Ikelite 6950.53 User manual

200DLM/A Underwater Housing for OM System
OM-5 and Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III Mirrorless
Cameras
Product # 6950.53

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Introduction
Thank you for your purchase of Ikelite products.
Our primary focus is to provide quality, professional grade products
for use in and under water. Our products are designed, manufactured,
and distributed from our sole facility in Indianapolis, USA where we
started in 1962.
We are available if you have any questions or want photo advice.
Send us an email 24 hours a day to [email protected]. We strive to
reply within 1 business day.
An electronic version of this instruction manual is available for
download via the product page on our website:
https://www.ikelite.com
In the Box
• Housing
• Rear o-ring # 0110 (installed)
• Front o-ring # 0132.36 (installed)
• Camera mount (installed)
• .050” hex key # 0945.11
• 1/16” hex key # 0945.16
• Silicone lubricant 1cc tube

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Important Notices
»This housing requires a compatible DLM lens port for
waterproof operation. The housing is not waterproof without a
DLM lens port attached.
»Do not pull the shutter trigger without a camera installed. You
may accidentally detach or damage the control spring.
»Never leave a housing in a rinse tank, even if it is the only
system in the tank. Accidental damage may occur when the
user walks away from a housing while it is in the rinse tank.
»Do not use alcohol, cleaning agents, spray lubricants, Rain-X,
or other solvents on the housing or lens port. Use of an
incompatible chemical compound can damage the plastic and
o-rings, and may result in leaking.
»If you will be using the system in strong surf it is
recommended to draw a vacuum on the housing using the
optional vacuum kit (sold separately).

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Contents
Introduction 2
In the Box 2
Important Notices 3
Getting to Know Your Housing 6
Tray Mounts 9
Accessory Ports 9
Setting Up Your Camera 9
Pre-Installation Checklist 9
Camera Settings 9
Exposure Settings 10
Power Save 10
Back Button Focus 10
Setting Up Your Housing 11
Opening the Housing 11
Installing the Camera 11
Closing the Housing 12
Attaching a Lens Port 13
Installing the Lens and Port 13
Setting Up An External Strobe 16
About Sync Cords 16
Attaching a Sync Cord or TTL Converter 16
Getting in the Water 18
Final Check 18
Entering the Water 18
Shooting Underwater 19
Learning about Underwater Photography 19
Maintaining Your Housing 20
Post-Dive 20
Lens Port 20

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Storage 21
Servicing Recommendations 21
Lubricating Controls 22
Lubricating Push Buttons 22
Lubricating Control Shafts 23
Troubleshooting 25
Spare Parts 27
Limited Warranty 27
Service and Repairs 27
Contact Us 28

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Getting to Know Your Housing
Shutter
Lid snap
Tray mounts
Lens
release
Port mount Bulkhead
with cap

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OM SYSTEM OM-5 & OLYMPUS E-M5 III
6950.53 MADE IN USA
ISO
ISO
INFO
INFO
MENU
MENU
Rear o-ring
OLYMPUS E-M5 III
MADE IN USA
ISOISO
INFO
INFO
MENU
MENU
Left
Menu
Erase
Lid
snap
hook
Up
Playback
Right
AEL/AFL
OK
Viewnder
Down
INFO
ISO

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Thumbscrew
groove
Front dial
Exposure
compensation
Rear dial
Front o-ring
Movie
On/off
Mode dial
Buklhead
without cap
LV
Sequential
shooting

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Tray Mounts
This housing features two 1/4-20 threaded tray mounts on the bottom
of the housing. The spacing between the tray mounts is 3” (76.2 mm).
Optional tray with handles and mounting hardware are sold separately.
It is recommended to detach and thoroughly rinse the tray mounts,
tray, and mounting hardware, with fresh water routinely during
continuous use and prior to storage.
Accessory Ports
This housing features a spare accessory port which may be used
for the attachment of optional accessories. This port accepts ttings
designed for a 1/2” through or 1/2-20 threaded hole.
The optional Vacuum Kit # 47012 may be installed in place of the side
accessory port. A hand pump with gauge allows you to draw a vacuum
on the house to simulate water pressure and check for leaks prior to
entering the water.
Visit ikelite.com for an updated list of compatible products.
»Do not remove or loosen the accessory port plug unless you
are installing a compatible accessory.
Setting Up Your Camera
Pre-Installation Checklist
1. Insert a fully charged camera battery.
2. Insert a properly formatted memory card.
3. Remove any attached lanyard or neck strap.
Camera Settings
• Set EVF Auto Switch to “Off.”

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• Set X-Sync. to “1/250” when using an external strobe.
• Set Flash mode to “Fill in” when using an external strobe.
“Slow2” rear-curtain sync may alternatively be used when using a
compatible DL3 DS Link TTL converter.
Exposure Settings
Refer to the Camera Settings Cheat Sheets in the Photo School
section of our website for recommendations on exposure settings for a
wide variety of shooting situations:
https://www.ikelite.com/blogs/cheat-sheets
Power Save
It is recommended to set the Sleep and Auto Power Off settings to
the shortest intervals that makes sense for your shooting.
Instead of turning the camera off and on to conserve battery, the
camera will automatically sleep after the pre-set interval. To wake the
camera, simply perform an operation such as pressing the shutter
button halfway down.
Back Button Focus
Back button focus takes some adjustment to get used to but can be
very valuable in a variety of shooting scenarios. To set up your camera
for back button focus, set the Custom Menu Setting A1 > AEL/AFL
to “mode3.”
The AEL/AFL button is conveniently accessed by a thumb lever on the
side of the housing. Instead of half-pressing the shutter to obtain focus
and lock focus, press the AEL/AFL button.
For super macro photography, you can use this technique instead of
a manual focus gear. Press and hold AEL/AFL to lock focus at the
minimum focusing distance of your lens. Then move slightly in or out
until the subject is in focus.

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Setting Up Your Housing
Opening the Housing
1. Push the lid snap lock forward and lift the curved end away from
the housing.
Lock
2. Lid snaps are designed to provide enough force to compress the
o-ring for a proper seal. Keep rm pressure against the lid snap
while lifting it away.
3. Repeat with opposite lid snap.
4. Remove the housing back.
Installing the Camera
1. Remove any lanyard or neck strap which may be attached to the
camera.

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2. Line the mount screw up with the camera’s tripod socket. Use a at
screwdriver to tighten the mount plate to the camera.
LENS
Mount screw
1/4-20 tripod
mount
Camera
tripod socket
3. Tilt the camera’s LCD screen if desired.
4. Pull out on the housing control knobs to move the controls out of
the way.
5. Insert the mount plate into the slot on the inside bottom of the
housing. Push the camera all of the way forward until it stops.
6. Push housing control knobs in and check orientation with the
camera.
»The camera may be attached to a tripod using the 1/4-20
threaded mounting hole on the bottom of the mount plate.
Closing the Housing
1. Make sure the o-ring is clean and in its proper location on the back
of the housing. The rear housing o-ring does not require lubricant
to make a seal.
2. Place the back onto the housing front.

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3. Make sure no controls or wires are interfering with the o-ring or the
back of the housing.
4. Place each lid snap into the corresponding hook on the housing
back.
5. Push the lid snaps towards the housing until they are at against
the housing and the lock has engaged. Close both lid snaps at the
same time.
6. Check the o-ring seal. The o-ring should form a uniform, solid line
visible through the back of the housing.
7. Check control functions.
Attaching a Lens Port
Refer to the DLM/A lens port chart to nd compatible lens ports for a
wide variety of popular wide angle, zoom, and macro lenses.
Choose a dome port for wide angle and zoom lenses. Larger diameter
domes are better for split shots (half-in, half-out of the water) and
provide sharper images.
Choose a at port for macro lenses. Flat ports magnify the subject
underwater. Flat ports are not recommended for wide angle or zoom
lenses due to their limited eld of view and risk of vignetting (dark
shadows around the edges of the image).
»This housing requires a compatible DLM lens port for
waterproof operation. The housing is not waterproof without a
DLM lens port attached.
Installing the Lens and Port
1. If using a zoom gear, refer to the zoom gear instructions for proper
assembly procedure. Attach the lens to the camera.
2. Check that the port sealing surface and o-ring are clean and free
of debris.

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3. Apply a very thin, even layer of lubricant to the exposed portion of
the front o-ring and to the lens port sealing surface. Avoid dry spots
or uneven build-up of lubricant.
4. Loosen the port thumbscrews until they do not show on the inside
of the lens port.
5. If using a port with a dome shade, align the port so that the tall
projections on the dome shade are in the 12 and 6 o’clock
positions.
Shade
Thumbscrew
O-ring
Thumbscrew
groove
Zoom gear

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6. Press the port rmly towards the housing until the base of the port
is almost ush with the housing front. If there is resistance, remove
the port and re-check that the thumbscrews are loosened and the
o-ring is properly lubricated.
7. Tighten all three thumbscrews while holding the port rmly towards
the housing. The thumbscrews should thread in completely until
the head touches the port. If the screws are difcult to turn and/or
they bottom out before their heads are ush, it is an indication that
the port is not pushed far enough down on the housing.
Small gap
~ 0.15” (4mm)

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»The port must be fully seated onto the housing for waterproof
operation. There should only be a very thin, even gap of
approximately 0.15” (4mm) between the bottom of the port and
the front of the housing.
Setting Up An External Strobe
We recommend attaching an external strobe for the optimal color and
clarity in a wide variety of photographic situations, including daylight
photography.
This housing provides a direct electrical connection to the camera’s
external ash hotshoe via a manual ash hotshoe. An external strobe
may be triggered via electrical sync cord.
About Sync Cords
Connecting a strobe via electrical sync cord provides faster strobe
recycle times as compared to a ber optic connection, and prolongs
camera battery life.
»To connect two strobes to the camera, you must use a dual
sync cord.
»A second slave strobe may be triggered optically off of a
primary strobe connected by sync cord.
Attaching a Sync Cord or TTL Converter
1. Remove connector protectors and bulkhead caps from each
connection.

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2. Apply a very thin, even layer of lubricant on all threads, sealing
surfaces, and the exposed portion of the plug o-ring. Do not allow
lubricant to get into the pins and receptacles of the plug or
bulkheads.
Bulkhead
Bulkhead
cap
Retaining
ring
3. Align plug and insert into the housing bulkhead. Each male pin
mates with a female receptacle. Failing to line up the contacts
properly before tightening may result in damage to the converter
plug and/or housing bulkhead.
4. Hand-tighten the retaining ring.
5. Attach the other end of the sync cord to the bulkhead on your
strobe.
6. Turn on the strobe(s).
7. Turn on the camera. Take a test photo to ensure that your strobe(s)
are functioning properly.
»A bulkhead cap or sync cord must be attached to the housing
for waterproof operation. Never submerge the housing without
either a sync cord or waterproof bulkhead cap attached.

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Getting in the Water
Final Check
1. Re-check the rear o-ring seal. The seal should form an even, solid
line visible through the back of the housing.
2. Turn on the camera and check all control functions.
3. Make sure the camera can take a photo.
4. Check camera battery level and available storage space on your
memory card.
5. Draw a vacuum on the housing to check for leaks using the
optional vacuum kit, if using (sold separately).
6. Submerge the housing in a fresh water tank dedicated to
underwater photography equipment. Visually conrm that there are
no signs of water intrusion. One sign of water intrusion is a steady
stream of bubbles coming from one of the housing’s seals.
Entering the Water
1. Before entering the water, turn the camera on and operate each
of the housing controls to get a feel for using the camera in the
housing.
2. We recommend entering the water without your housing to ensure
you are comfortable and your life-saving equipment is in working
order. Once you are stable, have someone pass your camera
housing to you.
3. Submerge the housing at the surface of the water and visually
conrm that there are no signs of water intrusion. Look for water
droplets or fogging inside of the housing, or a steady stream of
bubbles coming from one of the housing seals.
4. Use your hand to gently ush away any small bubbles that may be
on the face of the lens port. Bubbles will produce soft focus spots
in your photo or video.

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»If water appears to be entering the housing, point the lens port
downward and return the housing to the surface immediately.
Please observe all necessary safety precautions. NEVER
ascend faster than accepted safety limits.
Shooting Underwater
• Get as close as possible to your subject. For the best results, only
photograph subjects that are less than 6’ (1.8m) away.
• Be careful not to stir up sand or silt.
• Photograph subjects straight on or at a slight upward angle.
• If you err 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. Get as close as you
can to your subjects when taking a photograph, but never
touch or disturb the marine life.
Learning about Underwater Photography
Visit the Photo School section of ikelite.com for a wide range of
information on shooting underwater including:
• Product Tutorials and Videos
• Cheat Sheets with exposure setting recommendations for a wide
variety of situations
• Advanced Techniques with in-depth articles on different shooting
techniques
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Photo Galleries showing examples of real results underwater

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• Feature Articles and more!
Maintaining Your Housing
Post-Dive
1. Rinse the housing in fresh water. Rotate the housing controls and
press each button several times while submerged in fresh water to
ush out any salt or debris to ensure smooth operation on future
dives.
2. NEVER leave your housing in a fresh water rinse tank, even if it is
the only system in the tank. Collisions with another person’s gear
can cause scratches or damage to your equipment. Accidental
damage occurs most often in the rinse tank.
3. Rinse off any residual residue from the rinse tank with clean,
running fresh water.
4. Stow the housing in a shaded place where it is protected from
impact and overheating. If no shade is available, cover the housing
with a light colored towel or cloth.
5. Check the memory card capacity and battery life of your camera
and strobe(s). Recharge as necessary.
6. Always re-check the o-ring seal after opening the housing.
7. If using an electrical sync cord, detach the cord plug or bulkhead
cap and lubricate the threads, o-ring(s) and sealing surface(s)
every 2-3 days during continuous use.
Lens Port
Treat the surface of the lens port like a camera lens. After use, rinse
and gently dry the outside lens port to avoid water spotting. Use only a
microber lens cleaning cloth to avoid scratches. To clean, use a mild
soap solution.
»Do not rinse the inside of the lens port.