Aquatica Digital A70 User manual

DIGITAL U/W HOUSING FOR NIKON D70 SERIES
OPERATING
MANUAL

FOREWORD
Thank you for having selected the AQUATICAA70 Digital Camera Housing System for your underwater photography.
The AQUATICAA70 Digital Housing is the result of a long and continuing relationship with the most demanding under-
water photographers in the world. Each housing is handcrafted, quality checked and pressure tested to 300 feet 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 A70 Digital Housing was designed for optimum technical and optical performance and to provide easy and
efficient underwater access to all the functions and controls of the Nikon D70 SLR.
This manual assumes that the User is already familiar with the Nikon D70 camera. If not, please read the Nikon D70
instruction Manual before attempting to use the housing.
With basic care and maintenance, your AQUATICA A70 will give you a lifetime of enjoyment and satisfaction in produc-
ing 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 instructions on this manual.
• Ensure that the spring loaded secondary lock is properly engaged to prevent the accidental opening of latches.

1. SHUTTER RELEASE LEVER
2. SUB -COMMAND INPUT KNOB
3. EXPOSURE COMPENSATION CONTROL
4. METERING MODE CONTROL
5. BULKHEAD FOR FLASH CONNECTOR
6. SECOND BULKHEAD FOR
FLASH CONNECTOR (OPTIONAL)
7. FOCUS/ZOOM KNOB
7a. FOCUS / ZOOM RING CONNECTING GEAR
8. LENS LOCK RELEASE LEVER
9. GRIPS (X2)
10. MOUNTING HOLES (1/4” X 20) FOR
BASE BRACKETS FOR ARMS
11. HOTSHOE CONNECTOR
12. BAYONNET MOUNTING FLANGE
13. CAMERA MOUNTING SADDLE
14. MODE DIAL CONTROL KNOB
15. MODE DIAL VIEWING PORT
16. ACCESSORY MOUNTING HOLES (X2)
17. VIEWFINDER
18. MAIN COMMAND DIAL KNOB
19. TOP LCD DISPLAY WINDOW
20. LCD ILLUMINATOR BUTTON (FORMAT)
21. AE / AF LOCK LEVER
22. SHOOTING MODE BUTTON (FORMAT)
23. BRACKETTING BUTTON
24. PLAYBACK BUTTON
25. MENU ACCESS BUTTON
26. ISO / THUMBNAIL ACCESS BUTTON
27 WHITE BALANCE / PROTECT ACCESS BUTTON
28. ENTER / PLAYBACK ZOOM /
IMAGE QUALITY / SIZE BUTTON
29. DELETE BUTTON
30. MULTI SELECTOR ACCESS BUTTONS
31. LATCHES (2X)
32. SACRIFICIAL ANODES (3X)
33. MOUNTING HOLES (1/4” X 20) FOR STROBE TRAY
A70

CONTROLS IN DETAIL
1. SHUTTER RELEASE LEVER : Pulling the shutter release lever back part way activates the camera meter and
autofocus. 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. EXPOSURE COMPENSATION CONTROL KNOB : Rotate clockwise 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. Finally rotate the knob counterclockwise and completely up to set in the neutral position.
4. METERING SYSTEM LEVER : Rotate clockwise to engage the metering mode selector button. Then rotate Main-Command knob
clockwise or counterclockwise to select Spot, Center-Weighted or Matrix metering options. Finally rotate the knob
counterclockwise and completely up to set in the neutral position.
5. BULKHEAD CONNECTOR : For Flash Sync Cord. (Nikonos Type 5 pins).
6. EXTRA BULKHEAD CONNECTOR (OPTIONAL) : For additional Flash Sync Cord. (Nikonos Type 5 pins).
7. FOCUS/ZOOM KNOB : Turning allows manual focus of a single focus lens or rotation of the zoom mechanism of a lens.
7a. FOCUS/ZOOM PINION GEAR : Engages and operates the focus or zoom gear attached to the lens.
8. LENS RELEASE LEVER : activates the lens release button on the camera allowing easy removal of the lens.
9. HAND GRIPS (X2) : Left and right grip allowing the mounting of strobe arms and accessories.
10. MOUNTING HOLE : These are 1/4-20 TPI holes that are ready to accept TLC Base Brackets or TLC Base Ball for strobe
arms or accessories.
11. 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.
12. BAYONNET MOUNTING FLANGE : allows the mounting of differents ports and extension rings on the housing.
13. CAMERA MOUNTING SADDLE : Supports the camera inside the housing in a fixed position.
14. MODE DIAL KNOB : Rotate to change the exposure mode (P,S,A,M)
15. MODE DIAL VIEWING PORT : For viewing selection of mode dial.
16. MOUNTING HOLES FOR ACCESSORY BRACKET : Two 1/4"-20 TPI holes to accept a TLC acessory bracket or TLC
base ball for mounting a strobe Arm or a modeling light.
17. VIEWFINDER : A full view of the illuminated camera viewfinder displays all necessary information.
18. 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.
19. TOP LCD WINDOW : displays essential camera operating data.
20. LCD ILLUMINATOR / FORMAT BUTTON : For engaging display illuminator. used for formatting card in conjunction
with button No. 22
21. AE / AF LOCK LEVER : Lock the autofocus or auto exposure according to preference.
22. SHOOTING MODE / FORMAT BUTTON : For selecting the single or continuous shooting mode, used for formatting
card in conjunction with button No. 20
23. BRACKETING BUTTON: Push to activate the bracketing function, rotate main command knob to desired exposure correction.
24. PLAYBACK BUTTON : Press to activate the monitor and review images.

25. MENU BUTTON : Press to activate menu display, scroll using multiple selector buttons and select using enter button.
26. ISO / THUMBNAIL BUTTON : Press to display images in “contact sheets” of 4 or 9 images. used for cchanging ISO
27. WHITE BALANCE / PROTECT BUTTON : Press to protect selected image from accidendal deletion or accessing
white balance functions
28. ENTER / PLAYBACK ZOOM BUTTON : Press to acknowledge selected function or use for zooming in playback mode.
29. DELETE BUTTON : Press to delete images, use multiple selector buttons to select and press enter button to delete.
30. FOCUS AREA / 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 in the delete mode.
31. LATCHES : Two heavy duty latches with safety locks to protect against accidental opening.
32. SACRIFICIAL ANODES: (3X) 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
will need to be replaced as needed
33. MOUNTING HOLES : Two 1/4” X 20 holes are provided for mounting strobes trays or accessories.
FEATURES
The Aquatica A70 is issued from the world's most technologically advanced underwater housing lineage, ergonomically
designed to place all the essential camera controls under your finger tips and features the following:
A. A Lens Lock Release control that will activate the lens release button of camera from the outside of the housing.
B. Large ergonomic and easy to operate controls for most of the manual and computerized camera functions.
C. The following controls can be easily manipulated underwater:
- Mechanical shutter release.
- Main-Command Dial
- Aperture through the Sub-Cmd Dial
- Focus / Zoom
- LCD panel illumination.
- Top LCD windows
- Metering system selector
- Auto Bracketing (BKT)
- Exposure mode (Mode)
-.Exposure Compensation
- Focus Area Selector
- ISO sensitivity
- Delete button access
E. A complete selection of bayonet mounted ports including an 8" diameter dome, flat ports, extension tubes
and rings to reserve the image quality for most of the Nikkor AF and other popular AF lenses. A 6"
diameter dome is also available but may require a + Diopter when used with lenses with a long minimum
focusing distance.
F. A complete line of lens gears including Auto/Manual focus selector gears and related accessories.