Ikelite DSC-H3 User Manual

Ikelite Digital Housing

Mode

Dial

Front View

Shutter
Release

Lid
S

nap

Playback

Flash

Menu

Home

Macro

Self-timer

Lid
S

nap

Lens
Port

Back View

Power

Disp

Zoom

OK

Lift

Push For ward

Lid Snap Lock

Lid
Hook

O' Ring

Mounting Bolt

Mounting
Tray

Lid
Hook

Lid
Hook

i n s t r u c t i o n m a n u a l

#6111.3 for Sony DSC-H3

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).

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LLoocckk

.

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

1. 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.
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ssccrreewwddrriivveerr ttoo
ttiigghhtteenn tthhee
mmoouunnttiinngg bboolltt ssoo
tthhee ccaammeerraa iiss ffllaatt
aaggaaiinnsstt tthhee ttrraayy..

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.

CClloossiinngg tthhee HHoouussiinngg

1. Place housing face down in your
lap or on a flat surface.

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 an even gap all the way

housing

around between the housing and
the housing back.

4. Lift the lid snaps so they are
extended and place the lid snap
into the hook on the housing
back.

5. To close the housing push
down on the lid snaps until

even gap
all 4 sides

they snap into place . Lid
snaps on opposite sides of the
housing should be closed at the
same time. Be sure they are down

housing

far enough to engage the lock.

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- Once the housing is 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.

43

housing back

o'ring

housing back

o'ring

CChheecckkiinngg CCoonnttrroolls

Once the housing has been closed, make sure the housing
controls line up with the camera's controls. If the housing
controls are misaligned slightly make sure the camera hold
down bolt has been tightened down firmly so the camera
is flat against the tray.

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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.

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Diffuser

Housing shown with
Diffuser installed.

5 6

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A diffuser and deflector are
included with the housing. The
diffuser is white transparent
plastic. The deflector is also
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
white plastic should be placed
in front of the camera flash.
The port clamp should be
pushed back against the front
of the housing.

This edge
against
housing

Port Clamp

Spread to Install

Diffuser/
Deflector
material

Spring

DDiiffffuusseerr

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

(You can test this above water)

DDeefflleeccttoorr

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.

7

LLuubbrriiccaannttss

1. Ikelite provides silicone lubricant with the housing. We recommend
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.

CCAAUUTTIIOONN

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ccaauussee tthhee ppllaassttiicc hhoouussiinngg ttoo ccrraacckk.

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OOppttiioonnaall AAcccceessssoorriieess

BBaacckk OO''rriinngg

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

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.

UUssee tthhee EEVV CCoonnttrroolllleerr wwiitthh aa DDSS SSuubbssttrroobbe

The EV Controller provides 10 manual power settings in 1/2 stop
increments for the DS51 or DS125 Substrobes. The EV Controller has
a built-in slave which can be triggered by the camera's built-in flash.

SSuubbssttrroobbee PPaacckkaaggeess aavvaaiillaabblle

#3944.47 SubStrobe DS51 with EV Controller & Strobe Arm
#3944.54 SubStrobe DS51 with EV Controller & Ball Socket Arm
#3944.77 SubStrobe DS125 with EV Controller & Ball Socket Arm

##00111100

##66444411..4411

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