By Bonnie J. Cardone

Want snapshots of your dive trips but don't want to spend a lot of time and money on equipment? The Ikelite Auto 35 could be just what you're looking for. It's a compact camera and housing that's inexpensive, easy to use and needs next to no maintenance.

The heart of the system is the Ikelite Superview 35 mm camera. Only four and a half inches long and less than three inches high, it is powered by two AA alkaline batteries and has a focus free 28 mm three element glass lens. It uses DX coded 35mm print or slide film in speeds ranging from 100 to 400 and automatically advances the film after each shot. Before you use it, simply drop in fresh batteries, load the film, then turn on the camera (the flash turns on automatically when the shutter button is pressed). This will take less than a minute. The little booklet that comes with the Superview contains illustrations and clearly written step by step instructions, so it's easy.

The clear Lexan housing is even simpler than the camera. Six and a half inches long, three and a half inches high and three inches wide, it comes with a close-up lens installed. When you don't want to take those kinds of photos, remove the lens, it pops in and out easily. The housing opens like a clamshell, so you can install the camera. Just place the camera in the housing, making sure its shutter release button is right under the housing's shutter release button.

The housing is sealed with an O-ring, which should be cleaned with a lint-free cloth, then lightly lubricated with silicone grease. Make sure the surface that will seal against the O-ring is also clean. If you're not using the close-up lens, you can slip the standard sportsfinder into place at the top on the back half of the housing. Now close the housing and secure the latchyou're ready to take pictures!

Without the close-up lens, stay two to six feet from your subjects. With the close-up lens, shoot two feet from your subjects. The housing is positively buoyant, thus it floats. It has a wrist lanyard for easy carrying and can be used down to 125 feet.

When taking photos, you will get the best results if you are careful about distance. If you are too close or too far from your subjects, your photos will be blurred. Stop moving when you take a photo and hold the camera level with or slightly below the subject. Remember, there is more light near the surface than there is at depth, so shoot up, not down, for better photos.

To add versatility to the basic camera system, you might want to consider adding the Macro Kit. This consists of a lens, a metal framer and white flash diffuser that allow you take photos only 8.5 inches from the subject. Finding small subjects is fun and even rank beginners can take great photos with this kit.

once you are comfortable with the rest of the Auto 35 system, think about adding a strobe. Ikelite's Substrobe A-35 comes with a strobe arm and tray and a solid black flash deflector, which blocks light from the camera's flash. Since the camera's flash is so close to the lens, tiny particles in the water can reflect its light into the camera lens, causing backscatter. Using a strobe positioned above and to the side of the lens helps reduce it. The A-35 weighs only 1.3 pounds (including its four AA alkaline batteries) and is depth rated to 300 feet.

One of the neat things about the Auto 35 system is that you can use the little camera topside, out of the housing. And, maintenance of the housing consists of rinsing or soaking it in freshwater after a dive and letting it dry. You should clean and lubricate the O-ring at least once each dive day.

What's the most important thing to remember when using the Ikelite Auto 35? Have fun! That's what this camera system is all about. If you come up with a photo or two you're particularly proud of, you might want to enter them in Ikelite's Snapshot Photo Contest. You'll find an entry form in the Auto 35 package. Entries for 2001 are due November 30, 2000. The first place photo will earn its photographer a dive week at Grand Cayman's Sunset House. The second place prize is $400, third place gets $300 and fourth, $200. All finalists receive an Ikelite T-shirt and their photos will be displayed on the Ikelite web site.

For more information on the contest, the Auto 35 system, any Ikelite product or the name of an Ikelite dealer near you, contact Ikelite Underwater Systems, 50 west 33rd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208 or call (317) 923-4523. You can also visit the web site at www.ikelite.com.