AMPHIBICO Dive Buddy EVO HD User manual

Instruction Manual
Video Camera Housing for
SONY® HDR-SR10/SR11/SR12
Before operating the unit, please read this manual carefully.
Keep it for future reference.

FEATURES
Our new Dive Buddy EVO HD for the Sony HDR-
SR10/SR11/SR12 AVCHD camcorders has arrived!
Now equipped with a 3.5" rear LCD monitor, everyone can shoot High Definition images and
take superior digital stills underwater!!
Good ergonomics and electronic controls with superb optics is what the Dive Buddy EVO HD
offers you in a small compact housing.
Electronic controls:
The housing provides electronic controls on a newly designed marine grip.
- Record / Standby (Camera mode)
- Shutter (Photo mode)
- Zoom T & W with variable zoom speed
- Mode (Camera / Photo)
- Focus Lock
- Power ON/OFF
Five Electronic Push Button Controls on Right
grip:
- The trigger button will access the Record /
Standby function while in camera mode, and the
Shutter function while in Photo mode.
- Variable speed ZOOM-W & ZOOM-T engages the
zoom function of the camera.
- The MODE button will switch the camera from the
CAMERA to the PHOTO mode.
- By pressing the FOCUS mode you will engage
the Focus Lock, pushing it again will bring the
setting back to auto focus.
-Power ON / OFF: Press on the trigger button to
turn ON the unit and press again while holding
down the MODE button to turn it OFF.
74° Optics
Marine bayonet mounted lens system 0.55X
rectilinear fully coated amphibious conversion
lens, vacuum-sealed for maximum anti-fog
protection. Includes a square lens hood complete
w/3" x 4" filter slot 74° degree angle of coverage
top side, 67° coverage underwater & full zoom
through capability
2

SPECIFICATIONS
Dive Buddy EVO HD
Marine Housing for the Sony® HDR-
SR10/SR11/SR12
- Marine Grade Aluminum Construction
- Fully anodized with a hard coat of polyurethane paint
- All hardware is marine grade brass and stainless steel
- Optics: Marine bayonet mounted lens system.
74° angle of coverage underwater amphibious conversion lens
- Internal Flip filter with a UR Pro Blue Water Filter installed
- External Hydrophone to pick up high frequency sounds, such as whales and dolphins
- Rear 3.5" LCD Viewfinder
- Auxiliary port
Weight of unit (w/o lead ballasts):
- On land: 11 lbs. (4.95kg) fully loaded w/camera battery and lens.
- In seawater: 15-oz (425g) negative buoyancy
Dimensions :
- Length 12" (305mm)
- Width 10.5" (267mm)
- Height 6.5" (165mm) Measurements
includes lens and grips
Operating depth :
Each unit is pressure tested to 330ft (100m)
Accessories included :
- Camera Saddle
- Internal Filter Ring with a 52mm UR Pro Blue Water Filter
- O-ring kit
- Instruction manual
LCD Monitor:
- Display size: 3.5"
- DOT format: 480 x 234
- Contrast ratio: 150:1
- Input signal: Composite, NTSC/PAL (auto switch)
- Operating temperature: 0° ~ 60°C

HOUSING FEATURES & CONTROLS
1. Bayonet mounted lens
2. Incorporated T-Brackets
3. Carry handle dove tail
4. Right electronic grip
5. Right grip support
6. Amphibico's hydrophone
7. Color correction flip filter lever
8. Accessory port *
* May not appear on all models
4

HOUSING FEATURES & CONTROLS
9. Viewfinder
10. Left grip
11. Status / Wet Alarm LED
12. Right electronic grip
13. Right grip support
14. Safety latch
15. Accessory port
5

UNPACKING YOUR HOUSING
Before unpacking your housing kit, inspect the shipping box as well as all contents for
damage during shipping. If damage has occurred, please contact the shipping company
immediately.
Every Amphibico Housing is pressure tested prior to shipping. However, damage may have
occurred during shipping. It is strongly recommended to test dive the housing once without
camcorder installed to insure the housing is water tight.
This instruction manual assumes that the user is already familiar with the SONY® HDR-
SR10/SR11/SR12 camcorder. If not, please read instruction manuals thoroughly before
beginning to use the housing.
Your Dive Buddy EVO HD housing comes to you as follows:
A) Marine Housing
B) 0.55x, 74° wide angle bayonet mounted lens (installed on housing)
C) Removable / lockable camera saddle (shipped mounted into
position in the housing
D) Protective cover for the lens
E) O-ring kit with container of silicone grease
F) Instruction manual and warranty card
6

WMRHIBICa
PREPARING CAMERA & HOUSING
Opening the Housing
1. Sit the housing on a flat surface. Press and rotate the rear door latch counter clockwise until the
door is open.
2. Removing the saddle:
Push the saddle locking latch (a)
inwards to release the saddle from
the housing. Once released, slide
the saddle out the housing (b).
Setting the camera
1. Put a fully charged battery in the camera. (Up
to SONY® NP-FH100)
2. Turn camera ON
3. Set FLASH to " NO FLASH"
4. In order to show the camcorder's indicators on
the LCD monitor, you must set the camcorder's
"DISP OUTPUT" to "V-OUT/PANEL".
Installing the saddle
1. Attach the saddle adapter to the camcorder b
y
inserting its mounting screw into the rear tripod
receptacle of the camcorder.
2. Place the camcorder over the saddle and
secured by tightening the saddle's mounting
screw onto the saddle adapter.
7

PREPARING CAMERA & HOUSING
Placing the camera into the housing
1. Engage the camera with saddle into the housing,
connect the hydrophone cable from inside the housing to
the microphone jack of the camera . Loop back the cable
towards you and engage the camera further into the
housing.
2. Connect the A/V remote cable from the rear monito
r
inside the housing to the AN remote jack of the camera.
3. Slide the camera with saddle completely inside the
housing until the locking latch is engaged.
Rear LCD Monito
r
Its is recommended to place four fresh "AA"
batteries into the battery holder before every dive.
Operating limit: Typical alkaline batteries will
produce up to 30 minutes of continuous use. Nickel
metal hydride batteries (Ni-MH), on the other hand,
will produce up to 150 minutes.
The "LOW BATT." indicator starts to flash red once
the batteries have reached their operating limit. A
steady red color indicates that the batteries need
to be replaced.
8

Rear LCD Monitor (continued)
Settings for the rear LCD monitor are located on
the inside of the rear bulkhead and are described
as follows: COLOR To adjust color saturation
BRIGHT. To adjust the brightness CONT. To
adjust the contrast
WARNING:
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMOVE BATTERIES
FROM BATTERY HOLDER AFTER EVERY USE.
FAILURE TO DO SO MAY DRAIN
THE BATTERIES OVER TIME AND CAUSE
SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE UNIT.
Closing the housing
1. While the housing is open, inspect the two O-rings and the sealing surface for dirt and debris. I
f
necessary, clean them with a lint free tissue. Make sure that the two O-rings and the sealing surface
are clean. Then apply a small amount of lubricant to the O-rings.
NOTE: If you have to change your O-rings, make
sure you are using the o-rings provided with the
package. Using different o-rings than those in the
O-ring kit may cause the housing to leak and result
in damage.
Silicone grease provided with
the o-ring kit.
2. Make sure the camera and the cables don't block the sealing surface. If cables get pinched, the
system might be intermittent or not functioning at all. Once the camera is completely in and the
saddle is locked, engage the latch by turning it clockwise.
3. Make sure the o-rings are well placed before locking the latch. Turn the latch until a positive clic
k
is felt.

Replacing the bayonet lens
1. To remove the lens, push and hold the button
on the lower right of the front bulkhead and then
turn counter clockwise until the lugs are free from
the bayonet ring. Pull gently on the lens to release
it.
2. Remove the rear cover from the new bayonet
mounted lens and place it on the previously
installed lens for safe keeping. Make sure the seals
on the bottom part of the lens are clean and free
from dust and debris.
3. Put a small amount of lubricant on the o-ring
seals and the sealing surface of the housing.
4. Line up the bayonet lug marked by a hole with
the printed dot on the front bulkhead of the housing.
Push the lens all the way until it sits on the bayonet
ring and turn clockwise. You will hear a positive
click and the lens will
lock into place.
Installing Accessories
A
ll of the Amphibico housings are provided with
brackets where optional accessories- can be
mounted. On the Dive Buddy EVO HD housing,
these brackets have been machined directly on the
body In fact, two T-brackets are incorporated to it.
A
third one, which is basically done to accommodate
the carry handle, is located on top of the body.
Some of these accessories require communication
with the camera's electronics. Waterproo
f
connectors need to be installed on the housing to
allow information such as video or audio to travel
through the electronics. Buoyancy and Balance
A
dding accessories to the housing may make it
heavier or off balance in the water. Ballasts located
on the bottom of the housing can be adjusted o
r
removed to adjust balance and buoyancy of the
housing.

Water Entry
1. Always make sure that the electronics of the housing is ON before entering the water.
To turn it ON, use the trigger button. This is confirmed by the CAM indicator light turning on
steady green. The camera viewfinder will also turn ON.
Doing step 1 will activate the built-in moisture alarm sensor located in the bottom of the
housing.
IMPORTANT
Both indicator lights will start flashing RED
if water leakage occurs into the housing unit.
Remove from water as soon as possible, take
the camera out of the housing and inspect all
seals and the inside of the housing. ALWAYS
REMEMBER DIVER SAFETY FIRST.
2. Lower the housing just below the water
surface in level position and hold for one
minute to confirm there is no leakage in the
housing.
Never leap into the water while holding the
housing. Always have the housing handed to you
or lowered down once you are in the water.
3. Point the lens of the housing upwards and
shake off any air bubbles. It may also be nec-
essary to gently wipe the lens with your finger
to remove bubbles.
11

m
HOUSING CAMERA & OPERATION
At this point, you should be underwater going down chasing your subject and looking for the
best video shot The Dive Buddy EVO HD housing offers a large range of functions like Zoom,
record / standby, photo & camera modes and focus capabilities. This chapter will explain you
how to use these functions as efficient as possible.
Power ON / OFF
1. Pressing on the trigger button will turn the unit
ON. The camera will automatically turn ON and the
CAM indicator will light up steady green meaning
that the system is ready to operate. You can also
confirm this by seeing the image appear through
the rear viewfinder.
2. To turn the unit OFF, simply press on the trigge
r
button while holding the MODE button depressed.
The opportunity to turn OFF the unit underwater will
allow you save on battery power.
Changing Mode
Depressing the Mode button will allow you to
switch the camera to he CAMERA (default) o
r
PHOTO mode. You will find on the next page an
explanation of these two different modes.
12

MODE SETTINGS
Camera Mode (Default)
Press on the trigger button to start recording. The CAM indicator light will start flashing green
when recording. Pressing again on the trigger button will put the camera back on standby and the
CAM indicator light will go back to a steady green.
Photo Mode
Use the Mode button to switch from Camera mode to Photo mode. The CAM indicator light will
turn off and the PHOTO indicator light will turn on steady green. The trigger button acts as the
shutter button.
13

Zooming
Zoom functions have variable speeds. Pressing on
the trigger button while zooming will accelerate the
zoom.
Zoom-W - For most users, shooting in wide Angle
is a safer way to achieve good quality images.
Shooting in wide angle means better control on the
subject and steadier images.
Zoom-T - Zooming while shooting underwater ma
y
result in bouncing images if you are not steady with
the housing. Zooming in with the camera housing
will give you sharp images until you reach a certain
focal point past the half zooming distance. Fo
r
macro shoot you must get closer to your subject
and shoot wide angle.
Focusing (Focus Lock)
Normally focus is adjusted automatically. FOCUS
button will activate or deactivate the Focus Lock
function on the camera. Focus Lock can be used to
fix the focus on the main sub
j
ect*. This features
prevents the focus from switching to other subjects
such as particles or fish swimming in front of the
camera housing. The indicator will appear on the
screen when the Focus Lock is activated.
* The Focus Lock will focus on the subject found in
the middle of the viewfinder. When composing a
picture, the main subject may need to be located
off center. The following steps describes a method
on how to achieve this.
a) Position the main subject in the middle of the
viewfinder.
b) Press on the FOCUS button to lock the focus on
the main subject.
c) Move the main subject to a desired location
within the viewfinder.
14

This pa
g
e is purposel
y
left blank
15

MAINTENANCE
WARNING: DO NOT leave the housing exposed to direct sunshine, as extreme heat condition
can be detrimental to certain of its components.
1. Keep housing and O-rings away from direct sunlight. Always store unit when possible away
from direct sunlight as this can dry out and crack O-rings in the housing. Ultraviolet rays can
damage plastics, paint and O-rings.
2. Always rinse or soak closed housing in fresh water for 10 to 15 minutes after every use. Reach
into freshwater and operate all controls to clear salt water. Do not use solvents to clean unit. If
preferred, use mild detergent and clean fresh water.
3. Fasteners that are removable should occasionally have the threads lubricated with silicon
grease.
4. Rinse clean and remove water spots from external filters and lens surface after every dive o
r
water spots may build up and become impossible to remove. Dry gently with a soft, lint-free cloth.
5. Inspect housing's rear door main O-ring seals (double seals) before every dive. Make sure that
there are no cracks or misalignment in the O-ring channel and that no debris is caught on the O-
rings.
6. During storage or transit:
1. Remove the batteries to prevent accidental discharge.
2. Leave rear door ajar on unit to prevent damage due to extreme high pressure.
16

SERVICING OF O-RINGS
1. O-rings and sealing surface should be lightly lubricated with silicon lubricant on a regular
basis. This is not necessary after every dive; every tenth dive during regular heavy use is
sufficient. This should always be done before storing the housing and before a first dive after
taking the housing out of storage.
2. It is important never to use a sharp instrument when removing an o-ring as this may
cause damage to the o-ring or the o-ring groove. A hairpin or a credit card works well.
3. The removed o-ring should be examined for damage. Check to make sure that the o-ring is free
from nicks and cuts and that it retains its original round profile. O-rings that appear to be damaged
should be discarded immediately and replaced with new o-rings.
4. Rinse the o-ring with freshwater and dry it with a clean lint free cloth.
5. Clean the o-ring grooves (where the o-rings sit) with a Q-tip. Be sure to remove any lint the Q-tip
may leave behind. Inspect the groove for damage.
6. Wipe the part of the housing that the o-ring seals against with a clean lint free cloth.
7. Re-grease the o-rings with a thin layer of silicon grease until it appears to be smooth and shiny.
Do not over grease it - use just enough grease so that the o-ring will pull smoothly through your
fingers. Excessive amounts will only attract dirt to the o-ring.
8. Replace o-rings in their proper position on the lens assembly and on the main door
seal.

OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES
Optional Accessories
Extra large carry case
A
luminum carry handle
Optics
- Bayonet mounted Flat Port
- Bayonet mounted .55x lens (as supplied)
- +1, +2, +4 Diopters
Light
- 10 Watt Arc Light "HID Technology" with mounting arm
Filters
- UR PRO Blue Water 3"X 4" plastic Filter (fits on Flat Port & .55X lens)
- UR PRO Blue Water 52mm
- UR PRO Green Water 52mm
Speciality Items
- Umbilical Coaxial Video Cable (Custom lengths available)
- 3-Pin Male and Female video connectors
- Charger with 4x NiMH battery kit
- 4x NiMH battery kit
18

GENERAL SHOUTING TIPS
1. Best results will be obtained with natural light if the sun is directly overhead during calm water
periods.
2. Placing the sun behind your shoulder during shooting will produce the best colors.
3. Wide angle is the preferred focus setting for best results with subject, as close as possible to the
housing. This will reduce the water column and the amount of particles between subject and lens.
4. In PHOTO mode, images are going to be larger than those taken in CAMERA mode. This is due
to the fact that the camera uses more recordable surface of the CCD size and results in vignetting.
For good digital pictures, zoom in a bit to clear lens shade edges.
5. Zooming during shooting is not recommended unless absolutely necessary as telephoto will
magnify particles. Swimming toward subject is a much more visually pleasing filming method.
6. Use image stabilizer if available on your camera when filming macro to minimize camera
movement during high magnification. Image stabilizer is not as critical while using wide angle and
will use battery power unnecessarily.
7. Buoyancy control is one of the most important aspects of underwater videography and diving in
general. Avoid disturbing bottom silt and contacting delicate reef structures. Work on controlling your
breathing and your buoyancy. Your video will be much more visually appealing. You are trying to
make yourself a steady shooting platform. The less movement you make , the better your video will
be. Work on attaining a comfort zone underwater. The more comfortable you are underwater, the
more controlled your breathing will be and the steadier your video will be.
8. In low light situations, add light with optional Amphibico video lights for brighter and more vibrant
colors. As light level falls so does color saturation. Lights will also provide necessary fill during
daylight shooting. If this technique is used, filtration of light using a color correction filter will be
necessary for accurate color rendition.