Product Notification, Gates EX1 Housing.
10.03.2009
Product Notification, Gates EX1 Housing
To our Customers and Dealers,
Gates has received several field reports from customers using the EX1 housing and SP44 dome port. This notification addresses the Issue, Information and Actions/Recommendations.
Issue: Loss of image sharpness when using the SP44 dome port.
Information: This issue is described as a loss of ‘tack sharp’ image quality that the EX1 camera is known capable of producing. This description is consistent from several customers using the SP44 (both glass and acrylic domes). The FP44 flat port or SWP44 super wide do not exhibit such degradation. Customers report ‘tack sharp’ image quality with these ports.
The issue is further identified with images evaluated on a full 1920 x 1080 screen. Images that highlight this issue are captured in clear water with good lighting – conditions in which the camera would produce its best images.
Review of Gates test videos in San Diego waters did not reveal this issue due to the low light and limited visibility waters. The image quality was (and is) considered acceptable for these conditions. For this reason Gates has performed further, more objective testing to quantify the issue.
Optically speaking, the SP44 dome port is positioned in the best possible location for the EX1 camera. That is, the spherical center of the dome is coincident with the entrance pupil of the lens at full wide. This practice is used for all Gates housings and historically results in no observable loss of image quality. Moving the port closer or further away from the camera is less than optimal and impairs resolution. Further, all Gates domes (both acrylic and glass) are optically measured to be free of defects and inclusions.
Gates testing centered on image quality in bright conditions and clear water. Target/subject is a resolution chart @ 20 inches from camera lens. Variables were iris, macro mode on/off and with/without a +1 diopter. The +1 diopter was introduced to reveal loss of sharpness due to optical interaction of a dome used with the EX1 optics. (It is known amongst SLR photographers that some lenses work well with domes, some do not, and a diopter often solves any sharpness/focus issues. The Nikon 14-24, for example, works well with a diopter behind a dome.)
For both +1 diopter or FP44 Flat Port options, shipping costs are not included.
As always we remain committed to our customer success. Contact Gates for further information and to arrange the details of a flip diopter installation or FP44 flat port.
Sincerely,
John Ellerbrock
President
Gates Underwater Products, Inc
To our Customers and Dealers,
Gates has received several field reports from customers using the EX1 housing and SP44 dome port. This notification addresses the Issue, Information and Actions/Recommendations.
Issue: Loss of image sharpness when using the SP44 dome port.
Information: This issue is described as a loss of ‘tack sharp’ image quality that the EX1 camera is known capable of producing. This description is consistent from several customers using the SP44 (both glass and acrylic domes). The FP44 flat port or SWP44 super wide do not exhibit such degradation. Customers report ‘tack sharp’ image quality with these ports.
The issue is further identified with images evaluated on a full 1920 x 1080 screen. Images that highlight this issue are captured in clear water with good lighting – conditions in which the camera would produce its best images.
Review of Gates test videos in San Diego waters did not reveal this issue due to the low light and limited visibility waters. The image quality was (and is) considered acceptable for these conditions. For this reason Gates has performed further, more objective testing to quantify the issue.
Optically speaking, the SP44 dome port is positioned in the best possible location for the EX1 camera. That is, the spherical center of the dome is coincident with the entrance pupil of the lens at full wide. This practice is used for all Gates housings and historically results in no observable loss of image quality. Moving the port closer or further away from the camera is less than optimal and impairs resolution. Further, all Gates domes (both acrylic and glass) are optically measured to be free of defects and inclusions.
Gates testing centered on image quality in bright conditions and clear water. Target/subject is a resolution chart @ 20 inches from camera lens. Variables were iris, macro mode on/off and with/without a +1 diopter. The +1 diopter was introduced to reveal loss of sharpness due to optical interaction of a dome used with the EX1 optics. (It is known amongst SLR photographers that some lenses work well with domes, some do not, and a diopter often solves any sharpness/focus issues. The Nikon 14-24, for example, works well with a diopter behind a dome.)
- Test results:
- The EX1+SP44 produced best results with Macro mode ON and small iris (f8 or higher). Sharpness loss is ~ 2%.
- Use of a +1 diopter regained the loss of sharpness in these conditions, but at the cost of a slightly narrower field of view.
- The EX1+SP44 were unable to provide focus with Macro mode OFF and large iris (f2.8 or lower). A +1 diopter did not help.
- Test Conclusions:
- The loss of image sharpness reported by field users is confirmed. The cause is optical interaction between the EX1 optics and a dome port underwater.
- Conversely, the issue is not the result of a product defect of either the Sony EX1 camera or Gates EX1 housing/SP44.
- The magnitude of the issue depends greatly on camera settings (Macro ON/OFF and iris).
- Use of a +1 diopter eliminates loss of sharpness with proper camera settings.
- Actions/Recommendations: Regardless of the nature or cause of this problem, Gates is committed to our customers’ success. To this end the following actions/recommendations are made:
- Camera Settings: Users should employ camera settings that maximize sharpness/resolution/focus. Small iris (f8 or higher), Macro Mode ON (now always recommended regardless of port) are best. Sharpness is nearly 100% with these settings.
- +1 Diopter: To gain 100% image sharpness when using the SP44 dome port, the addition of a + 1 diopter is recommended. Gates customers with a flip diopter installed can employ this measure immediately. Customers without this option can, at their discretion, return the housing to Gates for flip diopter installation. The installation (parts and labor) will be performed at no charge. Note that this is a factory-only install item, and your Gates warranty will remain in effect.
- FP44 Flat Port: This port, while having a narrower field of view, has no loss of sharpness. Gates will provide at no charge an FP44 Flat Port to EX1 customers subject to the following conditions:
- The customer is shooting solely with the SP44 port (and does not have the SWP44C super wide);
- The customers EX1 housing does not already have a flip diopter installation; and
- The customer cannot return their housing to Gates for the flip diopter installation.
For both +1 diopter or FP44 Flat Port options, shipping costs are not included.
As always we remain committed to our customer success. Contact Gates for further information and to arrange the details of a flip diopter installation or FP44 flat port.
Sincerely,
John Ellerbrock
President
Gates Underwater Products, Inc