Ikelite 69621 User manual

Product Registration
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200DLM/A Underwater Housing for
Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9K, DC-GX9M, DC-GX9
Product # 69621

2
Introduction
Thank you for your purchase of Ikelite products.
Ourprimaryfocusistoprovidequality,professionalgradeproducts
foruseinandunderwater.Ourproductsaredesigned,manufactured,
anddistributedfromoursolefacilityinIndianapolis,USAwherewe
started in 1962.
We are available if you have any questions or want photo advice.
Sendusanemail24hoursadayto[email protected].Westriveto
reply within 1 business day.
Anelectronicversionofthisinstructionmanualisavailablefor
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
Product Registration 1
Introduction 2
In the Box 2
Important Notices 3
Getting to Know Your Housing 6
Tray Mounts 9
Accessory Ports 9
Trigger Extension 9
Lanyard Mount 9
Setting Up Your Camera 10
Pre-Installation Checklist 10
Camera Settings 10
Exposure Settings 10
Power Save 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
Attaching a Fiber Optic Cord 16
Getting in the Water 17
Final Check 17
Entering the Water 17
Shooting Underwater 18
Learning about Underwater Photography 18
Maintaining Your Housing 19
Post-Dive 19
Lens Port 19

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Storage 20
Servicing Recommendations 20
Lubricating Controls 21
Lubricating Push Buttons 21
Lubricating Control Shafts 22
Troubleshooting 24
Spare Parts 26
Limited Warranty 26
Service and Repairs 26
Contact Us 27

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Getting to Know Your Housing
Shutter
Lid snap
Tray mounts
Lens
release
Port mount Accessory
ports

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69621
MADE IN USA
AF/AE
AF/AE
LOCK
LOCK
LVF
LVF
DISP
DISP
WB
WB
Rearo-ring
69621
MADE IN USA
AF/AEAF/AE
LOCKLOCK
LVFLVF
DISPDISP
WBWB
Left
Display
Erase
Lid
snap
hook
ISO
Playback
Right / WB
SET
Down
AF/AE Lock
Rear dial
LV
Focus mode
lever Motion picture
button
On/off
Flash
Fn1

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Fiberopticports
AEL-AFL / Fn1
Motionpicturebutton
Mode dial
Front dial

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Tray Mounts
Thishousingfeaturestwo1/4-20threadedtraymountsonthebottom
ofthehousing.Thespacingbetweenthetraymountsis3”(76.2mm).
Optionaltraywithhandlesandmountinghardwarearesoldseparately.
Itis recommendedtodetachand thoroughlyrinsethetray 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.
TheoptionalVacuumKit#47012maybeinstalledinplaceoftheside
accessoryport.Ahandpumpwithgaugeallowsyoutodrawavacuum
onthehousetosimulatewaterpressureandcheckforleakspriorto
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.
Trigger Extension
The shutter lever may be extended to be closer to your hand when
usinganoptionaltraywithright-handquickreleasehandle.This
requires the Trigger Extension # 4077.95.
Trigger extension and tray with quick release handle are sold
separately.
Lanyard Mount
Alanyardwithathin cord may be attachedtothehousingusingthe
lanyard mount on back of the housing.

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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 Flash mode to “Forced ash on” when using an external
strobe.
• Set Shutter Type to “OFF” when using an external strobe.
• Set Touch Settings to “MSHTR” when using an external strobe.
Exposure Settings
Refer to the Camera Settings Cheat Sheets in the Photo School
sectionofourwebsiteforrecommendationsonexposuresettingsfora
wide variety of shooting situations:
https://www.ikelite.com/blogs/cheat-sheets
Power Save
It is recommended to set the SleepModeand AutoLVF/MonitorOff
settingstotheshortestintervalsthatmakessenseforyourshooting.
Insteadofturning the camera offand on to conserve battery, the
camerawillautomaticallysleepafterthepre-setinterval.Towakethe
camera,simplyperform anoperationsuchaspressing the shutter
button halfway down.

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Setting Up Your Housing
Opening the Housing
1. Pushthe lidsnaplockforward andliftthe curvedendawayfrom
the housing.
Lock
2. Lidsnapsare designedtoprovideenoughforce to compressthe
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
1/4-20tripod
mount
Camera
tripodsocket
3. Tilt the camera’s LCD screen if desired.
4. Pulloutonthehousingcontrolknobstomovethecontrolsoutof
the way.
5. Insertthe mountplateintothe slotonthe insidebottomofthe
housing.Pushthe cameraallofthe wayforwarduntilitstops.
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. Makesuretheo-ringiscleanandinitsproperlocationontheback
ofthehousing.Therearhousingo-ringdoesnotrequirelubricant
to make a seal.
2. Place the back onto the housing front.

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3. Makesurenocontrolsorwiresareinterferingwiththeo-ringorthe
back of the housing.
4. Placeeachlid snapintothecorrespondinghook on thehousing
back.
5. Push the lid snaps towards the housing until they are at against
thehousingandthelockhasengaged.Closebothlidsnapsatthe
same time.
6. Checktheo-ringseal.Theo-ringshouldformauniform,solidline
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.
Choosea domeportforwide angleandzoom lenses.Largerdiameter
domesarebetterforsplitshots(half-in,half-outofthewater)and
provide sharper images.
Choose a at port for macro lenses. Flat ports magnify the subject
underwater.Flatports arenotrecommendedfor wide angleorzoom
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. Ifusingazoomgear,refertothezoomgearinstructionsforproper
assembly procedure. Attach the lens to the camera.
2. Checkthattheportsealingsurfaceando-ringarecleanandfree
of debris.

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3. Applyaverythin,evenlayeroflubricanttotheexposedportionof
thefronto-ringandtothelensportsealingsurface.Avoiddryspots
or uneven build-up of lubricant.
4. Loosentheportthumbscrewsuntiltheydonotshowontheinside
of the lens port.
5. Ifusing aportwith adomeshade,align theportso thatthetall
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
theportandre-checkthatthethumbscrewsareloosenedandthe
o-ring is properly lubricated.
7. Tighten all three thumbscrews while holding the port rmly towards
thehousing.Thethumbscrewsshouldthreadincompletelyuntil
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.
Attaching a Fiber Optic Cord
1. Check the end of the ber optic cord to ensure that it is clean and
smooth.
2. Check that the ber optic cord o-ring is in place. This o-ring does
not provide waterproong, but it does keep the ber optic cord in
place.
3. Attach one end of the ber optic cord to one of the ber optic ports
on the housing. The connector is a press-t into the port.
4. Attach the other end of the ber optic cord to a compatible strobe.
5. Setthestrobeaccordingtothemanufacturerrecommendations.
6. Turn on the strobe.
7. Turnonthecamera.Takeatestphototoensurethatyourstrobe(s)
are functioning properly.

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Getting in the Water
Final Check
1. Re-checktherearo-ringseal.Thesealshouldformaneven,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. Checkcamerabatterylevel andavailablestoragespaceon 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
nosignsofwaterintrusion.Onesignofwaterintrusionisasteady
stream of bubbles coming from one of the housing’s seals.
Entering the Water
1. Beforeenteringthewater,turnthecameraonandoperateeach
ofthe housingcontrolsto getafeelforusingthecamerainthe
housing.
2. Werecommendenteringthewaterwithoutyourhousingtoensure
youarecomfortableandyourlife-savingequipmentisinworking
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
dropletsorfogginginsideofthehousing,orasteadystreamof
bubbles coming from one of the housing seals.
4. Use your hand to gently ush away any small bubbles that may be
onthefaceofthelensport.Bubbleswillproducesoftfocusspots
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
Visitthe Photo School section of ikelite.comforawiderangeof
information on shooting underwater including:
• Product Tutorials and Videos
• CheatSheetswithexposuresettingrecommendationsfora wide
variety of situations
• AdvancedTechniqueswithin-deptharticlesondifferentshooting
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. Rinsethehousinginfreshwater.Rotatethehousingcontrolsand
presseachbuttonseveraltimeswhilesubmergedinfreshwaterto
ush out any salt or debris to ensure smooth operation on future
dives.
2. NEVERleaveyourhousinginafreshwaterrinsetank,evenifitis
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. Rinseoffanyresidualresidue from therinsetankwith clean,
running fresh water.
4. Stow the housing in a shaded place where it is protected from
impactandoverheating.Ifnoshadeisavailable,coverthehousing
with a light colored towel or cloth.
5. Checkthememory cardcapacityandbatterylife of yourcamera
and strobe(s). Recharge as necessary.
6. Always re-check the o-ring seal after opening the housing.
7. Ifusinganelectricalsynccord,detachthecordplugorbulkhead
capandlubricatethethreads,o-ring(s)andsealingsurface(s)
every 2-3 days during continuous use.
Lens Port
Treatthesurfaceofthelensportlikeacameralens.Afteruse,rinse
andgentlydrytheoutsidelensporttoavoidwaterspotting.Useonlya
microber lens cleaning cloth to avoid scratches. To clean, use a mild
soap solution.
»Do not rinse the inside of the lens port.

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»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.
Storage
1. Clean the housing and controls thoroughly prior to storage.
2. Removetherearo-ring.Placeinasmallre-sealableplasticbag
inside of the housing.
3. Leave the lid snaps open to release pressure on the lid snap
springs.
4. Storethehousinginacool,dryplaceawayfromdirectsunlight
and chemicals.
5. Beforeusingthehousing,checkthetightnessofthesetscrewin
eachcontrolknob.Checkeachcontrolglandtomakesuretheyare
snug.Thereisaslightchancethateithercouldvibratelooseduring
travel.
»Do not leave the camera and housing in direct sunlight for
prolonged periods. Heat may damage the camera.
»Do not transport with the camera inside of the housing.
»Do not store the housing in a humid environment. Prolonged
exposure to high humidity may damage electronic
components.
Servicing Recommendations
ItisrecommendedthatthehousingbesenttoIkeliteoranauthorized
servicecenterannuallyforroutineserviceandmaintenance.Service
maybe requiredmoreorless frequentlydependingon careanduse.