Ikelite SLR-DC Housing, SLR-DC 6812.81 Quick Start Manual
SLR-DC Housing
FX
IKELITE
Q u i c k s t a r t G u i d e
6812.75 Nikon D750
This Quickstart Guide will give you the basic information necessary to begin shooting underwater photo/video.
It is highly recommended that you also read your Ikelite housing manual and camera owner’s manual.
1. Initial Camera Setup - the following camera settings should be
made before placing the camera in the housing.
- Insert a fully charged battery and SDHC memory card(s).
- Set the mode dial to “A” Aperture Priority. Set aperture to F8 for general
photography or F22 for macro photography (close-ups). Shutter speed is
locked at 1/60th second with a DS strobe attached and turned on. If a faster
shutter speed is desired, set Mode Dial to “M” manual. Maximum
recommended shutter speed is 1/250th second.
- Set ISO Sensitivity to “200” and Metering to “Center-weighted.”
- Set Focus Mode Selector to “AF.”
- Set Focus Point to the center and rotate focus selector to “L.”
- In the Photo Shooting Menu:
Set Image Quality to “JPEG Fine” and Image Size to “L” Large.
Set JPEG Compression to “Optimal Quality.”
Set White Balance to “AUTO1.” For best results set to “Preset manual” and
reset for each working depth.
Set Picture Control to “SD Standard.”
Set Active D-Lighting, HDR and Vignette control to “OFF.”
Set Auto Distortion Control and Long Exposure NR to “OFF.”
- In Custom Settings Menu:
Set AF-S priority selection to “Release” & AF point illumination to “ON.”
Set Built-in AF-assist illuminator to “Off” and LCD illumination to “ON.”
- In the Setup Menu:
Set Time Zone and Date.
Set Save user settings to “U1.”
Note: The camera’s internal flash cannot be used while in the housing. This
housing is designed for use with an external strobe only. Use the Flash
Mode & Compensation Dial on the housing back to adjust flash duration.
Red-eye reduction should be off when connected to a strobe.
2. Attach Tray with Handles to Housing
- Use hardware and instructions located in the clear Ikelite pouch.
Diagram A
Diagram B
Housing
Back
Push Forward
Lift
Hotshoe Connector
Housing Back
Lid Snap Locking Tab
Front
Nikon
External Strobe
Connector and
Waterproof Cap
3. Open the Housing and Remove the Housing Back
- To open the housing, carefully open each Lid Snap. Lid Snaps have a Lock.
To open, push Lid Snap Lock forward and lift as shown (Diagram A). Keep
pressure on each Lid Snap so it does not fly open quickly.
4. Attach the Hotshoe and Camera Mounting Bolt
- Slide the Hotshoe Connector forward onto the camera flash mount until it
stops (Diagram B). Hotshoe Connector should be attached before the
camera is secured with the mounting bolt.
- Position the camera and lens on the camera tray, and then secure it with the
mounting bolt which threads into the camera’s tripod socket (Diagram C).
Use a flathead screwdriver (recommended) or coin to tighten the mounting
bolt so the camera bottom is flush against the tray.
The Leveling Screw is factory preset and does not need to be adjusted.
5. Install Camera in Housing and Close Housing
-
Before installing the camera, make sure housing control levers are out of the
way. Pull out on the controls in the front section of the housing, or point them
forward away from the back. This will allow the camera to slide in easier.
Once the camera is installed and the lid snaps have been closed, return the
controls to their operating position.
- CHECK each housing control’s operation.
- CHECK the main housing o-ring seal (should appear as a dark line around
the housing back).
- CHECK Lid Snap Locking Tabs. Make sure they are flipped up (Diagram A).
Diagram C
Diagram D
Housing
Front
Gear
Sleeve
Zoom
Clamp
Camera
Tray
Leveling
Screw
IKELITE
Mounting
Bolt
Port Lock
Zoom Control
When using Zoom
Control, mesh
Gear Sleeve teeth
with Black Housing
Drive Gear
ikelite
Batt
w/Lite
Off
On
On
w/Lite
TTL
Full
Fuel
Guage
Ready Light
3
2
1
-2
-3
-4
-1
DS
SOS
TTL
1
-1
-1
F
-2
-3
MAN
6. Installing the Port
- There are four Port Locks on the Housing Front (Diagram D). Each Port
Lock has a Release Button. Lift the release button and slide each Port Lock
away from the port opening. In the unlocked position, the Release Button
will remain in the up position as shown (Diagram E).
- Install Zoom Clamp and Gear Sleeve if applicable (Diagram D). Refer to
your Ikelite instruction manual for details regarding this procedure.
- Lightly lubricate the port o-ring (use ONLY Ikelite lubricant).
- Place the port, with o-ring, into the housing port opening. Press down on the
port firmly and evenly until you feel the port slide into place.
- Slide each Port Lock forward until it locks. Confirm the Port Lock Release
Button is seated flush against the Port Lock Body (Diagram E).
7. Using an Ikelite DS-series Strobe (Diagram F)
- Attach your Ikelite DS-series strobe and arm combination to the top of a
housing handle. Depress the Handle Push Button and drop the open arm
end into the handle. The Push Button will return to it’s starting position when
the arm is properly locked-in.
- Remove the Waterproof Caps from the strobe and housing back connectors.
Attach one end of the sync cord to the strobe, and the other end to the
Housing External Strobe Connector. Finger tighten cord ends only; do not
use pliers to tighten.
8. Pre-Dive Your System
It is recommended that you take the complete system into a swimming pool
before use in open water. This will give you a chance to become familiar
with the handling and operation of your housing and strobe(s).
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 port. If there are, take your fingers and remove them. If there
are bubbles on the lens port they can produce soft focus spots in your
photographs.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- When using daylight or flash, if your camera consistently over or
underexposes the image, 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.
© 2014 Ikelite Underwater Systems
Diagram E
Diagram F
www.ikelite.com
Port Lock
Release Button
Port Lock Body
Locked Position
Lift Release
Button to
Unlock
Pull Back to
Unlocked Position
SA-100 Ball
Socket Arm
Housing External Strobe Connector: remove
Waterproof Cap to insert sync cord
Disengage
Port
Sync Cord: Attach
one end to the
strobe and other
end to the housing
Ikelite Underwater Systems
50 West 33rd Street
Indianapolis, IN 46208 USA
6812.75_Nikon_D750_Quickstart_01-1014
DS161 Movie
Strobe
Remove Waterproof Cap
to insert sync cord
Handle
Push
Button
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