Ikelite 6111.5 Instruction Manual

Digital Housing

instruction manual

for

Sony

DSC-H5

Housing

#6111.5

Ikelite Digital Housing

Front View

Shutter
B

utton

Lid
Snap

Zoom

L

ens

Port

Back View

Lid
Snap

F

ocusBracket

L

id

Snap

Display

M

ode Dial

M

enu

Image Size/Delete

Control Buttons

Playback/
Finder

Power

S

teady Shot

Jog Dial

Q

uick Release

B

utton

R

ubber

H

andles

Tray

B

ase

Lift

Push For ward

Lid Snap Lock

CAMERA / MOUNT

Lid
Hook

O' Ring

Mounting Bolt

Mounting
Tray

Lid
Hook

Lid
Hook

instruction manual

Housing #6111.5 for Sony DSC-H5

Congratulations on your purchase of an Ikelite Digital Camera
Housing. Ikelite has over 30 years of experience in the underwater
photographic and lighting market. Our products are designed and
built in the USA by Ikelite for both the professional and amateur
photographer.
The clear housing permits instant visual inspection of the camera
and all sealing surfaces as well as complete monitoring of controls
and camera LCD screens.
Ikelite Digital Housings are slightly negative in salt water for
stability. This housing has been water pressure tested at the
factory. Housing is pressure tested to 200’ (60m).

2

OOppeenniinngg tthhee HHoouussiinng

Lid Snaps have a
To open, push Lid Snap Lock
forward and lift as shown. Keep
pressure on the Lid Snap so it

LLoocck

g

k

.

does not fly open quickly.

Some lid snaps have a lot of
spring tension once they go over center, have a firm grip on the
lid snap. Lid Snaps may be opened one at a time.

IInnssttaalllliinngg tthhee CCaammeerra

a

Remove the back from the housing. The mounting tray for the
camera is secured to the housing back. Position the camera on
the tray and secure it with the mounting bolt which threads
into the camera's tripod socket.
ssccrreewwddrriivveerr ttoo ttiigghhtteen
tthhee mmoouunnttiinngg bboolltt sso
tthhee ccaammeerraa iiss ffllaat
aaggaaiinnsstt tthhee ttrraayy.

PPoopp--uupp FFllaassh

Make sure the Pop-up
Flash is in the open
position before closing
the housing.

CCAAUUTTIIOONN:

Some camera tripod socket threads are plastic. The mounting
tray bolt is metal. Do not cross thread or over tighten as you
may damage the camera tripod socket threads.

:

h

o

t

.

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UUssee aa ccooiinn oorr ffllaatt bbllaaddeed

CClloossiinngg tthhee HHoouussiinng

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housing back

1. Place housing face down in your lap.

2. Check to see that there is an o’ring
on the housing back and that it is
clean and in its proper location.

3. Guide the back onto the housing.
The o’ring should touch the housing
all the way around. There should be

ring

o’

an even gap all the way around
between the housing and the

housing

housing back.
Lift the lid snaps so they are

4.
extended and place the lid snap
into the hook on the housing back.

d

5. To close the housing push
down on the lid snaps until
they snap into place . Lid
snaps on opposite sides of

even gap
all 4 sides

housing back

the housing should be closed
at the same time. Be sure they
are down far enough to engage
the lock.

DDoouubbllee cchheecck

k

- Once the housing is

housing

o’ring

closed, check the o’ring seal. Check the gap between the
housing back and the housing, it should be even all the
way around.

Look through the clear plastic back at the o’ring. You should see

a darkened area where the o’ring is compressed against the
housing back. If you do not see an even black compression seal
all the way around the back, open the lid snaps, reseat the
housing back and close the lid snaps. Visually check the seal again.

3

4

Jog Dial Control - Top View

B

ump

W

hite Dot

DDiiffffuusseerr aanndd DDeefflleeccttoorr IInnssttaallllaattiioon

Q

uick Release Base

Slot

Flip Quick Release
Lever Up

Rotate Quick
Release Lever

Remove Quick
Release Lever
and Base

diffuser and deflector are

A

n

Diffuser/Deflector
material

included with the housing. The
diffuser is white transparent

lastic. The deflector is also

p
white but is not transparent
and has a decal on the front.

To install the diffuser or deflector
spread the port clamp at the spring
end and slide over the lens port. The

This edge
against
housing

Port Clamp

Spring

white plastic should be placed in front
of the camera flash. The port clamp
should be pushed back against the
front of the housing.

DDiiffffuusseer

r

Spread to Install

Diffuser

The diffuser should be installed
when using the camera's built
in flash. When shooting with
the camera's built-in flash at
approximately 2 feet (0.6 m)
or less, the lens port on the
housing may block a portion
of the light from the camera's
built-in flash, creating a shadow

Housing shown with

Diffuser installed.

in the lower left of the photo. If this occurs, zoom the lens slightly
to eliminate the shadow.

DDeefflleeccttoor

r

(You can test this above water)

The deflector should be installed when using an external strobe
such as the DS51 or DS125 Substrobe and EV Controller. The
deflector will redirect the camera's flash to the EV Controller
which controls the external strobes output.

5

CChheecckkiinngg CCoonnttrroolls

s

Once the housing has been closed, push the controls back into

place. Make sure they line up with the camera’s controls.

TTuurrnn CCaammeerraa OOn

n

Turn the camera on and operate each of the housing controls to

get a feel for using the camera in the housing. Take a few
pictures above water with the camera in the housing.

JJoogg DDiiaall CCoonnttrrool

l

The Jog Dial on the camera must be pressed

in to select a value or item. Once a
selection is made the Jog Dial is then

otated to change the setting values when

r
shooting with the manual adjustment

odes. Viewing next/previous images is

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also done by rotating the Jog Dial.

The housings Jog Dial Control has a bump on

the inside face of the control for
depressing the Jog Dial. When the white dot on the control
knob is in the 12 o’clock position the bump is aligned with the
Jog Dial. In this position you can push in and pull out on the
housing Jog Dial control to select a value or item. Once selected
the housing Jog Dial control can then be rotated to change the
setting values.

The Jog Dial on the camera is small. It will take some practice to

become proficient at operating the Jog Dial with the camera
housing control.

6

QQuuiicckk--RReelleeaassee BBaassee,, HHaannddlleess aanndd TTrraay

QQuuiicckk--RReelleeaassee BBaasse

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The Quick-Release Base is
plastic. A toggle lever located
underneath the base allows
the base to be easily removed
from the Tray. Turn the
housing upside down, pull
out on the toggle lever.
Rotate the lever 90° to
remove the base.

HHaannddlleess aanndd TTrraay

The housing handles are
rubber and the tray is

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aluminum. Their weight
helps to offset the buoyancy
of the housing. The complete
assembly is slightly negative
underwater for better
control. The handles have a
push button release for easily
attaching and removing
strobe arms. The tray and
handles can be removed from
the housing. To remove the
tray, the base must be
removed to gain access to
the nuts holding the tray on
the housing. Remove the 2
nuts, washers and rubber
spacers.

DO NOT remove
the bolts protruding through
the housing.

7

LLeennss PPoorrt

t

The Lens Port is factory sealed, do not remove.
Treat the glass in the lens port as a camera lens. After use, rinse
and gently dry the lens port to avoid water spotting. To clean
use a mild soap solution or lens cleaner.

Do not use alcohol or window cleaner on the Lens Port.

OOppttiioonnaall AAcccceessssoorriieess CCoonnttiinnuueed

Substrobe
DS51

d

Substrobe
DS125

UUssiinngg WWiiddee--AAnnggllee LLeennssees

The Lens Port is threaded so that accessory lenses can be
screwed onto the port. The threads are very fine, take care not
to cross thread the lens.
Wide angle lenses are available from Inon, Sea & Sea and
Epoque. These lenses can be screwed onto the lens port above

r below water. These lenses are designed to have water

o
between the front of the port and the accessory lens. Make sure
no air bubbles are trapped between the port and the accessory
lens. There may be slight vignetting when these wide angle
lenses are installed. Any
vignetting that occurs can
be eliminated by zooming
the camera lens slightly.
To properly light subjects
when using a wide angle
accessory lens an external
strobe should be used.
Due to the wide angle of
coverage of the Inon, Sea
& Sea and Epoque lenses,
the DS125 Substrobe is
recommended or two
DS51 Substrobes.

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Wide Angle Lens

Housing shown with
accessory wide angle lens.

SA-100Q
Arm

EV Controller

SSuubbssttrroobbee DDSS551

The Substrobe DS51 covers the
equivalent of a 28mm lens. It is
the ideal choice when using
only the camera lens or the
camera lens with a macro
accessory lens.

1

SA-100Q
Arm

EV Controller

SSuubbssttrroobbee DDSS112255

The Substrobe DS125 covers
the equivalent of a 18mm
lens, 100 degrees. It is the
ideal choice when using
accessory wide angle lenses
greater than 28mm.

98

OOppttiioonnaall AAcccceessssoorriiees

BBaacckk OO''rriinngg

O'rings last for several years if properly maintained. (See
maintenance) Always carry a spare.

##00113322..5599

UURR//PPrroo FFiilltteerr

The UR/Pro underwater color correcting filter is designed to
restore some of the warm colors filtered out by the water. For
available light use only, not recommended for use with flash.

UUssiinngg aa DDSS SSuubbssttrroobbee && EEVV--CCoonnttrroolllleer

To use a external DS Substrobe requires the EV-Controller. The EV­Controller has a built-in slave sensor that is triggered by the camera’s
built-in flash which fires the external DS Substrobe. The EV­Controller provides 10 manual power settings in 1/2 stop increments
for precision lighting.

SSuubbssttrroobbee PPaacckkaaggeess aavvaaiillaabblle

Ikelite Ball Arm Systems are provided with these packages
#3944.47 SubStrobe DS51 with EV Controller
#3944.54 SubStrobe DS51 with EV Controller
#3944.77 SubStrobe DS125 with EV Controller

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##66444411..4411

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10

MMaaiinntteennaanncce

The Ikelite Digital Housing should be given the same care and
attention as your other photographic equipment. In addition to
normal maintenance we recommend that the housing be returned
to Ikelite periodically to be checked and pressure tested.

DDoo NNoot

1.
prolonged periods. Heat may damage the camera.
DDoo NNoot

2.

3. Before using the housing, always check the tightness of the
ssccrreew
Check each
they are tight. There is a slight chance that either could vibrate
loose during travel.

4. Keep the back o’ring clean and lightly lubricated. To lubricate
remove the o’ring from the back. Put a small amount of lkelite
lubricant on your fingers. Draw the o’ring through your fingers
to apply a light coating of lubricant. Only apply enough
lubricant to make the o’ring feel slick.
This light coating of lubricant will help to keep the o’ring from
drying out and will help to show a dark sealing line when the
housing back is properly sealed.

5. Keep the area where the o’ring fits and the sealing surface of
the housing clean.

6. Rinse the housing exterior thoroughly in fresh water after each salt
water use. Dry with a soft cloth. Dry lens port to eliminate water
spotting.
After several uses in salt water soak the housing in a mild soap
solution, rinse and dry before storage. When storing the housing,
remove the back o’ring, lightly lubricate and place in a plastic bag.
Place the plastic bag with o’ring inside the housing for safe keeping.

CCAAUUTTIIOON

NNeevveerr uussee sspprraayy lluubbrriiccaannttss aass tthhee pprrooppeellllaanntt iinnggrreeddiieenntt ccaan
ccaauussee tthhee ppllaassttiicc hhoouussiinngg ttoo ccrraacckk.

e

t

leave the camera and housing in direct sunlight for

t

ship the camera in the housing.

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in each control knob.

ccoonnttrrooll ggllaannd

d

penetrating the housing to make sure

DDoo NNoott ssttrreettcchh tthhee oo’’rriinng

N

.

sseet

n

t

11

g

.

CCoonnttrrooll MMaaiinntteennaanncce

e

Ikelite controls are designed to provide years of reliable service
with minimal maintenance.

1. Push button controls require no maintenance other than rinsing
in fresh water after saltwater use. If a push button control

ecomes difficult to push or if it sticks when depressed, soak the

b
housing in luke warm fresh water. After a few minutes operate

he push button. If this does not correct the problem, return the

t
housing to Ikelite for maintenance.

2. Some of the controls have long shafts. These controls can be

lubricate shaft

housing

3. Some of the controls have a short shaft and cannot be pulled
out exposing the shaft for lubrication. In the unlikely event one

f these controls sticks or becomes difficult to operate you can

o
remove the control from the housing and lubricate it, or return
the housing to Ikelite for maintenance. To remove the control,
loosen the set screw in the knob (allen wrench required);

emove the knob. If there is salt or dirt build-up on the exposed

r
control shaft, clean the shaft. Open the housing and gently slide

he control shaft out of the control gland. Clean and lightly

t
lubricate the shaft, including the end of the shaft. Slide the

haft back into the control gland and gently slide it back and

s
forth a few times without fully removing the shaft from the
gland. Replace the knob, NOTE the flat area on the shaft, the
set screw in the knob should tighten down against the flat area

n the control so the knob does not turn on the shaft.

o

pull out to
expose shaft

pulled out, exposing the shaft (see drawing).
To lubricate the control, gently pull on the knob until the
stainless steel shaft is exposed. Lightly lubricate the shaft, then
move the shaft in and out several times. This will lubricate the
x’ring in the Ikelite control gland. This should be done before
using the housing after a prolonged storage period, or once a
week when the housing is in use.

12

GGeenneerraall TTiipps

s

1. Due to the power required to operate the camera, flash, and
LCD screen it is a good idea to start each dive with a fresh set of
batteries.

2. Some cameras reset their flash to AUTO when the camera is
turned on. If you prefer another setting be sure to select it.

3. As soon as you enter the water, take a moment and check the
housing to see that it is properly sealed.
Next, check to see if there are any bubbles on the face of the

4.
lens port. If there are, take your finger and remove them. If
there are bubbles on the lens port they can produce soft focus
spots in your photographs.

LLuubbrriiccaanntts

s

1. Ikelite provides silicone lubricant with the housing. We
recommend that you use only Ikelite lubricant on Ikelite
products as some other brands may cause the o’ring to swell
and not seal properly.

2. Use only enough lubricant to lightly cover control shafts and
o’rings. Wipe off any excess lubricant with a clean cloth.
Lubricant is not a sealant, it is used to reduce friction. Excessive
lubricant can collect sand and dirt which may interfere with
proper sealing.

CCAAUUTTIIOON

N

NNeevveerr uussee sspprraayy lluubbrriiccaannttss aass tthhee pprrooppeellllaanntt iinnggrreeddiieenntt ccaan
ccaauussee tthhee ppllaassttiicc hhoouussiinngg ttoo ccrraacckk.

.

n

control
shaft

Flat

Tighten set screw down

against this area when

replacing the knob.

housing

Lubricate end of shaft
before reinserting into
gland

gland

Loosen set screw
(allen wrench required)

13

PPhhoottoo TTiipps

s

1. The number one rule in underwater photography is eliminate as
much water between camera and subject as possible. Get as
close as you can to the subject, then use the zoom. If you are
using flash, subjects beyond 6 feet (1.8m)will not have much
color.

2. The camera’s built-in flash is very close to the camera lens. The
flash will light up any suspended particles in the water and they
will be recorded in your picture. This effect is called backscatter.
To eliminate as much backscatter as possible, photograph close.
Photograph in clear water; do not stir up the sand or silty
bottom. If backscatter becomes a problem in the environment
you are photographing, an external flash will help eliminate
much of the backscatter.

3. Digital cameras have a slight lag time between when you press
the shutter release button and the camera actually takes the
picture. Hold the camera steady a second or two after pressing
the shutter release button.

4. Do not shoot down on subjects as they will quite often blend
into the background and be difficult to see in the photograph.
Shoot subjects straight on or shoot up at a slight angle using
the blue water as a contrasting background.

5. Underwater flash is used to restore the warmer colors filtered
out by the water as well as to illuminate the subject. When
photographing underwater, set the camera to use flash on
every shot. If the camera’s flash is set to AUTO and the sun is
behind your subject, the camera may see enough light that it
does not fire the flash. With the sun behind the subject the
subject is shaded (dark) and needs flash for a good exposure.

14

15

IIkkeelliittee LLiimmiitteedd WWaarrrraanntty

ll Ikelite products are warranted against any manufacturing

A
defects for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase.

efective products should be returned prepaid to Ikelite. Ikelite

D
will, at its discretion, repair or replace such products, and will
return to customer prepaid. All other claims, of any nature,
including but not limited to bulb failure are not covered. Except as

entioned above, no other warranty expressed or implied, applies

m
to this Ikelite product.

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RReettuurrnniinngg PPrroodduuccttss ffoorr SSeerrvviicce

kelite is most interested in preforming any service to assure that

I
all products perform as intended. For repair or service, return the
product to the address below with your name, address, phone
number and a brief description of the problem. Evidence of
purchase date must be provided to obtain warranty service.

IIkkeelliittee UUnnddeerrwwaatteerr SSyysstteemms

5500 WW 3333rrdd SSttrreeeet

IInnddiiaannaappoolliiss,, IINN 4466220088 UUSSA

331177--992233--4455223

eemmaaiill:: iikkeelliittee@@iikkeelliittee..ccoom

wwwwww..iikkeelliittee..ccoom

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