Aquatica Digital 20061 User manual

OPERATING MANUAL
FOR THE AQUATICA PRO DIGITAL
HOUSING FOR THE NIKON D700
PRODUCT # 20061

FOREWORD
Thank you for having selected the AQUATICA Pro Digital Camera Housing System for your underwater photography.
The AQUATICA Pro Digital Housing is the result of a long and continuing relationship with the most demanding underwa-
ter photographers in the world. Each housing is handcrafted, quality checked and pressure tested to a 300 feet equivalent
by a small group of specially trained individuals, each of whom takes the utmost pride and satisfaction in offering the best
underwater camera housing in the world.
The Aquatica Pro Digital Housing was designed for optimum technical and optical performance and to provide easy and
efficient underwater access to essantials functions and controls of the Nikon D700 DSLR.
This manual assumes that the User is already familiar with the Nikon D700 camera. If not, please read the Nikon
instruction Manual before attempting to use the housing.
With basic care and maintenance, your AQUATICA housing will give you a lifetime of enjoyment and satisfaction in pro-
ducing underwater images.
Please read this manual carefully before using your housing for the first time and note that: wherever cited the right hand
is your right when using the housing.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS:
Improper transportation handling or use of this housing might cause a flood or malfunction.
Please read and follow the following precautions:
• Store and transport the housing in a sturdy, shock proof container and avoid travelling with the camera mounted inside
the housing as impact forces especially on the external push buttons will be transferred to the camera.
• When travelling by air, either remove the port or open the housing.
• Never change a port or open the housing in a location where sand or similar foreign material might come in contact with
an O-ring.
• Use of accessories or modifications and alterations unauthorized by the manufacturer may result in flooding or poor
functioning of the controls.
• Be careful when opening the housing as the pressure buildup inside the housing will exaggerate the force of the latch
spring. Keep fingers away from the path of the latches.
• Whenever changing ports or O-rings, perform a simple seal test with out the camera inside.
• Avoid scratching the acrylic or glass ports and windows.
• Make sure that all ports remain properly attached before rinsing the housing, especially when rinsing without a strobe
make sure the Bulkhead connector is sealed with its plug.
• Never attempt to operate the camera in autofocus mode with the lens mounted focus gear engaged with the housing
gear.
• The main O-ring seals should be maiained and cleaned on a regular basis. Read and follow the Care and Maintenance
section on this manual.
• Ensure that the spring loaded secondary lock is properly engaged on the latches to prevent their accidental opening.
page 1

1- Shutter Release lever
2- Sub-Command Dial knob
3- Power Switch/Illuminator lever
4- Main Bulkhead Connector
5- Secondary Bulkhead Connector
6- Flash Mode/Exposure Compensation knob
7- Shooting Mode Selector knob
8- Focus Pinion Gear Disengaging disk
9- Focus/Zoom Control knob
10- Focus/Zoom Control pinion gear
11- Lateral Accessory Bulkhead port
12- Lens Release knob
13- Lens Release knob lever
14- Focus Mode Selector lever
15- Focus Mode Selector fork
16- Port Release mechanism button
17- Removable Camera Tray
18- Bayonet Flange
19- Hot shoe connector
20- Grips (x2)
21- Grip’sAccessories mounting holes (1/4”-20)
22- Top Accessory Bulkhead port
23- Exposure Compensation/Reset button
24- Exposure Mode selector/Format button
25- Main Command Dial knob
26- AE/AF LOCK & AF-ON lever
27- Top LCD Panel window
28- Metering Pattern Selector knob
29- Viewfinder Eyepiece
30- Accessory mounting hole (1/4”-20)
31- Release Mode Dial port window
32- ISO (ISO Sensitivity) button
33- WB (White Balance) button
34- Qual (Image Quality/Size)/Reset button
35- Latches (x2)
36- Multi Selector (Joy Pad)
37- AF-Area Mode Selector knob
38- INFO activation button
39- Moisture Alarm LED
40- Rear LCD window
41- OK button
42- Zoom Magnifier button
43- Thumbnails/Playback Zoom button
44- Protect Button
45- Menu button
46- Playback button
47- Delete button/Format button
48- Sacrificial Anodes (x2)
49- Rubber Anti Skid pad
50- Accessories mounting holes (x3)
page 2

CONTROLS IN DETAIL
1. SHUTTER RELEASE LEVER: Pulling the shutter release lever back part way activates the camera meter and auto focus. Pulling the lever back all
the way fires the camera.
2. SUB-COMMAND INPUT / APERTURE KNOB: Rotates clockwise and counterclockwise. Use alone or in combination with other controls to select
or set various camera functions or modes. In “Manual” the exposure mode controls the aperture settings (see camera manual).
3. POWER SWITCH / ILLUMINATOR KNOB: Rotate to switch camera on or off or to engage illuminator, this can also activate the INFO function
(see CSM menu section of your camera).
4. MAIN BULKHEAD CONNECTOR: To connect Flash Sync Cord. (Manual Nikonos Type by default other option available on request).
5. SECONDARY BULKHEAD CONNECTOR: For Flash Sync Cord. (Manual Nikonos Type by default other option available on request).
6. FLASH MODE & EXPOSURE COMPENSATION: rotate to engage and use sub-command dial for selecting the flash exposure compensation or
the main command dial for selecting the different mode of flash synchronization.
7. RELEASE MODE DIAL RELEASE KNOB: Press to release the locking button of the release mode Rotate to select the proper releasing
mode, S, Cl, Ch, LV, self timer and mirror up.
8. FCUS PINION GEAR RELEASE DISC: to be used for disengaging the focus mechanism when a manual focus gear is used and AF
operation is required.
9. FOCUS/ZOOM KNOB: Turning allows manual focus of a single focus lens or rotation of the zoom mechanism of a lens.
10. FOCUS/ZOOM PINION GEAR: Engages and operates the focus or zoom gear attached to the lens.
11. LATERAL ACCESSORY BULKHEAD CONNECTOR: For additional accessories or control connector.
12. LENS RELEASE KNOB: activates the lens release button on the camera allowing easy removal of the lens.
13. LENS RELEASE KNOB LEVER: Applies pressure on the camera lens lock button
14. M/S/C FOCUS MODE SELECTOR: Rotate to select between manual, single or continuous focusing.
15. FOCUS MODE SELECTOR FORK: Engages the focus mode M/S/C selector of the camera,
16. PORT RELEASE MECHANISM BUTTON: Press down to release the locking mechanism when installing or removing a port or extension.
17. REMOVABLE CAMERA TRAY: Used to attach camera and slide in housing.
18. BAYONNET MOUNTING FLANGE: allows the mounting of different ports and extension rings on the housing.
19. HOT SHOE CONNECTOR: connects the camera to the Flash Bulkhead. Slide this Connector into the camera Hot Shoe.
When detaching do not pull the cord as this might damage the electrical connections.
20. HAND GRIPS (X2): Left and right grip allowing the mounting of strobe arms and accessories.
21. GRIP’S ACCESSORIES MOUNTING HOLES: Two 1/4-20 TPI holes on each grip are ready to accept TLC Base Brackets or TLC Base Ball
for strobe arms or accessories.
22. ACCESSORY BULKHEAD CONNECTOR: For additional strobe or remote control connector.
23. EXPOSURE COMPENSATION BUTTON: Press to engage the Exposure compensation control [+/-]. Rotate the Main-Command knob to set
the desired exposure compensation value. The value will appear in the Top LCD panel and in the Viewfinder. This button when pressed along
with QUAL (# 34) button will reset the camera shooting parameter to its default position.
24. EXPOSURE MODE BUTTON: Press to engage the mode selector button, rotate the Main Command knob to the selected exposure mode. This
button when pressed at the same time as the delete button (47) will format the card inside the camera.
25 MAIN-COMMAND INPUT KNOB: It rotates clockwise and counterclockwise. It can be used alone or in combination with other controls to select or
set various camera functions or modes. Refer to camera manual for in depth use.
page 3

CONTROLS IN DETAIL, CONTINUED
26. AE / AF LOCK & AF-ON LEVER: Lock the auto focus / auto exposure or use for activating the AF-ON button according to preference.
See page 9 for more info (these button Can also be re assigned to other functions via CSM menu of camera).
27. TOP LCD WINDOW: displays essential camera operating data.
28. METERING PATTERN SELECTOR KNOB: Push and rotate clockwise or counter clockwise to select the metering mode,
Spot, Center Weighted or Matrix metering options.
29. REMOVABLE VIEWFINDER: A full view of the illuminated camera viewfinder displays all necessary information.
This viewfinder be removed and replaced with optional Aqua View Finder for a larger displayed image.
30. MOUNTING HOLE FOR ACCESSORY: a 1/4”-20 TPI hole is supplied to accept a TLC accessory or TLC base ball for mounting a
strobe arm or a modeling light.
31. RELEASE MODE DIAL PORT WINDOW: Enables viewing of the different release options
32. ISO CONTROL BUTTON: Press to select ISO, use in conjunction with subcommand dial control (# 25).
33. WHITE BALANCE: Press to access white balance functions, use in conjunction with subcommand dial (#25) to select mode and/or
main dial controls (# 2) to the select attributes of the selected mode.
34. IMAGE QUALITY/SIZE SELECTOR CONTROL: Press to access the different image quality available on the camera; use in conjunction
with main and/or sub command dial control knobs. Pressing this button and the Exposure compensation (#23) button will reset the camera
shooting parameter to its default position.
35. LATCHES: Two heavy duty latches with safety locks to protect against accidental opening.
36. MULTI SELECTOR BUTTONS: These buttons have multiple uses. They allow the selection of the focus area, in the menu mode, they are
used to scroll up or down and left to right to choose from your menu selection and they are used as well in the delete mode.
37. AUTOFOCUS MODE SELECTOR KNOB: It rotates clockwise and counterclockwise. Use it to select the various auto focus pattern available.
Refer to camera manual for in depth use.
38. INFO BUTTON: This button will activate the rear LCD and display all pertinent shooting information, this function can be accessed through
the ON/OFF/Illuminator knob (see shooting tip on page 9)
39. MOISTURE ALARM WARNING DIODE: Warning LED will light up in the unlikely event of water penetrating the housing.
40. MONITOR DISPLAY WINDOW: allow viewing of menus, information and images
41. OK BUTTON: Press to acknowledge selected function.
42. ZOOM MAGNIFIER BUTTON: Press to enlarge image on LCD, use with Main dial command to navigate through the image.
43. THUMBNAIL/PLAYBACK BUTTON: Press to display images in “contact sheets” of 4 or 9 images or for zooming out.
44. PROTECT BUTTON: Press to protect selected image from accidental deletion.
45. MENU BUTTON: Press to activate menu display, scroll using multiple selector buttons and select using enter button.
46. PLAYBACK BUTTON: Press to activate the monitor and review images.
47. DELETE BUTTON: Press to delete images, use multiple selector buttons to select and press the enter button to delete, can also be used
in conjunction with the mode selector button (24) in order to format the card inside the camera.
48. SACRIFICIAL ANODES: (2X) zinc anodes are installed to protect your housing against salt water corrosion; theses are made to deteriorate
easier than the other strategic part of your housing, hence the name sacrificial anodes. These anodes need to be replaced by the user
as needed.
49. RUBBER ANTI SKID PADS: Four rubber pads are provided to protect the housing and preventing it from sliding on wet decks.
50. MOUNTING HOLES: Three 1/4” X 20 holes are provided for mounting strobes trays or accessories.
page 4