Nauticam Digital Cinema System Underwater Housing for ARRI ALEXA 35
For the ARRI ALEXA 35 (complete system with 100 mm extension and 250 mm glass dome)
The Nauticam Digital Cinema System for ARRI ALEXA 35 is a complete, production-ready underwater package built around the N200 port system. It ships with the 100 mm housing extension and Nauticam's exclusive 250 mm optically-coated glass wide-angle dome port, so it's ready to film straight from the case. Designed for both owner/operators and rental houses, it offers diver-controlled focus, iris and zoom plus full motorised lens control via ARRI's Hi-5 hand unit, and Nauticam's standard vacuum check and leak detection.
Consider this system if you:
- Want a turnkey ALEXA 35 underwater package, including extension and premium glass dome
- Need to mount up to three motors for zoom lenses or longer primes
- Shoot productions requiring remote/surface lens control with the ARRI Hi-5 hand unit
- Want the best wide-angle optical performance available for cinema lenses underwater
At a Glance
| Dimensions | 310 × 246 × 500 mm (W × H × D) |
| Depth Rating | Housing: 80 m; 250 mm Optical Glass Dome: 45 m |
| Weight in air (housing only) | 14.2 kg |
| Weight in air (incl. internal and external accessories) | 20.0 kg |
| Buoyancy in water | 3.3 kg (incl. camera, lens, bebob B290 battery and 250 mm dome) |
| Port System | N200 |
| Compatible camera | ARRI ALEXA 35 |
The Camera: ARRI ALEXA 35
New to the ALEXA 35? Here's the context. Already know it well — skip to the housing below.
The ARRI ALEXA 35 sets a new standard for Super 35 digital cinema cameras, built around an all-new 4.6K ALEV 4 CMOS sensor with a massive 17 stops of dynamic range. It has a rugged, compact form factor similar to the ALEXA Mini but adds higher-end features closer to the larger ALEXA. The ALEXA 35 records both ARRIRAW and Apple ProRes to 2TB Codex drives, with resolution up to 4.6K and frame rates up to 120p.
To take full advantage of the new sensor, ARRI developed its REVEAL Color Science — built with feedback from colourists and cinematographers — for improved colour, contrast, sensitivity and dynamic range. In addition to ARRI's LPL (LBUS) mount, the ALEXA 35 also accommodates the PL to LPL adaptor, the EF mount and the PL mount.
Key camera specifications
- 4.6K ALEV 4 Super 35 CMOS sensor
- 17 stops of dynamic range
- Records ARRIRAW and Apple ProRes to Codex drives (up to 2TB)
- Up to 4.6K resolution, up to 120p
- ARRI REVEAL Color Science
- LPL (LBUS) mount; supports PL-to-LPL adaptor, EF and PL mounts
The Housing
Easy camera prep
Designed with both owner/operator and rental markets in mind, the system is very easy to set up. Armed with only a coin and an Allen wrench, the entire support and lens control system is built on the camera base plate outside the housing — so the rig can be assembled on a table, in good light, with plenty of working space. Once the camera is on its tray, the whole system slides into the housing and locks securely in place.
Lens control system
As on the ALEXA Mini and Mini LF housings, an adjustable gear tower controls focus, iris and zoom from knurled knobs on the housing exterior — a diver-controlled setup that completely satisfies a single operator. For production shoots requiring remote control, the housing features two upper and two lower 15 mm rods supporting cforce Plus and cforce mini motors paired with the ARRI Hi-5 hand unit (only the upper rods support the larger cforce Plus motors). Unlike previous generations, the motors drive the lens directly rather than through the gear tower. With the included 100 mm housing extension, you can mount three motors for zoom lenses or longer primes.
The housing also ships with one 3/4" Hydroflex-style bulkhead, allowing power, remote control and remote-monitor umbilicals from other Hydroflex rental systems to be used. A tremendous range of lenses is supported, from very small Zeiss Standard Speeds to large cinema-style zooms — the port system has been tested with the ARRI UWZ 9.5-18 with excellent results.
Recommended for surface lens control
- 16249 LBUS Surface Cable for Hi-5 Hand Unit, 30 m
- 16247 Replacement Internal LBUS Cable (camera to housing bulkhead)
- 16248 Converting Cable for 16223 LCS Cable to use with Hi-5 Hand Unit
Optically-coated glass dome port
The exclusive 250 mm optically-coated glass dome port — supplied with this system — is, in Nauticam's view, the best optic available for cinema lenses. At 250 mm (10 inches), the dome diameter is key to good wide-angle performance with many cinema lenses, which often have a longer minimum focus distance (0.35–0.40 m / 14–16"). Broadband anti-reflective coatings eliminate flare, reflections and ghosting, and a robust machined aluminium shade protects the dome and adds flare resistance.
Battery configurations
The housing is designed around the ARRI B-Mount Plate, which mounts directly onto the camera. Both the bebob B290 (294Wh) and the SWIT HB-A290B have been tested, with ample space for a range of battery packs for long operation times. Surface-supplied power is also an option for tethered all-day shooting.
Monitoring — SDI
The SmallHD 503 Ultrabright or the Atomos Ninja V can be mounted in an external monitor housing and connected via SDI bulkheads and cables for flexible positioning.
Required for the SDI cable system
Recommended monitor housings
- 17925S Nauticam NA-503-S Housing for SmallHD 503 Ultrabright (SDI cables and bulkhead included)
- 17922S Nauticam Atomos Ninja V-S Housing (SDI cables and bulkhead sold separately)
For SDI input from camera to 17922S Atomos Ninja V-S
- 25060 SDI Cable, 0.4 m (camera to underside of SDI bulkhead)
- 25058 M16 SDI Bulkhead
- 25061 SDI Cable, 0.75 m (between SDI bulkheads)
Recommended SDI surface cables
Vacuum check and leak detection — standard
The ALEXA 35 housing includes Nauticam's field-tested Vacuum Check and Leak Detection System, supplied with a dual-activation vacuum valve. Drawing a slight vacuum with the compact hand pump confirms the housing is sealed before entering the water and throughout the dive, with a colour-coded LED at the rear showing vacuum status. Leak detection shares the same circuit, triggering an audible and visual alarm on any water intrusion. The system is temperature-compensated to eliminate false alarms.
Worth noting: the 250 mm glass dome port is rated to 45 m, shallower than the 80 m housing — plan your dive depth around the port in use.
What's in the Box
- 16138 Digital Cinema System for ARRI ALEXA 35 Camera
- 100 mm housing extension and N200 250 mm optical glass wide-angle port (depth rating 45 m)
- 3× Lens Control Assemblies with stackable drive shafts and 15 mm rods
- Vacuum Check & Leak Detection System with dual-activation vacuum valve
- Quick-release adjustable top handle, left handle and right handle
- Housing skids
- Trim weight kit
- 2× hard travel cases
- Tool kit and O-ring kit
Optional Accessories
N200 port accessories
- 16401 N200 Macro Port 40 with M67 thread
- 16402 N200 Extension Ring 30
- 16403 N200 Extension Ring 40
- 16404 N200 Extension Ring 50
- 16405 N200 250 mm Optical Glass Wide Angle Port (depth rating 45 m)
- 16406 N200 8.5" Acrylic Dome Port
- 16407 N200 180 mm Optical-Glass Flat Port
- 16408 N200 250 mm Optical Glass Wide Angle Port (deep version, depth rating 100 m)
Surface control accessories
- 16223 LCS Surface Cable for ALEXA Mini Housing (for use with WCU-4)
- 16249 LBUS Surface Cable for Hi-5 Hand Unit, 30 m
- 16247 Replacement Internal LBUS Cable (camera to housing bulkhead)
- 16248 Converting Cable for 16223 to use with Hi-5 Hand Unit
- 16225 Nauticam Ethernet Cable for Surface Control of ALEXA Mini Housing
16247 Internal LBUS Cable is required for an existing 16223 to use with WCU-4. 16247 and 16248 are required for an existing 16223 to use with the Hi-5 hand unit, or buy the new 16249 instead.
Other accessories
- 16232 0.25 kg Trim Weights (4 pcs)
- 16233 0.5 kg Trim Weights (4 pcs)
- 17959 Housing Mounting Ball with 1/4" screws
- 25221 M10 Strobe Mounting Ball for Housing
- 17961 Swivel and Tilt Adjustable Monitor Mount System
- 25059 SDI Cable Extension Adaptor
- 25063 SDI Cable, 30 m (between SDI bulkheads)
Vacuum valves
Resources
- ALEXA 35 PDF Manual — to be published by Nauticam (not yet available at time of writing).
- Nauticam N200 port charts
