Sealife DC500 User Manual

DC500 Troubleshooting Updates February 2, 2006

Q – My battery does not last long and runs out after only one dive or about 50 pictures.

A – The DC500 uses the most powerful lithium rechargeable battery available. With a freshly charged
battery, you should get about 1.5 hours of use or about 100 pictures with proper power management.
Here are some tips to maximize battery life:

1. Make sure that you initially charge the battery overnight (minimum 8 hours). Then the battery must be
fully discharged through normal use prior to the next complete charge. This only needs to be done the
first time the battery is charged.

2. Set the power save setting (sleep mode) from 2 minutes to 30seconds. This setting is located under
the set-up mode menu. The camera will go to sleep in 30 seconds and preserve battery power. Push
any button to wake up the camera. The camera will turn off in 3 minutes if no buttons are pushed.
Press the power button to turn on the camera.

3. Using the Shark mode will save battery power.

4. Keep the camera power off as much as possible.

5. Purchase a spare battery as a back-up – Item # SL15134.

Q – Can I use a 1GB or 2GB SD memory card with the DC500?

A – We recommend a maximum memory size of 512mb made by Sandisk, Toshiba or Panasonic. Larger
memory size and other brands may work fine, but we can not guarantee their compatibility with the DC500
camera. In some cases, we know that a 1GB or 2GB memory card can cause the camera to react slowly
during powering on the camera and increase the recycle time between taking pictures, especially while the
camera is set to TIFF image format.

Q – How can I get the DC500 video clip will not play on my MAC computer?

A – The Windows Media Player for MAC appears to have some bugs, that Microsoft is trying to fix. We
found another media player that plays .asf file on MAC computers. It is available for free download here:

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/14738

Q –What can cause the DC500 metal parts to rust?

A – The DC500 uses 316 stainless steel metal hardware, which is the best type of stainless steel available
for use in saltwater and marine environment. The rust that you see is only on the surface and caused by
other metals that have contacted and contaminated the 316 stainless steel. It can be easily wipe off with a
clean moist cloth. It is important that you keep the stainless steel hardware clean and dry to prevent rust
stains from forming. A great source for information on stainless steel is

http://www.ssina.com/knowledgebase/..

Q – The stainless steel plate on the front of the housing looks dull and has imperfections.

A – Most likely, the protective film is still on the stainless steel plate. The camera comes with a clear
protective film to protect the metal part from scratches. Remove the film and remember to clean off the
camera with fresh water after every dive and allow it to dry completely before storage.

Q – The shutter button on DC500 seems difficult to push or does not even work sometimes.

A – Open the housing and check the housing production lot code.

IF the date code is A through J, check to see that the two black rubber caps are in place. Without these in
place the camera is not sitting properly and out of reach of the shutter button. If any of the rubber caps
are missing, SeaLife can ship out a new rubber caps that the consumer can replace (Item# SL11052).

IF the date code is equal to K or greater, the black rubber caps are not necessary.

Other possible answer(s):

The shutter button on the housing should only require about 3 pounds of force to activate. Gently press
and hold the shutter button, and never push with excessive force. The camera will not take a picture no
matter how hard you push the shutter IF the flash is not fully charged. Practice pushing the shutter button
gently and get a feel for the amount of pressure required to activate the shutter.

If you are still experiencing any issues with the shutter button, please contact the SeaLife service center.

Q – Some of the buttons on the back of the housing do not reach the inner camera:

A – Three of the navigational buttons on the back of the housing require a black rubber button cover (item
# SL15005), as shown in the picture below. If this button cover is missing, please contact your local
authorized SeaLife dealer or contact SeaLife Customer Service.

Q –The Flash Link Adapter keeps popping off, when using TWO strobes,

A – The Flash Link adapter grabs around the lens port but can be pulled off under excessive stress. To
avoid this it is important to feed the Flash Link cables up from under the camera and up into the adapter,
so the cable is relaxed and not pulling on the adapter. It may also help to the cable to the flash arm using
with a low-profile zip tie to keep firmly in position.

Q – Camera has no power

A – Make sure the battery is inserted correctly into the camera. There is a small sticker inside the battery
compartment to show the correct way to insert the battery. Also make sure that the battery has been
completely charged.

Q – I have lost the little Allen wrench tool to tighten the screws on my DC500 Flash Link adapter.

A – We do not stock this part but the tool is available at most hardware stores. Ask for either a 1/16”
(1.5mm) Allen wrench.

Q – Pictures are out of focus.

A – There are many factors that may affect the auto focus system. The camera’s auto focus range is 2.4”
(6cm) to infinity. Here are some tips to ensure a sharp focus:

1. For macro shots within 2.4”(6cm) to 14” (35cm) the camera must be set to:

a. For land pictures, set the camera Scene mode (SCN button) to Macro.
b. For underwater pictures, set the camera Scene mode (SCN button) to Sea or External Flash.
c. Enable Shark mode.