Canon housing.. button sticks

[coralcruiser]

Anyone else have this problem. I have the housing for the G10 and am having issues with the button that switches from macro to normal sticking on me during dives. THe last few dives I made when I went from normal to macro, the macro notice would stay centered untikl I shook the housing and then it would finally go into macro mode.

Considering I have been diving Lembeh and using a subsee magnifer, most of my shots were macro!

Anyone have any suggestions for fixing the spring?

 

[Banon]

I've had similar "sticky" buttons with both the Canon G9 and G11 housings. My best guess is that it is from salt (or other) build up inside the button. So far, I've been able to soak the housing in fresh water for several minutes, then operate the offending button repeatedly while under the surface of the fresh water until it moves freely again.

My normal routine for cleaning the housing after diving is to soak it in fresh water for 5-10 minutes at the first oportunity, operate all of the buttons/controls multiple times, then let it soak another 5-10 minutes before operating the buttons/controls again and finally pulling it out to dry.

While I would like to say that I always keep the camera/housing in water (fresh or salt) between dives, sometimes that just isn't possible on a dive boat and the salt water dries on the housing. I'm sure this contributes to my button sticking issue.

I've looked at what it would take to pull the little button o-rings out of the housing to clean them, but so far they haven't given me enough problems to want to risk it. I'd be interested to hear from anyone who's done this.

 

[emoreira]

Follow these instructions :

Matt Gieselman | Fixing sticky buttons on underwater camera housings

 

[shawrg]

Good advice from Banon. I use an Ikelite case and have had several buttons almost lock up completely. A long rinse in fresh water (warm if possible) and then pressing all of the buttons under water is key to avoiding the salt build up and allows for smooth operation. I haven't had to remove the buttons yet but that's a useful link from emoreira.

 

[coralcruiser]

I am going to check to see if my housing is still under warranty... if so I will let them take care of the problem. Since this is my 3rd digital camera/housing and the 1st time I've had this issue I am wondering if it's a bad spring.

If not, I think I may just try using the silicone pump lubricant that Jeff Mullins talks about next.

 

[under water]

When you are 'cleaning' (not disassembling) the buttons, I found it to be important to push them from both directions. ie , from inside as well as outside the case. Otherwise, you may not be freeing them up completely.

 

[Gilligan]

I have also encountered a sticky button on my Canon G10 housing. It is only the one that controls the flash (and the settings in the "manual mode") I did not have that problem with my old Olympus C4000Z housing.

I soak my housing in rainwater after every dive so it is not a saltwater problem IMHO.

HERE is what I noticed:
Immediately after opening the housing the sticky button works fine. WHY? Maybe a vacuum issue inside the housing as it is so compact? I didn't have the problem with the Oly housing and it was much larger inside? Why only that one button?

Taking the button components apart is no simple task. I did it with my old Oly housing. It is very easy to lose a locking clip as they fly off when pried loose. I worked inside a large clear plastic bag to prevent that from happening.

A more simple solution is to put a drop of pure liquid silicone from a dive shop (not the grease) on the button from the exterior of the housing when it is dry. That will lube the little O ring.

 

[coralcruiser]

When you are 'cleaning' (not disassembling) the buttons, I found it to be important to push them from both directions. ie , from inside as well as outside the case. Otherwise, you may not be freeing them up completely.

Will give that a try as well when I give the housing a thorough cleaning later this week.

Just got back from Lembeh late yesterday evening... gave it a quick cleaning before heading back.

Unfortunately I won't know if using the silicon pump and pushing the button from the inside as well will do the trick until my next dive trip on March 6th when I "have to" take a small group down to Cozumel.

 

[kwhkg]

if silocon pump is not availble supposedly AmorAll(used on auto dashboards) is the same stuff

 

[kwhkg]

per the manufacturer AmorAll is water based so shud not be used. I found silicon oil at a hardware store. Its made by Denso (spark plugs and wiper blades) Its a popular with the Airsoft gun crowd,as apparatly its needed for the gun's o-rings. Trying to find the silicon oil anywhere else was useless