can be controlled fully with the pushbutton and wheel. ND auto pushbutton Apply light... -
Page 40: Miscellaneous Controls
Control Operation Page 40 Miscellaneous Controls The WB set and Push Auto buttons are accessed with lower control lever. The remaining pushbuttons are for quick access features. Thumbnail button. Shutter Speed Rotate lever up quick access for WB set and rotate down for PUSH auto ISO/GAIN quick... -
Page 41: Optional Accessories
Optional Accessories Page 41 10. Optional Accessories Trim Weights FX6 is provisioned with several weight mounting points to allow the user to trim the housing. Trim weights can either screw directly onto weight bosses or use a sliding dovetail. Boss Mounting... - Page 42 Optional Accessories Page 42 Weight mounting bosses are distributed around the bottom of the housing and top of rear shell.
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Page 43: Optional Trim Floats
Optional Accessories Page 43 Optional Trim Floats Gates trim floats are made from high density foam to withstand pressure at depth. A specific float is available for the SP60 port which is useful for ultra compact setups. -
Page 44: Water Alarm
If you have the optional GWA-2000 Water Alarm installed, refer to the separate user manual for this item. It can be found on the Gates website GWA-2000 Water Alarm. The LED indicator for the water alarm is found on the Rear Shell. The red LED alarm signal will appear here on FX6... -
Page 45: Housing Maintenance
Housing Maintenance Page 45 11. Housing Maintenance 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.
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