Welcome to the exciting world of underwater digital SLR photography. Your purchase of the FD-70N housing for the Nikon D-70 digital camera will set you apart from other photographers. With this system, you will enjoy the best chance of capturing the widest variety of superior underwater images.
Included With Housing • The FD-70N housing consists of a front and back shell that latch together to form the housing body. • A screw in standard flat port is included. This port will accommodate the 18-70mm lens (without a manual zoom control). Other optional ports are...
A Variety of Uses The Fantasea FD-70N housing is more than just an underwater camera system. It protects the D-70 against damage from such environmental conditions as rain, snow, dust, sand, and dirt. It is perfect protection for active outdoor sports, where these elements would normally not allow an advanced camera like the D-70 to be used without danger of damage.
Controls Orientation Top and Front of Housing: • Flash Sync Port • Zoom Port Control • Handles • Trigger Release Control • LCD Control Panel Illuminator • Light Meter/Exposure Compensation Control • On-Off Control • Exposure Mode Control Dial • Sub Command Dial...
Page 7
Back & Right Side of Housing: • Command Dial • AE-L/AF-L Control • Four Way Multi-Control • Delete Control • Playback Control • White Balance/Image Control • ISO Sensitivity/Menu Control • Auto Bracketing/Advance E-mode Control • Latching Buckles • Viewfinder...
For the full list of camera functions and settings accessed by each control, you should consult your D-70 camera instruction manual. Please note that some of the FD-70N housing controls are designed to operate more than one camera control. The command dial and sub-command dial will perform multiple functions when operated in conjunction with other camera/housing controls.
LCD Control Panel Illuminator: • Push housing control button activates the control panel backlight [LCD Illuminator], allowing the display to be read underwater. Light Meter/Exposure Compensation Control: Dual Control Swivel Button: • Rotate housing control over camera Light Meter control. o Press button and rotate command dial to choose Matrix Metering, Center Weighted Metering, or Spot Metering.
AE-L/AF-L Control: • Press and Hold the AE-L/AF-L button to lock exposure and focus prior to recomposing a scene. The original exposure value and focus distance will remain set after re-composition. Four-Way Multi-Control: • Press Up and Down buttons to scroll through Menu options. •...
ISO Sensitivity/Menu Control: • Rotate housing control over camera ISO Sensitivity control. • Press button and rotate command dial to choose from ISO sensitivity settings between 200 and 1600. • Rotate housing control over camera Menu control • Use Four Way Multi-Control to navigate through menus and make setting choices.
Preparation of Housing Before the Dive Make Common or Required Camera Settings: Prior to inserting camera in housing, it is recommended that Menu option settings be made according to the preferences of the user. Most of these choices are ones that will remain unchanged for most of the time while diving, and therefore it will be more convenient and less time consuming to make the settings prior to diving.
Page 13
The FD-70N lens port uses 2 radial O-rings for a watertight seal. This is a different type of seal than used to seal the two main halves of the housing itself. That seal is a compression gasket. Radial O-rings are...
Page 14
Insert D-70 camera and lens in housing: • Mount camera and lens on the removable tray, using the tripod screw. • Slide the tray and camera into the housing tray slot. Make sure it is completely inserted. • Slide the flash sync cord into the D-70's hot shoe. •...
• Using different arms are and tray systems can be accommodated by attaching to the shoes on the top of the FD-70N’s handles, or by attaching to the base tray tripod mount. An adapter may be needed to physically mount...
Care & Maintenance • Before a dive: o Protect the FD-70N from sun and heat. This will reduce the possibility of fogging due to condensation of the warm, moist air inside the housing when immersed in the colder water. It also reduces the possibility of sun damage to the polycarbonate.
Page 17
o Detach sync cords, arms & brackets for overnight storage. This will greatly reduce the possibility of electrolysis and corrosion that can build up between similar metals on the housing. o Dry with a clean towel or allow drying naturally in a cool shady place.
Once you get the feel for operating the camera control directly, you can then try it in the FD-70N, using the housing’s trigger control in the same manner. o It is highly recommended that a Diopter +4 be used with...
Page 19
• Changing Exposure Settings o Using the camera in its Manual (M) Exposure Mode gives you the ability to change either shutter speeds or apertures to control the exposure the way you want. Get used to making these changes while your eye is in the viewfinder and you are referencing the LCD display for guiding you in the exposure process.
Page 20
• Get close to you subject when shooting underwater o This will improve the effectiveness of your strobe in restoring lost color. It will also expand the sharpness of the image by reducing the amount of backscatter between the lens and the subject. •...
Camera Lenses and Ports The Fantasea FD-70N has an interchangeable port system that will accommodate a wide variety of SLR lenses for use underwater. These ports include: • Standard Flat Port: This port will accommodate the 18-55 mm zoom lens in its wide angle 18mm position.
Fantasea FD-70N Warranty The FD-70N includes a two-year limited warranty for defective parts which the manufacturer will replace. Flood Insurance: Every Fantasea housing includes a one-year flood insurance policy. Supplied by the Divers Equipment Protection Program (DEPP), this insurance policy acts as additional protection to the warranty and is good for one year.
Need help?
Do you have a question about the FD-70N and is the answer not in the manual?
Questions and answers