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DIGITAL FLASH
DIGITAL FLASH
Instruction Manual
Instruction Manual
with Tips from the Pros
with Tips from the Pros
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Contents: I. SeaLife Digital Flash Features and Benefits .......PAGE 2 III. Picture samples .....................................................PAGE 5 IV. Preparing your Digital camera and Flash............PAGE 7 V. How to use Digital Flash underwater ..................PAGE 25 VI. Tips from the Pros .................................................PAGE 31 VII. Care and maintenance ..........................................PAGE 42 VIII. Glossary .................................................
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I. SeaLife Digital Flash Features and Benefits Universal Underwater Flash for all film and digital cameras* • Deeper, richer colors and reduces backscatter • 5 pre-flash cancellation settings • Variable power adjustment for correct image exposure. • Flash Link optical cable connection included • Includes universal mount to adapt all SeaLife cameras and other underwater camera housings with tripod mount. • Flexible, rubberized arm for easy aiming and sure grip. • Effective underwater distance r
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Without Digital Flash With Digital Flash Novice and experienced dives alike know that the deeper you dive the less light penetrates the water column. While this descending drama adds to your excitement as a diver, you will find that it also will chal- lenge you as an Underwater Digital Photographer. Having an external Digital Flash allows you to carry your own supplemental light with you. 3
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The SeaLife Digital Flash is fully adjustable allowing you to control the brightness of your “sun” as you need. The variable power adjustment lets you accent colors and bring out the brightness of a reef scene or the brilliant blue and yellows of an Angelfish gliding by you. Plus, the SeaLife Digital Flash allows you also to choose a pre- flash setting that will synchronize your cameras’ flash system with that of the SeaLife Digital Flash making your underwater images sharper than ever. By rea
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III. Picture samples – you can do this! 5
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Photos by John Chandler with SeaLife DC310 digital camera, Wide-Angle Lens and Digital Flash 6
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IV. Preparing your camera and SeaLife Digital Flash Prepare your camera for use underwater. Here is a simple checklist that is useful for most popular digital cameras and their housings. • Insert blank memory card. It’s good practice to regularly format the memory card. Make sure card is blank before formatting. • Insert freshly charged batteries. High mAh batteries are suggested. Such as the SeaLife NiMH AA rechargeable batteries. • Turn camera power on • Set SeaLife digital cameras to Externa
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• Important: Turn off camera’s red-eye reduction. • Select your desired image resolution. • Use camera’s manual exposure mode to control aperture and shutter speed, if possible. • Read your digital camera instruction manual for how to adjust the above mentioned cameras settings. • Inspect and clean camera housing and main O-ring (Make sure O-ring is not damaged and perfectly clean). • Insert camera into housing and seal. • Test fire the camera to make sure camera’s flash fires. 8
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Prepare your Digital Flash Open latch as shown below to access battery compartment and pre- flash cancellation setting. Important: Make sure the Flash (and you) are perfectly dry before opening compartment 9
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Caution: Discharge flash. Before opening flash housing door, make sure to discharge the flash by moving the power switch to the “TEST” position, and then to the “OFF” position. Magnetic switch. The switch has small magnet inside to turn flash power ON/OFF and TEST. Keep away from compasses and electronics to avoid magnetic interference. Do not force switch beyond its stop point to avoid damaging the switch. Sealing Latch. Grab the sides of the latch in order to open the battery compart- ment.
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Insert new or freshly charged AA batteries. Use SeaLife NiMH rechargeable batteries for best results. To replace batteries, gently press down on the top front of the battery magazine and slide the magazine cover down. Replace all 4 batteries with Alkaline or NiMH type batteries ensuring the polarity is properly observed. NiMH recy- cle time and life depends on mAh rating of the battery. A 2300 mAh NiMH battery will last longer and recycle faster than a regular alka- line battery. There is also
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Setting the preflash cancellation switch. For all SeaLife digital and film camera’s, set switch to “0” position. For all non-SeaLife digital cameras, set switch to the # 4 position to start. • Turn Digital Flash power ON. Wait for the “ready light” to illuminate. • Turn on your digital camera and take a test picture of the Digital Flash. Aim camera at the Digital Flash light sensor. • Review image on the camera and see if the Digital Flash firing is visible in the picture. If you see the Digita
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• If you do not see the Digital Flash firing in the picture, set the switch to the #3 position and repeat the above test. • Continue moving switch down one position until you see the Digital Flash firing in the picture – This will be your permanent pre-flash can- cellation setting. Note: For the above test, keep the shooting distance between the camera and Digital Flash at about 5 feet (1.5 m). Do this test in low light conditions, away from bright or direct light. Make sure that one of the l
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Pre-flash cancellation settings: The Pre-Flash cancellation switch setting matches the number of pre- flashes of your camera: Switch position Description of setting 0 Instant synchronization mode. For cameras with No pre-flash. Use “0” setting for all SeaLife cameras an other brands that allow you to disable the camera’s pre-flash. 1 One pre-flash 2 Two pre-flashes 3 Three pre-flashes 4 Four pre-flashes 14
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Close and seal battery compartment as shown. Make sure O-ring is perfectly clean and undamaged. Note: Inspect O-ring for cuts, tears, dirt or other damage. Clean or replace as necessary. See page 43 for O-Ring care instructions. 15
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Carefully inspect that the latch is closed and the O-ring is completely seated into the housing. 16
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Attach camera (housing) to DIGITAL FLASH mounting base. Hand tighten screw – Do not over tighten! Caution: A) Only attach mounting screw to hous- ings with standard 1/4-20 tripod mount adapter. B) The tripod mount adapter thread depth MUST be at least 0.250” (6.4mm). Never force or over tighten screw, or this may permanently damage the housing seal or threads. 17
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Attach Flash Link optical cable to Digital Flash head and camera Refer to the Flash Link instruction manual for details. The Flash Link optical cable will transfer the flash from the inner camera to the light sensor of the Digital Flash. 18
