Pioneer Research SL405 SportDiver ULTRA Underwater Smartphone Housing Instruction Manual

Pioneer Research SL405 SportDiver ULTRA Underwater Smartphone Housing

SeaLife SportDiver Ultra Underwater Housing for Smartphones

Specifications

• Item Number : SL405
• Package Contents
  • SportDiver underwater housing (SL4051)
  • Color-correction filter (SL40007)
  • Vacuum pump (SL40006)
  • Rubber grip tabs (12 each small, medium and large) (SL40008)
  • O-ring removal tool (SL9808)
  • Deluxe padded wrist lanyard with BCD clip (SL72070)
  • Instruction manual (English) (SL40524)
  • AAA alkaline batteries (2) (SL40011)
  • Moisture Muncher sampler pack (1 capsule) (SL2523)
  • EVA carry case (SL40009)
• Optional Accessories (Sold separately)
  • Sea Dragon Photo-Video Light
  • Moisture Muncher desiccant capsules 10-pack (SL911)
  • SeaLife Photo Pro Backpack (SL940)
  • Screen Shield (SL4005) Waterproof screen protector for SportDiver

Getting to Know the Housing
The SeaLife SportDiver Ultra Underwater Housing for Smartphones is designed to allow you to capture stunning underwater photos and videos using your smartphone. It is a durable and reliable housing that provides full access to your phone’s camera functions while keeping it safe and dry underwater.

Setting up the Housing

1. To open the housing, push and hold the release button (A) and rotate the cam-lock (B) counter-clockwise.
2. Open the battery compartment by pulling down the locking tab (A) and lifting the battery cover (B). Insert two alkaline AAA batteries into the battery compartment, making sure to follow the +/- polarity markings.
3. Insert a Moisture Muncher desiccant capsule into the cavity. The Moisture Muncher absorbs humidity inside the housing, preventing fogging. Replace the capsule when the granules turn pink in color. One sample capsule is included with the SportDiver, and additional 10-packs can be purchased separately.
4. Attach the padded wrist lanyard to the underwater housing. Loop the end of the lanyard through the lanyard hole (A). The clip (B) is used for attaching the housing to your BCD D-ring. Do NOT attach the clip to the housing. Alternatively, you can attach the lanyard around your wrist using the sliding lock (C) to tighten it.
5. Download the SeaLife SportDiver app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Search for “SportDiver” and install the app. Accept all permissions, including access to Photos, Camera, Microphone, and Bluetooth. Note that SeaLife does not collect data or gather personal information from the SportDiver app.
6. Ten medium-sized rubber grip tabs (A) are pre-installed in the housing. These tabs, along with the bow-shaped spring, hold your phone in position and prevent it from moving around when the housing is sealed. Do not install grip tabs in areas where the  phone’s side buttons are located. Depending on the size of your phone, you can exchange the medium-sized grip tabs with small or large-sized tabs. For larger phones, you may remove the left-side grip tabs and only use small grip tabs along the bottom.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Q: Where can I purchase additional accessories for the SeaLife SportDiver Ultra Underwater Housing?
  A: You can visit your local authorized SeaLife dealer or go to www .sealife-cameras.com for a complete list of accessories.

• Q: How do I know when to replace the Moisture Muncher desiccant capsule?
  A: The granules in the capsule will turn pink when they have absorbed enough moisture. It is recommended to replace the capsule when this happens.

Important – Read this first

• How-to videos are available at: www.sealife-cameras.com/great-pictures-made-easy.
• Updates to this manual and troubleshooting are available at: www.sealife-cameras.com/manuals.
• Please register your SeaLife product online at: www.sealife-cameras.com/warranty.
• The manual content and specifications are subject to change without notice.
• The limited warranty applies only to the SeaLife SportDiver underwater housing (the “Product”). This limited warranty does not cover and does not provide any remedy for damage to, any smartphones, other electronic devices, or other products, used in connection with the Product. Purchaser understands and agrees that while SeaLife has undertaken commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the Product functions in accordance with SeaLife’s applicable published specifications, some risk of flooding or other failure remains when the Product is used, which risk the Purchaser assumes. See page 56 for details. We recommend that you insure your smartphone through your wireless carrier for accidental loss and damage. We also recommend utilizing cloud backup storage (i.e. iCloud® or Google Drive®) to preserve your phone’s data in the event of a total loss.
• Do not directly or indirectly expose the housing to spray-on sunscreens. Spray-on sunscreens may contain chemicals that react with polycarbonate and other plastics, causing cracks and potential flooding.
• Read and follow additional Care & Maintenance instructions on page 49.

Registered Trademarks

• iPhone®, Apple App Store® and iCloud® are a registered trademark of Apple Inc
• Google Drive®, Google Play®, and Android® are a registered trademark of Google LLC
• Bluetooth® is a registered trademark of Bluetooth Special Interest Group
• SeaLife® and SportDiver® are registered trademarks of Pioneer Research

Package contents

• SportDiver underwater housing (SL4051)
• Rubber grip tabs (12 each small, medium and large) (SL40008) (10 medium tabs pre-installed in UW housing)
• Color-correction filter (SL40007)
• Spare O-rings (1x Main Seal and 1x Vacuum Check Port O-ring – SL40010)
• Vacuum pump (SL40006)
• O-ring lubricant (SL9807)
• O-ring removal tool (SL9808)
• Deluxe padded wrist lanyard with BCD clip (SL72070)
• Moisture Muncher sampler pack (1 capsule) (SL2523)
• Instruction manual (English) (SL40524)
• AAA alkaline batteries (2) (SL40011)
• EVA carry case (SL40009)
  Note : Smaller accessories are packed in fabric bag, which is not shown in the above package contents.

 Optional accessories (Sold separately)

• Sea Dragon Photo-Video Light(For best color and image quality)
• SeaLife Photo Pro Backpack (SL940)
• Moisture Muncher desiccant capsules 10-pack (SL911)
• Screen Shield (SL4005)
  Waterproof screen protector for SportDiver

Visit your local authorized SeaLife dealer or www.sealife- cameras.com for a complete list of accessories.

Getting to know the housing

1. Shutter Lever
2. Vacuum Check Port
3.  Underwater color-correction filter (removable)
4. Optical glass lens port (showing phone inside)
5.  Display window (showing phone inside)
6. Mode button (Photo, Video, Settings, Playback)
7. Up button (Scroll up or increase zoom/focus)
8.  Down button (Scroll down or decrease zoom/focus)
9. OK button (Confirm selection; Switch between zoom and manual focus)) 
10. Main Seal
11. Rubber gri p tabs (Medium size pre-installed)
12. Holding spring with rubber grip pad
13. Moisture Muncher capsule cavity
14. Battery compartment (fits 2x AAA batteries)
15. Leak alarm status LED
16. Power / Bluetooth connection status LED
17. Power On/Off switch
18. Water sensor (Activates leak alarm when water touches sensor)
19. Triple ¼-20 tripod mounts
20. Lanyard connection point
21. Cam-Lock (Opens/closes housing)

 Setting up the housing

1. To open the housing, push and hold release button (A) and rotate cam-lock (B) counter-clockwise.
   Important : Release the internal vacuum pressure before opening the housing. To release the vacuum pressure, unscrew the vacuum check port cap and use your fingertip to move the yellow rubber one-way valve sideways. You will hear pressure releasing.
   After diving, make sure you and the housing are completely dry before releasing pressure and opening the housing. If the valve area or your finger is not dry, water drops will be forced into the housing when releasing pressure. Open the housing upside down, with lens facing up, to prevent water drops trapped around the sealing area from accidentally entering the housing.

2. Open the battery compartment by pulling down the locking tab (A) and lifting the battery cover (B). Insert two alkaline AAA batteries into the battery compartment. Make sure the batteries are inserted correctly according to the +/- polarity markings.
   Notes
   

   • NiMH rechargeable AAA batteries may also be used. The Housing battery strength indicator on the top right of the app display will only show 3 bars with fully charged NiMH batteries.
   • Single use batteries will last for approximately 50 hours of continuous use.

3. Insert Moisture Muncher™ desiccant capsule into the cavity. Moisture Muncher absorbs the humidity inside the sealed housing and prevents fogging. A fresh new capsule is blue in color. Replace the capsule when granules turn pink in color. One sample capsule is included with the SportDiver. 10-packs of Moisture Muncher in a resealable foil pouch may be purchased at your local SeaLife dealer.

4. Attach padded wrist lanyard to the underwater housing as shown below. Loop the end of the lanyard through the lanyard hole (A). The clip (B) is used for attaching the housing to your BCD D-ring.
   Do NOT attach the clip to the housing. You may also attach the lanyard around your wrist, using the sliding lock (C) to tighten the lanyard.

5. Download SeaLife “SportDiver” app from Apple App Store™ or Google Play™ store. Search for “SportDiver”.  After installing the app, accept all the permissions, which include access to Photos, Camera, Microphone and Bluetooth.  SeaLife does not collect data, track location, or gather any personal information from the SportDiver app.

6. Ten medium-sized rubber grip tabs (A) have been pre-installed into the housing, as shown below. The rubber grip tabs and bow-shaped spring hold the phone in position and prevent the phone from moving around when the housing is sealed.
   Important : Do not install grip tabs in areas where the phone’s side buttons are located.
   Exchange the medium-sized grip tabs with small or large-sized tabs depending on the size of your phone. For larger phones, you may remove left-side grip tabs and only use small grip tabs along the bottom.
   The grip tab end is tapered. Make sure to install the tabs with the longer side up and shorter side down, which keeps the phone held down.

7. Remove the phone’s protective case.

8. Insert the phone into the housing to check the fit. Push the phone up against the bow-shaped spring until the bottom can be pushed down and held by the rubber grip tabs. Then, slide the phone left or right so the lenses are not blocked by the housing. Over a soft surface, like a towel, check that the phone is securely held in position and that no grip tabs touch the buttons on the side of the phone. Remove the phone by pushing up on the bow spring and lifting the phone.

Note

• Some phones with protective case may be small enough to securely fit inside the housing without removing the protective case. In that case, you may try leaving on the protective case.
• When the housing is powered on, touching the gold water sensor (located on the inside bottom right of the housing) will cause the Leak Alarm to activate. If that happens, power the housing Off and On again.

Prepare the housing for underwater use

1. Before underwater use, it is important to change the phone settings to: Airplane mode ON, Bluetooth ON, and Do Not Disturb ON. For iPhones only, turning “True Tone” OFF makes the display easier to see underwater. This ensures the SportDiver camera app operates with minimal battery power and without interruption while the phone is sealed inside the underwater housing.
   Go to Settings and turn On

   • Airplane mode
   • Bluetooth
   • Do Not Disturb

2. Fully charge your phone before each use. Consider using a power bank (5V portable charger) to charge your phone between dives if a wall charger is not available. Note
   When your phone reaches <20% battery power, a “Low Battery” warning will pop- up. This message is generated by the phone’s operating system- not from the SportDiver app. The phone’s operating system does not allow disabling the Low Battery message. Consider lowering your phone’s display brightness to preserve battery power. The SportDiver app has a Power Save settings that will dim the display after 1, 3 or 5 minutes, depending on your setting. In Power Save, the camera live view will turn off. Push any button to exit Power Save mode.

3. To optimize image quality, use a lint-free cotton or micro-fiber cloth to clean the phone lens(es) and underwater housing glass port.

4. Inspect the main seal (A) and vacuum check port O-ring (B) for cuts or other damage. Remove the vacuum check port cap (C) to expose the O-ring. Clean the seal and O-ring and opposing contact surfaces using a slightly dampened, lint-free cloth. Replace the seal and O-ring if damaged or every year. The SportDiver Spare O-ring Set (Item SL40010) includes the main seal and vacuum check port O-ring.

5. Put a small dab of silicone O-ring on your fingertip. Apply a thin film of silicone lube to the exposed surface of the main O-ring and vacuum check port O-ring. Use your fingertip to evenly spread the lube over the exposed O-ring surfaces. Only a thin film of lube is necessary.

6.  Push and hold button (A) for 2 seconds to power on the housing. The housing has two status LED’s to indicate Leak Alarm status (B) Power/Bluetooth connectivity (C). The blue Power/Bluetooth LED and red Leak Alarm LED will both be blinking when the housing is powered on. Power on your phone and open the SportDiver app. The app will display “Waiting for Connection”. The nearest phone with SportDiver app running will automatically connect to the housing. Please allow up to one minute for the phone to connect to the housing. Once connected, the blue Power/Bluetooth LED will stop blinking and turn solid blue, and the Bluetooth icon in the lower right of the display will turn from white to blue. Once the housing has been connected, the app will display a pressure gauge. If so, proceed to the next step. If the phone does not automatically connect, power Off the housing and repeat step 6. Make sure your phone is close to the housing and the app is open. Do not touch the gold water sensor located on the inside bottom right of the housing. That will cause the Leak Alarm to activate and display a “Leak Detected” message. If that happens, power the housing Off and repeat steps 6 through 8.

7. Insert the phone into the housing, close the waterproof door, and rotate the cam lock clockwise until it stops and locks in place. Make sure not to trap anything in the sealing area when closing the waterproof door. Note

   • Do not touch the gold water sensor located on the inside bottom right of the housing. That will cause the Leak Alarm to activate and display a “Leak Detected” message. If that happens, power the housing Off and repeat steps 6 through 8.
   • It is normal for there to be a small gap between the waterproof door and the front housing after the door is closed. Applying vacuum pressure in step 10 will close the gap.

8. Unscrew the Vacuum Check Port cap. You will see a yellow rubber one-way valve (A), which allows air to be removed from the inside of the housing using the vacuum hand pump.

9. Press the rubber tip of the hand pump against the open vacuum check port and pump until the on-screen gauge needle reaches “GOOD”. It takes about 2 to 3 full pumps. Screw-on the vacuum check port cap! Note
   

   • If you pumped too much, use your fingertip to move the yellow rubber one-way valve sideways and release some air pressure. Then, pump again until pressure is “GOOD”.
   • If the gauge needle does not move when pumping, inspect the main seal and the vacuum check port O- ring and try again.

10. When the vacuum pressure is good, the housing will start a 3.5-minute leak analysis to ensure the internal vacuum pressure is maintained and the housing is airtight. After the leak analysis is complete, a “Waterproof Seal is Good” message is displayed. Important

    • Allow the housing to adjust to the surrounding temperature before starting the leak analysis, and do not expose the housing to direct sunlight during the leak analysis.  That may cause heat to build up inside the sealed housing, increasing internal air pressure and resulting in a leak alarm failure.
    • Make sure to screw on the vacuum check port cap.  The vacuum check port without the cap is NOT waterproof and will cause the housing to leak.
      The internal vacuum pressure needs to be released before opening the housing. Use your fingertip to move the yellow rubber one-way valve sideways to release the vacuum pressure. You and the valve area must be dry!

11. If a “Leak Detected….pressure changed…” message appears during the 3.5 minute leak analysis, go back to step 6. Inspect the O-rings for damage – replace O-rings if damaged. Clean the O-rings and repeat steps 6 through 11.

Note

• Make sure the housing temperature has adjusted to the surrounding air temperature. If the housing is cooler than the air temperature, the air inside will expand, causing the leak analysis to fail.
• You may disable the leak alarm in the app settings. Disabling the leak alarm will bypass the 3.5-minute leak analysis described in step 11. If you disable the leak alarm, it is still important to apply internal vacuum pressure, which helps the waterproof seal.

After using the housing underwater

Follow these important steps after each underwater use

1. Soak the sealed housing in fresh water for about 20 minutes. Push each button 20 times to flush out any saltwater, sand or dirt trapped under the buttons.
2. Towel-dry the housing. Make sure that you and the waterproof housing are completely dry before opening the vacuum check port cap and waterproof door.
3. Release the internal vacuum pressure before opening the housing. Unscrew the vacuum check port cap and use your fingertip to move the yellow rubber one-way valve sideways to release vacuum pressure. You and the check port valve must be completely dry when releasing pressure or water will enter the housing!
4. Open the housing upside down with lens facing up to prevent water drops around the O-ring sealing areas from entering the housing. Quickly dry any water drops that accidentally enter the housing.
5. The leak alarm may activate (beep) when opening the waterproof door. Power Off the housing to turn off the leak alarm.
6. Follow the other care and maintenance instructions on page 49.

Operating the housing

The SportDiver has four primary modes – Photo, Video, Settings, and Playback. Push the Mode button switch modes. A line appears under the selected mode icon.

Settings Menu mode for adjusting camera settings Playback mode for reviewing photos and videos

1. Taking a picture – Set mode to Photo and push the shutter lever (A).

2. Recording video – Set mode to Video and push the shutter lever (A) to start video recording. Push shutter lever again to stop recording. A red elapse timer will appear on top of the display when video is being recorded.

3. Changing settings – Set mode to Settings Menu. Use the Up and down   buttons to scroll  through the main settings menu and push to enter a setting sub-menu. In the setting sub-menu, use  the Up and down   buttons to scroll through setting options and push   to confirm the setting.  Note
   For information about each setting in the Settings Menu, please refer to chapter VIII, page 33.

4. Playback pictures and videos – Set mode to Playback. The last picture or video taken is displayed. A thumbnail strip on the right side highlights the single-view image displayed. Use the Up and down buttons to scroll through the images. Video clips will have a video camera icon on the thumbnail. Videos will start playing automatically when selected. You may delete any one file by pushing the OK button, selecting Yes and pushing OK to confirm.  Note
   Files are also saved to your phone’s Photos app in a folder titled SportDiver. Deleting a file in the SportDiver app will also delete the file in the Photos app. Deleting a file in the Photos app will also delete the file in the SportDiver app.

5. Zooming – In Photo or Video modes, pushing the Up button increases the zoom. Pushing the down   button decreases zoom. 

Note

• You may zoom from 1X (no zoom) to 7X depending on your phone model and lens selected
• Zooming is disabled when RAW+JPEG setting is enabled.
• When Focus is set to “Manual”, push the OK button to switch between zoom and Manual Focus (MF).

About the Settings Menu

The SportDiver app Settings Menu includes most of the commonly used camera settings available on your phone, giving you creative control. The following settings may or may not be available, depending on the phone make/model and the operating system being used. The Settings Menu will change as app updates are released, and as new phone models and features become available. Please visit the app store or sealife-cameras.com for the latest updates.
The following Settings Menu description is in two sections – iPhone settings and Android settings:
iPhone Settings (Android phone users may skip this section)

Lens
If your iPhone has multiple camera lenses, you may select the lens of choice depending on what you are shooting. For most shots, wide lens produces excellent results. The ultrawide lens is ideal for shooting larger subjects while keeping a close shooting distance. The telephoto lens is best for subjects that don’t allow you to get close-up.
The focus range for each lens varies depending on your iPhone model. The ultrawide lens typically allows close-up shooting distance of about 2” (5cm), while the telephoto lens has a minimum shooting distance of about 10” (25cm).
3-lens iPhones will include a Triple Lens option. Triple lens allows you to quickly change optical lenses by zooming. 1.0X is the ultrawide lens, 2.0X is the Wide (normal) lens and 3.0X to 4.0X is the Telephoto. All other zoom values are optical plus some digital zoom.
Focus
There are two options – Auto focus or Manual focus. Selecting Manual allows you to manually adjust the focus using the up/down buttons. When Manual is selected, push the OK button in Photo and Video modes to switch between zooming function and manual focus (MF) function. Manual focus can be adjusted from 0.00 (closest focus) to 1.00 (infinity focus) in 0.05 increments.
This setting is useful when photographing smaller subjects in the foreground, but the camera attempts to focus on the larger background area.

WB (White Balance)
The white balance setting adjusts the color temperature of the ambient lighting conditions you are shooting in, so natural colors can be restored. For example, shooting a white object underwater [without photo-video lighting], will appear blue/green rather than white. Adjusting the white balance setting can offset this color shift effect and make this object appear white again.
The default WB setting is Auto, which works well in most ambient lighting environments and when using a photo-video light and/or the included color- correction filter. You may manually adjust the WB color temp from 3000K (kelvin) to 8000K to achieve the desired color effect. When a manual WB value is selected, the color effect can be fine-tuned using the Tint adjustments described below.
SeaLife is testing different manual WB and Tint settings in varying underwater lighting conditions and depths and will post recommended settings to sealife- cameras.com when available.
For best underwater colors, use an underwater photo-video light with at least 2000 lumens. More lumens are better. Set the WB to Auto when using a photo- video light. You may also use the included underwater color-correction filter in combination with the photo-video light to further enhance colors.

Tint
The Tint setting is only available when a manual WB setting is selected. You cannot adjust tint if WB is set to Auto. Tint allows you to fine-tune the manual WB color setting. The tint color scale ranges from -150
(green/yellow) to +150 (magenta) in 10-step increments. Using positive (+) values is more suitable for underwater.

EV (Exposure Value)
This setting adjusts the camera’s auto exposure program. Increasing the value (+) results in a brighter image exposure. Decreasing the value (-) results in a darker image exposure. The EV setting can be adjusted from +3.0 to -3.0 in 0.3 step increments. Each step is equivalent to approximately 1 exposure stop.

Image Format
This setting includes options for JPEG, RAW and RAW+JPEG. The ProRAW option is included with phones that support ProRAW. JPEG is the standard default image format and is recommended for most applications.
When RAW+JPEG is On, each photo taken will be saved as a standard .jpg image and as an unprocessed RAW .dng image. RAW files are not compressed or processed, and the file size tends to be about 4 times more than a compressed JPEG image. RAW images require post-editing using Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom. This setting is best used by photographers experienced in RAW image editing – It will take time and experience to acquire the skills needed to convert a RAW image file into a good quality image that is better than a standard processed JPEG image file.
ProRAW is only available with the wide lens. The ultrawide, telephoto and triple lens settings do not support ProRAW images.

ProRAW Resolution
Select between 12 megapixels (MP) and 48MP file size. 48MP file size is only available with iPhone 14 Pro, ProMax and up and with the wide lens.

Video Resolution
Use this setting to select the desired video quality and frame rate. 1080p- 30fps is high quality and suitable for most applications. ProRes and 4K are the highest quality video but availability depends on the iPhone specification. Shooting in 4K or higher frame rate will create very large video files that can quickly fill-up your phone’s memory. Using 60 frames per second (fps) is recommended for faster moving subjects. Using 120 or 240 fps will playback in slow motion at 30 fps. The faster the frame rate, the larger the video file size will be.

Power Save
Power save dims the screen after a certain amount of inactivity to save battery power. Push any button to exit the power save. You may select Off, 1, 3, or 5 minutes. The default Power Save time is 3 minutes.

Display Brightness
This setting adjusts the screen brightness. It ranges from 1.0 (brightest) to 0.0 (darkest) in 0.1-step increments. 0.8 is the default display brightness. Using a higher screen brightness makes it easier to see the display in bright sunny conditions but also uses more battery power.

Leak Alarm
The pre-dive, 3.5-minute leak analysis may be turned Off, but the water detection leak alarm can not be disabled.
The SportDiver underwater housing features two leak alarms. One is the pre- dive 3.5-minute vacuum pressure leak analysis. The app will display a leak alarm alert if it detects an internal pressure change during the 3.5-minute leak analysis. After the 3.5-minute leak analysis is successfully completed, the housing and app will not display a leak alarm caused by pressure change.
The other leak alarm Is a gold-plated water sensor located on the inside bottom right of the underwater housing. The app will display a leak alarm alert if water, or any conductive object, like your finger, touches the sensor. This leak alarm cannot be disabled.

Android Phone Settings (iPhone users please refer to previous section)

Lens
If your phone has multiple camera lenses, you may select the lens of choice depending on what you are shooting. For most shots, the wide lens produces excellent results. The Ultrawide lens is ideal for shooting larger subjects while keeping a close shooting distance. The Telephoto lens is best for subjects that don’t allow you to get close-up.

Important

• Some lenses may not be accessible, which is a limitation set by the phone maker. For example, Samsung Galaxy phones do not give access to the Telephoto lens – that may change in the future.
• Some lenses block-out other settings. For example, ultrawide lens does not allow Manual focusing with Android phones.

Shutter Speed
Select Auto for automatic shutter speed exposure or one of the manual shutter speed values to create a desired exposure effect. When manual shutter speed is used, the ISO setting must also be manually adjusted.

ISO
Select Auto for automatic ISO exposure or one of the manual ISO values to create a desired exposure effect. When manual ISO is used, the Shutter Speed setting must also be manually adjusted.

Exposure
This setting adjusts the camera’s auto exposure program. Increasing the value (+) results in a brighter image exposure. Decreasing the value (-) results in a darker image exposure. Each step is equivalent to approximately 1 exposure stop. The exposure setting is blocked-out when manual shutter speed and manual ISO are used.

Focus
There are two options – Auto focus or Manual focus (MF). MF allows you to manually adjust the focus using the up/down buttons. When Manual is selected, push the OK button in Photo and Video modes to switch between Zoom and MF. Manual focus can be adjusted from 0.00 (closest focus) to 1.00 (infinity focus) in 0.05 increments. This setting is useful when photographing smaller subjects in the foreground, but the camera attempts to focus on the larger background area.

WB (White Balance)

• The white balance setting is used to compensate for the color temperature of the lighting environment you are shooting in, so natural colors are restored. For example, underwater photos and videos of a white object will appear blue because water absorbs red and yellow colors. The included red color-correction filter which works well to offset this blue color effect. You may fine-tune the white balance to create the desired color effect.

• For best underwater colors, use a photo-video light and set the white balance to Auto. It is okay to keep the red color-correction filter attached when using a photo-video to help boost the colors.

• There are two white balance setting menus. The White Balance (WB) setting includes presets, like Auto, Manual, Underwater Deep, Underwater Shallow, Daylight and Cloudy. The “Manual WB” includes all the manual WB values ranging from 2000K to 10000K in 100K increments. Select the appropriate white balance preset according to your environment. Here is a description for each of the White Balance WB presets:

• Auto – The Auto WB setting works well in most underwater lighting environments when used in combination with the color-correction filter or underwater photo-video light.

• Manual – Selecting “Manual” will allow you to manually adjust the white balance color temp (K) in the

• “Manual WB” setting. You may manually adjust the WB to achieve the desired color effect. Select the kelvin (K) value equal to your lighting environment. For example, if the actual color temp of your environment is 6500K, set the manual WB to 6500K to offset the cooler, bluer lighting environment.

• Underwater Deep and Underwater Shallow – These presets are designed to work with the included red color-correction filter. If the Auto WB setting [with red filter] does not achieve the desired colors, try using underwater deep for depths greater than 3m/10ft or underwater shallow for shallower depths.
  Daylight and Cloudy – These presets are designed when shooting on land without the red color-correction filter. If the Auto WB setting [without red filter] does not achieve the desired colors, try using one of these presets according to your environment.

• 3-Shot Burst
  When turned ON, pushing the shutter will capture 3 photos within 1 second.

• Photo Resolution
  Use this setting to adjust the image size or megapixels. The menu options will vary by phone make and model. The default setting is usually the highest megapixel size available on the phone, which is 12 megapixels. Almost all Android phone makers do not give access to the ultra-high-resolution option.

• Video Resolution
  Select from HD720, HD1080 or UHD 4K video resolution, with UHD 4K being the highest, best quality video. 4K is only available if your phone make/model supports it. Some phone models will also include frame rate selection, like 30 frames per second (fps), 60 fps or higher. 1080p-30fps is high quality and suitable for most applications. Shooting at 4K or higher frame rate will create very large video files that can quickly fill-up your phone’s memory.

• Display Brightness
  This setting adjusts the screen brightness. It ranges from 1.0 (brightest) to 0.0 (darkest) in 0.1 step increments. 0.8 is the default display brightness. Using a higher screen brightness makes it easier to see the display in bright sunny conditions but also uses more battery power.

• Leak Alarm
  The leak alarm can be turned Off if you want to bypass the 3.5-minute leak analysis described on section 5. The default setting is On.
  The SportDiver underwater housing features two leak alarms. One is the pre- dive vacuum pressure analysis described in section 5. The app will display a leak alarm alert if it detects an internal pressure change during the 3.5-minute leak analysis. This leak alarm may be turned Off.
  The other leak alarm is a gold water sensor located on the inside bottom right of the underwater housing. The app will display a leak alarm alert if water, or any conductive object, like your finger, touches the sensor. This leak alarm cannot be disabled.

• On-screen Settings
  When turned ON, this will show the camera and exposure settings on the top or bottom of your phone display. For iPhones, go to Settings and scroll down to SportDiver app. There you will see the option to enable the on-screen settings.

• System Reset
  This will reset all the settings to the factory default setting without deleting any files.

 Great Pictures Made Easy

• Clear water visibility
  Clear water is essential for good results. Tiny particles floating in the water cause low visibility and poor image quality. Avoid stirring up the sea floor with your fins. Limit your shooting distance to 1/10 of the water visibility. For example, if the visibility is 40ft (12m), you should keep your shooting distance to within 4 feet (1.2m).

• Keep close shooting distance
  The ideal shooting distance is within 6ft (1.8m), and the closer the better. The phone’s minimum focus range varies depending on your model and lens selected but is typically about 2” (5cm). The phone can shoot excellent macro photos and videos, so take advantage of that feature.

• Move calmly and control your buoyancy
  It is awfully hard to take good photos or videos when you are moving around, or if your buoyancy is not controlled. Look around for great picture opportunities. Position yourself at the best angle and neutralize your buoyancy. Use the LCD monitor to perfectly frame your subject, check your shooting distance and keep the housing steady. Be calm and patient – Sometimes you must wait a little bit so fish that were frightened away, come back. Do not chase the fish, let the fish come to you. Always observe safe-diving rules.

• Take several photos of each subject
  You can always delete the bad shots later.

• Avoiding blue photos and video
  Water reduces light and filters out red/yellow colors resulting in darker, bluer ambient lighting. There are two ways to restore the lost colors

1. Use one or two SeaLife Sea Dragon underwater photo-video lights (optional accessory) to enhance colors and photo/video quality. This will result in best colors, brightness, and sharpness.
2. Use the included color-correction filter. The filter is most effective in blue water conditions at depth less than 50ft (15m). It is okay to use the filter when shooting with a Sea Dragon photo-video light.

• Visit the SeaLife website for updates and how-to tutorials
  Any updates to the manual or additional tips and advice can be found on the SeaLife website at www.sealife-cameras.com.
  Ask your local SeaLife dive dealer about underwater photography courses. Most SeaLife dive dealers offer underwater photography courses which includes hands-on training as well as many helpful tips and techniques to underwater photography.

Replacing the Seal and O-ring

The SportDiver underwater housing has two seals that maintain a waterproof seal – the main seal(A) and vacuum check port O-ring (B). Replace the seal and/or O-ring if damaged or every year. One spare O-ring set is included. See your authorized SeaLife dealer to purchase additional O-ring Sets (Item SL40010)
Remove the O-rings – Use the O-ring removal tool or credit card to lift and remove the main seal from its groove.

Apply silicone lube – Before installing the seal and O-ring, clean them with a slightly damped, lint-free cloth. Apply a thin film of silicone lube to both seals. Use your fingertips to evenly spread the lube. Do not stretch the O-seals.

Install the seal and O-ring – Clean the seals grooves with a slightly damped, lint-free cloth. Carefully install the seals making sure not to twist the seals.

Important : The main seal is D-shaped. Make sure the flat side is facing inwards, towards the groove, with the rounded side facing out.

 Care and maintenance

Every SeaLife SportDiver underwater housing is inspected for quality, including a 130ft (40m) pressure chamber test to ensure a waterproof seal. It is your responsibility to properly care for housing and maintain the O-ring sealing area. Carefully follow these important O-ring care instructions. Not following these care instructions may cause the waterproof housing to leak and void your warranty.

• DO NOT open the vacuum check port and release vacuum pressure unless you and the housing are dry. When vacuum is released, water drops in the valve area will be forced into the housing, causing damage to the internal electronics.

• Avoid opening housing in wet, sandy, or humid environments. It is recommended to open and load the housing in dry cool air, such as inside an air-conditioned room. This will prevent water or humidity from being trapped inside the housing, which may cause fogging during underwater use.

• The underwater housing is depth tested to 130ft (40m). Exceeding this depth may cause the housing to flood and may result in damaging the underwater housing and phone.
  Do not directly or indirectly expose the underwater housing to spray-on sunscreens. Most spray-on sunscreens contain chemicals that may react with polycarbonate and other plastics, causing cracks that compromise the waterproof seal. If sunscreen gets on the housing, clean it with moistened soft cloth.

• After diving, soak the sealed housing in fresh water for about 20 minutes . Push each button 20 times to flush out saltwater, sand or dirt trapped under the buttons.

• Use clean, soft cloth to dry housing. Make sure that you and the waterproof housing are completely dry before opening the waterproof door. Open the housing upside down (lens up) to prevent water drops from accidentally entering the housing.

• Store camera and housing only after careful cleaning and when totally dry. Keep the waterproof door unlatched and slightly open when storing the housing.

• Do not use any household cleaners, soaps, detergents, or chemicals to clean the underwater housing. Chemicals may cause negative reaction with the plastic materials.

• Replace O-ring annually to ensure proper seal. Only use the official SeaLife O-rings designed for the SportDiver underwater housing (Item # SL40010)). Replacement O-rings are available at your local authorized SeaLife dealer, or online at www.sealifepartsdirect.com (USA Only).

• Do not expose the housing to direct sunlight for prolonged periods of time. Keep housing in a shaded area or under a towel to prevent it from overheating.

• Do not disassemble or attempt to repair the housing as this will void your warranty. Contact your local authorized SeaLife dealer or the SeaLife Service Center in your country for repairs.

• Use the included lanyard to strap the underwater housing to your wrist or clip the housing to your BCD
  (buoyancy control device).

• Do not let any moisture or dirt get inside housing when opening. This may result in fogging when using the camera underwater.

• Store housing at room temperature in a clean and dry place.

Specifications

For comprehensive product specifications, visit www.sealife- cameras.com

batteries, red filter and Moisture Muncher; without phone. Subtract weight of phone for total UW buoyancy
Controls| Top : Shutter lever

Back: Mode, Up, Down and OK

Operating Temp.| Underwater : 33°F to 110°F (1°C to 43°C) Land: 0°F to 120°F (-17°C to 49°C)
O-ring| Silicone (item # SL40010)
Lens port| Optical glass lens port with anti-reflective coating on internal surface
Tripod mount| Seven ¼-20 tripod threads for attaching accessories.
Housing material| Polycarbonate body, TPE rubber, T6061 hard anodized lens frame and 304 – 316 series marine grade stainless steel metal hardware.
---|---
Radio frequency| Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE)

Frequency Band : 2402-2480MHz; RF Power: -1.95dBm

Battery| 2x AAA Alkaline (or NiMH rechargeable battery)
Battery life| Approx. 50 hours
Weight| 27.7 oz. (786g) UW housing only – with batteries, filter, Moisture Muncher
Dimensions| External: TBD Internal:                  TBD
Warranty| 1 year limited warranty.

 Troubleshooting

Please visit the SeaLife website at www.sealife-cameras.com. Go to the “Technical Updates” section and select “SportDiver”. There you will find the latest troubleshooting tips and advice. If repair service is still needed, please contact your local authorized SeaLife dealer for service.

Spare parts and service
If your SeaLife product needs service or if you need replacement parts, please contact your local authorized SeaLife dealer or visit the SeaLife website for instructions at www.sealife-cameras.com/parts-and-service/.

FCC Statement

This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

1. this device may not cause harmful interference, and
2. this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

NOTE : The manufacturer is not responsible for any radio or TV interference caused by unauthorized modifications or changes to this equipment. Such modifications or changes could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

NOTE : This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

IC Statement

(RSS-Gen section 7.1.3) Canada, Industry Canada (IC) Notices
This device complies with Canada license-exempt RSS standard(s).
Operation is subject to the following two conditions

1.  This device may not cause interference, and
2.  This device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

Radio Frequency (RF) Exposure Information
The radiated output power of the Wireless Device is below the Industry Canada (IC) radio frequency exposure limits. The Wireless Device should be used in such a manner such that the potential for human contact during normal operation is minimized. This device has been evaluated for and shown compliant with the IC Specific Absorption Rate (“SAR”) limits when operated in portable exposure conditions.

Limited Warranty

• Manufacturer warrants to the original purchaser (the “Purchaser”) of this product (the “Product”), provided the Product was at the time of purchase, new and unused and in its original packaging for a period of one (1) year from the date of purchase (the “Warranty Period”), that the Product is free from defects in workmanship and materials when used in accordance with Manufacturer’s published specifications. In the event that the Purchaser believes the Product contains a defect, the Purchaser should seek troubleshooting advice from the SeaLife website at www.sealife-cameras.com or the importer of the Product in the country in which the Product was purchased by the Purchaser. The local authorized SeaLife Dealer can also assist with Product servicing and, in the event it is determined that the product requires servicing, can issue to Purchaser a return authorization number. To be entitled to any remedy hereunder, Purchaser must return the Product to Manufacturer within the Warranty Period, at the sender’s risk, accompanied by the following (the “Claim Requirements”): (a) a Manufacturer issued return authorization number, (b) a letter describing in the defect in reasonable detail; (c) a valid address for the Purchaser; and (d) a copy of the original purchase receipt or proof of purchase specifying the purchase date of the Product For more information about repair service, or to locate a service center in your country, please visit the SeaLife website at www.sealife-cameras.com.

• Important : The foregoing limited warranty applies only to the Product sold by Manufacturer. This limited warranty does not cover, and does not provide any remedy for damage to, any smart phones, other electronic devices, or other products, used in connection with the Product. Purchaser understand and agrees that while Manufacturer has undertaken commercially reasonable efforts to ensure that the Product functions in accordance with Manufacturer’s applicable published specifications, some risk of flooding or other failure remains when the Product is used, which risk the Purchaser assumes.
  In the event Purchaser returns the Product to Manufacturer with the Claim Requirements, and Manufacturer is able to replicate the alleged defects or leaks, and determines in its reasonable discretion that the Product contains a defect in workmanship or materials, Manufacturer will, in its absolute and sole discretion, repair or replace this Product and return it to Purchaser free of charge. In the event that Manufacturer is unable to replicate alleged defects or leaks, or determines that the product does not contain a defect in workmanship or materials, Manufacturer will notify Purchaser and upon request by Purchaser Manufacturer will return the Product to Purchaser at Purchaser expense.

• Excluded from this warranty are any damages caused by the failure to use the Product in accordance with Manufacturer’s published specifications, cosmetic damages, damages caused by abuse, misuse, wear, tear, water damage caused by damaged O-ring or O-ring contact surfaces or debris trapped between the product housing and the O-ring, damages caused by exposure to sunscreens or other chemicals, repair or attempted repair by unauthorized persons, improper storage, non-performance of scheduled maintenance, and battery leakage.

• THE FOREGOING IS PURCHASER’S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE REMEDY, AND MANUFACTURER’S SOLE AND EXCLUSIVE OBLIGATION, WITH RESPECT TO A CLAIM THAT A PRODUCT IS DEFECTIVE. EXCEPT FOR THE LIMITED WARRANTY SET FORTH ABOVE, MANUFACTURER DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, WITH RESPECT TO THE PRODUCT INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND NON-INFRINGEMENT. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHALL MANUFACTURER BE LIABLE TO PURCHASER OR ANY THIRD PARTY FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, LOSS OF PROFITS, INJURIES TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY, OR DAMAGES FOR WHICH PURCHASER MAY BE LIABLE TO OTHER PERSONS OR ENTITIES, EVEN IF MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES, AND WHETHER THE CLAIM IS FOR BREACH OR REPUDIATION OF CONTRACT, BREACH OF WARRANTY, TORT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE. SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ALLOW LIMITATIONS ON HOW LONG AN IMPLIED WARRANTY LASTS, SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS MAY NOT APPLY. ANY OF THE FOREGOING NOTWITHSTANDING, IN NO EVENT SHALL MANUFACTURER’S MAXIMUM AGGREGATE LIABILITY ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE SALE OF THE PRODUCT EXCEED THE PURCHASE PRICE PAID TO MANUFACTURER FOR THE PRODUCT.

• This limited warranty is governed by the laws of the State of New Jersey, U.S.A. Any warranty claim, or other dispute arising out of or related to this limited warranty or the Product, shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the State of New Jersey, U.S.A., the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of which Purchaser and any party from which Purchaser purchased the Product, directly or indirectly, irrevocably consent to for this purpose.

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References

• cameras.com
• SeaLife Underwater Cameras | Best Underwater Digital Camera & Lighting
• SeaLife Underwater Cameras | Best Underwater Digital Camera & Lighting
• Great Pictures Made Easy - SeaLife Cameras
• SeaLife Camera Manuals | Underwater Camera Manual | SeaLife Cameras
• SeaLife Product Service | SeaLife Camera Help Service Center
• SEALIFE PRODUCT REGISTRATION - SeaLife Cameras
• SeaLife Camera Parts - SeaLife Battery - Moisture Muncher

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