Digital Housing

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

6165.01 for Leica C

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

Specifications ..............................................................P. 3

Package Contents ........................................................P. 3

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

Initial Camera Setup........................................................P. 4

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

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

Opening the Housing ......................................................P. 7

Installing the Camera ......................................................P. 7

Closing the Housing ........................................................P. 8

Using the Camera’s Built-in Flash ..................................P. 8

Usage ............................................................................P. 9

Final Check ....................................................................P. 9

Fiber Optic Ports ............................................................P. 9

Zoom Control ..................................................................P. 9

Diffuser and Deflector Installation and Use ....................P. 10

Attach Optional External Tray and Handle to Housing ..P. 11

Attach Optional Ikelite Strobe Arm to Housing................P. 11

Turn Camera On..............................................................P. 12

Entering the Water ..........................................................P. 12

Maintenance ................................................................P. 12

Lens Port ........................................................................P. 12

Lubricant..........................................................................P. 12

Housing Maintenance......................................................P. 13

2

Table of Contents

- continued

Control Maintenance ......................................................P. 14

Photo Tips ..................................................................P. 17

Troubleshooting ........................................................P. 18

Spare Parts ..................................................................P. 21

Recommended Accessories ....................................P. 21

Customer Support........................................................P. 22

Limited Warranty ........................................................P. 22

Returning Products for Service ................................P. 23

Product Registration ..................................................P. 24

Specifications

Width ......................6.9 in (175 mm) including controls

Height ....................5.0 in (127 mm) including controls

Depth ......................5.2 in (132 mm) including controls and lens port

Weight ....................2.0 lb 9 oz (1.2 kg) above water

Buoyancy ................Slightly negative in freshwater

Package Contents

- Ikelite Digital Housing

- Silicone Lubricant

- Vinyl Port Cover

Preparation

- Diffuser and Deflector

- Extra Control Tips

This product has been water pressure tested at the factory and is depth rated to 200 ft. (60m). With a port attached, 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.

3

Preparation

- continued

Clean the housing main o-ring and retest to make sure that it is watertight. Refer to the Troubleshooting section, page 18.

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 17.

Initial Camera Setup

(before placing camera in housing)

- Insert a fully charged camera battery.

- Set Mode Dial to “A” Aperture-Priority.” Shutter speed is locked at a minimum 1/60th second with flash activated. Use “M” Manual mode for faster shutter speeds. Other modes are not recommended underwater.

- Set Flash to “Forced Flash On ”; flash fires in any conditions.

- In Rec MENU:

Set Aspect Ratio to 4:3 (normal TV) or 16:9 (high-definition TV).

Set Picture Size to “12m” and Quality to “Fine.”

Set ISO Sensitivity to 200 and White Balance to “AWB.” For best results

Set AF Mode to “1-Area” and Quick AF to “ON.”

Set Face Recog. to “OFF”, AF/AE Lock to “AF/AE.”

Set Metering Mode to “Center-Weighted” .

Set i.Exposure to “OFF”, i.Resolution and Digital Zoom to “OFF.”

Set Color Mode to “Standard” and AF Assist Lamp to “Off.”

Set Red-eye Removal to “OFF” and Stabilizer to “ON.”

Set Date Stamp to “OFF” unless otherwise desired.

In Clock Set, set the Date and Time.

- In Setup MENU:

In ECO Economy, set Auto Power Off to “OFF” and Monitor Power Save to “OFF.”

Set Auto Review to “HOLD.”

Insert and “Format” a SD card.

4

Initial Camera Setup

- continued

- Set Focus Mode to AF Macro

If close-up images are overexposed, adjust aperture to a smaller

setting (larger number), and/or back away, zoom in, and then reshoot.

Parts of the Housing - Front View

Shutter

Button

Fiber Optic Ports

ON/OFF

(Power)

Zoom Lever

Mode Dial

Control Ring

Lid Snap

Lens Port

External Tray Mount

5

Parts of the Housing - Back View

1

2

6

3

11

5

7

10

4

8

12

9

5.

6.

7.

8.

1. [LVF] Button

2.

Motion Picture Button

3. [FN] Button

4.

Playback Button

Cursor Up / Exp. Comp.

Cursor Left / MF / Macro

[MENU/SET] Button

9. Control Dial: (Note that a small

section of the rubber disc is missing

at the end of this control, Diagram A,

page 7. This is normal and allows

the user to completely disengage

the control from the camera when

not in use).

10.

Cursor Down / Self-Timer

11. [ DISP] Button

6

- Note: Wi-Fi is not effective in an underwater environment, therefore, no housing control is offered for this feature.

Opening the Housing

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

Push Forward Lid Snap

Lock

Lid Snap so it does not fly open quickly.

Some lid snaps have a lot of spring tension once they go over center, so keep a firm grip on the lid snap. Lid Snaps may be opened one at a time.

Lift

Installing the Camera

1. Remove any lanyard attached to the camera.

2. Remove the back from the housing.

3. Pull up on the top housing control knobs until they stop. This will get the controls out of the way for installation of the camera.

4. The mounting tray for the camera is secured to the housing back.

Position the camera on the tray.

5. Using a coin or screwdriver (preferred), secure the camera with the Tray

Mounting Bolt which threads into the camera’s tripod socket, Diagram A, below.

Attach Camera to Mounting Tray

Diagram A

CAUTION:

Do not cross thread or overtighten the Tray

Mounting Bolt as you may damage the camera tripod socket threads.

Leica

* Control Dial “cut away.” When not in use, rotate Control Dial so

“cut away” is over camera dial and not contacting camera.

Tray Mounting Bolt

7

Closing the Housing

1. Check to see that there is an o-ring on the housing back that is clean and in its proper location.

2. Guide the back onto the housing. The o-ring should touch the housing all the way around.

There should be an even gap all

Even gap on all four sides

Lid Hook

Housing Back the way around between the housing and the housing back.

3. Lift the lid snaps so they are extended and place the lid snap

Lid

Snap

O-ring into the corresponding hook on the housing back.

4. To close the housing, push down on the lid snaps until they snap into place. Lid snaps on opposite sides of the housing should be closed at the same time. Be sure they are down far enough to engage the lid-snap lock.

8

Using the Camera’s Built-in Flash

If you are shooting with the camera’s built-in flash and the camera 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 (included) and zoom in slightly to eliminate any dark areas noted in your photographs

(You can test this above water). See Diffuser/Deflector Installation, page

10. For the best results, we recommend using an external Ikelite

Substrobe.

The camera’s built-in flash CANNOT be used with optional Wide-Angle or

Accessory lenses.

Usage

Final Check

The clear housing permits instant visual inspection of the camera and sealing surfaces as well as complete monitoring of controls and camera

LCD screens. This housing has been factory water pressure tested to

200’ (60m).

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 the housing.

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.

Fiber Optic Ports

Attach fiber optic cords to the housing Fiber Optic Ports, page 5, to fire compatible external strobes. Install the housing Flash Deflector, page

10, to reduce backscatter and assist in redirecting the flash to the Fiber

Optic Ports.

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.

-

+

Zoom Control

“Disengaged”

(Center Position)

-

+

Zoom Control

“Engaged”

9

Diffuser and Deflector Installation

A diffuser and deflector are included with the housing. The diffuser is white transparent plastic.

The deflector is also white but is not transparent.

Diffuser/Deflector material

Cut-out

Section

To install the diffuser or deflector, push the “Cut-out” Section into the port groove until it stops.

Small hole

Note the Small Hole. To avoid losing the diffuser or deflector, you can attach a fishing line or string to this hole.

Diffuser/Deflector properly installed in port groove

Diffuser Use

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).

Deflector Use

The deflector should be installed when using any external strobe. The deflector will block and redirect the camera’s flash to an optional slave strobe or fiber optic cord which will then fire the external strobe. The deflector also stops the built-in flash from creating backscatter in the image. Remove the diffuser before attempting to install the deflector.

10

Attach Optional External Tray and Handle to Housing

1. Place the housing upside down on a flat surface or in your lap so that the housing port is facing toward you as shown in Diagram C.

2. Line up the 3/8” tray holes with the housing mounts. If the tray is positioned

Diagram C

properly, the handle will be on your left side facing down.

3. Place a shoulder washer in each 3/8” tray hole with the small end of the washer facing down.

4. With your free hand, insert and rotate the 1/4-20” screws clockwise until threaded into the housing mounts. Finish tightening the tray to the housing using a flathead screwdriver. Do not overtighten.

Attach Optional Ikelite Strobe Arm to Housing Handle

If you have purchased an Ikelite Tray and Handle for your housing, refer to

Diagram D to attach an Ikelite Arm.

To attach an Ikelite Arm to your

Housing Handle, depress the spring-loaded Handle Push Button until it stops. Gently slide the pronged end of the Ikelite Arm into the hole in the top of the Handle as shown.

When the Ikelite Arm is properly seated, the Handle Push Button will return to its starting position.

Ikelite Arm

Diagram D

Housing Handle

Handle Push

Button

11

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. Take a few test shots on land.

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 or acrylic 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.

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.

CAUTION: Never use spray lubricants as the propellant ingredient can cause the plastic housing to crack or o-rings to swell.

12

Housing Maintenance

Your Ikelite Digital Housing should be given the same care and attention as your other photographic equipment. 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.

- Before using the housing, always check the tightness of the set screw in each control knob. Check each control gland penetrating the housing to make sure they are tight. There is a slight chance that either could vibrate loose during travel.

- Keep the main housing o-ring clean and lightly lubricated. To lubricate, remove the o-ring from the back. Put a small amount of lkelite lubricant on your fingers. Pull the o-ring through your fingers to apply a thin coating of lubricant. Only apply 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.

- Keep the area where the o-ring fits and the sealing surface of the housing clean.

- Rinse the housing exterior thoroughly in freshwater after each saltwater use. Depress push buttons repeatedly in freshwater to eliminate trapped saltwater. Dry with a soft cloth. Dry lens port to eliminate water spotting.

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 back o-ring, lightly lubricate, and place in a plastic bag. Place the plastic bag with o-ring inside the housing for safe keeping.

- If removing a housing push button, Do Not re-use the E-clip. Contact

Ikelite for replacement E-clips (part 0319.12).

- Leave lid snaps in the open position when not using the housing for extended periods.

13

Control Maintenance

Ikelite controls are designed to provide years of reliable service with minimal maintenance.

- Push button controls normally require no maintenance other than rinsing in freshwater after saltwater use. Depress each push button in freshwater several times to eliminate trapped saltwater. If a push button control becomes difficult to push or if it sticks when depressed, soak the housing in luke warm freshwater. After a few minutes, operate the push button. If this does not correct the problem, return the housing to Ikelite for maintenance. If you are on a trip and unable to return the housing immediately, a push button may be lubricated by pressing and holding the push button all the way in. Then, use your finger or other small object to place a small amount of lube at the base of the shaft inside the housing. Press and release the push button several times until the lube is worked up into the o-ring.

- In the unlikely event one of the control shafts sticks or becomes difficult to operate, you can remove the control from the housing and lubricate it, or return the housing to Ikelite for maintenance.

Your housing features both round and hex style control glands. To remove a control in a round style gland, Diagram E, page 16, loosen the set screw in the knob (allen wrench required); remove the knob. If there is salt or dirt build-up on the exposed control shaft, clean the shaft.

Open the housing and gently slide the control shaft out of the control gland. Clean and lightly lubricate the shaft and o-rings, including the large end of the shaft.

If there is a shutter spring on the Control Shaft, make sure it is in its proper position. Rotate the Shaft back and forth slightly to aid installation back into the Control Gland.

Replace the knob with the Set Screw over the Control Flat. The Set

Screw in the knob should be tightened down against the flat area on the

Control Shaft so the knob does not turn on the shaft.

14

Control Maintenance -

continued

- Some of the controls have long shafts and feature a hex style control gland. These controls can be pulled out, exposing the shaft, Diagram F, page 16.

To lubricate the control, gently pull on the knob until the stainless steel shaft is exposed. Lightly lubricate the shaft, then move the shaft in and out several times. This will lubricate the x-ring in the Ikelite control gland.

This should be done before using the housing after a prolonged storage period, or once a week when the housing is in constant use.

- Some of the controls have a short shaft and cannot be pulled out exposing the shaft for lubrication. In the unlikely event one of these controls sticks or becomes difficult to operate you can remove the control from the housing and lubricate it, or return the housing to Ikelite for maintenance. To remove the control, Diagram G, page 16, loosen the set screw in the knob (allen wrench required); remove the knob. If there is salt or dirt build-up on the exposed control shaft, clean the shaft.

Open the housing and gently slide the control shaft out of the control gland. Clean and lightly lubricate the shaft, including the end of the shaft. Slide the shaft back into the control gland and gently slide the shaft back and forth a few times without fully removing the shaft from the gland. Replace the knob noting the flat area on the shaft. The set screw in the knob should tighten down against the flat area on the control, so the knob does not turn on the shaft.

Close housing without a camera inside and water pressure test in a bathtub or swimming pool. Rotate* the knobs to make sure the housing is watertight and the gland was installed properly. Check all controls while the housing is submerged.

*Caution: If your housing has a shutter spring, DO NOT rotate the shutter control more than 1/16th of a rotation, otherwise, you may accidentally bend the shutter spring or cause the spring to “pop off” the control shaft.

15

Diagram E

Lubricate end of shaft before reinserting into gland

Housing

Control Shaft

O-rings

Tighten set screw down against this flat area when replacing the knob.

Diagram F

Housing

Set screw (allen wrench required)

Knob

Control

Gland

Lubricate shaft

Pull out knob to expose shaft

Diagram G

Control

Shaft

Tighten set screw down against this flat area when replacing the knob.

Lubricate end of shaft before reinserting into gland

16

Control

Gland

Loosen set screw

(allen wrench required)

Housing

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 ft (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 housing 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.

17

Troubleshooting

Problem

Push buttons or controls are sticky and hard to operate

Image is over/underexposed, or a corner of the image is dark

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.

- Press a sticky push button all the way in and

place a small amount of lube on the small end of

the push button shaft at its base. Release and

operate the push button several times to distribute

the lube.

- If a control is sticky, grab the control knob, pull it

out, and then push back in. If still sticky, see the

Control Maintenance section - pages 14 &15.

- Return housing to Ikelite for routine maintenance.

- Check that the camera flash or strobe is firing

when taking a picture. Camera flash should be

forced “on.”

- Make sure the deflector is installed when you are

using a non-wired external strobe with a slave.

- Make sure the diffuser is installed when you are

NOT using an external strobe.

- When using an external strobe, make sure it is

turned on, set properly, and its battery is charged.

- Check any corded connection points.

- Change camera shutter speed or aperture.

- Move closer to or further away from the subject.

- Adjust Camera Exp. Comp. .

18

Problem

Camera does not take a picture

Housing is hard to close

Fogging occurs on the Lens Port

Solution

- Install a fully charged battery.

- If using a “lever type” zoom control, make sure the

control is centered and not engaged.

- Another camera function is engaged, locking out

the shutter control.

- 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.

- If applicable select macro mode for close-ups.

- Make sure the camera is mounted properly on the

camera tray and housing controls are out of the

way.

- Main housing o-ring is not seated properly.

- 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 direct in sunlight for an

extended period of time.

- Purchase desiccant packs also known as

moisture munchers from a local camera store.

Place one or two packs in your housing before

each day of diving.

- If moisture or water droplets are 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.

19

Problem

Water enters the housing

Solution

- Remove, clean and properly lubricate the main

o-ring.

- Look for hair, 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 evaluation.

Pictures are too blue or too green

- Use custom (manual) white balance if available.

Reset for each working depth or when attaching a

color correcting filter.

- Add an optional color correcting filter OR add an

external strobe.

- Move in closer to your subject when taking a

picture.

20

Spare Parts

Main Housing O-ring 0109

Vinyl Port Cover 0200.08

Ikelite Lube 5020 (4 - 1cc tubes)

For light lubrication of the main housing o-ring.

Recommended Accessories

Tray and Handle(s)

Add stability and gripping point(s) for comfortable use of the housing above and below water. Most tray and handle combinations offset the slightly positive buoyancy of the housings. Handles offer attachment points for external lighting systems.

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.

External Color Correcting Filters

(Blue or Green Water)

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,

UR-Pro Filter Lens Port and 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). For available light use only. Not recommended when using external strobes.

21

Recommended Accessories -

continued

External Accessory Lenses

An external wide angle conversion lens increases angle of coverage so you can get much closer to your subject while still fitting everything in the frame. Attach 67mm threaded 6430 Ikelite W-30, Inon Type II and Epoque wide angle or macro lenses directly to the front of the housing port. Bayonet mount lenses are not compatible with this housing.

The housing port is threaded into the housing front. Do not

6430 Ikelite

W-30 Lens overtighten threaded accessory lenses into the housing port or accidental removal of the housing port could occur when removing accessory lens.

Slight to moderate vignetting may be present underwater with an accessory lens attached. This can be corrected in post-processing or by zooming in.

Customer Support

Please read the troubleshooting section of this instruction manual before contacting Ikelite Customer Support.

Ikelite Underwater Systems

Service Department

50 West 33rd St.

Indianapolis, IN 46208 USA

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 317-923-4523

22

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.

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 email 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 33 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.

23

Product Registration

Please go to 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

24

© 2014 Ikelite Underwater Systems

6165.01_Leica_C_02-0514