FA-480 Housing Operator's Manual
For Canon PowerShot A480 Digital Camera
GENERAL INFORMATION
The Fantasea FA-480 Housing
Fantasea has specially designed the FA-480 housing for the Canon PowerShot A480 digital
camera. This housing is ideal for outdoor and underwater photographers who enjoy the camera’s
automatic exposure features for capturing fast action pictures easily and creatively. The FA-480
housing ensures easy handling and accurate access to camera functions through the critical
placement of push-button controls and a compact design.
The FA-480 housing provides access to all control functions: On / Off, Shutter Release, Zoom In
/ Out, Mode Switch, Menu, Display, FUNC / Set, Macro / Infinity, ISO / Jump, Timer / Erase
and Flash, and has a built in Flash Diffuser and an anti-glare hood over the LCD screen.
Fantasea FA-480 Uses
The Fantasea FA-480 housing is designed as an underwater / outdoor camera housing. It features
double O-rings on all controls, and has a working depth of 200 feet/60 meters. Underwater
photographers can dive or snorkel and capture all the excitement of this fascinating world, while
outdoor photographers also have the option of capturing the action of such activities as white
water and paddle sports, swimming, sailing and boating, surfing, fishing and hunting,
backpacking and camping. The Fantasea FA-480 will protect the PowerShot camera from water,
sand, dust, and other damaging elements.
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Top / Front Side of Housing
1. Shutter Release
3. Removable Flash
Diffuser
5. Buckles to
Secure Housing
4. Threaded Lens
Port
Numbered descriptions below refer to corresponding numbers on the above graphic.
1. Shutter Release
This is a two stage shutter-release button. First lightly press the shutter-release button halfway, stopping
when you feel minimal resistance. When the camera successfully focuses, it beeps twice. Press the
shutter-release button the rest of the way down to release the shutter and take the picture.
2. Power On / Off
To turn on the camera, press the power switch. The start-up image will display on the LCD monitor.
To turn off the camera, press the power switch again.
3. Removable Flash Diffuser
The Flash Diffuser is used to diffuse the flash intensity [the internal flash]. See the section on
"Accessory Slave Flash" for additional information.
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4. Threaded Lens Port
The Fantasea FA-480 features a threaded 46mm lens port. This threaded port is designed to work with
some of the lens accessories that are currently on the market. The following “wet” lens accessories fit
over the housing port and can be installed and removed during the course of the dive:
BigEye Lens M46 (#5131): Perfect for shooting seascape, divers, ship wrecks and schools of fish,
without moving further away from the subject, thereby still taking full advantage of water clarity and
artificial light sources.
•
•
•
SharpEye Lens M46 (#5127): Perfect for shooting close-up images of fish, corals, textures and more.
The macro lens magnifies the subject and enables the camera to focus on short distances for creating
super sharp images.
RedEye Filter M46 (#5178): Used to restore the red color absorbed by the water. In shallow depths,
these filters can serve as an attractive alternative to artificial light sources.
5. Buckles to Secure Housing
Refer to the section "Using the Fantasea FA-480 Housing" on how to open and close the camera housing.
Back Side of Housing Buttons
11. Macro / Infinity
7. Playback
8. ISO / Jump
9. Flash
12. FUNC/Set
10. Erase /
Self Timer
13. Menu
14. Mode
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Numbered description below refers to corresponding numbers on above graphic.
6. Zoom In/Out
•
In the Shooting mode, pressing the right zoom button will zoom in on your subject, making it
appear larger. Pressing the left zoom button will zoom out from your subject, making it appear
smaller.
•
In the Playback mode, press the right zoom button in order to magnify your image. Press the
left zoom button in order to view images in sets of 9 (index display).
7. Playback
•
In order to review images on the screen, press the Playback button. The last image taken will
appear on the screen.
•
•
•
Browse through the images using the multi-selector buttons.
Pressing the Playback button again will turn the camera off.
In order to switch to the Shooting mode, press the shutter-release button halfway or the Mode
button.
Multi-Selector buttons (8-12)
8. ISO / Jump
•
Raise the ISO speed to use a fast shutter speed when you wish to reduce the effects of camera
shake, to avoid blurry subjects, or to turn the flash off when shooting in a dark area. However,
please note that making use of high ISO values may cause the images to appear coarse.
o In the Shooting mode, press the ISO / Jump button.
o Use the multi-selector arrows to alter the ISO speed and press the FUNC / Set button.
When there are many images on the memory card, you can search them by a specified method or
image unit.
•
o In single image playback, press the ISO / Jump button.
o Press the up/down multi-selector buttons in order to select the desired search mode.
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o Pressing the left/right multi-selector buttons will browse images by using the selected
search method.
o To return to single image playback, press the Menu button.
9. Flash
•
•
•
Press the Flash button.
Use the multi-selector left/right arrows to choose the desired flash mode, and press FUNC / Set.
Pressing the Menu button when this screen is displayed will allow you to set flash functions such as
Red-Eye Correction and Red-Eye Lamp.
10. Erase / Self-Timer
•
In the Playback mode, in order to erase an image, use the multi-selector right/left arrows to select an
image and press the Erase button. Confirm that the erase is selected, and press the FUNC / Set button.
In the Shooting mode, in order to activate the Self-Timer, use the multi-selector up/down arrows to
select the desired mode (Off, 2 seconds, 10 seconds or Custom Timer) and press the FUNC / Set
button.
•
o Pressing the Menu button while this screen is displayed will allow you to select the delay and
number of shots as when the Custom Timer is selected.
11. Macro / Infinity
Press the Macro / Infinity mode, use the multi-selector right/left arrows to select Normal, Macro or
Infinity and press the FUNC / Set Button.
•
•
Macro Close-Up mode is used for taking pictures of objects as close as 3cm/1.2 inch.
Infinity mode is used for taking pictures of objects 3m/9.8 feet or more from the end of the lens.
12. FUNC / Set
The FUNC / Set button sets many of the common shooting functions.
•
•
•
•
•
Choose any of the shooting modes displayed when pressing the Mode button.
Press the FUNC / Set button.
Use the multi-selector up/down arrows to select a menu item.
Use the multi-selector right/left arrows to select an option for the menu item.
Press the FUNC / Set button again.
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13. Menu
Convenient settings for shooting, playback or printing can be set with these menus.
•
•
•
•
•
Press the Menu button.
Use the multi-selector left/right arrows to switch between menus.
Use the multi-selector up/down arrows to select a menu item.
After selecting an item, use the multi-selector left/right arrows to select an option.
Press the Menu button again.
14. Mode
•
•
•
In order to switch between the different shooting modes, press the Mode button.
Use the left/right multi-selector buttons to browse available shooting modes.
Use the up/down multi-selector buttons to browse the different scenes when the Scene mode is
selected.
•
Press the Func / Set button in order to confirm your selection.
It is strongly recommended that you familiarize yourself with all the
Note!
controls topside before using these controls while diving.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF CAMERA
The Canon PowerShot A480 camera is extra‐
compact, comfortable to work with and
affordable. Redesigned for even more intuitive
operation, the PowerShot A480 offers a new build
and design that is 25% smaller than that of its
predecessor – in a choice of silver, red, blue or
black. Every aspect of the PowerShot A480 has
been redesigned with one thing in mind: ease of
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use. Thanks to a new, simplified button layout – with dedicated buttons for zoom, mode and playback and
an improved User Interface, it’s as easy to operate as it is to carry. The PowerShot A480 uses a 10.0
Megapixel sensor to capture every scene in vivid detail, ready for printing at sizes as large as A3+. This is
complemented by a 3.3x optical zoom, which provides the flexibility to frame everyday shots to perfection.
At the heart of the PowerShot A480 is Canon’s DIGIC III image processor. As well as ensuring exceptional
image quality – with ultra‐low noise levels and outstanding color reproduction – DIGIC III drives the rapid
response times. To keep shots looking sharp, Motion Detection Technology uses changes in scene
information to identify subject motion and camera‐shake. ISO is then optimized for minimum blur and
maximum image quality.
A range of 15 preset shooting modes allows any user to instantly get the correct settings for common
scenes. Among the different scene options you can also find the “Fish Scene”, which was specially designed
for taking pictures underwater.
It’s also equally easy to shoot spontaneous 30fps video clips, ready for upload to the internet or sharing via
the bright 2.5” LCD screen. Plus, because the PowerShot A480 is powered by AA batteries, users can enjoy a
convenient, readily available source of power.
USING THE FANTASEA FA-480 HOUSING
It is strongly recommended to take the first dive without the camera
inside the housing. You should check that the water tight seal has
Note!
not been affected during transport and long periods of storage.
OPENING THE HOUSING
1. Release all four latches at the same time, and lift off the back half to open the housing.
INSERTING THE CAMERA
Since the Fantasea FA-480 is specifically designed for the PowerShot A480 digital camera, inserting the
camera into the housing is quite simple.
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1. Mount the camera on the removable tray, using the tripod screw.
2. Slide the tray and camera into the housing tray slot. Make sure it is completely inserted.
3. Make sure the camera lens is more or less centered in the rounded port area and that the lens does not
distort the round black rubber seat. The housing is designed to have the camera fit in place perfectly,
but if you are not careful, it is possible to put it in at an improper angle and it will then be impossible
to get a good seal or easy closure of the housing.
4. After camera insertion, check that the extended camera lens does not catch or bend the black
rubber seat on the inside of the lens port. It is vital that the lens does not disturb this rubber
seat.
1. It is recommended to make some camera settings prior to
inserting the camera into the housing. Please refer to the
PowerShot owner's manual for menu options and personal
ꢀNotes:
preferences.
2. Take a few test shots: it is recommended to turn the camera
"on" and program to “Flash Always” mode before inserting
it into the housing and then take test shots to make sure all
systems are working.
Underwater photographers will probably want to set the flash mode to the Flash Always setting to ensure
that they always have a flash with every exposure. It is also wise to set the focus mode to allow the lens to
focus in the macro range for capturing great images of the tiny and exotic subjects that you can find
underwater.
CHECKING THE O-RING
Prior to each closure of the housing the O-ring should be visually inspected. If there is any debris present,
including dirt, sand, dust, hair, grease or other matter, it must be cleaned to ensure a proper watertight seal.
Cleaning the O-ring is a simple matter of wiping it with a damp, soft cloth to remove the foreign matter. Be
careful the cloth you use does not leave any of its own material behind as this can also affect the
effectiveness of the seal. When replacing the O-ring, place it back into the groove starting at one corner and
gently place it in by pressing it into the groove all around the housing until it is all sitting in the groove and
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no part of it is sticking up or out of the groove. You can then apply a slight layer of silicone if you have not
done this yet. Be sure it is completely seated in the channel for a proper seal.
Lubrication of an O-ring does not improve the seal. It only reduces the
amount of friction on the O-ring when it is being moved into sealing
position. The amount of lubrication required on the O-ring is only enough
ꢀNote
to allow it to slip into place without friction, so it does not twist or become
dislodged. More grease is not better, and could in some cases have a
negative affect if it is applied in large amounts to form a build-up that
could trap any debris or foreign matter.
CLOSING THE HOUSING
1. Place the housing back over the front and align the complete mating surface of the housing and
the O-ring, forming a proper seal.
2. Position all four latches over latch hooks in ready position.
3. Close one of the bottom latches first, maintaining pressure on the other side. Proceed by closing
the other side's top latch. Then close the remaining bottom latch and the remaining top latch. Test
all latches carefully to make sure that they are completely locked into place and not just pushed
down. Try to open them to make sure that they cannot open accidentally.
4. Inspect the O-ring for proper closure. A complete seal can be visually confirmed by the O-ring
around the complete circumference of the housing.
5. Always take the first dive without your camera in the housing just to make sure there is no leakage
from damage to the housing. During the dive, especially at the beginning of descent, take special care
to look at the housing to make sure no bubbles are escaping from it and that no water is entering.
Generally, if there is a problem with the seal, you will discover it in the first seconds of the dive.
6. After use, when opening the housing, it is important to hold it so the lens port is facing down. This
will prevent the camera from slipping out of the housing while being opened. Release the four latches
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in the same order described for closing them in step 3, and take off the back side of the housing.
Gently pull both the tray and the camera outside of the housing and unscrew the tripod screw out of
the camera in order to disconnect it from the tray.
VIEWING THE SUBJECT
The A480 camera does not have a standard eyepiece, but underwater photographers and outdoor
photographers will appreciate the large 2.5 inch LCD viewing monitor for composing photographs. The LCD
monitor allows you to see your subject in sharp focus and framed properly. Hold the camera housing in your
outstretched arm at a position that is both comfortable and also allows you to easily see the LCD monitor, for
best compositional options.
TAKING THE PICTURE
Once you have composed your scene or subject in the LCD monitor, depress the shutter release button to take
the picture. A half depress will activate the live viewing ability of the LCD and allow the camera to focus,
once in focus and ready to shoot a green light will appear on the LCD monitor and the camera is ready to
take the picture. Press down the shutter all the way to complete the image capture. You may notice a pre-
flash and slight delay in the shutter release. This is to allow the camera to make its final focus and exposure
calculations before taking the picture. With a little practice, you will become used to this and taking pictures
of moving subjects will become easier and natural.
CHOOSING IMAGE FILES
There are several image file options to choose from that offer different resolution and file sizes. This
determination must be made prior to camera insertion from Menu options. Please refer to the PowerShot
instruction manual for details on setting these preferences.
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BATTERY LIFE
AA-Size Battery Compatibility
AA-Size is one of the most widely available battery sizes in the world - in alkaline, lithium, rechargeable or
other forms. AA compatibility enables use anywhere in the world.
There are certain things that users can do to help with battery life. The most important is to set the camera to
turn the LCD off after a short time, during periods of non-use. It can then be automatically turned back on if
you depress the shutter release control half way. Please refer to the PowerShot Instruction Manual for details
on how to make this adjustment setting. It is always wise to have backup batteries in case you do run out of
power. The supplied battery can be recharged many times and offers an economical and environmentally
friendly power source.
USING THE FLASH
The PowerShot has a built-in flash, which will illuminate nearby underwater subjects. For subjects that are
farther away and for deeper dives, an accessory slave flash is recommended (see below). A built-in flash
diffuser is supplied which will help achieve a wider and softer light source, thereby providing more coverage
and less likelihood of backscatter (the unattractive snowstorm affect of the flash reflecting off the suspended
particles in the water). Further reduction of backscatter can be achieved by using an accessory off-camera
slave flash. This will be discussed below in more detail later.
The need for artificial light to maximize color reproduction is necessary in nearly all pictures taken
underwater. Therefore it is strongly recommended that you set the flash mode to Flash Always. This will
ensure the flash fires on every exposure regardless of the ambient light conditions (Please refer to the
camera's instruction manual for more details).
Outdoor photographers do not have this same problem. There is no backscatter to be concerned with, and due
to the ability of the flash to travel farther and more effectively in air as compared to in water, there is
normally not a need for an accessory flash to provide proper illumination for most subjects.
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ACCESSORY SLAVE FLASH
External flashes are required in order to professionally improve the color in underwater photographs. An
external slave strobe (flash) can be used to supplement the ambient light source in order to create improved
lighting conditions and to retrieve the colors absorbed by water. For deeper dives, this is essential to produce
photos in which the colors are more vivid rather than bluish.
When the external flash fires in sequence with the camera's built-in flash, this can cause the phenomenon
called Backscatter. This problem occurs when the light from the built-in flash, which is close to the lens,
bounces directly back onto the lens reflecting plankton and particles of sand in the water in front of the lens.
To avoid this problem, position the external flash as far away from the camera as possible, making sure it is
pointed towards the subject.
An external flash not only provides the opportunity for clear, vivid, colorful pictures and at deeper depths,
compensates for the blue scented tones. It can also be used to create the effect of the main subject being the
only thing illuminated and therefore appears to float against a dark background.
Slave strobes are popular flash units to be used with compact digital housings. These slave units trigger in
sync with the digital camera’s internal flash and synchronize by a small slave sensor built in the strobe body.
Fantasea Line offers a selection of excellent underwater flashes, specially designed for compact digital
housings:
•
•
Nano Flash (#6115)- An ultra compact digital slave strobe and underwater protective housing kit.
Features a guide number of 12 and 3 power output settings.
Remora Flash (#6117)- Includes a Y-S mount for attaching a focus light on top of the flash, thereby
sparing the need for an additional arm.
Be sure to use a slave flash that has the ability to ignore the built-in pre-flash in
ꢀNote
digital cameras, and synchronizes with the shutter release.
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LENS ACCESSORIES
The Fantasea FA-480 features a threaded 46mm lens port. This threaded port is designed to work with some
of the lens accessories that are currently on the market. Fantasea offers the following “wet” lens accessories,
which fit over the housing port and can be installed and removed during the course of the dive:
•
•
•
BigEye Lens M46 (#5131): Perfect for shooting seascape, divers, ship wrecks and schools of fish,
without moving further away from the subject, thereby still taking full advantage of water clarity and
artificial light sources.
SharpEye Lens M46 (#5127): Perfect for shooting close-up images of fish, corals, textures and more.
The macro lens magnifies the subject and enables the camera to focus on short distances for creating
super sharp images.
RedEye Filter M46 (#5178): Used to restore the red color absorbed by the water. In shallow depths,
these filters can serve as an attractive alternative to artificial light sources.
FANTASEA COMPACT DIGITAL ACCESSORY SYSTEMS AND SETS
Fantasea offers a variety of sets for PowerShot cameras. These sets are made up of quality accessory
products which will enhance and improve your underwater images. Accessory products include external flash
systems, flexible arms, trays, filters, wide angle lenses, fiber optic cables, bags and more. Below you can see
one sample system. For more information please refer to our website or to the Fantasea Dealer where you
purchased your housing.
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SHOOTING TECHNIQUES
EXPOSURE MODES (PRE-SET BEFORE CAMERA INSERTION)
It is recommended to get familiar with the different exposure modes offered within the camera menus prior to
diving with it. The PowerShot A480 offers the following Shooting Modes:
•
•
•
•
Auto- This mode is most effective when you are not yet familiar with the affects of other camera
modes or when you prefer to deal as less as possible with manual settings. In this mode, the camera
independently calculates and sets most of the exposure settings.
Program- Set the camera to this mode if you wish to manually control some of the exposure settings,
as ISO, White Balance, Light Metering and more. It is recommended that you get familiar with the
affects of different manual exposure settings prior to shooting in this mode.
Scene- The Scene mode offers a range of 15 preset shooting modes, which allows any user to
instantly get the correct settings for common scenes. Among the different scene options you can also
find the “Fish Scene”, which was specially designed for taking pictures underwater.
Video- Choose this mode to take underwater video clips (30 frames per second).
ZOOM CONTROL
Zoom in for telephoto photos and larger subject size. Zoom out for wide-angle scenes. It is generally not
recommended to use the zoom underwater and it is preferable to get physically closer to your subject.
Reducing the amount of water between your camera lens and the subject will dramatically improve the
quality of your images. Digital zoom has no value at all.
MACRO FOCUS
Macro Focus should be set when capturing tiny and exotic subjects that require close focus distances. In
order to improve your camera’s underwater macro capabilities, a “Wet” accessory macro lens can be
mounted on your housing’s lens port. Please see the “Lens Accessories” section for further information.
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CAMERA POWER SAVING
You can access the camera's menu to select different power saving options. In order to do this, enter the
Setup Menu, select Power Saving, activate the “Auto Power Down” function and select the inactivity period
before the LCD turns off. It is recommended that the inactivity time selected is quite short, in order to
conserve battery power. If set for longer periods of time, the LCD screen will heat up and it will produce
condensation and fogging of the lens port. Condensation on the lens port will have a negative impact on the
quality of the images taken.
Once the LCD screen turns off, when you want to resume shooting, pressing any button apart from the
power button will turn on the LCD screen again. If the inactivity period was long enough to turn the
camera off, you can turn it back on by pressing the On / Off Power button. The Welcome Screen will
appear and then it will display the last image taken.
CARE & MAINTENANCE
The Fantasea FA-480 housing requires only a minimum amount of care for reliable performance. The
following tips will enable you to get the best results.
1. Always rinse your housing with a strong stream of fresh water and if possible soak the
housing in a fresh water tub or rinse tank for about 20 minutes after every dive in order to
dissolve the salt water crystals from around the controls and openings of the housing.
Manipulate each of the movable controls to assist the removal of salt particles from these tight
areas.
2. Allow the housing to dry thoroughly before packing away for the day or for the trip home.
You may use a soft towel or cloth to dry the housing. Be sure there is no grease or other debris
on the towel.
3. Visually check the condition of the O-ring before every dive. If it is dirty, clean it with fresh
water and dry it with a soft cloth as described above. If it is damaged in any way, such as cut
or perforated, replace it before using the housing again.
4. It is recommended to slightly lubricate the housing's O-ring periodically. It's important to note
that the amount of lubrication required on the O-ring is only enough to allow it to slip into
place without friction, so it does not twist or become dislodged. More grease is not better, and
17
could in some cases have a negative affect if it is applied in large amounts to form a build-up
that could trap any debris or foreign matter.
5. Be careful not to get greasy fingerprints or dirt on the lens port. This will affect the image
quality. Wipe any dirt or grease off with fresh water and a soft cloth.
6. Do not drop the housing on hard surfaces, since it could crack and affect its watertight seal
integrity.
7. Travel with the housing protected in a padded case. It is best to remove the camera from
inside the housing when traveling and provide it with its own protective case, or compartment.
8. Never dive with the Fantasea FA-480 housing to a depth greater than 200 ft/60 meters.
9. It is recommended that you select the shortest time option on the menu, for placing the camera
into standby during periods of inactivity. This will conserve battery power and reduce the heat
given off by the LCD screen, which can contribute to condensation inside the housing and
fogging.
10. You should take the first dive without the camera inside the housing. You should check that
the water tight seal has not been affected during transport and long periods of storage.
11. It is likewise recommended to visually monitor the housing during every descent, especially
for the first 10 meters/33 ft. If water is observed entering the housing or bubbles escaping
from it, the housing should be rotated to a port down position and held that way as you return
to the surface immediately and get it out of the water.
12. It is recommended to have all Fantasea housings serviced once a year at an authorized Service
Center. This includes visual inspection and possible changing of all seals, gaskets and O-rings.
www.fantasea.com for more information.
FLOOD INSURANCE
Included with your Fantasea camera housing is one (1) year protection for flood damage for your camera, up
to a maximum limit of US $1,000, based on the current price of replacement in USA. This protection will
protect you for the repair or replacement of the camera in the event of accidental flooding. This Flood
Protection is additional protection, over the standard warranty, available with the Fantasea housing. This
protection is available for one (1) year from your date-of-purchase, providing that you register your purchase
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on-line within 30 days of the purchase date at http://www.fantasea.com/registration. This protection is
provided to customers of Fantasea Line by Innovative Programs Group, Inc. (I.P.G.), the brokers for The
Coral Reef and D.E.P.P. Diving Equipment Insurance Programs.
Please note that flood insurance coverage is limited only to the camera body. External Lenses for DSLR
housings and other camera accessories such as memory cards, batteries etc. are not covered under this
policy. Owners of the Fantasea housing may elect to join the regular DEPP program, which has an option for
flood insurance coverage for lenses and other camera accessories. It is highly recommended that all Fantasea
customers choose to sign up for this additional coverage. For pricing and more information, visit
You should make a claim as early as possible, but usually within 6 weeks from the date of the flooding
incident. To make a claim call I.P.G. at 1-888-678-4096 in the U.S.A or from overseas to +1 760-674-9655, or
file your claim on-line at http://www.fantasea.com/claims. You will be asked to either E-mail a copy of the
original sales receipt of the housing to [email protected] or send it by fax + 1 760-674-8144. You should
keep both the damaged camera and the housing safely in case you are asked to send it to a designated service
center. In this event, shipping costs to the service center are the responsibility of the customer.
The policy is good for only one claim per housing. Once a claim has been made and received, no additional
claims and no more coverage is available for that housing anymore.
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