Sealife DIGITAL FLASH User Manual

DIGITAL FLASH

Instruction Manual

with Tips from the Pros

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..................................................................PAGE 44

IX. Troubleshooting Guide ..........................................PAGE 46

X. Accessories, and Related Products.....................PAGE 51

XI. Warranty Statement and service..........INSIDE BACK COVER

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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 range up to 8 feet (2.5m)

Two Digital Flashes can be mounted to the camera.

Depth rated to 200 feet (60m)

Approximately 100 flashes with 4 AA batteries (not included)

Deluxe carry case included.

*Works with digital cameras that have up to 4 pre-flashes

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.

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 reading and following the simple instructions in this manual you will

be able make your images come to life with colors and details more

brilliant than ever.

III. Picture samples – you can do this!

Photos by John Chandler with SeaLife DC310 digital camera, Wide-Angle Lens and Digital Flash

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 External Flash

exposure mode (see camera instruction

manual for details)

For non-SeaLife camera’s:

• Set ISO (start with 200 ISO)

• Set White Balance to AUTO

• Set camera’s Flash to ON (Turn off pre-flash, if possible)

• 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.

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

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. Make sure the latch is properly closed before each use. DO

NOT apply external force to latch or hinge area to avoid damage.

Check O-Ring to ensure it is clean and not damaged.

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 newer high energy

Alkaline batteries available that will have

longer battery life than regular alkalines.

Note: You can remove the entire battery compartment for easy access

to batteries, or for replacement purposes. Push down release tab next

to battery compartment and slide the entire compartment towards the

release tab.

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 Digital Flash firing

in the picture, keep the switch

set a #4 (this indicates that your

camera uses 4 pre-flashes).

• 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

light sensors is exposed (not obstructed) for above test.

Important: If you are using a digital camera other than SeaLife, disable

the camera’s Red-Eye reduction. Set your camera flash to FLASH ON.

Check the camera’s instruction manual for details.

Tip: If you are using a digital camera other than SeaLife, disable the

camera’s PRE-flash, if possible. Check the camera’s instruction

manual for details. This will allow you to use the #0 pre-flash cancella-

tion setting.

Pre-flash cancellation settings:

The Pre-Flash cancellation switch setting matches the number of pre-

flashes of your camera:

Switch position

Description of setting

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.

One pre-flash

Two pre-flashes

Three pre-flashes

Four pre-flashes

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.

Carefully inspect that the latch is closed and the O-ring is

completely seated into the housing.

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.

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.

Test Flash

Turn ON/OFF switch on top of flash to “ON”. When green flash-ready

light is on, turn switch to TEST. This will test fire the flash. New or

freshly charged batteries will yield about 100 flashes.

Important: Do not force switch beyond stop point

Test Pictures

Turn on camera and Digital Flash and take some test pictures to make

sure camera’s flash and Digital Flash fires together. Check that both the

“ready lights” of the camera and Digital Flash are illuminated.

Digital Flash-Ready Light:

Light off – Indicates flash is charging or flash is turned off

Light Steady on - Indicates flash is charged and ready

Light fast blinking (4 seconds) - Indicates flash has just fired

Light slow blinking - Indicates flash battery power is low

Aim Digital Flash head towards the subject. If using the SeaLife

macro lens, make sure to aim the flash downward and toward the sub-

ject. For 8X and 16X lenses, aim flash down and toward the end of the

macro wand. For 3X Close Up lens, aim flash to a point about 3 ft in

front of the camera.

The flexible arm consists of seven 1-inch (2.5cm) links covered by a

foam rubber sleeve. You can bend the flexible arm in any direction. If

you want to take the arm off or apart, you can bend it beyond the point

of resistance, until the link separate. The links can easily be reconnect-

ed by pushing them together until they snap in.

The maximum reach of your flash output is

about 6 to 8 feet and depends on the reflec-

tion of the subject, angle to the subject,

color of the subject and water visibility. The

SeaLife Digital Flash is fully adjustable from

a maximum output of 20 guide number

(100%) down to a minimum output of 1.6

guide number (8%).

Refer to Section V for more information on the

adjustable features of your Digital Flash.

The built-in flash of the camera should

be covered by a flash deflector to pre-

vent unwanted backscatter of light

caused by a reflection from particles

floating in front of the camera lens. All

SeaLife cameras come with custom

made deflectors that attach to the bot-

tom of the flash base and align over the

camera’s flash. For non-SeaLife cam-

eras, remove the deflector. Use the

black sticker provided with the Flash

Link to cover the camera’s flash and

secure the optical cable. See Flash Link

instructions for details.

Tip: Use the SeaLife Flash Diffuser (SL968) to reduce flash output

by about 60% and “soften” the light intensity.

Use of a second Digital Flash. In order to avoid shadows and to

further intensify brightness and color, you may mount a second identi-

cal flash. Remove the attachment knobs from both flashes. Place a

longer mounting screw through both base mounting brackets and into

the camera housing. Rotate both flash heads to point in the direction

of the subject and parallel to the lens of the camera.

A camera with two Digital Flashes

This double flash system can also be used with the SeaLife Macro

Lenses at a distance of 8” to 48” (20cm-120cm). A good way to avoid

overexposing close range images will be to illuminate the background

with one flash at full power setting while illuminating the foreground

and subject with the other flash with a lesser power setting. A SeaLife

diffuser may be used on both flashes to prevent overexposure of close-

up subjects.

Note: A longer mounting screw is required when mounting two

Digital Flash flash units. Contact your local dealer to order.

Item #SL96022—for two flashes

Item #SL06026—for two Digital Flash units and macro wand

V. How to use the Digital Flash underwater

Making camera adjustments for proper image exposure is easy with

a little practice and knowledge. Just follow these few guidelines with

your SeaLife camera or other digital cameras (in a suitable housing).

Overexposed picture

Properly exposure picture

You can adjust your camera setting and/or Digital Flash settings to

achieve the best image exposure

Adjusting camera settings

For SeaLife digital cameras, set the camera to External Flash mode.

For more details refer to your SeaLife camera instruction manual.

For non-SeaLife cameras, set-up the digital exposure settings as rec-

ommended here.

ISO Choose and set an ISO appropriate to the conditions you expect

on your dive. The deeper you go means less light. You can adjust for

this by adjusting the sensitivity of your camera’s sensor (ISO).

Depth

Visibility

Light

ISO

15-30 feet (5-10m)

30-60 feet (10-20m)

60-90 feet (20-30m)

20+ ft. (6m +)

10-20 ft. (3-6m)

0-10 ft. (0-3m)

bright, sunny

100

medium, cloudy 200

dark, night 200 or 400

You notice the deeper you go, the lower the visibility. The darker the

light conditions are, the higher the ISO. This makes your camera more

sensitive to light and will serve to compensate for the absorption of

light at depth.

Exposure Value (EV) also allows you to increase, or decrease, the

camera’s light sensitivity. Increase EV to brighten images, and decrease

EV to darken pictures. You may choose to increase the EV setting

depending on depth, visibility or ambient light.

Depth

Visibility

Light

-2

-1

15-30 feet (5-10m)

30-60 feet (10-20m)

60-90 feet (20-30m)

20+ ft. (6m +)

10-20 ft. (3-6m)

0-10 ft. (0-3m)

bright, sunny

medium, cloudy

dark, night

NOTE: The color of your object will effect the brightness of your subject

and the selection of your ISO or EV may be effected. Check you camera

instructions for more information about ISO and EV

White Balance (WB). This setting will match the color temperature (not

heat) of the light source to your camera’s sensor. Before using the

SeaLife Digital Flash set your WB to AUTO. Set White Balance to

FLASH, if available.

Manual exposure controls Most digital cameras also offer a manual

mode that allows you to adjust the aperture and shutter speed. This

provides the best overall exposure control but requires some experi-

mentation and a little knowledge of basic photography principles. Refer

to your camera instruction manual for details.

Once you have your camera exposure settings adjusted, take some

test pictures to become comfortable with the use and handling of the

Digital Flash. Remember that the flash reaches about 8X farther on land

than underwater. Consider this fact when taking test pictures on land

and make sure your subject is father away. The best practice is taking

underwater pictures.

TIP: Once you have settings that give acceptable results, note the set-

tings. Experiment to see how changes affect image exposure.

Using the Digital Flash variable power

adjustment:

If the test image is over exposed (white or

washed out colors), turn the power adjust-

ment clockwise to the first “bar” and take

another picture. Do this until the image

exposure is satisfactory. If the test image is

under exposed (dark), make sure the

power adjustment is on full power (com-

pletely counter clock-wise). If the power

adjustment is turned to full power, and the

image is under exposed, it normally indi-

cates the subject is too far away, beyond

the reach of the Digital Flash or the flash

did not fire. The maximum reach is 6 to 8ft

(2.5m) depending on water visibility.

Note: If the Digital Flash did not fire, refer to the trouble shooting guide

in section IX.

Important: For SeaLife digital cameras, make sure camera is set

to External Flash mode. See camera instructions for more details.

Tip: For SeaLife DC300 and DC310 Digital cameras, press the

LCD button once to set the camera to “FAR FLASH”. This will

increase the sensitivity of the camera and brighten the image. This

is helpful for longer shooting distances. Press the LCD button

again to set the camera to “MACRO FLASH”. This will reduce the

sensitivity of the camera and darken the image. This is helpful for

proper image exposure for short distances (Macro shots)

VI. Tips from the Pro’s

STEPHEN FRINK

Stephen Frink is the world’s most widely published under-

water photographer. With a career spanning over two

decades, his photos have appeared in a wide variety of

dive journals and magazines world-wide, and he has provided stunning

imagery for hundreds of promotional campaigns. For more information about

Stephen Frink Photography, please visit www.stephenfrink.com.

Digital Photography underwater is a very powerful medium. With obvi-

ous advantages like greater capacity per dive and immediate review of

photos taken, the learning curve is tremendously accelerated for most

shooters. Add powerful accessories like the SeaLife Digital Flash and

accessories such as the wide angle lens and macro accessories and

digital rules the underwater imaging scene.

Still, there are a few principles that can make even digital photography

better:

STEPHEN’S TIP 1: MINIMIZE BACKSCATTER

Backscatter is the most important variable in point-and-shoot photog-

raphy because the strobe is near the lens with most systems. Particles

in the water are front-lit by the flash and appear as specks of “back-

scatter.” These are some of the best ways to eliminate backscatter:

• Work in the clearest possible water.

• If the water is dirty, find a busy, visually confusing background that

may hide particles.

• Avoid shooting into the open water column, which will accentuate

particles.

• Don’t make backscatter worse with poor buoyancy skills. Avoid

stirring the sand on the bottom or dislodging the silt on a sponge.

• One important advantage with the SeaLife Digital Flash, is that when

particles are illuminated, it is with rim-light rather than front-light, and

the backscatter effect is minimized.

• Position your strobe high and to the side, pointing down to the

subject.

STEPHEN’S TIP 2: SHRINK THE WATER COLUMN

Water — 800 times denser than air — quickly absorbs light and is a

massive cyan (blue-green) filter. So, to achieve rich, vibrant colors in

underwater photography, you must:

• Use artificial light (a strobe).

• Work close. Choose a point-and-shoot that focuses to at least two

feet with a primary lens, or has an easy system of adding supple-

mental lenses to get close.

STEPHEN’S TIP 3: CHOOSE THE RIGHT SUBJECT

Because the best results will be obtained when working close, there is

a limited universe of subjects possible with these cameras. With the

normal lens on a SeaLife digital camera a full-figure shot of divers must

be taken from eight to 10 feet away, making the shot inevitably mono-

chromatic blue. Applying the “get close” axiom, a head-and-shoulders

shot taken from three feet away will be better. Or, add the Wide Angle

lens to photograph large subjects from a near distance. The normal

lens is usually good for fish portraits, whereas the wide angle lens helps

for large marine life such as dolphins, reef scenes, and photographs of

your dive buddy.

STEPHEN’S POINT-AND-SHOOT WORKSHOP

This series of four

photos taken with the

SeaLife flash shows

the tremendous effect

water has on color

saturation. In the first

photo (above right) the subject is approximately five feet away. Note

the dull, muted colors. In the second photo (above right), from about

three feet away, colors are more authentic.

As the photographer

moves progressively

closer, the colors are

richer. The blue filtra-

tion of seawater is

reduced, and resolution and contrast is enhanced. Get close for

optimal results!

CATHY CHURCH

Cathy Church has been photographing the beautiful underwater

world since 1967. She has a Masters degree in Marine Biology,

and is recognized as one of the world’s foremost teachers and

authors on underwater photography. She was inducted into the

Woman Divers Hall of Fame in 2000. She was a photo editor for Skin Diver

magazine for 15 years and her work has appeared in dozens of books and

magazines, including five of her own popular books (co-authored with Jim

Church) on photo technique and an instructional video. For more information

about Cathy Church and available underwater photography programs, please

visit www.cathychurch.com

CATHY’S TIP 1:

If your pictures are pale blue even when you are using a strobe, try

these tips to reduce the over-exposed sunlight and increase the pro-

portion of colorful strobe light in your photos:

• Set the EV or exposure compensation for –2. (The icon is +/-.)

• Set the ISO for 100, or any setting but auto.

• Get closer with your strobe.

• Shoot in deeper water or on darker days.

• Use manual control to make backgrounds darker and strobe brighter

• When shooting close, use a fast shutter speed such as

1/500 second.

• Use the smallest aperture on your camera (usually around

an f8.)

• Take a picture; adjust the strobe power setting up or down

as needed.

• If your camera indicates overexposure, use a faster shutter

speed or aim away from the bright sunlight. (Use your

camera owner’s manual to find the exposure information.)

CATHY’S TIP 2:

Don’t stir up sand where you are shooting.

• Adjust your weights so that you can float without moving.

• On sandy bottom, kneel or stand but don’t kick.

• If you fall forward when kneeling, move your weights toward your

back.

• If you use integrated weights, put part of them on a belt on your back

to prevent falling forward.

CATHY’S TIP 3: Get close for better color

• Use wide add-on lenses or the widest zoom setting to allow you to

get close to medium and large subjects.

• Use close-up lenses or close-focusing cameras to fill the frame with

small subjects.

• Know the minimum focus distance of the camera and get as close

as possible to any subject that does not move away.

• Use the telephoto zoom as little as possible, and only for those sub-

jects that will not allow you to get close.

CATHY’S TIP 4: Aim the strobe correctly

• Things look closer underwater than they really are. Subjects four feet

away will look like they are only three feet away. Don’t let it fool you—

aim your strobe beyond the false (apparent) image that you see.

• Aim your strobe straight out, rather than tilted down, for subjects

beyond a foot from the camera.

• Extend your strobe as far away from the lens as possible to reduce

backscatter.

CATHY’S TIP 5: Set the white balance for cloudy to increase color.

Experiment with other settings for your conditions. For example, the

flourescent setting may give better results in green colored water.

CATHY’S TIP 6: Don’t scare the fish

• When you see a turtle, don’t swim directly at it. If it is eating,

approach slowly and let him get used to you. If it is moving, swim

quickly at an angle to a position in front of it. Sometimes they will

swim right into you.

• When working with fish near coral heads, have a buddy swim to the

other side of the coral head and encourage, not chase, the fish to

your side.

JOHN CHANDLER

John has been a certified PADI Divemaster since 1982

and has remained active in leading dive trips around the

world. In 1996, John took some time off to earn his PADI

Open Water Instructor certification. He has since added

the experience of advancing through Master Scuba Diver Trainer, IDC Staff

Instructor and since May of 1998 the distinction of Master Instructor with more

that 900 certifications. John reserves most of his time now for teaching

Underwater Photography as he realizes the new joy of helping others capture

their memories on film.

JOHN’S TIP 1:

Ensure your batteries are either new, or freshly re-charged before each

dive. Do not save money only to lose great underwater images.

JOHN’S TIP 2:

Align your flash head(s) to be exactly parallel to the direction of your

camera lens. Only point the flash down and inward when taking Close-

Up or MACRO images.

JOHN’S TIP 3:

Adjust the speed of your sensor (ISO) to be more sensitive (higher ISO)

the deeper you go. If your subject is at 3 feet (1m) or less,

never set your camera’s ISO above 200 ISO.

JOHN’S TIP 4:

Always try to use a horizontal or up angle when capturing images with

your camera. These angles should allow you to capture a beautiful blue

background in your images.

JOHN’S TIP 5:

Position your subject with a contrasting background. A dark fish on a

light/bright background, or a light fish on a dark background.

JOHN’S TIP 6:

It’s better to slightly under expose your image than over exposing.

Under exposed pictures can be adjusted on your computer. Over

exposed pictures have lost color that cannot be corrected on your

computer.

VII. Care and Maintenance

1. After each use, Digital Flash and camera housing must be soaked

in fresh water immediately to

remove salt and dirt. Keep housing

and flash sealed.

2. Never use any detergents, cleaners,

solvents or chemicals to clean the

flash. The mask bucket on a boat is

full of detergent – do not use this.

3. Let the water drain out of the flash

arm (which has small drainage holes)

thoroughly before storage. Flash arm

links can be separated to remove

excess water.

4. Remove all batteries. Make sure flash (and you) are dry before open-

ing compartment door) Insert fresh Moisture-Muncher desiccant

capsules (item # SL911), and hang it up to dry in a well ventilated

place similar to drying your wet suit.

5. Always keep the compartment cover O-ring clean, dry and free from

obstructions. Latch and inspect the compartment door.

6. Inspect O-ring for cuts, tears, dirt or other damage. Clean

O-ring with damp cloth and allow to dry. Replace O-ring if

damaged.

7. Replace all worn or damaged parts. Contact your local dive shop,

or the SeaLife website for available replacement parts.

Tip: Also use the larger Moisture Muncher (1oz/28g bag) when storing

your camera, flash and accessories. Electronics will last longer in a dry

storage environment in a closed container. See Item# M101 page 23.

VIII. GLOSSARY

ISO. International Standards Organization. This term ISO relates the

ability (speed) of the camera’s sensor to accept light. Higher the ISO

the more sensitive the camera is to light resulting in a brighter, but more

grainy image.

Exposure Value (EV). EV setting controls the camera sensitivity to light.

A positive EV means a brighter photo, while a negative EV will produce

a darker image.

Pre-flash. Most digital cameras have a preflash to assist in auto-

focus/autoexposure setting of the camera. These brief, flashes can

errantly trigger an external flash before the camera captures the image.

Aperture. Like the pupil of your eye, this is the opening behind the

lens that permits light to pass through the lens and on to the camera’s

sensor. An aperture of f2.8 is a larger opening and allows more light to

reach the camera’s sensor. f8 is a small opening and allows less light

to reach the camera’s sensor.

Shutter speed. The amount of time the camera shutter opens to

permit light through the aperture and on the image sensor.

Fast shutter speed (125/sec and above) will stop action. Slower than

(60^th/sec) will be blurry, unless the camera is held very steady or on a

tripod. As a general rule, use shutter speed values between 1/90 to

1/500 for underwater.

Backscatter: Fine particles of sand or plankton suspended in the

water that appear as small dots in your picture. It looks like it’s snow-

ing in the water. Move flash head as far away from camera lens as pos-

sible. Direct outer rim of flash beam at your subject, so you do not illu-

minate the water between the camera and the subject.

IX. Trouble Shooting Guide

1. Digital Flash does not fire when switch is turned from “ON” to

“TEST.”

a. Wait until the green flash-ready light is on. If ready light does not

turn on, check that batteries are inserted correctly.

b. Test or replace batteries, if necessary.

c. Test in dark area. Direct sunlight on light sensors may prevent

flash from firing.

d. If above does not correct the problem, contact SeaLife Service

Center in your country or email to service@sealife-cameras.com

2. Digital Flash fires as tested above, but does not fire when

triggered by camera

a. Make sure Digital Flash power is turned on and green flash-ready

light is on.

b. Test that your camera’s inner flash fires.

c. Make sure camera settings are correct.

i. For SeaLife digital cameras, set to External Flash mode.

Make sure camera’s ready-light is on.

ii. For other camera brands, set camera to Flash ON. Make

sure Red-Eye reduction is turned off. Refer to your camera

instructions for problems related to the camera.

d. Make sure the Digital Flash’s pre-flash cancellation switch is

properly set. Refer to page 12 for details.

e. If using Flash Link optical cable, make sure cable is properly

connected. Refer to trouble shooting guide in Flash Link

manual. Remove Flash Link sensor adapter and see if Digital

Flash fires when Flash Link is not connected. Test in a dark room.

3. Flash does not fire all the time.

a. Make sure Flash Link is correctly installed. The ends of the optical

cable must be in the correct position.

• The open end of the optical cable must be directly in front of

the camera’s flash.

• The flash sensor adapter must be centered over the Digital

Flash’s light sensor.

b. Make sure flash sensor cover is covering light sensor farthest

from camera.

c. Refer to Flash Link instructions for correct installation procedures.

4. Dark areas in your pictures.

a. Direct the flash head closer to the center of your picture frame to

have a more even light coverage.

b. Areas further away from the camera will appear darker than closer

objects. Maximum shooting distance is 6 to 8’ depending on

water visibility and the reflectivity of your subject.

c. Check the Digital Flash variable power adjustment. Turn counter-

clockwise to increase flash brightness. Turn clockwise to

decrease flash brightness.

d. For close-up shots that have dark areas try using the SeaLife

Diffuser (item # SL968). This will diffuse and soften the flash

intensity. Refer to the accessories located in section X of

this manual.

e. The reflectivity of your subject will cause some areas to appear

brighter than other areas. For example, dark coral needs more

light than would white coral. Adjust flash intensity accordingly.

f. The further the flash head is away from the camera lens, the

bigger will be shadows due to the angle of light (flash) in relation

to the subject. The closer it is, the more backscatter you

may see in your image caused by small particles in the water. If

you have absolutely clear water without plankton or sand, you

may move the flash head closer to the camera lens.

g. In order to eliminate unwanted shadows you may consider these

two suggestions:

i. Remove the flash deflector (clear water only)

ii. Add a second Digital Flash.

5. Flash arm is loose and does not maintain correct aiming

position.

a. Soak the arm in warm fresh water and flex the arm until all links

are clean and free of detergents or lubricants.

b. Never use detergents when cleaning the flash arm.

c. Test flash arm flexibility underwater. The flash arm will become

stiffer underwater.

6. Rust accumulating around power on and test swtich. The switch

is magnetic and will attract metal debris, like rust, from a shipwreck.

Clean off rust and metal debris with a brush.

7. For more trouble shooting information, refer to the SeaLife

website at www.sealife-cameras.com or contact your local SeaLife

service center for help.

X. Accessories, Spare Parts and Related Products

to use with your SeaLife Digital Flash

Spare Parts:

Item #SL96012: Digital Flash (head only)

Item #SL9605: O-Ring Replacement Kit (authorized service only)

Contains 1 O-Ring and 1 gasket

Item #SL9604: Battery Magazine and Cover

(batteries not included)

Item #SL962:

New! SeaLife Flash Link

Optical Cable connection for all SeaLife flashes.

Ensure firing of SeaLife flashes in all light conditions

and flash aiming positions allowing you more free-

dom to control your lighting.

Item SL968:

Item SL970:

SeaLife Diffuser: Softens the light from SeaLife

External Flash to prevent over-exposure of close-up

subjects. Results in richer color balance of pictures

and softer shadows. Fits on both SeaLife Digital and

Standard Flashes.

SeaLife Wide Angle lens: Widen your underwater

photos with the SeaLife wide-angle lens. Just snap

it onto the front of your SeaLife camera and increase

your shooting angle by about 50%. Fits all SeaLife

cameras.

Item SL972:

Item SL190:

New! SeaLife Lens Dock

Protects and stores wide angle lens while diving.

Lens quickly slides in and out for instant access.

Quickly and easily attaches to the bottom of SeaLife

cameras or flashes.

SeaLife Re-chargeable batteries, charger and

international adapter kit:

Avoid paying “island prices” for AA batteries that

don’t hold up. The kit comes with four rechargeable

Ni-MH batteries, wall charger and three international

adapters that cover you around the world! Perfect

for the world traveler who needs affordable power

instantly! Purchase two kits and power your external

flash and SeaLife camera. Always have a fresh set of

batteries ready to go.

Item SL951:

SeaLife Macro 3X Close-Up Lens & U/W filter:

Close-up shots are the keys to good pictures, espe-

cially with less then perfect water visibility. For

greater underwater photos at a comfortable range of

2 to 4 ft, snap on the SeaLife Macro 3X Close-up

Lens. This color-corrected lens is designed to

enhance the quality photos of your diving and

snorkeling adventures. Fits all SeaLife cameras.

Item SL959:

SeaLife Close-Up Set: Take underwater pictures

like a Pro with the new SeaLife Close-Up Set.

Capture the vibrant color and close-up details of

your underwater world. Close-Up Set includes the

8X and 16 X color corrected macro lenses for shoot-

ing distances of 8” to 16”. Set includes the MACRO

Wand distance-measuring device that ensures the

correct shooting distance. Quickly and easily

change macro lenses underwater. Macro Wand folds

out of the way when not in use.

Two neoprene protective lens covers included. Fits

all SeaLife cameras.

Item SL194:

SeaLife Sunshade: Prevents sun glare so you can

see the LCD monitor on your SeaLife digital camera.

Works in the absolute brightest light conditions,

above and below water. Quickly attaches to the

SeaLife housing LCD monitor frame. Made of soft

rubber material. Fits on SeaLife ReefMaster Digital

camera models; DC100, DC200, DC250, DC300,

DC310.

Item SL966:

SeaLife Buoyancy Weight: Reduces the positive

buoyancy of SeaLife cameras and External Flashes.

Allows for easy, more balanced handling underwater.

Attaches to accessory mount under all SeaLife cam-

eras and flashes. Rubber armored. Weighs 13

ounces.

Item SL911:

Item M101:

Moisture Muncher Capsules: Absorbs moisture

to prevent fogging and corrosion of your SeaLife

camera. Each capsule contains 1 gram of color indi-

cating crystals. When crystals turn from blue to pink

color, it’s time to replace the capsule. Fits inside all

SeaLife cameras. Contains Ten 1-gram capsules.

Moisture Muncher Bags: Absorbs moisture to

prevent fogging and corrosion of your valuable elec-

tronics and cameras. Use inside an airtight storage

case or container to create a perfect dry environ-

ment for your valuable items. Each bag contains 1

ounce of powerful moisture absorbing granules and

color indicating crystals. When crystals turn from

blue to pink color, it’s time to replace the bag.

Contains Three 1-ounce bags

XI. Warranty statement and service

This product will be repaired or replaced free of charge within 1 year

from the purchase date in the case of a manufacturing defect, if the

complete defective product is sent freight prepaid at the sender’s risk

to: Pioneer Research, 97 Foster Road, Suite 5, Moorestown, NJ 08057

or to the importer, in a different country. Contact the service center to

obtain a return authorization # before shipping product. Include a letter

describing the damage or defect, your return address (no PO Box),

daytime phone # and a copy of the original purchase receipt or proof

of purchase with the purchase date. Excluded are any consequential

damages, cosmetic damages, damages to products which show

abuse, non-conformance with the instructions, particularly water

damage due to a damaged O-ring or any particles wedged between

the housing and the O-ring, or tampering and attempted repair of the

product. Excluded are scratches on lenses or damaged lens coatings.

Products used in rental operations are excluded from this warranty.

IMPORTANT DO NOT send any non-SeaLife cameras housings or

other equipment.

Shipments other than manufacturers equipment will be promptly

returned in their entirety at the owners expense.

The USA Service Center is open M - F, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm (EST). You

may contact the service center at (856) 866-9192 or email us at

service@sealife-cameras.com

Pioneer Research, 97 Foster Road, Moorestown, NJ 08057

www.sealife-cameras.com

Phone (856) 866-9191 Fax (856) 866-8615

www.sealife-cameras.com/onlineguide/manuals.html

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