Sea & Sea announces Sony Alpha Universal Housing

Sea & Sea has announced a new housing offers “global compatibility” with current full-frame cameras in Sony’s Alpha series. According to Sea & Sea, the MDX-αU supports “input level” a7 Mark IV“High Resolution” a7R Mark IV“Focus on video” a7S Mark III“Professional Sports” a9 Mark IIand “capable of 8K” a1. The company says the housing is “a sustainable design that can be used with new cameras in the future with minimal parts replacement.” Due to the “universal” design, initial camera installation is a bit more involved, there are some functional limitations that require workarounds and an optional add-on kit is required to enhance compatibility with certain models. (See product information below for more details.)

The new “future-oriented” house looks very similar to Sea & Sea’s dedicated a7R Mark IV housing– includes eye-catching yellow accents – but it boasts some improvements. First, the case features a much larger acrylic panel, which reduces weight and aims to provide better visibility for the LCD. Second, there’s a new fiber jacket, designed to protect the connectors and prevent them from falling out. Third, the company Leak alarm unit is now included as standard equipment rather than as an option. Also, unusual for the Japanese company, the housing is available in a silver finish as well as a transactional black color.

The MDX-αU supports fiber optic connection to compatible Sea & Sea YS strobes in TTL mode or manual mode via the S1 Optical YS Converter or the optional Manual Flash Trigger, respectively. If you activate your YS flashing via the sync cord, you also have the option of electrical connection.

Consult your local dealer for pricing and availability. Backscatter is now take pre-orders.

When purchasing underwater photography equipment like the one mentioned in this article, please support DPG by supporting our retail partner—Backscatter.com.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Sea & Sea MDX-αU Underwater Case for Sony α1 / α9II / α7sIII / α7RIV / α7IV

Universal compatibility with Sony Alpha series. The future-oriented mirrorless SLR compatible case is now fully loaded

FEATURES, CHARACTERISTICS

Universal design for the future. The back is designed to be large

The rear acrylic panel is twice as large as before to improve display visibility and reduce weight underwater. Furthermore, it is a sustainable design that can be used with future new cameras with minimal component replacement.

Newly designed fiber optic cable cover Newly designed fiber optic cable cover

Includes newly designed fiber optic housing. Prevent fiber optic connectors from falling out and intelligently protect light boards and cable connectors. Includes a strap to prevent loss of cap.

Leak alarms are standard equipment

The Leak Alarm, previously available as an option, is now included as standard equipment. It is not only effective for early detection of underwater accidents, but also to protect equipment by testing its waterproof feature before entry. CR2032 lithium battery included.

Flash sync system

Three optional flashing connection methods are available.

1. Optical TTL connection

[Product No.50139] Optical YS Converter S1

Compatible with SEA & SEA “YS Optical Converter S1” converts camera strobe light output into LED light and synchronizes with SEA & SEA YS strobe light. It is a high-performance converter that not only outputs a simple luminous signal, but also realizes TTL automatic lighting control.


* Original Sony “ADP-MAA” adapter is required to connect the camera and the optical YS adapter.

2. Optical manual connection

[Product No.50146] Manual flash trigger

For those who don’t need TTL photography, the fiber connection allows manual firing of the YS flash.

3. Electrical connection

[Product No.50147] Flicker/Female connector

[Product No.50122] Optional sync cord 2-pin connector

The YS strobe can be electrically connected by a synchronous wire.

Full range of standard equipment

• Grip Plus made of silicone material
• Firm yet secure fit to keep the home in place
• Lighting can be deployed as desired from the SA8 . fixed ball base
• Comes with a lanyard hook for convenient transport

Limited Functions and Advanced Customizer

Common to all models

• Up/down/left/right buttons cannot be used on the multi selector
• Instead, use the up/down/left/right buttons on the control wheel
• The up/down/left/right buttons on the control wheel cannot be used to move the focus point
• The focus point can be moved by the front and rear dials using the camera’s dial customization function

camera α1 / α9II

• Drive/focus mode dials not available as standard
• It can be supported using the option set
• If you want to change the drive mode etc without modification, you can temporarily use it by pre-registering the camera’s custom shooting settings and calling this function, but it is not a Perfect replacement

α7IV . camera

• Shooting mode lever cannot be used
• This can be handled using an option set
• S&Q cannot be used

[Product No.50148] Custom kit α1 for MDX-αU
Compatible with focus mode dial/mode switch lever.

[Product No.50149] Custom Kit α9II for MDX-αU
Compatible with the drive mode dial and focus mode selector lever.

[Product No.50150] Custom Kit α7IV for MDX-αU
Compatible with shooting mode selector lever.

MDX-αU Other Features

• Gate lock prevents the gate from swinging or loosening and the gate lock lever is specially positioned to prevent accidental unlocking

• The case is equipped with a lens unlock button so you can change lenses easily without opening the case

• Pull out the Focus/Zoom Wheel to provide enough space inside the case to easily accommodate larger diameter lenses

• Equipped as standard with a 0.5x Optical Viewfinder. Other optional viewfinders such as VF180 1.2x, VF45 1.2x and Optical Viewfinder 0.66x, 0.8x can be used
  ※ Some image blur occurs. When the VF180 1.2x is mounted on the case, the top of the camera’s viewfinder cannot be viewed due to image blur.

• Equipped with two sacrificial zinc diodes (one on the front and one on the back) to prevent electrolytic damage

• The tripod screw holder is located on the center underside of the case

Specifications

MDX-αU

Gate system diagram