Ikelite 6184.99 Instruction Manual

Underwater Housing for Nikon S9900

Product Number 6184.99

I n s t r u c t i o n M a n u a l

Thank you for your purchase of Ikelite equipment. Please read this
instruction manual completely before attempting to operate or dive
with this product. Please refer to the back page of this manual to
register your Ikelite product.

Table of Contents

Preparation ..................................................................P. 3

Specifications ..............................................................P. 4

What’s in the Box ........................................................P. 4

Parts of the Housing - Front View ..................................P. 5

Parts of the Housing - Back View ..................................P. 6

Housing and Camera Setup ........................................P. 7

STEP 1 - Initial Camera Setup ........................................P. 7, 8

STEP 2 - Opening the Housing ......................................P. 8

STEP 3 - Camera Installation/Removal ..........................P. 9, 10

STEP 4 - Closing the Housing ........................................P. 10, 11

STEP 5 - Final Check......................................................P. 11

Housing Usage ............................................................P. 12

Zoom Control Use ..........................................................P. 12

Using the Camera’s Built-in Flash ..................................P. 12

Strobe Use ......................................................................P. 13

Deflector Installation and Removal ................................P. 13

Diffuser Purpose..............................................................P. 14

Diffuser Installation and Removal....................................P. 14

Entering the Water ..........................................................P. 15

Recommended Accessories ......................................P. 15 - 18

Maintenance ................................................................P. 19 - 24

Lens Port ........................................................................P. 19

Lubricant..........................................................................P. 19

O-ring Storage ................................................................P. 19

2

continued

Table of Contents

Housing Maintenance......................................................P. 20

Control Maintenance ......................................................P. 21 - 23

Photo Tips ..................................................................P. 24

Troubleshooting ........................................................P. 25 - 27

Spare Parts ..................................................................P. 28

Customer Support ......................................................P. 29

Limited Warranty ........................................................P. 30

Returning Products for Service ................................P. 31

Product Registration ..................................................Back Page

-

Preparation

This product has been water pressure tested at the factory and is depth
rated to 200 ft (60 m). Thoroughly inspect and immerse the empty
housing completely in water before installing a camera. If any fogging
occurs or droplets of water enter the housing, do not install a camera.
Clean the main housing o-ring and retest to make sure that it is
watertight. Refer to the Troubleshooting section, page 25.

Please read your camera manual thoroughly to have a full
understanding of each camera function.

If you are new to underwater photography, be sure to read the Photo
Tips section, page 24.

3

Specifications

Depth Rating..........................200 ft (60 m)

Controls ................................All camera functions accessed except the

................................................Flash pop-up control

Buoyancy ..............................Near neutral in fresh water

Housing Weight ....................3.0 lb (1.4 kg)

Strobe Connection................Fiber Optic Ports

Use Built-in Flash..................Yes (flash diffuser included)

Optional Tray Mounting ........1/4-20 thread external tray mounting with

................................................3-inch (76 mm) spacing

Main O-Ring ..........................0109

Housing Dimensions ............Dimensions 6.9 x 5.0 x 6.5 in (17 x 13 x

...

.............................................16 cm)

(no camera installed)

Housing Material ..................Polycarbonate front, acrylic back

Lens Port ..............................3.9-inch diameter glass

What’s in the Box

- Housing (with lanyard attached)

- Port Cover

- Flash Diffuser

- Flash Deflector (removeable from housing)

- Silicone 1cc Lubricant Tube

4

Parts of the Housing - Front View

Shutter
Release

Command Dial

Zoom Control

Mode Dial

Lens Port

Lid Snap

External Tray Mounts

5

Parts of the Housing - Back View

6

5

3

8

7

9

11

4

MENU

2

10

WIFI

1

Power Switch

Housing Controls

1. Command Dial

2. Movie-record Button

3. Playback Button

4. Wi-Fi Button

5. Flash / Up Arrow

6. Self-timer / Left Arrow

6

7. OK Apply Selection Button

8. Exp. Comp. / Right Arrow

9. Macro Mode / Down Arrow

10. MENU Button

11. Delete Button

Housing and Camera Setup

STEP 1 - Initial Camera Setup

Setup your camera for underwater use and then adjust your settings once underwater.

(before placing camera in housing)

Initial Camera Setup (before placing camera in housing)

- Remove camera lanyard if attached.

- Start each dive with a fully charged camera battery.

- Set Mode Dial to “M” Manual. Set shutter speed to 1/125th second and

aperture to F5.6 when using external strobes or F3.7 when using only

the built-in flash, page 12.

- In MENU - M:

Set Image Quality to “Fine” and Image Size to “16:9/12m.” NOTE: Other

Image Sizes can be used, however, slight vignetting may occur.

Set White balance to “Auto.” Always use AUTO white balance (AWB)

when using a strobe/flash. When recording video or using a UR-Pro

color filter without strobes, AWB can still be used, but for more accurate

and consistent colors we recommend setting Manual white balance.

Manual white balance should be reset for each working depth due to

color absorption caused by the water.

Set Metering to “Center-weighted” and Continuous to “S.”

Set ISO sensitivity to “200.” When using built-in flash only set to “800.”

Set AF area mode to “Center” and autofocus mode to AF-S “Single AF.”

- In MOVIE MENU - :

Set Movie Options to “1080/30p” and AF area mode to “Center.”

Set Autofocus mode to “AF-F” and Movie VR to “On.”

Set Frame Rate to “30 fps.”

Continued on Page 8 >

7

STEP 1 - Initial Camera Setup

- continued

- In SETUP MENU - :

Set camera Time Zone and Date.

In Monitor Settings, set Image Review to “ON.”

Set Photo VR to “ON” and AF assist to “OFF.” Set Digital Zoom to “OFF.”

Set Auto Off to “5m.”

Insert and format a memory card.

- RAISE the FLASH! Set Flash to “Standard Flash.”

- Set Macro mode to “ON” when shooting close-up images. If the

image is overexposed, use “-” exposure compensation and/or back

away, zoom in, and then reshoot.

** All camera settings not listed should be set to the user’s preference.

Adjust settings once underwater to acco mmodate your shooting situation.

STEP 2 - Opening the Housing

Lid Snaps have a Lock.

1. Push Lid Snap Locks
forward and lift as shown.
Open opposing Lid Snaps
simultaneously. Keep
pressure on the Lid Snaps
so they do not fly open
quickly.

Some Lid Snaps have a lot

Lift

Push Forward

Lid
Snap
Lock

of spring tension once they
go over center, so keep a
firm grip on each Lid Snap.
Lid Snaps may also be opened one at a time.

2. Remove the Housing Back.

8

STEP 3 - Camera Installation/Removal

Installing Camera

1. Remove any lanyard attached to the camera.

2. Pull out on each housing control until it stops. This will get the controls
out of the way for installation of the camera.

3. Set the housing front on a table.

4. If not already done, raise the camera flash. Gently slide the camera into
the front mounting blocks while simultaneously pushing down slightly on
the camera flash, Diagram A.

4. While holding the camera in its seated position in the front mounting
blocks, rotate the housing front 90° so the port is resting against the
table top, Diagram B.
CAUTION: Camera is NOT secure in the housing until the housing back
has been installed.

5. See “Closing the Housing”, page 11.

Diagram A

Mounting Block

Diagram B

9

Removing Camera from Housing

1. Place housing face down on a table, Diagram B, page 9; remove
Housing Back and pull up on housing top control knobs.

2. Rotate housing 90°, Diagram A, page 9.

3. Tilt housing port up slightly with one hand while removing the camera
with your other hand, Diagram C, below.

Diagram C

10