Ikelite 6171.07 User manual

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.
Digital Housing
instruction manual
6171.07 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7, Leica D-Lux 6

Table of Contents
Specifications ..............................................................P. 4
Package Contents ........................................................P. 4
Preparation ..................................................................P. 4
Initial Camera Setup........................................................P. 5
Housing Controls - Front View ........................................P. 6
Housing Controls - Back View ........................................P. 7
Opening the Housing ......................................................P. 9
Installing the Camera ......................................................P. 9
Attach Hotshoe to Camera..............................................P. 9, 10
Attach Camera to Mounting Tray ....................................P. 9, 10
Using the Camera’s Built-in Flash ..................................P. 11
Closing the Housing ........................................................P. 11
Usage ............................................................................P. 12
Final Check ....................................................................P. 12
Zoom Control ..................................................................P. 12
Diffuser and Deflector Installation and Use ....................P. 13
Attach External Tray and Handle to Housing ..................P. 14
Attaching Ikelite Strobe Arm to Housing Handle ............P. 14
Ikelite Housing Conversion Circuitry ..............................P. 15
Attaching a Sync Cord to the Housing ............................P. 15
Turn Camera On..............................................................P. 16
Entering the Water ..........................................................P. 16
Maintenance ................................................................P. 16
Lens Port ........................................................................P. 16
2

3
Table of Contents - continued
Lubricant..........................................................................P. 16
Housing Maintenance......................................................P. 17
Control Maintenance ......................................................P. 18
Photo Tips ..................................................................P. 20
Troubleshooting ........................................................P. 21
Spare Parts ..................................................................P. 24
Recommended Accessories ....................................P. 24
Technical Support ....................................................P. 26
Limited Warranty ........................................................P. 26
Returning Products for Service ................................P. 27
Product Registration ..................................................Back Cover

4
Width ......................6.8 in. (173mm) including controls
Height ....................5.0 in. (127mm) including controls
Depth ......................5.9 in. (150mm) including controls and lens port
Weight ....................2.8 lb (1270g) above water
Buoyancy ................Slightly negative in saltwater for stability
Specifications
- 6171.07 Ikelite Digital Housing
- 0200 Vinyl Port Cover
- 0184.1 Silicone Lubricant
- Flash Diffuser
- Flash Deflector
- Extra Control Tips
Package Contents
This product has been water pressure tested at the factory and is depth
rated to 200ft (60m). 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.
Clean the main housing o-ring and retest to make sure that it is
watertight. Refer to the Troubleshooting section, page 21.
Please read your Nikon 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.
Preparation

Initial Camera Setup (before placing camera in housing)
1. Insert a fully charged battery and formatted memory card.
2. Set camera date and time.
3. Set Shooting Mode to “A” Aperture priority. To select faster shutter
speeds use “M” Manual mode.
4. Set Lens Aspect Ratio Selector Switch to “3:2.”
5. Set Photo Style to “STD” and Picture Size to “9.5m.”
6. Set Picture Quality to “Fine.”
7. Set AF Mode to “Center” and AF/AE Lock to “AF/AE.”
8. Set Metering Mode to “Center Weighted.”
9. Set Stabilizer to “ON” and AF Assist Lamp to “OFF.”
10. Set Flash to “Forced Flash On” (lightning bolt ).
11. Set Red-Eye Removal to “OFF.”
12. Set White Balance to “AWB.”
13. Set AF/AE LOC button to AF .
14. Set ISO sensitivity to “80.”
15. In Economy, set Sleep Mode to “10 MIN” and Auto LCD Off to “30 MIN.”
16. Set Auto Review to “2 SEC.”
- When NOT using external strobes, raise camera flash BEFORE placing
camera in the housing. Reset ISO to 400.
5

6
Housing Controls - Front View
Focus Selector
Switch
Lens Port
External Tray Mounts
Lid Snap
Mode
Dial
Zoom
Lever
Shutter
Release
All camera controls accessed except the “Flash Open Switch” and “Lens
Aspect Ratio Switch.”
Aperture
Motion
Picture
Button
ON/OFF
Switch

3
5
4
678
9
10 11
2
1
Housing Controls - Back View
Rear Dial Knob Use (control #2): The knob’s white dot should be in the 12
o’clock position when not in use, preventing the camera dial from being
pushed. This is necessary so the camera will not receive a signal which
could lock out other camera functions. To change functions using the Rear
Dial, lift and rotate the knob until the white dot is in the 6 o’clock position.
Push in and release once or twice until the desired control function is
highlighted in the lower portion of your LCD screen. Rotate the knob away
from the 6 o’clock position to the desired setting. DO NOT rotate the knob
white dot to the 6 o’clock position while a setting is being made, otherwise
the chosen camera function may inadvertently change. If necessary, lift the
knob to bypass the 6 o’clock position to reach the desired setting. Once the
desired setting is reached, lift and return the knob white dot to the 12 o’clock
position. Check to make sure your desired settings are correct.
Control #2
7

8
1. External Strobe Connector and Cap
2. Rear Dial
3. AF/AE Lock
4. Playback
5. ISO/Up Arrow
6. Fn/Left Arrow
7. MENU/SET
8. WB/Right Arrow
9. Self-timer/Down Arrow
10. Q. Menu/Delete
11. DISP.
3
5
4
678
9
10 11
2
1
Lanyard
Housing Controls - Back View (continued)

9
Opening the Housing
Lid Snaps have a Lock.
To open housing, push Lid Snap
Lock forward and lift as shown.
eep pressure on the Lid Snap so it
does not fly open quickly.
Some Lid Snap have a lot of
pring ten ion once they go over
center, o keep a firm grip on the Lid Snap.
Lid Snap may be opened one at a time.
Push Forward
Lid Snap Lock
Lift
Installing the Camera
1. Pull out on each housing control until it stops. This will get the controls
out of the way for installation of the camera.
2. Remove the back from the housing.
3. Remove camera lanyard from camera if attached.
4. The mounting tray for the camera is secured to the housing back.
Position the camera on the tray.
5. Attach Hotshoe to Camera by sliding the housing Hotshoe Connector
into the Camera Hotshoe Mount, diagram A, page 10. Slide the
connector forward until it stops. This must be done before the camera is
secured with the mounting bolt, diagram B, page 10.
It is ok to leave the housing hotshoe connected to the camera even when
the External Strobe Connector is not being used.
6. Attach Camera to Mounting Tray by using a coin or screwdriver
(preferred). Secure the camera with the Tray Mounting Bolt which
threads into the camera’s tripod socket, diagram B, page 10.
7. Raise the camera flash unless you intend to use ONLY hardwired
external strobes. The flash CANNOT be raised or lowered once the
housing is closed.

FRONT
IKELITE
Diagram B
Attach Camera to Mounting Tray
Attach Hotshoe to Camera
Diagram A
Housing Back
O-ring
External Strobe Connector
& Waterproof Cap
(Do not remove underwater)
Lid Hook
Hotshoe Connector
Camera
Mounting
Tray
CAUTIO :
Some camera tripod
ocket thread are
pla tic. The
mounting bolt i
metal. Do not cro
thread or over
tighten a you may
damage the camera
tripod ocket
thread .
Lumix
L
Tray Mounting Bolt
10

Closing the Housing
1. Place housing face down in your lap or on a flat surface. Check to see
that there is an o-ring on the housing back, and that it is clean and in its
proper location.
2. Guide the back into the housing front. If the
camera flash is raised, use caution during
this procedure. During the installation,
don’t bump the top of the housing with the
raised flash as this could damage the
flash. Also, to aid in the installation
process, do not turn the camera
on until it is secured in the housing.
Once the back is properly installed, the
o-ring should touch the housing all the way
around. There should be an even gap on each side of the housing
between the housing and back.
3. Lift the lid snaps so they are extended and place each lid snap 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 lock.
The o-ring seal will now appear as a solid black line.
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Housing Back
O-ring
Even gap on
all four sides
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 te t thi above water). See Diffuser/Deflector Installation - page
13.For best results, we recommend using an external Ikelite Substrobe.
The built-in flash CANNOT be used with optional Wide-Angle or Accessory
lenses. Due to the camera’s limited flash power, set ISO to 400.
Lid Hook
Lid
Snap

12
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
200ft (60m).
Once the housing is closed, recheck 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 or solid black line 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.
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
“Engaged”
Zoom Control
“Disengaged”
(Center Position)

13
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 any shadow not
eliminated by the Diffuser (You can te t thi above water).
Deflector Use
The Deflector should be installed when using a slave unit to trigger an
external strobe. The Deflector will block and redirect the camera’s flash
to a slave unit which controls the external strobe’s output. Remove the
Diffuser before attempting to install the Deflector.
Diffuser/Deflector material
Small hole
Cut-out
Section
A Diffuser and Deflector are
included with the housing. The
Diffuser is white transparent
plastic. The Deflector is also white
but is not transparent.
To install the Diffuser or Deflector,
push the “Cut-out” Section over the
port and into the port groove until it
stops.
Note the Small Hole. To avoid
losing the Diffuser or Deflector, you
can attach a fishing line or string to
this hole.
Diffuser and Deflector Installation
Diffuser/Deflector properly
installed in port groove

1. Place your housing upside
down on a flat surface or
your lap so that the hous
ing 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
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 12-24 x 1/2” screws clockwise
until threaded into the housing mounts. Finish tightening the tray to the
housing using a flathead screwdriver. Do not overtighten.
Attaching 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 it’s starting position.
Ikelite Arm
Handle Push
Button
Housing Handle
14
Diagram D
Attach External Tray and Handle to Housing
Diagram C

Ikelite Housing Conversion Circuitry
This housing has Ikelite designed and patented Conversion Circuitry
built into the housing back. The Conversion Circuitry provides real TTL
flash exposure when used with Ikelite DS series Substrobes.
Once a DS-series substrobe is attached to the camera housing, the
conversion circuitry is automatically powered after the strobe is turned
on. Once attached, turn the strobe on first before turning on the camera.
Attaching a Sync Cord to the Housing
The Housing Bulkhead is designed to accept only an Ikelite 5-pin TTL
Sync Cord.
1. Lightly lubricate the Sync Cord O-ring. Use ONLY Ikelite lubricant
(supplied with housing).
2. Remove Bulkhead Cap from Housing Bulkhead.
3. Line up the Sync Cord Pins with the corresponding Bulkhead
Receptacles. Gently insert Sync Cord into Bulkhead. DO NOT force this
installation. If the Sync Cord doe not eat properly in ide the Bulkhead,
then the Pin and
Receptacle are
improperly aligned (repeat
Step 3).
4. Tighten the nurled Nut
snugly using your Index
finer and thumb. DO NOT
use pliers or other tools to
tighten the nurled Nut.
- Always remove the Sync
Cord from your Housing
when not in use and
replace the Bulkhead
Cap.
15
Bulkhead
Cap
Sync Cord
O-ring
Housing
Bulkhead
Ikelite TTL
Sync Cord
Sync Cord
Pin
nurled Nut

Maintenance
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.
CAUTIO :
ever use spray lubricants as the propellant ingredient can cause
the plastic housing to crack or o-rings to swell.
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.
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.
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.
You are now ready to shoot underwater photos and video!
16

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 ot leave the camera and housing in direct sunlight for prolonged
periods. Heat may damage the camera.
-Do ot 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.
- eep 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 ot 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.
- eep 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 ot 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.
17

18
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.
- Some of the controls have long shafts. These controls can be pulled out,
exposing the shaft see diagrams B and C, page 19.
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 B, page 19, 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.

19
Diagram C
Pull out to
expose shaft
Housing
Lubricate shaft
Tighten set screw down
against this flat area
when replacing the knob. Lubricate end of shaft
before reinserting into
gland
Diagram B
Loosen Set Screw
Housing
Gland
Control Shaft
Control Maintenance - continued
Slide the shaft back into the control gland and gently slide it 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.
After completing this procedure, close the housing and submerge it in
water without the camera inside. Check the control for watertightness.

20
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 feet (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.