Gates Underwater Products

Type: Professional underwater video/cinema housing manufacturer
Founded: 1969 (San Diego, California, USA)
Founder: Elwyn Gates
Current ownership: John and Karen Ellerbrock (since 2002)
Headquarters: Poway, California (since 2008; previously San Diego)
Key personnel: John Ellerbrock (President/CEO), Pamela Mertz (Director of Sales)
Tagline: “Don’t take a Chance…Take a Gates!”
Key products: Cinema camera housings (RED, ARRI), consumer/prosumer video housings (Sony, Canon, Panasonic), Seal Check vacuum system, GT-series lights, Precision Ports, Stackable Port Ring systems

Overview

Gates Underwater Products is the dominant manufacturer of professional underwater cinema and video housings. Founded in 1969 by Elwyn Gates in his garage in San Diego, the company began with the Nikonos Extension Tube kit, which sold over 100,000 units before being phased out in 2003 ([1]). The company was sold to John and Karen Ellerbrock in 2002 ([2]).

Gates housings are distinguished by their “bulletproof” machined aluminum construction, 100% mechanical controls (no electronics), and 2-year renewable warranties. The company’s philosophy of fully manual, mechanical controls gives users a housing design with no electronic failure points, making them reliable in the most demanding professional environments ([3]). Their depth ratings range from 250 to 450 feet depending on the housing model.

The company became the industry standard for professional underwater cinema, with Gates housings used on major productions including BBC’s Blue Planet II (2017), where the RED Dragon in a Gates housing was the primary camera system. Dan Beecham, a key camera operator on the series, described the RED Dragon as “the go-to camera for the series” and noted it was “used on the majority of the big natural history productions” ([4]).

Gates operates a factory-direct model from their facility in Poway, California, where all design, manufacture, assembly, testing, and servicing is performed in-house ([5]). The company relocated from San Diego to Poway in August 2008 ([6]).

Design Philosophy

Gates housings share several signature characteristics across their product line:

Collaboration with Howard Hall

One of the most significant relationships in Gates’ history is the collaboration with filmmaker Howard Hall. When Gates announced the DEEP RED housing in 2007, it was explicitly developed “with the collaborative support of Howard Hall, a 30 year veteran of underwater imaging successes in TV, feature film and IMAX productions” ([14]).

Hall provided the design specifications for the DEEP RED, requesting a three-section housing design, fingertip-accessible controls for all critical functions, full menu access, support for a wide variety of lenses from DSLR to Ultra Primes, depth rating to 450 feet, and minimal size and weight. He later wrote a detailed review calling the DEEP RED “probably the most versatile underwater system I have ever owned” and praising three “absolutely brilliant” innovations: a multi-axis joystick control for menu navigation, the universal lens gear system, and magnetic repulsion buttons on the monitor housing ([15]).

Hall had been using Gates’ vacuum seal check system for “more than ten years” by 2009, noting he “haven’t water damaged a camera since I implemented the system” ([16]). Earlier, in 2004, Gates partnered with Hall to develop a Sony HD camera housing ([17]). Hall and Bob Cranston also collaborated on the Deep Pulsar/Deep Atom 3D beam splitter housing in 2011 ([18]).

Product Lines

Consumer/Prosumer Video Housings (2002—2019)

Gates maintained a broad line of housings for consumer and prosumer video cameras throughout the 2000s and 2010s, primarily for Sony and Canon camcorders. These housings featured the same mechanical-only approach as their cinema products but at lower price points.

Sony camcorder housings:

Canon camcorder housings:

Panasonic housings:

RED Cinema Housings (2007—present)

The RED housing line represents Gates’ most significant contribution to underwater filmmaking, making 4K and higher resolution digital cinema accessible underwater for the first time.

ARRI Cinema Housings (2014—present)

POV and Specialty Housings

Accessories

External monitors:

Lights:

Port systems:

Other accessories:

Community Engagement

Gates maintained a significant presence in the underwater imaging community:

Notable Productions

Gates housings have been used on numerous high-profile underwater productions:

Product Timeline

References


Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Oct 9, 2007: Gates Announces Deep Red Underwater Housing For Red One Camera
  2. Wetpixel article, Nov 14, 2006: Dema 2006 Gates Housings
  3. Wetpixel article, Nov 14, 2006: Dema 2006 Gates Housings
  4. Wetpixel article, Oct 17, 2017: Interview Dan Beecham On Underwater Filmmaking And Blue Planet 2
  5. Wetpixel article, Dec 31, 2013: Gates Announces Deep Dragon
  6. Wetpixel article, Aug 17, 2008: Gates Underwater Products Open House
  7. Wetpixel article, Nov 14, 2006: Dema 2006 Gates Housings
  8. Wetpixel article, Dec 27, 2007: Gates Fx7 V1 Housing Review
  9. Wetpixel article, Dec 31, 2013: Gates Announces Deep Dragon
  10. Wetpixel article, Aug 19, 2014: Gates Announces Housing For Arri Alexa
  11. Wetpixel article, Aug 10, 2016: John Ellerbrock The Origins Of Seal Check
  12. Wetpixel article, Nov 4, 2007: Dema 2007 Gates Housings
  13. Wetpixel article, Jul 24, 2009: Howard Hall Reviews The Gates Deep Red Underwater Housing
  14. Wetpixel article, Oct 9, 2007: Gates Announces Deep Red Underwater Housing For Red One Camera
  15. Wetpixel article, Jul 24, 2009: Howard Hall Reviews The Gates Deep Red Underwater Housing
  16. Wetpixel article, Jul 24, 2009: Howard Hall Reviews The Gates Deep Red Underwater Housing
  17. Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2004: Dema Show 2004 Report
  18. Wetpixel article, Jan 27, 2011: Gates Releases Deep Pulsar Deep Atom Underwater 3d Beam Splitter
  19. Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2002: Gates Underwater Products Announces New F707 Housing
  20. Wetpixel article, Mar 2, 2003: Gates Announces Sony F717 Housing
  21. Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2003: Dema 2003 Show Coverage1
  22. Wetpixel article, Oct 4, 2004: Gates Ships Sony Pc350 Video Housing
  23. Wetpixel article, Mar 9, 2005: Sony Hdr Fx1 And Hvr Z1j Hdv Underwater Housing Lineup
  24. Wetpixel article, Sep 14, 2006: Gates Sony Hvr Z1u Hd Housing Review1
  25. Wetpixel article, Dec 27, 2007: Gates Fx7 V1 Housing Review
  26. Wetpixel article, Oct 28, 2008: Dema 2008 Gates
  27. Wetpixel article, Sep 24, 2010: Gates Releases Housings For Sony Cx550 And Xr550
  28. Wetpixel article, Aug 2, 2014: Gatess John Ellerbrock On The Sony Xa100
  29. Wetpixel article, Oct 18, 2017: Gates Announces Ax700 Z90 Housing For Sony 4k Camcorders
  30. Wetpixel article, Aug 12, 2012: Gates Announces Housing For Sony Pmw 200
  31. Wetpixel article, Nov 19, 2013: Gates Releases Housing For Sony Z100
  32. Wetpixel article, Apr 5, 2014: Gates Shows Its Swp44 Super Wide Port
  33. Wetpixel article, May 13, 2010: Gates Announces Underwater Housing For Sony Prs 300 Ebook Reader
  34. Wetpixel article, Jul 29, 2004: Gates Announces New Canon Gl2 Xm2 Xv2 Housing
  35. Wetpixel article, Nov 14, 2006: Dema 2006 Gates Housings
  36. Wetpixel article, Nov 4, 2007: Dema 2007 Gates Housings
  37. Wetpixel article, Jun 7, 2010: Gates Release Hf S21 Housing
  38. Wetpixel article, Apr 2, 2011: Gates Releases Housing For Canon Hf S30 And Hf S20 S21 S200
  39. Wetpixel article, Mar 24, 2011: Gates Announce Housing For Canon Xa10
  40. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2013: Gates Releases Housing For Canon Xa25
  41. Wetpixel article, Jan 11, 2016: Gates Announces Xa35 Housing
  42. Wetpixel article, Nov 5, 2011: Gates Shows New Housing For Canon Eos C300
  43. Wetpixel article, Oct 3, 2012: Gates Updates Specifications And Images Of Eos C300 C500 Housing
  44. Wetpixel article, Mar 9, 2016: Gates Announces Housing For Canon C300 Mark Ii
  45. Wetpixel article, Aug 4, 2016: Gates Releases Housing For Canon Me20 Low Light Camera
  46. Wetpixel article, Aug 28, 2010: Gates Releases Housing For Panasonic Ag 3da1
  47. Wetpixel article, Oct 9, 2007: Gates Announces Deep Red Underwater Housing For Red One Camera
  48. Wetpixel article, Oct 28, 2008: Dema 2008 Gates
  49. Wetpixel article, Feb 6, 2009: Sneak Preview Of Gates Underwater Video Housing For Red
  50. Wetpixel article, Jul 24, 2009: Howard Hall Reviews The Gates Deep Red Underwater Housing
  51. Wetpixel article, Apr 8, 2011: Gates Announces Deep Epic Housing
  52. Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2012: Gates Introduces Deep Scarlet
  53. Wetpixel article, Dec 31, 2013: Gates Announces Deep Dragon
  54. Wetpixel article, Sep 25, 2015: Gates Confirms Red Housings Upgrade Path
  55. Wetpixel article, Nov 21, 2014: Gates Announces Rs Lens Adapter
  56. Wetpixel article, Jul 26, 2016: John Ellerbrock Nikonos Rs Lens Compatibility With Red 8k Sensors
  57. Wetpixel article, Oct 16, 2016: Gates Announces Pro Action Housing
  58. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2017: Gates Announces Pro Explore Housing
  59. Wetpixel article, Mar 25, 2019: Gates Ships Housing For Red Hydrogen One
  60. Wetpixel article, Aug 19, 2014: Gates Announces Housing For Arri Alexa
  61. Wetpixel article, Feb 23, 2015: Gates Announces The Mini Housing For Alexa Mini
  62. Wetpixel article, Apr 7, 2018: Gates Announces Alexa Lf Housing
  63. Wetpixel article, Jul 23, 2019: Gates Announces Updated Housing For Arri Alexa Mini
  64. Wetpixel article, Jul 31, 2010: Gates Releases Pov Housing System
  65. Wetpixel article, Jan 27, 2011: Gates Releases Deep Pulsar Deep Atom Underwater 3d Beam Splitter
  66. Wetpixel article, Jul 13, 2018: Gates Announces Pov Cam System
  67. Wetpixel article, Mar 5, 2019: Gates Announces Adaptor Kit For Laowa Probe Lens
  68. Wetpixel article, Apr 14, 2007: Gates Announces Em43 High Resolution Color Monitor
  69. Wetpixel article, Apr 5, 2014: Gates Shows Its Swp44 Super Wide Port
  70. Wetpixel article, Sep 25, 2015: Gates Confirms Red Housings Upgrade Path
  71. Wetpixel article, Sep 25, 2015: Gates Confirms Red Housings Upgrade Path
  72. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2017: Gates Announces Pro Explore Housing
  73. Wetpixel article, Feb 23, 2015: Gates Announces The Mini Housing For Alexa Mini
  74. Wetpixel article, Apr 7, 2018: Gates Announces Alexa Lf Housing
  75. Wetpixel article, Sep 21, 2010: Gates Add Underwater Monitor To Video Dslr
  76. Wetpixel article, Sep 24, 2010: More Information About Gates Led Lights
  77. Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2011: Gates Vl24 Video Lights In Action
  78. Wetpixel article, Jun 9, 2014: Gates Releases Details Of New Lights
  79. Wetpixel article, Nov 19, 2014: Gates Unveils The Gt14 Light
  80. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2017: Gates Announces Pro Explore Housing
  81. Wetpixel article, Nov 14, 2006: Dema 2006 Gates Housings
  82. Wetpixel article, Nov 10, 2006: Dema 2006 Gates Video Tripod
  83. Wetpixel article, Nov 14, 2006: Dema 2006 Gates Housings
  84. Wetpixel article, Apr 5, 2014: Gates Shows Its Swp44 Super Wide Port
  85. Wetpixel article, Oct 13, 2017: Gates Announces Spr80 Travel Port Ring System
  86. Wetpixel article, Sep 17, 2017: Gates Announces Spr110 Stackable Port System
  87. Wetpixel article, Aug 4, 2011: Gates Releases Redmote Controller Housing
  88. Wetpixel article, Nov 14, 2006: Dema 2006 Gates Housings
  89. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2007: Dema 2007 Gates Event With Stan Waterman
  90. Wetpixel article, Oct 8, 2002: Gates Howard Hall And Brian Skerry At Dema
  91. Wetpixel article, Jul 26, 2010: Shot On Gates
  92. Wetpixel article, Sep 5, 2016: Gates Offers Sto Clinic Prior To Wildscreen
  93. Wetpixel article, Jul 14, 2017: Spaces Available Wetpixel Red And Gates Tiger Beach Filmmakers Workshop
  94. Wetpixel article, Apr 22, 2004: Del Mar County Fair Underwater Photo Contest
  95. Wetpixel article, Jun 21, 2004: Wetpixel Marchapril Contest Winners
  96. Wetpixel article, Mar 15, 2011: Job Opportunity At Gates
  97. Wetpixel article, Sep 5, 2016: Gates Offers Sto Clinic Prior To Wildscreen
  98. Wetpixel article, Oct 17, 2017: Interview Dan Beecham On Underwater Filmmaking And Blue Planet 2
  99. Wetpixel article, Jul 24, 2009: Howard Hall Reviews The Gates Deep Red Underwater Housing
  100. Wetpixel article, Feb 13, 2010: Howard Hall In The Maldives With A Gates Deep Red System
  101. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2007: Dema 2007 Gates Event With Stan Waterman
  102. Wetpixel article, Jan 27, 2011: Gates Releases Deep Pulsar Deep Atom Underwater 3d Beam Splitter
  103. Wetpixel article, Oct 9, 2007: Gates Announces Deep Red Underwater Housing For Red One Camera
  104. Wetpixel article, Jul 10, 2002: Gates Underwater Products Announces New F707 Housing
  105. Wetpixel article, Oct 8, 2002: Gates Howard Hall And Brian Skerry At Dema
  106. Wetpixel article, Mar 2, 2003: Gates Announces Sony F717 Housing
  107. Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2003: Dema 2003 Show Coverage1
  108. Wetpixel article, Jul 29, 2004: Gates Announces New Canon Gl2 Xm2 Xv2 Housing
  109. Wetpixel article, Oct 4, 2004: Gates Ships Sony Pc350 Video Housing
  110. Wetpixel article, Oct 15, 2004: Dema Show 2004 Report
  111. Wetpixel article, Mar 9, 2005: Sony Hdr Fx1 And Hvr Z1j Hdv Underwater Housing Lineup
  112. Wetpixel article, Oct 20, 2005: Dema 2005 Sony Hdv Camera Report
  113. Wetpixel article, Sep 14, 2006: Gates Sony Hvr Z1u Hd Housing Review1
  114. Wetpixel article, Nov 14, 2006: Dema 2006 Gates Housings
  115. Wetpixel article, Nov 10, 2006: Dema 2006 Gates Video Tripod
  116. Wetpixel article, Apr 14, 2007: Gates Announces Em43 High Resolution Color Monitor
  117. Wetpixel article, Oct 9, 2007: Gates Announces Deep Red Underwater Housing For Red One Camera
  118. Wetpixel article, Nov 4, 2007: Dema 2007 Gates Housings
  119. Wetpixel article, Aug 17, 2008: Gates Underwater Products Open House
  120. Wetpixel article, Oct 28, 2008: Dema 2008 Gates
  121. Wetpixel article, Feb 6, 2009: Sneak Preview Of Gates Underwater Video Housing For Red
  122. Wetpixel article, Jul 24, 2009: Howard Hall Reviews The Gates Deep Red Underwater Housing
  123. Wetpixel article, Sep 24, 2010: More Information About Gates Led Lights
  124. Wetpixel article, Jul 31, 2010: Gates Releases Pov Housing System
  125. Wetpixel article, Aug 28, 2010: Gates Releases Housing For Panasonic Ag 3da1
  126. Wetpixel article, Jul 26, 2010: Shot On Gates
  127. Wetpixel article, Sep 21, 2010: Gates Add Underwater Monitor To Video Dslr
  128. Wetpixel article, Jan 27, 2011: Gates Releases Deep Pulsar Deep Atom Underwater 3d Beam Splitter
  129. Wetpixel article, Apr 8, 2011: Gates Announces Deep Epic Housing
  130. Wetpixel article, Nov 5, 2011: Gates Shows New Housing For Canon Eos C300
  131. Wetpixel article, Jul 6, 2012: Gates Introduces Deep Scarlet
  132. Wetpixel article, Mar 5, 2013: Gates Announces New Products
  133. Wetpixel article, Dec 31, 2013: Gates Announces Deep Dragon
  134. Wetpixel article, Apr 5, 2014: Gates Shows Its Swp44 Super Wide Port
  135. Wetpixel article, Apr 7, 2014: Gates Announces Flex 4k Housing
  136. Wetpixel article, Jun 9, 2014: Gates Releases Details Of New Lights
  137. Wetpixel article, Aug 19, 2014: Gates Announces Housing For Arri Alexa
  138. Wetpixel article, Nov 21, 2014: Gates Announces Rs Lens Adapter
  139. Wetpixel article, Nov 19, 2014: Gates Unveils The Gt14 Light
  140. Wetpixel article, Feb 23, 2015: Gates Announces The Mini Housing For Alexa Mini
  141. Wetpixel article, Sep 25, 2015: Gates Confirms Red Housings Upgrade Path
  142. Wetpixel article, Oct 16, 2016: Gates Announces Pro Action Housing
  143. Wetpixel article, Sep 17, 2017: Gates Announces Spr110 Stackable Port System
  144. Wetpixel article, Oct 13, 2017: Gates Announces Spr80 Travel Port Ring System
  145. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2017: Gates Announces Pro Explore Housing
  146. Wetpixel article, Apr 7, 2018: Gates Announces Alexa Lf Housing
  147. Wetpixel article, Jul 13, 2018: Gates Announces Pov Cam System
  148. Wetpixel article, Mar 5, 2019: Gates Announces Adaptor Kit For Laowa Probe Lens
  149. Wetpixel article, Mar 5, 2019: Gates Releases Details Of Housing For Red Touch 7 Monitor
  150. Wetpixel article, Mar 25, 2019: Gates Ships Housing For Red Hydrogen One
  151. Wetpixel article, Jul 23, 2019: Gates Announces Updated Housing For Arri Alexa Mini
  152. Gates F707 housing announcement (article)
  153. Gates/Howard Hall/Brian Skerry at DEMA (article)
  154. Gates F717 housing (article)
  155. DEMA 2003 show coverage (article)
  156. Gates GL2/XM2/XV2 housing (article)
  157. Gates PC350 housing shipped (article)
  158. DEMA 2004 report (article)
  159. Sony HDV housing lineup (article)
  160. Gates HVR-Z1U review (article)
  161. DEMA 2006 Gates coverage (article)
  162. Gates video tripod at DEMA 2006 (article)
  163. Gates EM43 monitor announcement (article)
  164. Gates DEEP RED announcement (article)
  165. DEMA 2007 Gates coverage (article)
  166. Gates FX7/V1 review by Drew Wong (article)
  167. Gates DEMA 2007 event with Stan Waterman (article)
  168. Gates open house, Poway (article)
  169. DEMA 2008 Gates coverage (article)
  170. DEEP RED sneak preview (article)
  171. Howard Hall DEEP RED review (article)
  172. Howard Hall in Maldives with DEEP RED (article)
  173. “Shot on Gates” showcase (article)
  174. Gates POV housing (article)
  175. Gates Panasonic 3DA1 housing (article)
  176. Gates DSLR monitor service (article)
  177. Gates VL8/VL24 LED lights (article)
  178. VL24 lights in action (article)
  179. 3D beam splitter housing (article)
  180. DEEP EPIC announcement (article)
  181. Canon EOS C300 housing (article)
  182. RED EPIC M in DEEP EPIC (article)
  183. DEEP SCARLET announcement (article)
  184. DEEP DRAGON announcement (article)
  185. Gates SWP44C super-wide port (article)
  186. GT-series lights details (article)
  187. John Ellerbrock on Sony AX100 (article)
  188. Gates ARRI ALEXA housing (article)
  189. Nikonos RS Adapter Kit (article)
  190. Gates MINI for ALEXA Mini (article)
  191. DEEP WEAPON upgrade path (article)
  192. Origins of Seal Check (article)
  193. Nikonos RS lens 8K compatibility (article)
  194. Pro Action housing (article)
  195. SPR110 Stackable Port system (article)
  196. SPR80 travel Port Ring system (article)
  197. Dan Beecham Blue Planet 2 interview (article)
  198. Pro Explore housing (article)
  199. Tiger Beach filmmakers workshop (article)
  200. ALEXA LF housing (article)
  201. POV CAM 4K (article)
  202. Laowa Probe Lens Adapter (article)
  203. RED Hydrogen One housing (article)
  204. MINI LF housing (article)
  205. Gates STO clinic at Wildscreen (article)