Hi everyone. OK ... I'm getting frustrated. I'm using a digital with a typical housing and half way thru my snorkel....the lens and lcd windows on the housing (not the camera itself) fog up !!! I've found that once it's fogged up I can put my palm against the lens and hold the lcd part against my body - as I swim - and the heat will clear it up after a little while / but it always comes back / and it would be a real pain to swim this way the whole time to prevent the fogging.

Has anyone had this problem??? What should I do???

What do ya'll think about using mask drops ?

:-(
A

Are you putting any kind of dessicant packet in the housing Annette? That is where I would start.

I would also load the camera in an air conditioned room.. I think your problem is that you are loading it outside and leaving it in the sun before you get in the water.. This happens to me even up here.. I have to put my camera in housing in a cold water bath and keep it in there until I am in the water..in order to dive with it up here on a warm day..

Annette, Seb and Freddie are both correct. They each earn a new Polo Pony:-{)}

I was perusing another scuba board last week, looking for tips to help me when using my new digital and read a thread similar to this. On that board, the use of the desiccant packets along with loading the camera in a cool dry environment was said to help control fogging.

One of the drawbacks of our nice lcd monitors is that they do create some heat and if moisture is present - will cause fogging. I believe it was also recommended on that thread to reduce, as much as possible, the amount of time the lcd monitor was on.

Do not use any anti-fog drops unless, recommended by the housing manufacturer! Most of the anti-fog products sold at scuba shops are not intended to be used on plastics.

Annette I use {Guys close your eyes!!} Light Days pads folded up and carefully inserted around the camera in the housing..instead of disseciant

Freddie, you been holding out on us! How are those working out? I can't wait to go buy them. "Nope, these aren't for the wife these are for me!"

I find the more I use the flash the the more the camera fogs.

(Message edited by seb on January 17, 2006)

Freddie...LOL! I guess I'll have to ask Michael to go out and get me some Light Days (to which I know he will say NO)...

hey it works for me... and I haven't flooded the camera since knock wood..

Air conditioning removes moisture from the air, hence less chance of fogging in a housing left overnight in an air conditioned room. Desiccant packs cheap at http://www.preservesmart.com/products.htm#SilicaGelDesiccants At this price I don't try to recycle them.

I also install a feminine napkin in the bottom of my housing as insurance against a minor water leak. But to reduce fogging, follow the installation guidelines mentioned.

I also use a minimum of 2 rechargeable dessicant packs from preservationstation.com.

http://www.preservationstation.com/products.htm#SilicaGelDesiccants

This is the type of silica gel pack that changes color to indicate status. They can be brought back to like new condition after a trip to the microwave. Never attempt to dry them in a gas stove since vapor is a byproduct of the heating process.

Check next time to confirm where the heat source is on your digicam. My hunch is that it's the battery compartment and not the flash or the LCD screen. Avoid placing the dessicant packs near(touching)that heat source within the housing. If the dessicant packs do come in contact with the heat source, you'll in essence be reintroducing the collected moisture back into the enclosed environment.

hth,
kbob

OK, looking at my camera housing, do you put the entire "FN" (feminine napkin) in the housing, and where do you put it, on the bottom? I'm just thinking it would get in the way of the function buttons...

will FN's become the new "duct tape" of the future for things?

OK guys. THANKS !!! I have tried using (one) desiccant pack with no luck. My housing is pretty snug to the camera but will see if I can't squeeze a light days in there ;-)

It actually sounds, tho, like the a/c option will work best for me....

Off to snorkel in 5 minutes :-) Camera already packed but will try these tricks tomorrow and let ya'll know :-)

ayo ! Have a great day !

A

Ron,

Sorry....didn't mean to repeat what you posted. I was typing while you were submitting.....

Cyn,

Try half of one. If it doesn't do the job, just duct tape it to the other half

btw, I see a book in your future.......101 things to do with a "FN"

But to answer your question, whatever fits......I have an Ikelite housing (6130.1) which tend to have more negative space within since they are typically designed to accept more than one camera model. imho the FN is not collecting water trapped in the air. It's responsibility is insurance against a very minor flood or to trap any condensation that has appeared within the housing. Collecting water vapor (water trapped in the "atmosphere")is the job of the Silica Gel dessicant pack.

One other thought, especially if the problem persists. Make sure that the dessicant pack installed is fresh. Otherwise you're potentially introducing moisture into the housing.........

hth,
kbob

OK...so I've done my snorkel and sure enough....towards the second half of the snorkel, my housing fogged !!! (Tho not as much because this time I kept a good eye on it and did the palm on the lens for heat trick right away....)

I did notice that it fogs after I start to take consecutive photos - so it must be due to the heat as mentioned above. Also, checking the temp of the camera - it seems that the heat does in fact radiate from the battery - not the lcd.

So / I'll try your advice tomorrow a.m. and let you know how it goes :-)

A.

P.S....I'm gonna try to post a couple of photos under another thread - if you're interested.

Annette, I had this problem the first few times out with the digital. Agree with all the above advice but they left out one more thing to try. Try leaving your camera OFF as much as possible. It's the heat from the LCD causing the problem. Only turn on the camera when you are ready to shoot. Then turn off after the shot. Try that and I'll bet, no more fogging.

I agree with Cecil. Since I have started shutting it off, I haven't fogged up.

Annette - I have absolutely no advice since I'm not an UW photographer...yet. But I'd love to see the pictures you take!

No can do :-( My housing doesn't allow me to turn the camera off - I can check the automatic sleep mode tho....I think I have it set to go off after 5 min....maybe I can set that for less time. Thanks for the advise.

Can someone tell me how to post photos please? I can't figure it out !!

:-)
A

within the message area, do the following

then when you go to post the message there will be a link to click on to browse to your image on your computer

type image{description but close the brackets (if I do that it will look like the post above. Then submit your post. You will then be asked to navigate to your image file. Do so. If I'm posting a bunch I create a new folder on my desktop with the image files in it. Then after the first time you navigate to the folder it will go back there for subsequent posts in the same session. Takes a few tries to figure out, then you will go, "oh, I get it".

David

Weird. If I type image backslash {description} and post the messge it deletes the backslash as above. So - type image backslash { description of your pic } then submit. Then as above. File size must be <50kb.

Like this:

\image{description}

Niki is correct Annette,,, after typing the above.. {you can put anything inside the brackets..a number o=or a letter or a description of the photo} you will see the black and yellow box and it will ask you to post again.. it will then bring up another screen where it will prompt you to "Find" your photo.. do that but make sure it is under 50kb {I usually make mine 300x400 pixels} Find the photo and click post again and you should have posted your first photo.. Good luck if you still have issues look down at the bottom of this page under formatting..Or let us know..

OK here it goes...

thanks guys !! That was easy !!! :-) Enjoy the photo

Bob Fishman, do you use the small dessicant packets that are not sold as reusable and then reuse them anyway, or do you have muslin bags? I have a bucket of silica gel already...

Annette

Nice picture a Southern Stingray, at first glance my brain turned it into a nurse shark

Thanks !

Here's one from today.

By the way:

kept my camera & housing in the airco last night. Then I changed the timer to turn off at 1 minute instead of 5 mins. NO FOGGING TODAY !!!!!!!!!!! WE DID IT !!!

Excellent news. Nice shots also.

One of my buddies has the same issue with his Canon, no Off button. He set his auto-off to less time and that solved his problems.

Annette,

bon pa abo!

seb,

I use 2-3 packets of the 2 Gram Color Changing Silica Gel Desiccant Paks from preservationstation.com. I tape the packets (electrical tape) directly to my camera, avoiding contact with the battery compartment.

I have also regenerated them successfully in the microwave with very good results (place them on a paper towel). I switch them out after each day of diving. Since I have been using them, I've never had a problem with fogging. This includes keeping my Oly c4040 on at all times during 60+ minute dives (camera will go into "snooze" after five minutes of non use).

I bought 50 Paks (14.95) plus shipping (4.00) and split the order with a friend. That works out to 38 cents each. I assume the 25 I own will last a very long time (stored in a zip lock bag).

I've never used the bulk silica gel.

Each camera model is different. Some may run on two batteries, other four. Some may use lithium batteries, others alkaline or NiMH. Battery chemistry plays a role in heat generated. Some newer model digicams are sporting 2.5" LCD screens requiring even greater demands on batteries. The more a battery has to work, the hotter they become. Heat generated within the housing from whatever source (batteries, LCD screen, flash )begins the fogging process. The water vapor if left unchecked will collect on the coolest available surface. Glass lenses are a favorite location for these water droplets to collect in an otherwise plastic housing. Water and electronics do not mix well. Keeping condensation under control, in check, is therefore desirable.

hth,
kbob

Hi guys. I am soooo excited about the no fog thing....then to top it off - I've figured out how to use my digital photo program and can post better photos now !!! Here's the first. Hope ya'll like it - remember tho - I'm still a newbie :-)

sorry...too many kbs....here it is again :-)

Spectacular! I love it!!

Annette, now it's just practice, practice, practice. That also means you must share, share, share - with us;-{)}

very nice Annette!! More please

Annette, COOL! I would be very happy to see you posts all your pictures you take and would like to share! Very nice! BTW, could you email me your menu? I would like to order something for the night we get on island so it will be there for us and I can't seem to find your menu anywhere. Thanks, Debbie

That is awesome, Anette!!
Can we please have lessons on the framing, sizing and signature?? Pretty Please????

Annette very nice and close too.