Ikelite 6812.5 User manual

Product Registration
Please register your product at ikelite.com within 15 days of purchase.
Our product registration database is the best way for us to get a hold
of you in the event of a product update or recall.
Underwater Housing for Nikon D500
Product Number 6812.5

2
About this Product
Thank you for your purchase of Ikelite equipment. Please read this
instruction manual completely before attempting to operate or dive
with this product. Please visit ikelite.com to register your product to
receive information on any updates, notices, or recalls pertaining to
your equipment.
Included in the Box
• Housing
• Aluminum tray
• Left-Hand Quick Release Handle with rubberized grip
• Port hole cover
• Waterproof bulkhead cap
• 5509.27 Universal zoom set up to 2.8-inch diameter
• 5509.28 Universal zoom set 2.8 to 3.0-inch diameter
• Silicone lubricant 1cc tube

3
Important Notices
»Never leave a housing in a rinse tank, even if it is the only
system in the tank. The vast majority of catastrophic oods
happen when the user walks away from a housing while it is in
the rinse tank.
»To prevent salt build-up and sticking controls, submerge the
empty housing in clean, freshwater. Operate the controls
several times each while underwater to ush out any residue.
»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.

4
Contents
Product Registration 1
About this Product 2
Included in the Box 2
Important Notices 3
Attach Tray & Handle to Housing 5
Getting to Know Your Housing 7
Getting to Know Your Housing - cont. 8
Accessory Ports 9
Setting Up Your Camera 9
Pre-Installation Checklist 9
Setting Up Your Housing 10
Opening the Housing 10
Inserting the Camera 11
Attaching the Hotshoe 12
Closing the Housing 13
Installing Zoom Clamp and Gear Sleeve 13
Attaching the Lens Port 14
Final Check 15
Entering the Water 16
Setting Up An External Strobe 17
About Sync Cords 17
TTL Strobe Use 18
Attaching a Sync Cord 18
Video Light Use 19
Maintenance 19
Post-Dive 19
Travel and Storage 20
Troubleshooting 20
Spare Parts 22

5
Maintenance 22
Lens Port 22
Housing and O-ring Storage 23
Lubricant 23
Housing Maintenance 23
Control Maintenance 24
Photo Tips 27
Limited Warranty 28
Service and Repairs 29
Contact Us 29
Attach Tray & Handle to Housing
Using a at head screwdriver, attach the Tray and Handle to your
housing with the two 3/8” nylon washers and 1/4-20 x 3/8” screws.
13
START/
STOP
MENU INFO.
Q
1/4-20 x 3/8” screw
3/8” nylon washer

6
Getting to Know Your Housing
*ON/OFF: See “Entering the Water” P. 14 for proper operation.
Meter Button
Tray Mount
Tray Extension and
Quick Release Handle
IKELITE
Power switch (*ON/OFF)
TTL Bulkhead
and Cap
BKT button
Tray
Shutter Button
AF-ON
AF Start Button
Quick-release
Button
Lid Snap
Sub-command dial
MODE Button
WB button
Accessory Port
Hole Plug
Accessory Port
Hole Plug
Port Lock

7
Getting to Know Your Housing - cont.
MENU
INFO
Lv
OK
Fn2
Zoom Control
Super-eye
Viewnder
AF-ON Button
Lens Release
Button
Button
ISO Button
Movie-record Button
MENU
INFO
Lv
OK
Fn2
Left Cursor
Set Button
Main Command Dial
Down Cursor
Live View
Selector
Up Cursor
Right Cursor

8
Accessory Ports
Your housing features two 1/2-20 threaded Accessory Ports which
may be used for attachment of factory optional or aftermarket housing
accessories. Visit ikelite.com for an updated list of factory optional
accessories.
Use the following steps to replace an Accessory Port Hole Plug with
an accessory tting:
1. Remove the Hole Plug using an 11/16-inch open end wrench.
2. Check the accessory tting o-ring sealing area. If an o-ring is not
present, use the Hole Plug o-ring. Lightly lubricate o-ring with
Ikelite Lubricant. Use ONLY Ikelite lubricant, as other manufacturer
lubricants can cause the o-ring to swell. Check o-ring and o-ring
sealing area. Both should be clean and free of hair, sand, or other
debris.
3. Carefully screw in and tighten accessory tting. The accessory port
features a 1/2-20 threaded hole. Make sure your tting is the same
thread pattern. DO NOT cross-thread. DO NOT overtighten.
Setting Up Your Camera
Pre-Installation Checklist
1. Insert a fully charged camera battery.
2. Insert a properly formatted memory card.

9
3. Set Touch Controls to “OFF.”
When using ONLY the optical viewnder, push the “info” button
to display or change current settings. This will give you an instant
glance at the camera settings on the LCD screen and allow quick
adjustments.
To set Flash Exposure Compensation: In CUSTOM SETTING
MENU “f Controls”, set “Release Button To Use Dial” to “ON” Yes.
Press “info” button, then press button. Set Flash Compensation
to desired setting. DO NOT enable red-eye reduction. Flash mode
should be set to .
Setting Up Your Housing
Opening the Housing
1. Push the lid snap lock forward and lift the curved end away from the
housing.
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.
Lid Snap Lock
3. Repeat with remaining lid snaps.
4. Remove the housing back.

10
Inserting the Camera
1. Remove any lanyard or neck strap which may be attached to the
camera.
2. Check to see whether the camera’s lens will t through the port
opening of the housing. If not, the lens will need to be removed
from the camera body and re-attached AFTER the camera body is
installed in the housing.
3. Remove the camera mounting plate from the housing.
4. Line the Mounting Screw up with the Camera Tripod Socket. Use a
coin or at head screwdriver to tighten the mounting plate to the
camera.
Mounting Screw Camera Tripod Socket
Bottom Side
Front
5. Pull out on the housing control knobs to move them out of the way.
6. Insert the mounting plate into the slot on the inside bottom of the
housing. Push the camera all of the way forward until the back of
the mounting plate is ush with the back of the housing mount.

11
Attaching the Hotshoe
Your Ikelite housing features a factory installed hotshoe connector
which allows manual ash with a wide variety of Ikelite and non-ikelite
strobes.
For automated TTL operation, an optional TTL hotshoe and TTL
Converter are available for use with Ikelite DS-series TTL strobes.
One or two strobes may be connected to the Converter using an
Ikelite-to-Ikelite single or dual sync cord. Use of two strobes requires
a dual sync cord. Two strobes cannot be controlled by individual
Converters even if the housing is equipped with two bulkhead
connectors.
TTL Converters are not usable with non-Ikelite strobes or non-DS
Ikelite strobes.
1. Slide hotshoe into camera hotshoe mount until it stops. NOTE:
Hotshoe must be all the way forward in the camera mount to ensure
a good electrical connection.
Hotshoe
Hotshoe Mount

12
Closing the Housing
1. Make sure the o-ring is clean and in its proper location on the back
of the housing. The main housing o-ring does not require lubricant
to make a seal.
2. Place the back onto the housing front.
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 opposing lid snaps at
the same time.
6. Check the o-ring seal and control functions. The o-ring should form
a uniform, solid line around the back of the housing. There will be a
small, even gap around the housing between the housing back and
the housing front.
Installing Zoom Clamp and Gear Sleeve
Determine if you have a Type 1 or Type 2 lens and attach zoom clamp
and sleeve as shown, if you are using zoom. Type 2 lenses must be
attached to the camera as shown, after the camera has been installed
in the housing. DO NOT rotate housing zoom control until AFTER the
port is installed.

13
Zoom Clamp and Sleeve
Type 1 installation
Zoom Clamp and Sleeve
Type 2 installation
A compatible lens port is required for waterproof operation.
Never submerge the housing without a lens port attached.
Attaching the Lens Port
1. Lightly lubricate the o-ring on the port extension base. When
properly lubricated, the o-ring should have an even, slightly shiny
appearance. Wipe off any excess lubricant.

14
2. Slide the port over the lens and secure to the front of the housing
using the four installed Port Locks. Push each Port Lock in toward
the port until you hear or feel a click. The Port Lock Release Button
is spring-loaded and will drop into the locked position when properly
engaged.
The Port Lock Release Buttons must all be in the down or
LOCKED position to properly secure the lens port.
It will be very difcult to close the Port Locks if the o-ring is extruded
or improperly seated.
Slight port movement is normal after port locks have been closed
and should not affect the piston-type o-ring seal.
LOCKED Position UNLOCKED Position
3. After installing the lens and port, turn the Zoom Control knob on
the housing. If the Zoom Control is difcult to turn, the Gear Sleeve
may be warped. If necessary, reduce or omit any rubber installed
on the Zoom Clamp.
4. If using a dome with a shade, rotate the lens port slightly until the
wider extensions are oriented on the top and bottom.
When using the bayonet mount 2.75” lens extension, remove
and reattach the shade for proper orientation if necessary, after port
installation. If the shade is misaligned, it may cause vignetting (dark
shadows in the corners of the image).
Final Check
1. Re-check the o-ring seal. The seal should form an even, solid line
around the back of the housing.
2. Turn on the camera and check all control functions.

15
3. Make sure that the camera can obtain focus and take a photo.
4. Check battery life and open storage space on your memory card.
5. Submerge the housing in a fresh water tank dedicated to
underwater photography equipment. Visually conrm that there are
no signs of water intrusion or a steady stream of bubbles coming
from one of the housing 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. As soon as you enter the water, take a moment and check to
see that the housing is properly sealed. Using your nger, wipe
away any air bubbles on the face of the lens port. If possible, rst
water test the housing with no camera inside to assure a safe and
watertight environment.
3. The *ON/OFF camera knob has a white dot. To turn camera ON
while in the housing, lift knob and rotate white dot to the 10 o’clock
position from the back of the housing. Lower and rotate knob
slightly counterclockwise to turn camera ON. DO NOT continue
rotating knob once camera is activated or you could damage the
switch.
White Dot
Starting
Point
OFFON
White Dot
Starting
Point
Front of Housing
4. To turn camera OFF while in the housing, lift knob and rotate
white dot to the 1 o’clock position. Lower and rotate knob slightly
clockwise until camera turns OFF. DO NOT continue rotating knob
once camera is deactivated or you could damage the switch.

16
5. If possible, we recommend entering the water without your housing
to ensure that you are comfortable and your life-saving equipment
is in working order. Once you are stable, have someone pass your
camera housing to you.
6. Submerge the housing at the surface of the water and visually
conrm that there are no signs of water intrusion or a steady stream
of bubbles coming from one of the housing seals. If water does
appear to be entering the housing, point the lens port downward
and return the housing to the surface as quickly as possible. Please
observe all necessary safety precautions. NEVER ascend faster
than accepted safety limits.
7. 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.
Setting Up An External Strobe
We recommend attaching an external strobe for the optimal color
and clarity in a wide variety of shooting situations, including daylight
photography. This housing provides a direct electrical connection
to the camera’s external ash hotshoe. An external strobe may be
triggered via electrical sync cord for manual ash operation.
About Sync Cords
Attaching a strobe via electrical sync cord provides faster strobe
recycle times as compared to a ber optic connection, and prolongs
camera battery life.
Strobes from IKELITE, SEA&SEA, INON, and Nikonos must be used
in manual power modes when connected via electrical sync cord. Go
to ikelite.com to select the correct cord for your strobe.

17
TTL Strobe Use
When a compatible Ikelite DS-series strobe is attached via sync cord
with optional TTL converter, circuitry built into the converter allows the
strobe to communicate directly with the camera to trigger the strobe
and adjust its power for perfect exposure. NOTE: The housing’s
manual hotshoe must be replaced with the optional TTL hotshoe.
Attaching a Sync Cord
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.
1. Remove the bulkhead cap.
2. Lightly lubricate the sync cord o-rings. We recommend using only
Ikelite silicone lubricant to eliminate the possibility of swelling due to
incompatible compounds.
3. Line up the pins and receptacles and insert the sync cord plug into
the housing bulkhead.
Waterproof
Bulkhead Cap
Bulkhead
side view
Retaining
Ring
Retaining
Ring
O-ring
Bulkhead
top view
4. Rotate the knurled retaining ring until snug on the housing
bulkhead. Do not use pliers or tools to tighten the retaining ring.
5. Attach the other end of the sync cord to the bulkhead on your
strobe.

18
6. If using an Ikelite strobe, set the strobe to TTL. If using a non-Ikelite
strobe, set the strobe to manual ash and select a manual power
setting.
7. Turn on the strobe(s).
8. Turn on the camera.
9. Take a test photo to ensure that your strobe(s) are functioning
properly.
Video Light Use
A bright constant-on video light can be used instead of or in addition
to a ash. A constant-on light is not as bright as a strobe ash.
Constant-on lights do provide added versatility because they can be
used for focus assist and for improved colors when shooting video.
Maintenance
Post-Dive
1. Rinse the housing in fresh water. Rotate the housing controls and
press each button 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. Collisions
with another person’s gear can cause scratches or damage to your
equipment.
3. Stow the housing in a shaded place where it is protected from
impact or overheating. If no shade is available, we recommend
covering the housing with a towel or cloth.
4. Check the memory card capacity and battery life of your camera
and strobe(s). Recharge as necessary.
5. Always re-check o-ring seal after opening the housing.

19
Travel and Storage
1. Remove the camera from the housing for travel or storage.
2. Check the main housing o-ring.
3. Close the empty housing and submerge in lukewarm fresh water.
While submerged, rotate each control and depress each button to
ush out any salt or debris.
4. Remove the housing from water and rinse with running water.
5. Do not rinse the inside of the housing or submerge the open
housing in water. If the inside of the housing needs to be cleaned,
wipe with a clean, slightly damp cloth.
6. Dry the housing with a clean, lint-free cloth.
7. Store in a cool, dry place.
8. Like regulators and other pressure-sensitive equipment, we
recommend careful care and cleaning along with annual
replacement of the factory seals.
Troubleshooting
Water enters the housing
• Re-clean and re-install the main o-ring.
• Take the housing underwater without a camera installed to ensure
that the leaking has been corrected.
Photos are over-exposed (too light)
• Adjust aperture (smaller), shutter speed (faster), or ISO (lower)
setting.
• Move light(s) farther away from your subject.
• Adjust exposure compensation in the camera.

20
• Adjust lighting power.
Photos are under-exposed (too dark)
• Adjust aperture (larger), shutter speed (slower), or ISO (higher)
setting.
• Move light(s) farther away from your subject.
• Adjust exposure compensation in the camera.
• Adjust lighting power.
Strobe will not re
• Turn on strobe.
• Make sure that the camera menu is set properly to re an external
ash.
• Check that the sync cord is properly attached.
Buttons are stuck
• Soak the housing in lukewarm fresh water. Depress each button
several times while the housing is submerged.
• Apply lubricant to the button. Press the button several times to
distribute the lubricant.
Button(s) or control(s) do not line up
• Ensure that nothing is preventing the camera from going into the
housing.
• Push the camera mounting plate forward until it is ush with the
housing base plate.
Camera is not functioning normally underwater
• Ensure that the camera mounting plate is pushed all of the way into
the housing mounting plate.