Well, when we went to test our new regs in the pool yesterday, I brought my new oly housing along (without camera in it) to see if it leaked. When I got home, dried it off, let it set for a while, then opened it up. There was condensation on the inside where the LCD screen is...nowhere else. I didn't have the little dry packet/thiniemajiggies in it (whatever the tech name is for those things). Do you think this thing leaks or if I put those dry thingies in it that would take care of the problem. I'd like to figure it out before Hawaii in 3 1/2 weeks!

Thanks to Superturtle for the suggestion of taking the housing for a "dive" without the camera to make sure it has a good seal.

Hey Cynde did you close the housing in an air conditioned room and then take it in a heated pool?? did you let the housing dry in the sun?? I don't think you have a problem I think you just have to be careful where you load the camera try to make sure it is similar in temperature to the water that you will be diving in so 80 degree water load it in a place where it is about 80 degrees.. good luck try again with these suggestions in mind,, and put a silicone thingamagiggy in it too..

air conditioned room? LOL...no ac in our house. I closed it at the house, took it to the pool. It sat by the pool while I played a bit in the pool, took the housing for a swim, then put it back by the pool side, played some more then went back home. It was sunny, and about 60F outsdie. You think that might do it?

i think the dry pack thingies are "silica gel" - the stuff that usually comes in shoe boxes and such... it is a 'dessicant'.... little packet that says "do not eat".

i don't know how large your housing is, but here's a tip that i use a lot... in my video camera housing, i always tie a tampon to the bottom, that way it will absorb any small water leaks (god forbid) until you notice and get the camera out of the water. this at least alleviates some worry and gives a bit of peace of mind.

good luck

Jenny's 'solution' also keeps the humidity in the housing down, reducing the likelihood of condensation inside during a dive. Best procedure is likely to put a 'just-out-of-the-package' tampon in just before you close the housing; then the tampon is driest.

That dive w/o the camera has saved many $, including some of my own!!!

(Message edited by glenr on March 14, 2006)

An extra benefit of the tampon would be in customs, if they take your stuff apart by chance, and ask what it is. You can just look at them like they are stupid and say, "it's a tampon". Okay, ma'am, go on through... hee hee

Kelly...LMAO....I think I'll put about 10 in the housing and camera case. I can see their faces now...open up the case...look..quickly close the case...LOL! Then I can look at them and say "Haven't you ever seen a tampon holder before?"

I'm going to take it for a swim again this weekend and put the thingiemajiggies in it and see what happens.

Cynde,

If you closed the housing inside, then sat it in the sun for a bit, then took it into cool water, it isn't all that surprising that you got a bit of condensation. Was it a humid day?

If possible try not to leave it sitting out in the sun before submerging it. You might want to try that first, then the tampon trick - that way you have a better idea whether it has a slight leak than just masking the slight leak with something that's absorbing the moisture.

Better to know now than at depth...with your camera inside, higher pressure, and more chance for a catastrophic leak. Tampons can't aborb an entire housing worth of salt water.

I can see that Cyn is a practised packer: 'leave no space unfilled'!!! :–)

Cynde

One word of warning is that more stuff you put in the housing the more chance you have of something breaching the O ring and causing a flood. I have heard of folks who have had dessicant packs slip and cause a leak that wrote off the camera - so be careful when you close the housing.

Susan

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quote:

Tampons can't aborb an entire housing worth of salt water.

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Cynde

yes they sound like the dessicant packs.

We have found that by keeping the room aircon at a reasonable temp - ie not to cold and keeping the cameras and housing in the room and not opening the housing outside - then we very rarely get problems with condensation. We have not had to use anything in the housings to absorb moisture. I think the aircon reduces the moisture in the room air.

But have a great time with your new camera

Cynde, I have an Oly housing, and YES, you have to use the dessicants. Last December my son came to me during a dive with his camera (also an Oly), showing me the condensation inside. Peeked... no dessicant. Mine, with dessicant, was dry as a bone.

Just be sure the paper isn't under the o-ring when you close it and you're good to go.

Cynde, somehow I knew when I posted that, you wouldn't let it slide. :D

Even if it wasn't humid, any moisture in the air, sealed up in the housing then the housing left in the sun, you can have some condensation.

This is a really good source for dessicant packs:
http://www.mcmaster.com/nav/enter.asp?partnum=2189K11&pagenum=600

Cheryl, thanks for the tips.

Susan, I just couldn't resist! Thanks for the link as well I'll let you all know when I take it in again this weekend!

G!
A couple thoughts I had.

As Brian said, A/C will remove moisture from the air. It's the lower humidity you want when possible. Also, remember that the camera will take the place of much of the air when installed in the housing so condensation may be less likely to occur as opposed to an empty one. Susan made a good point about exposure to the sun. Along with adding to the moisture issue, it is not good for the camera as well. Keep your rig in the shade whenever possible. At the least, cover with a shirt or towel. Dessicants have a saturation limit and will loose effectiveness so make sure they are up to snuff. Baking at 200-225 in an oven(electric, not gas) will regenerate them for several cycles.

FYI

Smack

Smack, thanks for the suggestions. I guess since it wasn't hot or humid, nor in any AC I really didn't think about temperature changes or even it laying in the sun. When on Bon, I'm careful more careful about those things.

Also good to know about the empty vs filled case. It's supposed to rain this weekend, but I'm gonna get it wet anyway