ULTRAcompact Housing
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. See the included “Supplemental Instructions” for control locations
and camera settings specific to your camera. Please refer to the back page
of this manual to register your Ikelite product.
Table of Contents
Package Contents ......................................................P. 3
Preparation ..................................................................P. 3
Initial Camera Setup ........................................................P. 4
Opening the Housing ......................................................P. 4
Main Housing O-ring ......................................................P. 5
Installing the Camera ......................................................P. 5
Closing the Housing ........................................................P. 5
Safety Check ..................................................................P. 5
Usage ..........................................................................P. 6
Turn Camera On..............................................................P. 6
Zoom Control ..................................................................P. 6
Using the Camera’s Built-in Flash ..................................P. 6
Diffuser and Deflector Use ..............................................P. 7
Entering the Water ..........................................................P. 8
Maintenance ................................................................P. 8
Lens Port ........................................................................P. 8
Control Maintenance ......................................................P. 8
O-ring Ma
Lubricant..........................................................................P. 10
Housing Maintenance......................................................P. 10
Photo Tips ..................................................................P. 11
Troubleshooting ........................................................P. 13
Spare Parts ..................................................................P. 15
Recommended Accessories ....................................P. 15
Technical Support ......................................................P. 17
Returning Products for Service ......................................P. 18
Limited Warranty ............................................................P. 19
Product Registration ..................................................Back Cover
intenance ....
....................................................P. 9
2
Package Contents
- ULTRAcompact Housing
- Supplemental Instructions
- Silicone Lubricant
- Lanyard
- Diffuser
- Deflector
- Extra Control Tips
Preparation
This product has been water pressure tested at the factory and is depth
rated to 200 ft. (60m). 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 housing main o-ring and retest to make sure that it is
watertight. Refer to the Troubleshooting section, page 13.
We suggest that you read this instruction booklet thoroughly before use
to have a full understanding of where each camera control is located,
and what function each control provides. 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.
Due to the power required to operate the camera and LCD screen start
each dive with a fully charged camera battery.
3
PUSH TO
UNLOCK
Initial Camera Setup (for most point and shoot digitals)
- Read the camera manual thoroughly to obtain a full understanding of
each camera function before attempting to use inside of the housing.
- Start each dive with a fully charged camera battery and sufficient
unused memory.
- Set ISO to the lowest setting available.
- Set camera to least automated mode.
- Enable the close-up/macro mode to allow for close-up focusing.
- Set the flash to fire every time you shoot if using the built-in flash or
an external slave strobe.
- If possible, set the aperture to the smallest available setting.
Opening the Housing
Place the housing face down in your lap or on a flat surface.
Depress opposing latch buttons simultaneously to open housing, see
diagram A. Once the latch is unlocked, rotate the latch handle up and
away from the housing until it stops, diagram B. This motion will also
break the housing o-ring seal and open the housing back slightly. Latch
must be rotated to the FULLY open position to ensure easy opening of
the housing. Do not use metal objects to assist in opening the back.
Rotate the hinged back to its open position.
Caution: Do not operate the housing shutter control lever until the
camera is installed, otherwise shutter spring damage could occur. Does
not apply to housings with a push button shutter control.
Diagram A
Side View
Latch Closed
Latch in FULLY
open position
Diagram B
Top View
Latch Opened
4
Latch
Button
Latch
Button
Main Housing O-ring
Check to see that there is an o-ring
on the housing back and that it is
Diagram C
Housing Back - Side View
clean, lightly lubricated, and in its
proper location, diagram C. Only
apply enough lubricant to make the o-ring feel slick. Too much
lubricant can attract debris and adversely affect the housing seal.
Too little lubricant can result in difficulty closing the housing.
O-ring
Installing the Camera
Remove any lanyard
Diagram D
attached to your
camera. Pull out on
housing controls
until they stop.
Place the camera
face down into the
UNLOCK
PUSH TO
front housing ribs as
shown, diagram D.
Closing the Housing
Rotate the hinged back onto the housing front. Close the latch and make
sure it locks. Latch will “click” into it’s locked position. Latch buttons will
NOT be depressed when latch is properly locked, see diagram A, page
4. Return housing controls to their operating position. Make sure the
housing controls line up with the camera controls.
Safety Check
Inspect the o-ring seal through each side of the housing. A good
seal should appear as a solid black line. Make sure that no stray hairs,
lanyards, or other objects cross the o-ring seal.
5
Usage
Turn Camera On
Turn the camera on and operate each of the housing controls to get a
feel for using the camera in the housing.
You are now ready to shoot underwater photos!
Zoom Control (lever type only)
After you have used the housing's
zoom control, it must be returned to the
center position to disengage. If the
housing zoom control is pushing the
zoom lever in either direction, you may
not be able to take a picture or access
other functions. This is because the
camera is receiving a signal from the
engaged zoom control.
Using the Camera’s Built-in Flash
If you are shooting with the camera’s built-in flash and the cameras lens
is set to the widest angle, you may need to zoom the lens slightly or a
dark area may appear in a lower corner of close-up photographs. The
lens port may block some of the light. Install the Diffuser and zoom in
slightly to eliminate any dark areas noted in your photographs. You can
test this above water. See Diffuser and Deflector Use, page 7.
For the best results, we recommend using an external Ikelite Substrobe.
An external strobe can be positioned so nothing blocks the light path
between the strobe and the subject.
-
+
Zoom Control
“Disengaged”
(Center Position)
-
Zoom Control
“Engaged”
+
The camera’s built-in flash CANNOT be used with optional Wide-Angle or
Accessory lenses.
6
Diffuser and Deflector Use
Diffuser
or
Deflector
Diffuser or Deflector
Cut-out
Section
Diffuser or
Deflector
A diffuser and deflector are included
with the housing. The diffuser is white
transparent plastic. The deflector is
also white but is not transparent.
To install the diffuser or deflector,
push the “Cut-out Section” into t
port groove until it stops.
Note the Small Hole. To avoid losing
he
Small
Hole
the diffuser or deflector, you can
attach a fishing line or string to this
hole.
The diffuser should be installed when using the camera flash. When
shooting close-up photographs with the camera flash and at the camera
lens’s widest angle setting, the lens port on the housing can block a
portion of the light from the camera flash. This can result in a shadow in
a lower corner of the frame. Zoom the lens to eliminate the shadow
(You can test this above water).
The deflector should be installed when using an Ikelite external strobe.
The deflector will block and redirect the camera flash to the AF35 slave
unit or an EV Controller which controls the external strobe output.
Housings shown with Diffuser or Deflector correctly installed.
Cut-out
Section
7
Entering the Water
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 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 photos or video.
Maintenance
Lens Port
Treat the glass in the lens port as a camera lens. After use, rinse and
gently dry the outside lens port to avoid water spotting. To clean, use a
mild soap solution or lens cleaner. Do not rinse the inside port glass. Do
not use alcohol or window cleaner on the Lens Port.
Control Maintenance
Ikelite controls are designed to provide years of reliable service with
minimal maintenance.
Push button controls require no maintenance other than rinsing in fresh
water after saltwater use. If a push button control becomes difficult to
push, or if it sticks when depressed, soak the housing in luke warm fresh
water. After a few minutes operate the push button. If this does not
correct the problem, return the housing to Ikelite for routine
maintenance.
If a housing control shaft becomes “sticky” and hard to operate, return
the housing to Ikelite for routine maintenance.
8
O-ring Maintenance
We recommend that you clean the main housing o-ring and main
housing o-ring channel before each day of diving.
1. To remove the o-ring, place index finger and thumb on the o-ring as
shown, diagram D.
2. Squeeze the o-ring into a loop by pressing down on the o-ring and
squeezing your index finger and thumb together, diagram E.
3. Grab the o-ring loop with your other hand and remove the o-ring from the
housing back.
4. Wipe the o-ring channel clean with a paper towel, napkin, or lint-free
wiping cloth .
5. Clean and lightly lubricate the o-ring. Use Ikelite lubricant only. Put a
small amount of lkelite lubricant on your fingers. Pull the o-ring through
your fingers to apply a light coating of lubricant. Apply only enough
lubricant to make the o-ring feel slick. Do not stretch the o-ring. 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.
6. Very lightly lubricate the o-ring sealing surface on the housing front.
CAUTION: Never use a screwdriver or metal object to remove the main
housing o-ring. This could damage the housing and o-ring, which could
result in a leak.
Diagram D
Index Finger
Thumb
Diagram E
Squeeze
Together
O-ring
9
Lubricant
Ikelite provides silicone lubricant with the housing. We recommend you use
only Ikelite lubricant on Ikelite products. Other brands may cause the main
housing o-ring to swell and not seal properly.
Use only enough lubricant to lightly cover the main housing o-ring or
lubricate a sticky control. 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.
CAUTI ON:
Never use spray lubricants as the propellant ingredient can cause
the plastic housing to crack or o-rings to swell.
Housing Maintenance
In addition to normal maintenance, we recommend that the housing be
returned to Ikelite periodically to be checked and pressure tested.
- Do not leave the camera and housing in direct sunlight for prolonged
periods. Heat may damage the camera.
- Do not ship the camera in the housing.
- Keep the main housing o-ring clean and lightly lubricated. To lubricate,
remove the o-ring from the back.
NOTE: Housing may be hard to open and close if the main housing
o-ring is not properly lubricated.
- Keep the area where the o-ring fits and the sealing surface of the
housing clean.
- If removing a housing push button, do not re-use the E-clip. Contact
Ikelite for replacement E-clips (part 0319.12).
- Leave housing latch in the open position when not using the housing for
extended periods.
10
Housing Maintenance - continued
- Rinse the housing exterior thoroughly in freshwater after each saltwater
use. Move each push button in and out several times to release trapped
saltwater. Dry housing with a soft cloth. Dry the lens port to eliminate
water spotting. Do not use alcohol or window cleaner on the Lens Port.
After several uses in saltwater, soak the housing exterior in a mild soap
solution, rinse and dry before storing. When storing the housing, remove
the main housing o-ring, lightly lubricate, and place in a plastic bag.
Place the plastic bag with o-ring, inside the housing for safe keeping.
Photo Tips
- The number one rule in underwater photography is to eliminate as much
water between the camera and subject as possible. Get as close as you
can to the subject, then use the zoom. If you are using flash for still
photos, subjects beyond 6 feet (1.8m) will not have much color
regardless of strobe power.
- The camera’s built-in flash is very close to the camera lens. The flash
can light up any suspended particles in the water and they can be
recorded in your picture. This effect is called backscatter. To eliminate as
much backscatter as possible, photograph close or use an external
strobe. 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.
- Many 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.
11
Photo Tips - continued
- 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.
- 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 and not fire the flash. With the sun behind the subject,
the subject is shaded (dark) and needs flash for a good exposure.
- If your camera consistently overexposes the image when using daylight
or flash, you may want to adjust your camera’s exposure compensation
settings.
- If you error in exposure, it is better to have the image slightly
underexposed rather than overexposed. An overexposed image is
missing color information which cannot be adjusted in a photo
processing program. A slightly underexposed image has color
information that can be adjusted.
- It is important to respect all living creatures underwater, including
people, marine life, and coral. While we encourage people to get close
to their subjects when taking a photograph, they should not touch, lie on,
or in any way disturb the things they find underwater.
12
Troubleshooting
Problem
Water enters the
housing
Pictures are too blue
or too green
Housing is hard to
close
Camera does not
take a picture
Solution
- Remove, clean and properly lubricate the main
o-ring.
- Look for hairs, dirt, or foreign debris crossing the
o-ring seal.
- Reassemble the housing without a camera
installed and pressure test or take diving.
- Return housing to Ikelite for routine maintenance.
- Use custom (manual) white balance if available.
- Add an optional color correcting filter.
- Add an external strobe.
- Move in closer to your subject when taking a
picture.
- Lightly lubricate main housing o-ring, see page 9.
- Make sure that the camera is installed correctly.
- Install a fully charged battery.
- Make sure the housing zoom control is centered
and not engaged.
- There is not enough available light for the camera
to properly focus. Add a focusing light or strobe
with a built-in focusing light to your system.
- Select macro mode when shooting close-ups.
13
Problem
Image is over- or
under-exposed, or a
corner of the image
is dark
Solution
- Check that the camera flash is firing when taking
a picture. Camera flash s
- Make sure the deflector is installed when you are
using an external strobe.
- Make sure the diffuser is installed when you are
NOT using an external strobe. Zoom in slightly to
eliminate any dark corners.
- When using an external strobe, make sure it is
turned on, set properly, and it’s battery is charged.
- Change camera shutter speed and/or aperture.
- Move closer to or further away from the subject.
hould be forced “on.”
Fogging occurs on
the Lens Port
14
- Humid air is trapped inside the housing.
The camera produces heat and may condense
any trapped moisture forming fog on the lens port.
Close the housing in an air-conditioned room or
vehicle, or in front of an air-conditioner.
- The housing should not be in direct sunlight for an
extended period of time.
- Purchase desiccant packs from a local camera
store. Place one or two packs in your housing
before each day of diving.
- If water droplets or moisture is present around the
controls or sealing areas, return the housing to
Ikelite for evaluation.
- Clean the main housing o-ring and sealing
surface of the housing, see page 9.
Problem
Push buttons or
controls are sticky
and hard to operate
Solution
- Remove the camera and rinse the closed housing
in freshwater. Vigorously press each push button
in and out several times to release any trapped
saltwater or debris.
- If a control is sticky, grab the control knob, pull it
out, and then push back in.
- Return housing to Ikelite for routine maintenance.
Spare Parts
Main Housing O-ring ..............................0132.45
Replacement Lanyard ............................0321.10
Replacement Vinyl Port Cover ................0200.02 (2.2” port)
................................................................0200 (3.0” port)
................................................................0200.08 (3.9” port)
Ikelite Lube ..............................................5020 (4 - 1cc tubes)
For light lubrication of the main housing o-ring.
Recommended Accessories
A full range of accessories is available to support your housing. Please
visit www.ikelite.com to see the most current information about
recommended accessories.
Tray and Handle(s)
Add stability and gripping point(s) for comfortable use of the housing
above and below water. Some tray and handles offset the slightly
positive buoyancy of the housings. Handles offer attachment points for
external lighting systems.
15
Recommended Accessories - continued
External Strobes
A separate external strobe adds color to restore the warmer colors
filtered out by the water as well as to illuminate the subject. Add a
second strobe to eliminate shadows and evenly light your subjects.
Video Lighting
External video lights add color when using the video/movie mode of your
camera. Primary video lights are specially color balanced to provide
natural tones.
Travel Cases
Protect your investment and travel with ease. An optional Carrying
Case or Travel Bag will accommodate the housing with a single AF35 or
DS51 strobe, single tray with handle and accessories.
External Color Correcting Filters
Color filters such as the UR-Pro
Filter replace some of the reds,
oranges and more natural tones
that would otherwise be lost
underwater. Effective in relatively
shallow, sunny conditions. Available
for tropical blue water and green
water settings. For optimum results
use in combination with “custom
(manual) white balance.” Check your camera user guide for information
on this option (if available). Not recommended when using external
strobes.
Please refer to the “supplemental instructions” manual for UR-Pro Filters
that are compatible with your housing.
UR-Pro Filter
Lens Port
16
Recommended Accessories - continued
UR/Pro Filter (Blue Water)
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 an external flash.
UR/Pro Filter (Green Water)
Enhances contrast and alters the color of green water to give your
subject a rich, natural tone. For available light use only. Not
recommended for use with an external flash.
Accessory Lens Information
Please refer to the “supplemental instructions” manual for Accessory
Lens information.
Please Read If Using an EV Manual Controller
The EV-Controller used with Ikelite DS Substrobes has two user
settings. One setting is for strobe selection, the other is for pre-flash “P”
or non pre-flash “ P .” Most cameras use a pre-flash. This means the
EV-Controller should be set to the pre-flash “P” position when used with
this camera as a slave. If a manual mode is used that does not emit a
pre-flash, set the EV-controller to the non pre-flash “ P ” position.
Technical Support
Please read the troubleshooting section of this instruction manual before
contacting technical support.
Ikelite Technical Support
Email: ikelite@ikelite.com
Phone 317-923-4523
Fax 317-924-7988
17
Returning Products for Service
Ikelite is most interested in performing any service to ensure that all
products perform as intended. Evidence of purchase date must be
provided to obtain warranty service.
No prior authorization is required. You may return directly to us or
through your dealer. Please include a brief description of the problem,
any relevant e mail correspondence, and/or instructions on what you
want us to do. Always include name, shipping address, email address,
and phone number inside of the package. Send postage paid to:
Ikelite Underwater Systems
Attention: Service Department
50 West 33rd Street
Indianapolis, IN 46208 USA
No reimbursements for postage paid will be issued.
You may also want to insure the package.
Returning Products for Service (outside the United States)
For the separate international customs documentation form that you
complete to accompany the shipment, please state or designate that the
enclosed products were originally manufactured in the USA and are
being returned to the manufacturer for repair service. Value of the
equipment listed for customs purposes should be zero.
18
Limited Warranty
This Ikelite product is warranted against any manufacturing defects for a
period of one (1) year from the original date of purchase. Defective
products should be returned to Ikelite postage paid. Ikelite will, at its sole
discretion, repair or replace such products, and will return to customer
postage paid. All other claims of any nature are not covered. Except as
mentioned above, no other warranty expressed or implied applies to this
Ikelite product.
19
Product Registration
Please visit www.ikelite.com to register your Ikelite housing within 15
days of purchase.
Ikelite Underwater Systems
50 West 33rd Street
Indianapolis, IN 46208 USA
www.ikelite.com
ULTRAcompact_General_07-0712
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