Aquatica Digital D2 SERIES User manual

DIGITAL U/W HOUSING FOR NIKON D2 SERIES
OPERATING
MANUAL

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 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 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 D2X and D2Hs and D2H SLR.
This manual assumes that the User is already familiar with the Nikon D2 series of cameras. 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 instructions on this manual.
• Ensure that the spring loaded secondary lock is properly engaged to prevent the accidental opening of latches.
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1. SHUTTER RELEASE LEVER
2. SUB -COMMAND INPUT KNOB
3. ON / OFF CONTROL
4. METERING SELECTOR 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. FOCUS MODE SELECTOR LEVER
14. MODE DIAL CONTROL BUTTON
15. EXPOSURE COMPENSATION / FORMAT BUTTON
16. ACCESSORY MOUNTING HOLE
17. AE / AF LOCK LEVER
18. BRACKETTING BUTTON
19. FLASH MODE SELECTOR BUTTON
20. COMMAND LOCK BUTTON
21. TOP LCD DISPLAY WINDOW
22. VIEWFINDER
23. DELETE BUTTON
24. PLAYBACK BUTTON
25. MOISTURE ALARM WARNING DIODE (ACCESSORY
26. MENU ACCESS BUTTON
27. THUMBNAIL ACCESS BUTTON
28 PROTECT ACCESS BUTTON
29. ENTER / PLAYBACK ZOOM
30. ISO CONTROL BUTTON
31. IMAGE QUALITY / SIZE BUTTON
32. WB BALLANCE BUTTON
33. AUTOFOCUS MODE SELECTOR LEVER
34. MAIN COMMAND DIAL CONTROL
35. MULTI SELECTOR ACCESS BUTTONS
36. LATCHES (3X)
37. REAR VIEW DISPLAY WINDOW
38. SACRIFICIAL ANODES (3X)
39. MOUNTING HOLES (1/4” X 20) FOR STROBE TRAY
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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. ON / OFF / ILLUMINATOR KNOB : Rotate to switch camera on or off or to engage illuminator.
4. METERING SYSTEM KNOB : Push and rotate clockwise or counter clocwise to select the metering mode, Spot, Center-Weighted
or Matrix metering options.
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. FOCUS MODE SELECTOR : rotate to select between manual, single or continuous focusing.
14. MODE DIAL KNOB : Rotate to change the exposure mode (P,S,A,M). This button when pressed at the same time as the
delete button (23) will format the card inside the camera
15. 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.
16. MOUNTING HOLE FOR ACCESSORY : a 1/4"-20 TPI hole is supplied to accept a TLC acessory or TLC base ball for
mounting a strobe Arm or a modeling light.
17. AE / AF LOCK LEVER : Lock the autofocus or auto exposure according to preference.
18. BRACKETING BUTTON: Push to activate the bracketing function, rotate main command knob to desired exposure correction.
19. FLASH MODE SELECTOR BUTTON: Push to activate the flash mode selector function, rotate main command knob to desired
flash mode.
20. COMMAND LOCK BUTTON: Push to activate the command lock function, rotate main command knob to engage.
21. TOP LCD WINDOW : displays essential camera operating data.
22. VIEWFINDER : A full view of the illuminated camera viewfinder displays all necessary information.
35. 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.
22. SHOOTING MODE / FORMAT BUTTON : For selecting the single or continuous shooting mode, used for formatting card in
conjunction with button No. 20
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CONTROLS IN DETAIL, CONTINUED
23. DELETE BUTTON : Press to delete images, use multiple selector buttons to select and press enter button to delete. Used in
conjunction with mode selector button (14) to format the card inside the camera
24. PLAYBACK BUTTON : Press to activate the monitor and review images.
25. MOISTURE ALARM WARNING DIODE : Warning LED will light up in the unlikely event of water penetrating the housing.
26. MENU BUTTON : Press to activate menu display, scroll using multiple selector buttons and select using enter button.
27. THUMBNAIL BUTTON : Press to display images in “contact sheets” of 4 or 9 images.
28. PROTECT BUTTON : Press to protect selected image from accidendal deletion.
29. ENTER / PLAYBACK ZOOM BUTTON : Press to acknowledge selected function or use for zooming in playback mode.
30. ISO CONTROL BUTTON : Press to select ISO, use in conjunction with subcommand dial control (# 34).
31. IMAGE QUALITY SELECTOR CONTROL : Press to access the different image quality available on the camera, use in
conjunction with subcommand dial control (# 34).
32. WHITE BALANCE : Press to access white balance functions, use in conjunction with subcommand dial control (# 34).
33. AUTOFOCUS MODE SELECTOR KNOB : It rotates clockwise and counterclockwise. use it to select the various autofocus
patern available. Refer to camera manual for in depth use.
34. 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.
35. 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.
36. LATCHES : Three heavy duty latches with safety locks to protect against accidental opening.
37. REAR VIEW DISPLAY WINDOW : allow viewing of menu and images
38. 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.
39. MOUNTING HOLES : Two 1/4” X 20 holes are provided for mounting strobes trays or accessories.
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